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A Quick Guide To London London is one of the world’s most visited cities. With its combination of historic buildings, renowned museums and galleries and the best in dining, clubbing, entertainment and now a new range of boutique hotels, you won’t run out of things to do. Where is it? London is the capital of the UK, set on the river Thames. Served by several airports, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London Stanstead, and with direct train links to the continent via the Channel Tu... A Quick Guide To Mallorca One of the ever-popular Balearic Islands, Mallorca is the perfect location for a quiet romantic holiday or full-on family fun. Where is it? Mallorca is the middle, and largest, of a set of islands set in the Mediterranean off the east cost of Spain. It has a varied terrain, which means that although the majority of visitors come for the coast and beaches, there is a growing interest in the island’s fertile plains and mountainous regions. Where can I stay? If you w... A Quick Guide To Morocco Morocco has something of an aura about it – created mainly by the major tourist destinations of Marrakech, Casablanca, Fez and Rabat. Where is it? Morocco is on the North West coast of Africa, just across the sea from the southern tip of Spain. This means that it’s easy for most Europeans to reach by plane and even by road or train. Its proximity, mixed with its unique style and culture make it an increasingly popular destination. Where can I stay? There are a num... A Quick Guide To Seville Seville is one of the jewels of Spain, with architecture, museums, food and shopping that make it a must-see holiday destination. Where is it? Seville is in the Spanish region of Andalucia, which also includes the coastal resorts of Costa del Sol and Costa Almeria. Seville itself is set inland, although the coastal areas are within easy reach. It has its own airport, which is a 45 minute drive from the city. Where can I stay? You don’t get a true feeling for Sevil... A Quick Guide To The Greek Islands Scattered between the coast of mainland Greece and the tip of Northern Africa, the Greek Islands have been popular holiday destinations for a wide range of holidaymakers. Where are they? The Greek Islands are dotted throughout the Aegean Sea, mainly off the south east of mainland Greece. They come in many shapes, sizes and geographical varieties and the people that visit them are as varied as the islands themselves. Whilst you can move between the islands, most people c... A Quick Guide To The South Of France The South of France has the enviable combination of miles of coastline and fertile rural landscapes and has been the inspiration for artists, composers and writers as well as the new visitor. Where is it? The term “South of France” is usually used to describe the southern stretch of the country’s coastline that runs between Spain and Italy, and the rural inland areas that include Provence and the Lubéron. With its warm climate, fertile landscape and developed coastline,... A Quick Guide To Tuscany Tuscany has long been a favourite destination for anyone looking for an authentic Italian experience. Where is it? Tuscany is a large area in central Italy that stretches to the Mediterranean coast. It is divided into ten provinces, which include some of Italy’s most beautiful towns and cities; Florence, Siena and Pisa. Where can I stay? Many people choose to stay in villas when they visit Tuscany, preferring the independence of self-catering to the routine of a h... A Quick Guide To Venice Is Venice the most romantic city in the world? It’s certainly hard to beat, especially when you’re staying right in the centre of things. Where is it? Venice is a city built on water - just off the north east coast of Italy, facing the Adriatic Sea - and is famed for its canal network, opulent palazzos and beautiful religious buildings and art. It has an airport on the mainland but from there, you need to take a water bus to reach the city. Where can I stay? The b... Boutique Beach Hotels For many people, a beach holiday is their annual luxury; two weeks in the sun, with long sandy beaches and a tranquil sea is their idea of a perfect trip away. It doesn’t take much imagination to take a step further and turn that annual trip into a real experience by staying in a small, select hotel. Beach resorts are one of the most ideal locations for boutique hotels. The idea of stepping out from your bedroom onto your own private beach area, or staying in an exclusive ... Boutique City Hotels Finding a good hotel from the hundreds that populate the world’s biggest cities can be a daunting task, and choosing the wrong one can ruin your trip. Staying in a city gives you the opportunity to sample some of the best historical, cultural and cosmopolitan offerings in the world. From modern art galleries to internationally-famous theatres; exquisite cuisine to early-morning clubbing, a city experience is what you make of it, and part of that experience is the hotel. ... Boutique Hotels Are Here To Stay Boutique hotels aren’t a passing fad or a here-today-gone-tomorrow trend. They are a growing sector of the hospitality market. When the first “boutique” hotel opened in New York in 1984, it caused a stir. Shedding tradition, its whole purpose was to turn a paid-for bedroom into a whole new travel experience. Since then, small, chic hotels have sprung up all over the world; some more successfully than others. Those who have followed the fundamental theme of design-led indiv... Boutique Hotels Go Hi-tech No matter where they’re staying, hotel guests are starting to demand the very latest in technology – from televisions to internet access. Boutique hotels get ahead of the game by integrating technology into their design. Technology is moving fast, and hotels of all types have to anticipate the technology that will make their guests’ lives easier during their stay. As consumer technology becomes more affordable, guests are no longer terribly impressed by flat-screen televis... Boutique Hotels – A Traveller’s Paradise For many, holiday accommodation plays second fiddle to location and amenities. For the true traveller though, it’s an important part of the experience. We tend to take travel for granted. It’s easy and cheap to hop on a plane to any one of hundreds of destinations across the world, book into a hotel that’s the same as all the others and find familiar food and drink. That’s not the real essence of travel though, as those who still choose to do it “properly” know. Experie... Celebrate In A Chic Hotel! A special celebration deserves a special location and a small, sophisticated hotel is often the perfect choice. From a small private wedding to a birthday celebration or family get-together, the often idyllic locations occupied by boutique hotels provide the perfect backdrop for a special occasion. Rural weddings With romantic gardens, fine dining and stunning locations for photographs, small rural hotels are often ideal for a family wedding. The attention to detail ... Choosing The Right Boutique Hotel For You Whether you enjoy city breaks or extended holidays in the sun, you can always improve your travel experiences by staying in a small, charming hotel, where the atmosphere is welcoming and friendly and the service is fabulous. There are hundreds of hotels that are self-styled “boutique” places to stay, but not all of them fall into the traditional definition of boutique, which includes: • Small number of rooms • Design-led throughout • Exceptional service • Freshly-prepar... Cool Hotels On A Budget Whilst some boutique hotels are, by their nature, more expensive than regular hotels, it is possible to stay somewhere small and individual without breaking the bank. Should good design and individuality only be available to the wealthy and privileged? Many boutique hotels want a wide range of guests to see what it’s like to have a completely different hotel experience and, whilst they may still be more expensive than a youth hostel or a regular guesthouse, you’ll be getti... Creating A Boutique Hotel Renovating and designing a new hotel is a daunting task; even more so when you’ve decided to create a chic, boutique place to stay. How do they do it? Owners of boutique hotels often transform buildings no-one would touch into hotels that everyone wants to go to. It takes a lot of hard work, planning and an eye for design and detail to create a successful boutique. Imagination Imagination is a key skill when it comes to creating a stunning small hotel. To see a build... Enjoying A Boutique Hotel If you’re choosing to stay in a hotel that’s been purposely designed to turn your holiday into an experience, you need to make the most of it. Hotels have come of age in the past two decades. No longer do you have to choose between a huge run-of-the-mill chain hotel and a dodgy guesthouse. Today’s hotels are as varied and interesting as the people staying in them and your room, the bathrooms, the food and the service inside the hotel is as important as what you do outside ... Family-Friendly Boutique Hotels Boutique hotels aren’t just designed for wealthy couples or adults only. Many boutique hotels welcome children and families. Should families be excluded from the boutique hotels experience? Many hotels in this sector think not, and happily open their doors to families with children of all ages, providing a range of services and facilities to suit this market. For many families, the size and location of these hotels is perfect for a family holiday, and allows their children... Fewer Rooms, More Style One of the reasons boutique hotels are so popular is because they directly oppose the accepted hotel normality of hundreds of rooms and bland service. Their refusal to treat guests as anything other than honoured visitors means that they spend time, money and energy developing a hotel where you feel comfortable and at home. This can only really be achieved with low room numbers. Hotels in this sector have discovered that travellers are willing to pay for accommodation that... Find The Perfect City Retreat Is it possible to stay in the middle of a city and still have an oasis of calm to retreat to? The aim of any boutique hotel is to provide guests with a welcoming, comfortable environment that reflects its design and location. In city centre hotels, that design and environment is influenced by many things and the hotel must decide which type of guests it is catering to. Nightlife Boutique There are many cities that are referred to as 24-hour cities. New York is famous... Five Great Reasons To Stay In A Boutique Hotel If you’ve never stayed in a boutique hotel before, here are some reasons why you should book one today. There are so many cool hotels to stay in around the world that there’s almost certainly one at your next holiday destination. Why choose boutique? Location Boutique hotels are usually in enviable locations. A townhouse right in the middle of the city, a chateau in rural France or a stunning beach retreat in the Maldives, boutique hotels exist to provide you with th... Holidays With Boutique Style If style and comfort matter to you, then book a boutique hotel the next time you go away from home. Boutique hotels are designed to offer you a travel experience you won’t forget. Their interiors, fittings, facilities and services are carefully crafted to ensure that you receive the very best of everything during your stay. There are as many different styles as there are hotels, but what binds them all together in this class of accommodation is their design flair and atten... Hotel Style: From Chic To Chill There’s no shortage of design themes when it comes to chic hotel style. How do owners and designers create their distinctive approach? Colours Colour, as anyone who’s ever decorated will know, is vital to the overall feel and atmosphere of a room. Hotels use colour to create space, warmth and light and to differentiate one area from another. Many mainstream hotels opt to keep their colours neutral, offsetting them with colours in curtain and bedding fabrics, but boutiqu... Hotels That Give A Little Bit Extra A boutique hotel will often provide additional services that guests in large chain hotels won’t find. One of the joys of staying in a boutique hotel is that a range of activities can be arranged for you. Countryside retreats provide a number of options within their own grounds, whilst city and beach hotels have local contacts and can help you to book places or tickets or use facilities, often at a favourable rate. Sports Many people choose to take part in sporting ac... Hotels: Why Small Is Beautiful What is it about staying in a big hotel that annoys you? Maybe it’s the impersonal service, or the amount of time you have to queue to check in. Perhaps it’s the buffet breakfast that’s been under hotplates for a while, or the fact that your room looks like every other room you’ve ever stayed in. Large hotels are great for some occasions, but its worthwhile looking at boutique hotels to regain some enjoyment from your stay. So what is it about small hotels that enchants yo... More Boutique For Your Money Individuality matters to hotels in the boutique sector. These small, chic hotels endeavour to ensure that you get the best possible experience during your stay. Staying at a boutique hotel is about more than just staying in a quirky building or having an MP3 player in your room. A truly hip hotel looks at the complete experience a guest can have – from the products in the bathroom to the availability of room service – so that you really feel you’ve had value for money. ... More Than Rooms And Food In general, we have low expectations of our hotels. As long as the room is decent and the food’s OK, we won’t complain. Boutique hotels hope to change that attitude. Hotel rooms aren’t cheap, so what do we get for our money? In many cases, it’s not much. A reasonable room that’s clean, a bathroom that’s functional and food that’s often not as good as it should be. These hotels should now expect to come under pressure from the smaller, boutique sector, where space, design a... Old Buildings For New Boutiques One of the characteristics that unites many boutique hotels is the buildings they occupy. Whilst the majority of new chain hotels are often built from scratch, or simply updated from previous hotels, many boutiques choose to operate from historic or unusual premises. Often, the type of building the hotel is in informs the design, facilities and services. It’s the building and its location that often provides the draw for guests. Private houses Many boutiques have bee... Pick A Hotel With Personality! What does individuality mean in the hotel industry? As far as boutiques are concerned, it’s not just about being a little bit quirky; hanging modern art on the walls, sticking some designer chairs in the rooms or making all the fittings stainless steel. It’s about a design theme that runs through the hotel from start to finish and affects everything from the cushions on the sofas to the dessert menu in the restaurant. Location Where does the inspiration for this individ... Quick Guide To Bali Bali’s idyllic location, constant warm temperature and welcoming people have made it a key destination for travellers from all over the world. Where is it? Bali is one of the Indonesian islands, set in the Indian Ocean, just 8 degrees south of the equator. It is popular for romantic breaks, honeymoons and weddings as well as being a key surfing destination. Where can I stay? Bali is a haven of warm climates, blue seas and wide sandy beaches. There are big hotels i... Quick Guide To Cape Town Cape Town has emerged as a city for romantics, adventurers, explorers and families alike. The city now boasts a number of exquisite boutique hotels from where you can enjoy everything Cape Town has to offer. Where is it? Cape Town sits on the south west corner of South Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. It has its own airport and visitors are never short of entertainment or excitement. Where can I stay? Cape Town’s growth into one of the most energ... Quick Guide To Rio De Janeiro Rio de Janeiro is busy, noisy and full of adventures to be had. To experience South America in full party mode, visit Rio de Janeiro at Carnaval time, but stay in a boutique hotel so that you have an oasis of calm to return to. Where is it? Rio de Janeiro is on the Brazilian coast, looking out to the South Atlantic Ocean, with Salvador to the north and San Paulo to the south. The climate is hot all year round, with occasional rains in the summer, but the party temperatu... Quick Guide To Thailand Thailand is possibly the most-visited country in south-east Asia. The irresistible combination of fine beaches, ancient monuments and civilisations and renowned cuisine makes a holiday here an absolute must. Where is it? Thailand is in south-east Asia, bordering Malaysia to the south, Myanmar (Burma) to the north, and Cambodia and Laos to the east. It benefits from coastal stretches both in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Thailand. Where can I stay? Thailand is a... Quick Guide To The Caribbean “Paradise” is a word often used to describe the islands of the Caribbean. It seems that one visit leads to a lifetime’s love, and that’s certainly true when you choose to stay at an exquisite boutique hotel. Where is it? The Caribbean islands sit in the Caribbean Sea, in between the southern tip of Florida and the north coast of South America. In total, there are more than 7000 islands in this area, but only a few of those are regular tourist destinations, including Ant... Quick Guide To The Maldives The Maldives is a haven for snorkellers and scuba divers, with its abundance of coral and sea life. Its beaches and hotels don’t disappoint either. Where is it? The Maldives is a group of over 1000 coral islands, set in the Indian Ocean, off the south west coast of India. The tiny islands are dotted in a string heading south and they provide a peaceful, if expensive getaway for the traveller in search of quiet relaxation. Where can I stay? It’s hard to beat the pe... Quick Guide To The Pacific The whole Pacific area is too vast to cover in one simple article, so we've selected some of the best places to stay. Where is it? For the purposes of this guide, the Pacific refers to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia. There are thousands of islands scattered around this area of the Pacific and the Coral Sea, and many are largely unexplored by tourists. Where can I stay? Each of these countries is used to tourism and Australia and New Zealand in p... Stay In A Hotel Where Quality Matters An eye for detail and an insistence on quality are two of the main things that distinguish a boutique hotel from any other. There are many characteristics that make up a good boutique hotel; number of rooms, good design and excellent service are among them. Two of the most important are often overlooked though, which is a shame, given the tremendous amount of research, time and energy that goes into providing them: quality and detail. Quality A boutique hotel should ... Take A Romantic Break In A Boutique Hotel When you’re looking for a romantic place to spend your honeymoon, wedding anniversary or just to have some time together, go for a boutique hotel. What small, chic, designer hotels don’t know about creating a romantic atmosphere isn’t worth knowing. Making guests feel welcome and unique is a hallmark of all these hotels, and if you call to ask for something special, they’ll make sure that you get it. Why go all the way to Venice for a romantic weekend just to stay in a ... The Perfect African Safari Many people dream of going on safari; seeing animals in the natural habitat and experiencing the beauty of the African landscape. A boutique safari hotel offers luxurious surroundings with an outstanding backdrop. Where is it? Many safari holidays are based in South Africa and Kenya. South Africa is one of the largest African countries, located at the bottom of the continent, whilst Kenya is further north on the east coast of Africa. Where can I stay? The beauty o... Themed Boutique Hotels If you really want to stay in a memorable hotel, choose one with a strong design theme. Far more than having room names with a common link, a strong design runs through everything the hotel does, and makes the whole guest experience more interesting. Choosing a definite theme can be a risk though and only those who have planned, researched and marketed properly pull it off. The theme A hotel can base its design around any theme, and most of the obvious ones have been do... Try A Boutique Ski Hotel Cheaper flights and a wider range of European ski resorts has created a market for boutique hotels in skiing areas. Whilst many people still enjoy staying in chalets or apartments when they ski, many people are opting for a little extra individuality and luxury, and where better to get that than a boutique hotel? Small enough to maintain the intimacy of a chalet, but with services that let you truly enjoy your break, boutique ski hotels are becoming more popular by the yea... Turning A Trip Into An Experience Don’t underestimate the difference that staying in a boutique hotel can make to your next journey. How often do you hear someone say, “I can’t wait to stay in the hotel”? Discussions about forthcoming holidays nearly always centre on the things we want to do, or the places we’re looking forward to seeing, and the place where we’re staying doesn’t feature at all. All that changes once you’ve booked into a boutique hotel. These hotels have been lovingly created by their o... What Makes A Hotel “Boutique”? The term “boutique hotel” has been widely used in recent years, but what does it mean and why should you stay in one? There are lots of companies that claim to specialise in boutique hotels. For many, a boutique hotel is simply one that’s not part of a national or international chain and that distinguishes itself by its design, location or additional features. Many hotels aspire to be a boutique hotel without actually achieving it. Overall, there are four main elements to ... When Only The Best Boutique Hotels Will Do There are times when you want to splash out and immerse yourself in luxury. Boutique hotels are the ideal places for understated opulence. Whilst many boutique hotels fall easily into the “affordable” bracket, there are several whose sole purpose is to provide a discreet, private oasis, where your every need is met and you want for nothing. These hotels may cost more than you’re used to spending, but by the end of your stay, you’ll be working out how long it will be before... Why Boutique Design Matters What is boutique hotel design, and why does it matter? There are fashion trends in hotel design just as there are in other areas. In the late eighties and through the nineties, that fashion was for clean, stark, minimalist design, particularly in city hotels. This was such a diversion from the traditional way that hotels were put together that it attracted a whole new generation of travellers. It’s easy to confuse the minimalist hotel trend with the boutique hotel trend... Why Choose Boutique? If you’re thinking about booking accommodation for your next holiday, or perhaps just a short city break, why should you go for a boutique hotel? When you go on holiday, where you stay is as important as where you go. It forms an essential part of your holiday experience, so it’s surprising that most people don’t really pay much attention to the type of hotel they are going to be staying in for the duration of their trip. Package holidays use hotels that are virtually iden... Why You’ll Return To A Boutique Hotel Any good hotel will attract return customers, but boutique hotels often have a higher return rate than others. Once you’ve stayed in a boutique hotel, you’ll understand what all the fuss is about. For the same money as you can spend on a city-centre chain hotel, you can stay in an individual place where the design is intrinsic to the experience and where the service ensures that your stay is comfortable and relaxed. If you choose a boutique hotel once, the chances are you’...

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