Some people choose to visit a destination before realising that there is the conundrum of accommodation to take into consideration. Gone are the days where large chain hotels were the first port of call and with all the choice available, these decisions don’t come easy. From East to West, these boutique hotels have beckoned as the new choice of accommodation for the savvy and stylish new traveller.
Jaipur’s crowning glory and a royal oasis set in the heart of the capital. The palace is steeped in two hundred and fifty years of history and celebrated Indian designer Adil Ahmad is the mastermind behind its restoration. There are walls decorated with 46 different styles of hand-blocked paper, 10ft-high paintings of exotic birds and upholstery in every colour of the rainbow. Although not for the faint of heart, the quintessential Matthew Williamson glam gal will definitely be in her element.
Image Courtesy of The Sujan
#2. Aqua Boracay by YOO, Boracay
Set to open in 2016 and is designed by the world renowned Phillip Starck. The first YOO-branded hotel in the Pacific, Aqua Boracay is a 168 bedroom hotel set on prime beachfront property with access to Bulabog beach, a playground for kitesurfers. This will be a welcome addition to the island’s luxury hotel offering, which has been dominated by Shangri-La. Expect a YOO hotel in Phuket and another in Bali designed by Jade Jagger coming in 2018 but until then, time to hit the San Miguel and embrace the laid-back hippy life!
Image Courtesy of Aqua Boracay by YOO
The ideal weekend bolt-hole, perfectly located for exploring the trendy De Negen Straatjes or ‘The Nine Streets’ and trawling through the world-class vintage shops in the neighbourhood. There is a one Michelin star restaurant to cater to guests’ every culinary whim and the concierge can arrange for a romantic canal boat cruise around the city while you and your loved one enjoy a candlelit dinner. No trip to Amsterdam is complete without a trip to Van Staple Koekmakerij, makers of what some argue is the best chocolate cookie in the world (of the legal kind.)
Image Courtesy of The Dylan
#4. The Cotton Hose in Barcelona
Made for audiophiles who make the yearly pilgrimage to Barcelona in mid-June for Sonar, a three day electronic music festival, the Cotton House boutique hotel is a good place to rest one’s weary head after being in the sun all day. The theme of ‘cotton’ is evident throughout the hotel and the beds are what you would imagine being hugged by a cloud would feel like. Most rooms have a spacious balcony with white wicker furniture and plantation shutters for privacy, great for the mid-afternoon post-paella siesta.
Image Courtesy of the Cotton House
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