Luxury Holidays, The Boutique Hotels Way

The term 'Boutique hotels' is one you may have heard, but it is a tricky concept to pin down. The word 'quirky' suggests only a niche appeal, but it's true to say that hotels of this type offer personal touches of style and a dedication to comfort that everyone can enjoy. Boutique hotels aim to be more individual for more memorable luxury holidays.

What Sets Them Apart

Many people planning their luxury holidays will assess the suitability of a hotel by judging the facilities on offer. This is not an unreasonable approach. Aspects such as variety of dining, assorted bars, spa, gym, and technology like internet access, plasma TV, and DVD, can help make a stay not just comfortable, but luxuriant. But there is more to the atmosphere of a hotel than a list of facilities. Boutique hotels tend to have all or most of these facilities, but what sets them apart from the more conventional top-end accommodations is the style and individuality of their presentation. This individuality will please travellers who like their holidays to be tailor made to their own tastes.

Style and Setting

Boutique hotels tend to be run on a smaller scale with fewer rooms than the grand hotels and large chain resorts. This allows a personal touch to be applied to the decor and furnishings. The Lan Kwai Fong hotel on Hong Kong Island is an example. The room furnishings are modern but blended with traditional Chinese accents such as exclusive statues, Chinese paintings and a unique artefact embedded on the ornate bed panel. Small details, you may think, but it's these touches of extra effort and expense that can make a luxury break distinctive.

Often it's this blending with the location that makes boutique hotels special. Similar to the Lan Kwai, the Bo Phut boutique hotel resort incorporates the local cultural heritage of its Thai backdrop, but with the Bo Phut it's more of an outdoors experience. You can appreciate the Thailand sun and surroundings from your villa's private garden, or from your own outdoor Jacuzzi. This is true of luxury holidays at the Taj Exotica resort in Mauritius, too. Each villa has an open-sided living area which leads to a stone patio terrace on the edge of your own private swimming pool. If you think that sounds decadent, you should know that it also features a 24-hour butler room-service.

Location, location...

Of course, the locations are essential to the success of these luxury holidays. Boutique hotels may take the form of exclusive resorts, or of quieter adult only resorts; some are even called 'isolated retreats'. Frequently 'off the beaten track', these tend to be the preserve of tailor made holidays and honeymoons - for those travellers looking for something special from their luxury holidays. And what could be more special than waking up on the beach?

But whether it's a one-of-a-kind, well-kept secret in a bustling city, or one of a few stylised luxury holiday hotels that harmonise with their tropical island settings, it's what makes them distinctive that makes them special. If you want your hotel to be an experience in itself, rather than just a place you stay, you should look into the boutique hotels' approach to luxury holidays.