For us, one of the joys of traveling is the places you get to stay. When it comes to hotels, we love creative, boutique hotels where design and attention to detail are at the forefront of the experience. We write guides to some of the best boutique hotels in the world, and the most hip hotels we can find. They’re cool hotels that attract creative people and are the opposite of bland, boring hotel rooms. We favour independents over chains, but there are some creative, unique hotel chains that we do enjoy from time to time. And we prioritise the experience over the price, featuring both budget and luxury styles. These are the kinds of places that make your vacation just that little bit more special. See some of our favouirtes in our guides to London’s most hip hotels and the best boutique hotels in Palm Springs. We also have guides to the best AirBnBs and the best glamping sites.
Palm Springs has become a hotbed of hip hotels, perfect for the ultimate hipster getaway, filled with pool parties, cocktails and the laid-back ease of desert life. Retro-chic and mid-century style is the Palm Springs classic look, and you’ll also find plenty of fun, playful touches. From glamorous luxury retreats to party-filled hotels, this is … Read more
Until recently, I’d never stayed in London as anything other than a resident with my own bed to return to. But now we’ve made the move to Bristol, I’ve had the opportunity to explore some of London’s hotels. As always, I was on the hunt for some place special – creative hotels with unique design, stylish touches … Read more
San Francisco is one of my favourite cities in the world – a progressive hotspot, rich in counterculture, arts and beauty. It’s a city that gives birth to creativity of every kind, and makes for an intoxicating place to visit. Historically, it has lacked creative hotels, but is now hot on the heels of Portland, … Read more
I dreamt of Babylonstoren before I got there and I’ve been dreaming of it since I got back. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to pack up your life and move to the countryside, buy some chickens and grow all your own food. Everything at this special places to say in the … Read more
Japan is one of the most wildly creative places in the world, famed for its futuristic, kitsch design as well as its rich, traditional heritage. It’s a place of contrasts that’s echoed in its design style and places to stay: on one end of the scale, you can find yourself in a minimal, zen-like ryokan, … Read more
We recently spent five nights in Liverpool, making a little film that I’ll share soon. It was my first time in the city and despite having heard great things about it, Liverpool exceeded my expectations. From fabulous architecture to wonderfully friendly people and exciting nightlife, the city has a lot to offer and we were … Read more
Cornwall is the perfect destination for a UK family staycation, feeling just as special as further flung destinations, but without the cost and added bother of a flight. In fact, driving along the rugged Cornwall coast reminds me of Big Sur and our gorgeous California road trip. For places to stay in Cornwall, there are … Read more
York is a place that embraces its history with gusto, so lodgings tend to be more on the traditional end of the scale – but that isn’t to say they aren’t stylish. This is our pick of the most design-led, boutique hotels in York, England. All have an emphasis on style, be that contemporary or … Read more
I always thought you had to sacrifice style when opting for a family hotel, but since having Otis, I’ve been repeatedly proven wrong – and never more so than when visiting Watergate Bay Hotel in Cornwall. Every detail of the hotel exudes style, comfort and ease, which are my top three ingredients for a luxury … Read more
We don’t often write whole posts dedicated to a place we’ve stayed, but sometimes a rare find pops up that is so darn wonderful (and photogenic), it has to be shared, and Mas Can Batlle in Santa Pau, Catalonia was one of them. It’s the product of a young couple’s dream and for that reason … Read more
