Sometimes where you stay is a reason to visit a place all by itself. It might be the treehouse of your dreams, a unique hotel you never want to leave, or a perfectly designed luxury guesthouse. It’s one of our favourite things about traveling. We look for places that are unusual, creative, unique, and special – the kinds of places you want to tell people about.
This is our collection of special stays from around the world. They range from hip boutique hotels to off-grid glamping resorts and outstanding Airbnbs – for us special isn’t about the price, it’s about the character.
We also include unique hotels and places to stay in our detailed travel itineraries.
I fell in love with La Condesa in Mexico City. Alongside its neighbour La Roma, it’s part of what is known as the Roma-Condesa cultural corridor, which is one of the most hip areas of the city, filled with independent and creative boutiques, restaurants and cafes. It’s also not far from the centre, making it … Read more
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
Despite having heard great things about it, Liverpool exceeded my expectations. From fabulous architecture to wonderfully friendly people and exciting nightlife, the city is one of the best in the UK and we had a ball creating a film and guide to the best things to do in Liverpool. One of the things that surprised … Read more
I’d never stayed in London as anything other than a resident with my own bed to return to until we made the move to Bristol and I 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 and … Read more
Sitting in a wood-fired hot tub, surrounded by trees, and with a glass of prosecco in my hand – is there any better way to spend a rainy day? We’d dreamed of sunshine, but Wales delivered rain, and while reclining in that hot tub – warm, relaxed and invigorated – I realised it didn’t matter. … Read more
High in the hills of Motueka, just a short drive from the magnificent Abel Tasman National Park is an idyllic little eco-village, home to a community of people who have made the wilderness their home. We went to visit for a night, staying in a yurt that one of the families rents out. It was … Read more
I’m a little obsessed with what I call “tree seas” – a stretch of forest where you can gaze across the treetops and get lost in the expanse of green. It was a scene like that which inspired my trip to Brazil, and I was reminded of it again in New Zealand in the hills of Coromandel. In … Read more
When we talk about the places we call ‘special stays’, we mean those places that fill you with as much excitement as the actual location you’re travelling to. That was the case with Hotel de Windketel. I was already looking forward to returning to Amsterdam after more than a decade away from the city I’d … Read more
A tin mug of coffee in one hand, The Catcher in the Rye in the other, and a forest spreading out before me; I feel like Socality Barbie. While I’m not going to go all #blessed and #liveauthentic on you, I am a big fan of the hipster aesthetic. And this woodland cabin in Yorkshire … Read more
Tales from our visit to Makanyi Safari Lodge, Timbavati, Kruger Park, South Africa Wrapped in fleece blankets with a hot water bottle on my lap and the crisp air of the African bush gently waking my senses, I smiled at Steve – this was the honeymoon we’d dreamed of. Going on safari topped our list … Read more