The lowdown on Boutique Hotels

By: James Mckinney

Are you ready for your annual vacation? Whats it gonna be this time, The Hilton or The Comfort Inn, or possibly a splash on The Ramada? All great at doing they're thing. But there is something else. A boutique hotel.

What's a boutique hotel? Think about the relaxed atmosphere at home, combined with artisticly themed furnishings and decor. Mix that in with customer service to die for. Truck loads of must have conveniences; satellite tv, internet access and luxurious spa treatments, make for an appetizing retreat.

Most boutique hotels are begun through older homes that will either be torn down or turned into museums. For this reason, many of the rooms are not modernized. Owners will need to retrofit the rooms to give guests access to high speed Internet, phone lines, cable service and even private bathrooms especially if they are to compete with those big name hotel giants. Some hotels may even offer room service.

Owners of larger boutique hotels, rooms in the double digits and more, may install a fitness center, swimming pool and spa for their guests. Some hotels have an upper deck where guests/visitors can enjoy a meal while looking out at the countryside. They usually have a restaurant and bar on the lower floor/lobby area for guests to take pleasure in as well.

Besides providing all of these amenities, how can a boutique hotel stand out among the high competition of the Holiday Inn, Ramada Limited and even Super 8 Motel? These hotels usually have the same kind of motif but the boutique hotels strive to do something more. Owners have boutique hotels use catchy themes to grab the attention of its guests. Some hotel owners will use the theme of where their hotel is located at, others will use an era or time period to create a unique experience.

New Orleans boutiques, have designed their hotels around the 19th century era. This is fitting as most of them are housed in historic buildings. A hotel called The Hotel Union Square, located in San Francisco, bases its decor theme on the prohibition era.

Other hotels like the owners of the Anasazi Hotel in Santa Fe use its Native American surroundings to decorate the rooms and hallway. Much of it is decorated with some kind of handmade throw rugs and pottery. The Inn of Five Graces, also located in Santa Fe, uses the southwest culture and blends it with the Asian culture.

Some of the boutiques in beautiful places like Cannes and Istanbul, are in high demand. Make sure to plan ahead and check out availability well in advance if planning a trip abroad. Bear in mind you may not get your first choice booking, but some of the smaller boutiques also have a lot to offer.

So while the regular hotels offer a high standard of facilites and suites, boutique hotels are renowned for their high levels of hospitality. Couple this with some splendid design touches and amazing amenities, a boutique hotel will offer you a rich rewarding vacation experience.

All in all a stay at a boutique hotel if definitely worth paying the increased premium for. With top notch service, no end of luxuries, and even a bit of culture, who says a vacation has to be a blase experience.