SELECTED HOTELS
A selection of independent and individual hotels, joined by a shared appreciation of local culture, reflected in their approach to hospitality, interior design, architecture and food. These hotels are part of the shift away from standardized solutions, instead celebrating the many types of shapes, sizes and experiences available for the curious traveller.
DEXAMENES SEASIDE HOTEL / KOUROUTA / GREECE
If Dexamenes Seaside Hotel didn’t exist, someone would have to invent it. Its clever transformation of old wine tanks on the Peloponnese beach into a minimalist, sustainable hotel.
BY THE SEA
Being by the sea has a natural calming effect on people. Hotels that are in proximity to water – be it the ocean, a lake or a river – are places to relax and calm down, to enjoy the closeness to water. Some hotels might be larger, a place to disappear, others smaller, almost like staying in someone’s home, but they are all excellent places to retreat from the world.
PARCO DEI PRINCIPI / SORRENTO / ITALY
Perched on top of the steep cliffs just north of Sorrento, the hotel offers a spectacular view of the town, often referred to as “the gateway to the Amalfi coast”. Below the cliffs, the hotel has a private beach with a generous solarium.
VILLA FIORDALISO / LAKE GARDA / ITALY
Formerly a private villa, it has its place in history, as during the Italian Social Republic this was the home of Clara Petacci, Benito Mussolini’s mistress. Many come here not for the hotel but for the restaurant, run by chef Dino Colantuno, with one star in the Guide Michelin.
HÔTEL LA PONCHE / SAINT-TROPEZ / FRANCE
There is one hotel that more than any other is imbedded in French cinematic history: the mythical Hôtel La Ponche in Saint-Tropez. Housed in a cluster of charming 17th century houses, almost right on the Saint-Tropez beach, it is at the same time luxurious and informal.
CITY HIDEOUTS
Visiting a strange city is an opportunity to get lost in the unknown, to discover new restaurants and cafés that serve different kinds of food and wine, while exploring new streets and learning about the history of a distant part of the world. Equally important is to have a nice and comfortable place, away from the crowds, to retreat to when the new impressions become overwhelming.
BOULEVARD LEOPOLD / ANTWERP / BELGIUM
This bed-and-breakfast is housed in a traditional three-story, 19th century townhouse, with only three rooms and two suites. Located in the orthodox Jewish district, it is within comfortable walking distance from the city centre.
REZIDENZA RUSPOLI BONAPARTE / ROME / ITALY
Throughout the years, the palace has been the home to some of Rome’s most prominent families, but since 1776, it has been the residence of the Ruspoli family. Its most famous feature is the staircase, built in 1640 by the Caetani family and constructed entirely of monolithic marble steps, and considered one of the four wonders of Rome.
DETOUR DESTINATIONS
These places are worth a detour, a trip where the hotel or the bed &brekfast is the main destination. Some have been selected for their charm, others for their elegance, but they all are comfortable and pleasant places to stay, in beautiful settings and with an impeccable level of service.
LE MOULIN DU ROC / CHAMPAGNAC-DE-BELAIR / FRANCE
The hotel, formerly an ancient walnut-oil factory, sits on the banks of the Dronne River, only ten minutes from the town of Brantôme. The garden has an outdoor pool and a tennis court, but the main draw is the restaurant and its spacious terrace, right by the river.
CLOS MIRABEL MANOR / JURANQON / FRANCE
With a panoramic view over nearby vineyards, overlooking the entire mountain chain of the Pyrénées Atlantique, the fifteen-acre estate Clos Mirabel is almost worth visiting for the views alone. It is family-run which reflects in the atmosphere: staying here is informal and casual, almost as though you are staying with your own family or friends.
B&B LA CHANCELIÉRE / SANCERRE / FRANCE
The B&B La Chancelière is housed in a charming mansion in the village Saint-Satur, only a few minutes by car from neighbouring Sancerre. Every evening, Sancerre wine and some goat cheese – the famous local delicacy “crottin de Cavignol” – is served on the terrace.
SIMPLE PLEASURES
Sometimes, you travel to find solitude, to lose yourself in introspection and reflection. These hotels, hostels and bed & breakfasts are examples of places to go if you wish to not be disturbed. They offer a simpler living, in the countryside, where the air is fresh and quiet and you can be alone with your thoughts, surrounded by nature.
SANTUARI DE CURA / RANDA / MALLORCA
The lodgings are modest and without extravagance, more of a hostel than a hotel, but the beautiful scenery, breathtaking views and vibrant metaphysical energy of the site add qualities difficult to find anywhere else on Mallorca. This is a place for those seeking reflection, solitude and to reconnect with nature, rather than a five star-hotel experience.
LOUVOIS & HOT TUBE HUT / CHAMPAGNE / FRANCE
Only five minutes from the famous Champenois vineyard, and merely ten kilometres from Reims, the caravan is perfectly positioned for those wanting to explore the Champagne region but who also wish to try a more alternative way of living.