Guides

2017: Best Boutique Hotels in the World

Hotel chains bank on being similar no matter where you are geographically, that’s their business. Uniformity sells and that’s fine for most, but some travelers want a unique experience when they venture. Boutique hotels are fast becoming the rage in all of your favorite vacation spots. We recently attended the World Boutique Hotel Awards in […]

Published

10 months ago

June 23, 2023

Brady Pearson

2017: Best Boutique Hotels

Here is our list of the best boutique hotels in the world, compiled from the best hoteliers in the business.

A celebrated panel of voters who are experts in luxury, boutique hotels and first class accommodations decides the World Boutique Hotel Awards.

el nido resorts

El Nido, Philippines

Being as it is winter in the States and huge arctic storms are wreaking havoc on the nation, we may as well start with their award for best Beach or Coastal Hotel: El Nido, Pangulasian Island, Philippines.

El Nido describes itself as “A glittering Island resort with serious eco credentials.” This is a nice summary but this island resort is unlike any other, and uniquely remote. Known as the “Last Frontier,” Palawan Island is a Mecca for nature lovers and eco travelers in general. A little off the beaten path is saying it lightly, just getting to this resort is a whole ordeal. For the adventurous, this eco resort is worth the trouble. El Nido is perfect for the soul-searching vagabond who wants to lie around on deserted beaches and explore undiscovered islands.

El Nido is located on an island with 42 villas, breathtaking views and first class service. A ferry brings you to the resort and you dread the day it comes to take you away. Visitors revel in the fact that there just isn’t enough hours in the day top take it all in.

Highlights include native wildlife, vast reefs to explore and exclusive, candle-lit dinners on the beach. Villas on stilts over turquoise water and an attentive staff make this boutique villa a must visit in 2017.

Over Yonder Cay, Bahamas

Continuing the trend of best beach hotels, the next award is for World’s Best Private Villa. This award goes to Over Yonder Cay, Bahamas. A sustainable resort located on a private island in the Bahamas, which was developed for the rich and famous.

Over Yonder Cay welcomes guest to choose between four uniquely designed villas for up to 28 of your closest friends and family. Each villa is designed specifically to capture the natural beauties of the island. Villas range from 3 to 4 suites and each sleep up to 8 guests. Of course the entire island can be reserved for the solitude seeking guests.

Formerly a remote fishing outpost, the island has been transformed into a sustainable vacation destination for those seeking true privacy and luxury. Boasting 97% sustainability, the island has three wind turbines and a 1.5 acre solar field; producing enough reusable energy for an ultra reliable, generator free island.

A deep water marina for all your ocean going vessel needs, a beach club for your gathering needs and a water sports cabana encompassing all your aquatic adventures. A private island resort for the upper crust and the elite 1%, Over Yonder Cay is the world’s best private villa winner and rightfully deserved

Vigilius Mountain Resort, Italy

Once we talk about sustainability it’s hard to not mention this next hotel, voted world’s most sustainable hotel, Vigilius Mountain Resort, in South Tyrol, Italy. Touted as an island in the mountains, Vigilius Mountain Resort has no roads leading up to it; visitors instead take a private cable car up the 1,500 meter accent to the mountaintop.

Vigilius Mountain Resort offers an eco friendly getaway with astonishing views of the Dolomite Mountains and delivering superb alpine and northern-Italian fare. A truly remote setting allows guests to remove themselves from today’s technological pressures and annoyances. Zero cars, traffic or noise pollution of any kind can reach this mountaintop resort.

Built and designed with nature in mind, Vigilius resembles a fallen tree and has 360-degree views of the entire mountain range. From sunsets to sunrises every room has a view and is the perfect place to find serenity.

With a goal to leave no carbon footprint, Vigilius sets the bar by using locally sourced products, sustainable resources and eco friendly building materials. Even the kitchen only uses locally supplied produce and meats.

Aenaon VIllas, Greece

From eco to romance, we shift to this year’s most romantic hotel: Aenaon Villas, Santorini, Greece. Located on an island in the Southern Aegean Sea, this beauty is the quintessential romantic vacation spot on most people’s bucket list.

Adorned by steep cliffs and endless views, the Aenaon Villas sits upon an ancient volcanic caldera. Multi-colored cliffs dot the coastline and volcanic sand beaches await the seasoned traveler.

The resort is located on the narrowest part of the island, giving it the most spectacular views. There are seven private villas, each with their own unique veranda and infinity pool. The villas were built with traditional Cycladic architecture to encompass the local history and natural harmony.

Santorini is a lovers’ getaway and Aenaon Villas represents the perfect romantic vacation. Greece is the cradle of civilization and Santorini acts as a bridge between history and luxury.

Award Winning Hotels:

For more amazing boutique hotels, check out this list of other winners from the World Boutique Hotel Awards:

Voted Best Honeymoon Hideaway: Punta Tragara, Capri, Italy

Voted Best New Hotel: Hotel Gotham, Manchester, UK

Voted Best Culinary Hotel, Vila Joya, Algrave, Portugal

Voted Best Wellness Spa: Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy

Voted Best Boutique Hotel: Secret Bay, Dominica, West Indies

Destinations

The Tasty Traveling Trends Of 2019

Let us see what’s most likely to be fashionable in the next year by observing the largest traveling fads of 2019.

Published

52 mins ago

April 26, 2024

Owen Gardocki

Traveling trends are consistently producing terrific buzz for travelers. Patterns from very early 2019 up until this time, as observed by travel industries, are noticing changes from long, large, and pure vacation purposes to short and mixed vacation objectives. Let us see what’s most likely to be fashionable in the next year by observing the largest traveling fads of 2019.

Tiny Vacations

In going with short holidays, the location needs to be conveniently accessed for a short vacation. It’s paramount to select the purposeful, time-saving activities – the remarkable ones. It could be a short family members vacation or solo trip.

Stroll touring is most advised during this sort of holiday. Native foods, gallery expeditions, and scenic strolls are the most pleasing activities you can do. There are numerous “walkable” cities in the world where you can enjoy these meaningful activities such as Kowloon in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, London, England, and numerous others.

Wellness-oriented Tours

With the ease of access to health information online, wellness-conscious visitors always associate tourism with health. As reported by the International Wellness Institute, wellness tourism is growing rapidly and has actually produced even more destinations with wellness orientations. One valid example is the existence of hot springs around the globe. These are thought to have healing abilities and were created by the existing hotels – however, with a new clientele in mind.

The wellness locations most tourists chose include nature, specific weather conditions, peaceful destinations, day spas, culture, yoga exercise, and exterior health and fitness activities. These wellness destinations will certainly not just ease you physically but also emotionally. There are numerous places worldwide that supply solutions like these, such as Hawaii, Italy, Bali, Arizona, as well as many more.

Bleisure Trips

This holiday incorporates business with leisure. The majority of those who take a trip for their organization offer themselves many opportunities to take pleasure in tourism after organizational duties. Many tourists in bleisure journeys, search for the closest visitor destination to discover considering that they have just limited location and time choices. Moreover, they are not traveling for a getaway; rather searching for possibilities near the place they check-in. The most joyful activities to do throughout these vacations are days at the shopping center, memento searching and walking tours. Yet you can still increase the fun as long as your schedule permits. Beaches, riders, and golf courses are the next best tasks to do.

Social Media-inspired Holidays

In today’s electronic age, selecting holiday destinations is more than likely, social media-inspired. Attractive pictures of lovely locations are published on social media as well as internet sites that permit first-timers to have first experience with the prospective destination. When visited, tourists might refer the destination to pals. Since pictures on social networks systems are mainly artistic, there are more real-life cosmetically artistic locations that you can choose from such as in Rome, Italy, Paris, France, Berlin, as well as Germany.

Staying on par with these four large traveling trends will certainly maintain your itinerary. This will even make your traveling trip a lot more successful and greatly more satisfying.

Guides

The Secret to a Dream Derby Watch Party

Published

3 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Adam T

The 150th Kentucky Derby is coming to Louisville at the beginning of May, and people around the country are gearing up for the event. This race is the first and most famous leg of the American Triple Crown series, stirring up festivities that last far longer than the short race alone.

To plan the perfect derby watch party, food is the first order of business. Many hosts will go for traditional Kentuckian dishes, like fried chicken, bourbon balls, or a hearty mac and cheese. Others will pair these with crafty cocktails and mocktails, heightening the experience for guests of all ages.

The Kentucky Derby is known for its fashion nearly as much as its horse racing, which is why many successful derby watch parties have a theme. Some people may ask their attendees to dress their best, donning bright and elegant pastels, big hats, suits, and sunglasses. In perfect springtime attire, guests can engage in dancing, gameplay, and of course watching the race as they cheer on their favorite racer.

Destinations

6 Heavenly Places For Photographers In Yunnan Province China

If you are searching for new photography subjects or ethereal places to capture, Yunnan province is a catch basin for it all.

Published

11 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Owen Gardocki

Many of China’s hidden wonders are found in its provinces like Yunnan Province. Yunnan’s breathtaking sceneries and dreamlike landscapes have made it every photographer’s dream destination. It is no surprise that many professional photographers consider Yunnan Province as one of the most photogenic places in China.

Meili Snow Mountain

Famous for its 13 Prince Peaks, Meili Snow Mountain has an altitude of more than 6,000 meters. The most popular peak, Kawagebo, is considered the highest peak in the Yunnan Province, with a height of 6,740 meters. Many mountaineers and hikers have climbed these mountain ranges, but until now, they were unable to reach the mountain’s summit.

Speaking of hiking, one of the most favorited routes up to the top is a very scenic route through the Feilai Temple to Yubeng Village. From here, you will be able to pass through the Ice Lake and Holy Waterfall.

Best Time to Visit: October to May

Dongchuan Red Soil Land

Dongchuan Red Soil Land, as per its name, is famous because of its unique red-colored soil. Dongchuan a tourist favorite is due to its magnificent sceneries – such as the sunrise and sunset, for example, as they cast their glows across the fields.

Dongchuan is also famously called “God’s pallet” because of how the crops and plants’ colors create a beautiful contrast to the red soil in which they grow. Some tourist even call the landscape photos taken at Dongchuan “as beautiful as a painting on canvas”

Best Time to Visit: It is said that there are two sets of months that are considered to be the peak time to visit because these are the times when the colors of the crops are in perfect contrast with the red soil: golden wheat, the white potato, and rape flowers and green crops. The first one is from May to June, the other is September to December.

Jiangdong Ancient Gingko Village

Jiangdong is a beautiful village situated near the Volcano Geopark and Tengchong county’s Prismatic Joint. The village becomes a tourist spot because of its Gingko trees, thus the name. Based on estimation, it is said that the village has almost 33,000 Ginko Trees growing around them, with around 270 of them to be at least 200 years old!

Best Time to Visit: October to November, when the Gingko Trees leaves are in a beautiful golden color.

Luoping Sorghum

Famously known for its breathtaking views of fields of Canolas! It is considered the most stunning view on all of Luoping. It is mostly composed of a wide field full of yellow Rape flowers, but recent developments also give way to fields of Red Rape flowers as well.

Best Time to Visit: August to November

Cherry Blossoms at Wuliang Mountain

Just like the Luoping Rapeseed fields and the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, the Wuliang Mountain Cherry blossoms are also a must-see when visiting Yunnan province. It’s one of the most beautiful places to admire the cherry trees with branches heavy with pink flowers. If you are someone who loves to appreciate the beauty of nature, Wuliang mountain is the place to be.

Best Time to Visit: Months of November and December

Luoping Rapeseed Flowers

One of the most visited places in Yunnan during the Spring season, Golden rapeseed flowers bloom and cover around 39,000 acres of land. From a far view, it looks like a golden sea that spreads up to the horizon. It is beautifully paired up with the primitive houses from the villages, the clear blue sky, beautiful karst peaks, and the crystal clear river.

Best Time to Visit: Early Spring, Months of February to September.

Well, Then!

So, there you have it! Have you copied the list? One of the aspects that make traveling to Yunnan more enjoyable, aside from getting your memory cards full of wonderful images, is that you become incredibly close to nature and its beauty. Capturing these spectacular sites makes you feel blessed to be able to immortalize these sceneries in photographs. The world may be changing quickly and turning into a concrete jungle, but places like Yunnan still exist to give you a quick escape.