For well-heeled travellers, lavish decor, five-star service and luxury amenities set a hotel apart and the options are endless. With so many offering their own take on opulence, it now takes something extra to attract the upscale wanderlust. More than just comfort and style, today it’s all about whimsical escapism.
For well-heeled travellers, lavish decor, five-star service and luxury amenities set a hotel apart and the options are endless. With so many offering their own take on opulence, it now takes something extra to attract the upscale wanderlust. More than just comfort and style, today it’s all about whimsical escapism.
Writer Zoe Louise Cronk
Library Hotel, New York City
Book-lovers, rejoice! A block away from the world-renowned New York Public Library stands the Library Hotel. Dedicated to all things books, every square inch of these chic digs are lined with bookcases and each room has its own theme with relevant books and art to match. These include botany, poetry, fashion design, fairy tales, classic fiction, ancient history and many more. It’s the city’s best-known concept hotel and the beautifully appointed, art deco interiors and classical music that plays throughout affords a tranquil, elegant atmosphere – a rare find in this buzzing metropolis. But it’s not all about reading. There’s also a penthouse lounge and bar to inspire your inner wordsmith. www.libraryhotel.com
Milestone Hotel, London
TreeHotel, Sweden
Once upon a time, a filmmaker named Jonas Selberg Augustsén visited a guesthouse in the forests of Swedish Lapland, where he and his crew captured the movie The Tree Love. For the couple who owned the pensionat, their visit sparked an idea that would evolve into something truly unique. They gave a few friends (also renowned Swedish architects) free reign to let their inspiration run wild, and together created a series of treetop dens that would attract global travellers for years to come. Guests today seek either the Bird’s Nest cabin or the new ‘seventh room’ 10m up in the pine crowns. Stargaze from the netted terrace or enjoy an al fresco night in the wilderness. Relaxation comes via the tree sauna, open-air hot tub or Swedish massage, while more energetic activities include snow-shoe walks, husky-drawn sled rides and white-water rafting. Keen photographer? Cross the Arctic Circle and scan the sky for the legendary green flashes of the Aurora Borealis. This is more than a hotel stay: it’s earthy and humbling in a remote, picture-perfect setting. www.treehotel.se
Attrap‘Rêves La Bouilladisse, France
No Man’s Fort, Portsmouth
Secluded. Historic. Distinctive. Three words that define the No Man’s Fort hotel that rises from the waves off the south coast of England. Here nautical luxury has become something of an art. Housed in a Victorian-era fort, it was built to protect the English city of Portsmouth from the French invasion of Napoleon III in the 1800s. Today it’s a one-of-a-kind hotel that sits within swirling tidal waters, delivering dramatic seascapes at every turn. You can tour the fort and learn about the history, but the weight of its ancestry can be felt instantly. Combined with the subtle soundtrack of the waves, naval hues and maritime artefacts that serve as decoration, it affords an incredible atmosphere. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the penthouse Lighthouse Suite with natural light, making it the perfect vantage point to watch the yachts and fishermen that sail past each day. Take to sea for an exhilarating Rib Ride across the Solent or head up to the rooftop Jacuzzi where you can admire the 360-degree vistas. www.solentforts.com
Montana Magica Lodge, Chile
Marqués de Riscal, Spain
In the stunning Rioja wine-growing region of Spain is the Marqués de Riscal: the first and only hotel designed by architect Frank Gehry. Renowned for his work on the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, Gehry’s characteristic style made the jump seamlessly to hotels in the form of this avant-garde design. Giant titanium ribbons in silver and purple stand boldly against the skyline, with his trademark high ceilings, tilted walls and zigzag windows making the design even more intriguing. The structure itself doesn’t appear to fit with the vineyard on which it resides but its ethos is all about art, gastronomy and wine – the ultimate Spanish combination. The on-site restaurant is Michelin-starred and comes complete with magnificent views of the Cantabrian Mountains, and there’s also an entire spa wing that specialises in vino therapy. Feel like exploring? The medieval town of Elciego is just a stone’s throw away. www.hotel-marquesderiscal.com
Palacio de Sal, Bolivia
Hotel Seven, France
Crane Hotel Faralda, Netherlands
