I know that some people feel that where you stay when you’re travelling is inconsequential. They are the people who will exclaim: “I just need somewhere to lay my head and that’s it. I don’t plan on spending any time in my room.”
I’m here to tell you that I’m not one of those people.
I’ve tried staying at what my husband lovingly refers to as ‘rats and roaches’ hostels, apartments and hotels and the only feeling I leave with is a sense of sadness – and often disgust. Even if I’ve spent minimal time in a room, if that rooms smells of damp, has no proper curtains to block out the light or features a bed as hard as a board, then I’m still going to feel pretty rubbish about the experience. And sometimes it may even tarnish my whole trip.
As I get older, I’m more likely to want a comfy bed, a big hot shower and a balcony with a view where I can sip a glass of wine and read a book. I’m more prepared to pay for comfort and luxury than I once was, happy to leave the 18-year-old backpackers to the sweaty dorm rooms. #sorrynotsorry
So in that vein, I’ve put together a list of some of the best hotels and resorts I’ve stayed in around the world, and the touches that made my stay extra special.
Askham Hall, UK
This is a pretty recent stay, but also one of my most memorable. Located in the English Lake District, it’s the roaring fires in the drawing room, the bedroom view over the expansive green fields and the haute cuisine at the in-house restaurant that have stayed with me ever since I left Askham Hall.
The front-of-house manager Nico makes sure that everyone is made to feel special and the outdoor heated pool is just the icing on the cake of what is already a wonderfully-fine country house hotel.
Koh Yao Yai Village, Thailand
Staying at Koh Yao Yai Village Resort was a spur-of-the-moment decision we made while we were looking at flights in Kuala Lumpur. We found a great off-season deal for this gorgeous resort, complete with infinity pool with views to die for, and decided that this otherwise sleepy island would be the jumping-off point for our time in Thailand.
I loved our huge villa, but it was the cocktail happy hours spent in the infinity pool with some new-found friends that I will never forget. Oh, and the buffet breakfast was surprisingly good for Thailand, as well.
Apartments Torre de Madrid, Spain
This technically isn’t a hotel, rather an apartment rental, but it’s the swankiest damn apartment rental we’ve ever had. What with the gorgeous furnishings, the access to a rooftop pool and gym and an enviable central location in Madrid, it ticked all of the boxes.
Also, the amazingly-comfortable bed here was the reason I purchased a memory foam rolled mattress as soon as I moved back home. We had both gotten sick on our flight over from Mexico, and so spent half of our time in Madrid sleeping in the blissful air conditioning of our bedroom. The bed here was probably one of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept on, and was the perfect thing to come home to after several hours of sipping sangria and munching on tapas.
Riad Dyor, Morocco
Perhaps it was the fact that it was our honeymoon that has left me with fond memories of Riad Dyor, but I prefer to think that it was the romantically-lit home-cooked meal, the sunsets from the rooftop and the eclectically-styled bedrooms.
The staff here were all super-friendly, the place is designed with elegance in mind and the breakfast spreads on the rooftop (still dreaming about that orange juice) were some of the most relaxed and enjoyable I’ve ever had.
Harbour Plaza Metropolis, Hong Kong
We only spent a couple of nights here before checking into a hostel, but those two nights made us feel like a million dollars. We had an al fresco bathtub on our private balcony and could wake up to the bustling sounds of the city every morning.
Plus, it was the only hotel on our trip where we indulged in room service (an average club sandwich with fries, but still…) and there was a great outdoor pool overlooking Victoria Harbour. Take me back!
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