welcome to the grand guides!
as those who’ve read prior guides might know, the grand guides are allll about travel, otherwise known as my favorite way to spend my money. this edition is dedicated to all the boutique hotels i stay in when i set off to see the world on my own.
but first, a quick note on solo travel.
i’m three weeks into my longest stint of solo travel yet (more on that here), and i can confidently say that while there have been hard moments, it’s been mostly a whole lot of wonderful. i leave in a little over a week, and while i think i’ll probably be ready to get back to new york by then, i’m also betting i’m going to be pretty damn sad to leave mexico. it is, as we often say in the ad industry, a “yes, and…” situation. yes, i’m happy to be heading home soon, AND i wish i could stay.
but that, my friends, is a story for another day.
because today, we’re going to talk about one of my most favorite parts of travel: staying in beautiful, home-away-from-home hotels. i consider myself somewhat a hotel connoisseur. i’m constantly bookmarking, pinning, and saving spots i hope to visit someday. i’ve been known to stay in a neighborhood solely FOR the hotel. a hotel stay done right, is, to me, the best of luxury. it’s a way to be away from home, but still feel at home. hotels are an excellent source of design inspiration, and my god do i love a hotel bar. i’ve had the privilege of staying in some truly wonderful hotels over the years, so i thought i’d gather them all into one spot for you!
note: this guide will be updated every so often as i find and stay in new spots. think of it as a living document!
ok, let’s do this.
my favorite boutique hotels (and how i find them!)
over the years, i’ve gotten quite a few messages about where i stay when i travel, and how i find those spots. first things first: let me disavow you of the notion that boutique = expensive. this can most certainly be true (i’ve certainly stayed in my fair share of splurgier hotels), but it’s not always the case! many of the boutique hotels i’ve stayed in on my travels have been cheaper than the big chain ones available in the same city.
to me, the true definition of a boutique hotel is that it’s small, maybe even family-owned. it’s one of a kind, and generally, beautifully designed, with thoughtful touches like yummy breakfast and front desk folks who know the best place to grab a drink or eat a meal. i consider myself a bit of a boutique hotel savant (same goes for cute airbnbs!), not because i have any special powers (beyond the power of patience and google) but because i’ve stayed in so many over the years.
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