Hotels

Opened in 1890 by Japan's aristocracy, by 1922 a nearly completed second generation Imperial Hotel building reopened with a design by the legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It contained a revolutionary floating cantilever design which allowed it to withstand the Samson-shaking earthquake of 1923 on the very day of …

The Puchner Castle Hotel is five hotels in one. You can stay in the Renaissance Palace where you have a choice of rooms and suites decorated in the genteel style of Matthias Corvinus who was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458. Or how about The Castle – an elegant …

Back in the olden days, Europe was rather like Game of Thrones except we didn’t call them “White Walkers” instead we called them “Swedish”. Anyway, Portugal was like King’s Landing and in 1640 a new king had ascended to the Portuguese throne, King Joao IV. Unfortunately the Spanish and a …

This quaint hotel has been restored carefully with the needs of the cosmopolitan traveler in mind. The three sun-gleamed buildings were built in colonial times, and original frescos and wood-beamed ceilings remain key features of the new design. The location is the UNESCO World Heritage town of Cartagena de Indias …

Like the Pharaohs' pyramids and Nebuchadnezzar’s hanging gardens, rich men have long sought to build the ultimate thing. Mardan Palace is considered to be one of the most expensive resorts in the world, costing $1.4 billion to build. There are 546 rooms separated into three wings: Dolmabahce, European, and Anatolian, …

Costa Rica has a long tradition of ostentatious hotel-building but today’s travelers often prefer a smaller, wiser experience. Enter then, Kura Design Villas. Located on the esoteric Osa Peninsula halfway up a rainforest-clad mountainside, these properties balance perfectly on that fine line between rustic and luxury. Awake then, to the …

Known as the city of royal palaces and shimmering lakes, Udaipur, in the heart of Rajasthan, is a fine location for The Oberoi Udaivilas – a traditional Indian palace. Come and walk through the complex courtyards, musical fountains, pools and lush gardens. The architecture was inspired by the old palaces …

This romantic castle in the wilds of Wales was built in 1849 by Sir John Hay William Baronet of Bodelwyddan and his wife Lady Sarah Hay Williams. The exterior was designed by Lady Sarah who was captivated by the French chateaus she saw on her holidays. It was built to …

25Hours is a new brand of design hotels whose philosophy is that each hotel should be unique and tailored to its location. Their “Hotel Number One” is located in Hamburg in a converted 1950s office block. Inside, the interior is a funky blend of the 60s and 70s style, featuring …

Snowdonia is a majestic and ancient land. Riddled with myth, this is where the great magician Merlin is said to have been born. Explore the cliffs and crags of Wales. Check out the mountain Cader Idris where, according to legend, if you spend a night on its misty summit you …

For many people, Parisian hotels are always going to be a crystal chandelier affair with Louis the XVI chairs and hankies flopped around the place. But for us at Uniqhotels it is all about vaulting design that overleaps itself and… well, this is no time for Shakespeare. Why not? Because …

A delightful slice of rural England, Jollydays has the dubious honor of being the chalice that spawned Grazia magazine buzzword, “glamping” (a portmanteau created from “glamorous” and “camping”… I know). But don’t let that put you off. What you have here is a way to experience the fabulous English countryside …

This 500-year-old building was once owned by aristocratic families but it is now a designer hotel. A huge renovation project took place in 1993 when the Viennese architect Boris Podrecca managed the feat of creating a modern hotel encompassing four old houses. Today, each of the 33 rooms has been …

This castle, which you can rent for a luxury break, was the winner of a TV show entitled, I Own Britain’s Best Home. Owners, Terry George, and Michael Rothwell spent four years doing the place up until it spanks the butt of any competition. In the old days, castles had …

Take a swill pill in this fragrant pit of chic. Yes, this 1920s building has been refurbished into one of the world’s most desirable boutique hotels. The interior has been decorated to exacting standards using monochromes and reflective steel to create an impression of living inside a sexy chessboard. Throughout …

This early 20th Century mansion has a prestigious location and a grand history. Built by architect and painter, Mario Tosatto, the house has been passed down generations of his family all of whom have dedicated the space to the pursuit of art. And what a fine location for a worthy …

Located at the Matheran Hill Station around 90km from Mumbai, The Verandah in the Forest is a 19th Century colonial bungalow originally built by an Englishman who no-doubt sported the Nietzsche-style mustache in vogue at the time. Overman or not you will find the surroundings delightful and the location, high …

Located in the ancient city of Matera in Italy, this unique hotel is built into caves that once housed our ancient ancestors. Populated for 9000 years, the town was officially founded by the Romans in the third century BC. It has been consistently inhabited since and the caves were used …

Lundy Island is one of England’s natural wonders – a small emanation that rises from the waves of the Bristol Channel, just under five square kilometers in size. It has been populated since Neolithic times with old gravestones recently uncovered and dated to the 5th Century. There are a number …

“Glamping” is an unfortunate portmanteau combining the words “glamorous” and “camping” the idea being that you get all the joys of camping with none of its rigors. And boy, do you get just that and more at Sandat Glamping. There is a range of accommodations. Stay in a lumbung – …