Hotels

Set on a cliff with beaches on either side, the Albatroz commands a place of honor in Portugal’s foremost playground, Cascais. The former fishing village has been around since the 12th Century. A succession of Kings, Lords, and Marquises took possession of the village over centuries until today, where it …

Hotel Palafitte takes Japanese minimalism and combines it with over-water bungalows from the South Pacific islands and places it all in the Swiss Alps. And not just anywhere in the Swiss Alps, in one of the best spots available in the converted Three Lakes region. Contemporary hardwood floors and designer …

I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights. Now, you can view them in all their mystical glory whilst remaining in your bed, how? Because you are staying in a glass igloo, deep in the adventurous arctic circle, you lucky thing. Made from thermal glass, the igloo never spoils your …

Coal mining was the principal industry of the Limburg area. The Carbon Hotel takes its namesake from these seams of history that run through the rocks and culture of the area. Luckily that’s where the similarity with coal mining ends. Your room has an iPod dock, a BOSE Soundsystem, designer …

Two specially commissioned holiday apartments located high in the Austrian Alps where the scented air holds, in its spell, spicy conifer forests and ancient glaciers. Professor of architecture, Andreas Meck used bird’s nests for his inspiration. He placed his design hotel on the edge of a deep valley with views …

It holds the world record for ‘smallest hotel in the world’, and when you arrive at Punta Grande, you will be forgiven for thinking you have arrived at the home of an insane fisherman with love for very exposed locations. Situated on a rocky outcrop on the island of El …

The Royal Crescent, Bath, was built in the 1770s by noted architect, John Wood. A keen occultist and freemason, when viewed from above, the crescent represents the moon as part of a series of buildings that mimic Masonic symbols. Shapeshifting Lizards notwithstanding, The Royal Crescent Hotel is a fine place …

This baroque chateau was built in the 17th Century. Originally intended as a hunting lodge, the chateau became the country residence of a succession of aristocratic families. The house hosted great ballets and balls until the communists took over in the 1940s and pooped the party. The chateau fell into …

‘You do not find yourself. You create yourself’ is the optimistic philosophy of this hotel. Owner and award-winning architect, Paris Liakos wanted to create a blank canvass for his guests. So they would have the freedom to create their own experience. When he started the hotel, his canvass was bare …

You are balancing on a mountain bike at the top of a slither of rocky trail running steeply down a mountainside. Everything is focused on your next maneuver. Your behind hovers behind the saddle for balance, feet in firm contact with the pedals, white knuckles on the handlebars, you choose …

Famous for its ‘mood rooms’ – this is Stockholm’s foremost design hotel. Its rooms are fitted with lighting designed to inspire moods and create atmospheres – like lighting a candle and dimming the lights - only more awesome. You can choose ‘relaxing blue’, ‘refreshing green’ or ‘pulsing red’ and adjust …

The tourist industry in Cascais has had a great time recently. This gorgeous medieval village boasts a fine location that has long been used as a getaway for the rich and famous. The top real estate here is the old aristocratic mansions that lie on rocky outcrops, high above the …

The ages have been kind to Cappadocia (Hittite for ‘land of beautiful horses’). Because of the particular mineral composition in the rock, mountains have been eroded into monoliths, valleys, and chimneys. People have lived there, amongst the caves and crannies, ever since mammoth skins were the latest must-have fashion accessory. …

From the people that brought you the ‘One Hotel Angkor’- the ‘Be’ hotel is another trendy place for you to consider. It offers you not rooms, but a choice of three ‘design experiences’ (not my words). And to be fair, the interior design is spankingly original, as you can see …

Your room is one of the largest you will find in Tokyo. And this hotel has so many suites, conference centers, and ballrooms; who could resist the chance to get lost in such space-age opulence! Make sure you don’t miss The Void which is their abstract art installation. But take …

The controversy is a delightful piece of insanity courtesy of a Dutch couple who love converting obsolete public transport into luxury accommodation. Their farm is a museum to reclaimed vehicles; everything from a 1958 Cadillac to a modern-day MIG fighter jet. You can catch the MIG humorously placed on top …

This royal palace was first erected by the Maharana in 1746. Built on four acres of rock in the middle of a tranquil lake, it has been used by the rich and powerful for hundreds of years. And James Bond too. Yes, this hotel was used as the location for …

Architectural outlier and presidential daughter Dang Viet Nga built this unique structure entirely from personal and private funds. Not only that, but the local municipal government fought her every step of the way. But she didn’t give up. Instead, she pushed on to realize her dream - a bizarre and …

It’s called the New Majestic Hotel so no-one forgets that it’s new and majestic. But that would be hard to do given that the lobby has a copper ceiling, white-washed walls, and vintage fans. As is usual for modern design hotels, local artists have been allowed to splurge their creative …

The Bosphorus is the smallest strait used for international navigation. Also known as the Istanbul Strait, it connects the Black Sea with the Aegean Sea which leads to the Mediterranean. Along its banks are beautiful towns and world famous seafood. The best way to explore this fascinating area is by …