Traditional Hotels

Located in a handful of 16th Century farm buildings perched on a hillock overlooking a fertile plain, this hotel was a working farm for centuries. You can stay in the peculiar “trulli” houses that were the preferred residencies of farm laborers. They are dry-stone conical huts with thatched roofs easily …

In a world obsessed with Hobbit films and where Game of Thrones is spawning meme after hilarious meme, it is no surprise that the Medieval Hotel is doing fast business. It offers you the experience of living a medieval lifestyle except with hot water, human rights, and no Black Death. …

In Tuscany, there is a beautiful villa that has been restored. With only seven rooms, this exclusive hotel has married modern furnishings with the traditional style. The half-ancient wooden beams hold up the ceiling as you sit in front of a 200-year-old fireplace next to a stone wall that was …

This Norwegian hotel was opened in 1891 to cater to the crème-de-la-crème of European society. Over the years it hosted Queen Wilhelmina of Holland, Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, King Oscar II, Queen Maud, and King Haakon VII. In 1989 the hotel was restored to its former glory after years …

Which was the coolest iron-age tribe? The Vikings, of course. Their horned helmets, love of pillage, and super-fast longboats made them a fearsome force to be reckoned with in early Europe. Every summer, in a typically unpronounceable Icelandic town, Viking culture comes alive in the Viking Festival in Hafnarfjordur.

Sitting boldly in Old Istanbul, Hotel Niles is located near all the best sites: the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. It is the perfect base for you to explore the city from and one you will secretly long to return to. Why? Well, look at these pictures: the …

Safari was an Indian invention. The word Sahar means travel in Sanskrit/Hindi and the British appropriated the word and took it to Africa. The India Safari club takes you on trips in the Rajastani wilderness using 4x4, camels, or even elephants. It was all the brainchild of founder, Reggie Marwar …

About three million years ago an enormous volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself much to the hilarity of the other volcanoes who laughed so much they blew their own tops. This massive event created what is known today as the Ngorongoro Crater. For millions of years, the crater has …

This hotel was built by the Serbian Tim Burton, Emir Kusturica, and is based on his film Life is Miracle. Everything is constructed from wood mixing traditional with modern styles. The famous director still lives there with his family in the large main house. The design was set to recreate …

If you were a French Celt living in the 2nd Century AD under threat from the Romans you would want to in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set high in the Alpilles mountains on a rocky outcrop with a view of the surrounding plateau, the location has been inhabited for thousands of years. …

*‘At night it is so quiet that you begin to hear the stars’* - Benedict Allen The ancient Egyptians called Siwa the ‘Field of Trees’. Today this most isolated settlement is home to a small population of Berbers and one of the world’s most interesting hotels. You won’t find marble …

Goa is one of the most popular destinations on the globe. Its year-round sunshine, laid-back culture, and infinite stretches of beach attract people the world over. Now wouldn’t it be nice if you could break off a piece of this paradise to call your own? Well, you can at Elsewhere. …

You go to Istanbul because it is one of the world’s great historic cities. So why stay in a boring hotel? You want to stay in something charming, something with a connection to the city with a unique character. Step forward to the Dersaadet Hotel. The name means “place of …

This compact luxury inn or “ryokan” is situated in a perfect location with mountains falling like curtains behind small valleys and rivers. The inn has balconies where you can relax and take in the amazing Japanese countryside. There is a nearby train station, so you will easily be able to …

Kasbah Tamadot is part of Richard Branson's portfolio of unique retreats. It is a traditional Moroccan castle in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. The Kasbah is surrounded by scented gardens, terraces, and staircases and maintains traditional glamour. You can stay in the Berber Tent suites which are in the …

AnaYela is a 300-year-old city palace in the historic part of Marrakech. When the new owners took it over, they found a secret room that was bricked up. In that room, there was a small jewelry box covered in dust. Inside was a hand-written note telling the story of a …

This town was founded in 1885 when Marty McFly arrived from the future looking for The Doc… hang on. Wrong review. Yes, this town was founded on the banks of the Dolores River in 1885, about half a mile from a mine where the townsfolk worked. It was always a …

In 1908 if you were a tired seadog taking a well-earned shore leave, you would stay in the Seaman's Relief Centre. Immature snickers aside, the building was built by the famous architect William A Boring and is a fine example of turn-of-the-century neoclassicism. It once housed the traumatized survivors of …

The Old Dungeon Ghyll is in England’s Lake District, a beautiful area that inspired some of the greatest poetry ever written. Indeed the air still resounds with Coleridge’s blessing: ‘Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee, Whether the summer clothe the general earth With greenness, or the redbreast sit …

Deep in the rolling hilled wine regions of France, you can find a selection of beautifully restored traditional Gypsy Caravans. These are available for hire and are decorated in four different styles reflecting all kinds of Gypsy Heritage. You can be transported into a lifestyle that hasn’t changed for centuries …