Who loves staying at hotels on their travels? I DO! Yes, I absolutely adore finding cool, quirky and luxurious hotels to stay in along my travels.
From a 6 star hotel in Marrakech and glam villa hotels in Bali, to Michelin star hotels in the UK and unique accommodation in Croatia, you’ll find plenty of great hotel reviews here.
Happy relaxing!
Budget friendly and centrally located, Su Merced Hotel is a great option for a stay in Santiago, Chile.
It was an emotional day. I was coming to the end of my adventures in Chile. Just one night remained… and here I was checking into Su Merced – a boutique hotel in the centre of Santiago.
I stumbled across the hotel during an intense hotel research session. It had great reviews. Sitting just outside the top 10 of ALL the hotels in Santiago on Trip Advisor, it seemed to have won people over. Guests were returning time and time again and I just had to find out why.
Located in Lastarria, moments from The Singular (a wonderful hotel I stayed in just a week or so before), the area is perfect for a few days exploring the city. In amongst the grand historic buildings, cool cafes, and lush parks, it’s a great spot, and architecturally – the hotel had been an exciting project.
Stylish décor, a rooftop swimming pool and one of the best meals I’ve eaten in a while. Welcome to 5 star luxury courtesy of The Singular Hotel, Santiago.
Arriving at The Singular Hotel is a bit like going to visit one of your oldest friends. They welcome you with open arms, ask how your journey was, and leave you to relax on a comfy sofa while they fetch you drinks and treats. It sounds strange to say it, but I felt like I’d been here before.
Courtyard Restaurant Area at The Singular Hotel, SantiagoLounge and Bar Area at The Singular Hotel, Santiago
Wondering what St Kitts is like for a holiday? From rainforests to beaches, find out what it’s like to visit this Caribbean island.
Yes, it’s true. After a week in St Martin in March, I returned to one of my favourite parts of the world – the Caribbean, for another week of adventures. This time I flew to neighbouring island St Kitts. Firstly – despite being just a short hop from one another, you couldn’t get two more different islands. Secondly – what a gem of a place St Kitts is!
I knew very little about the island before visiting. I wanted to keep it that way in order to soak up the atmosphere, understand the people, take in the culture and as always, make my own adventures.
So what is St Kitts like?
St Kitts is beautifully untouched. People say “quick, go to Cuba before it’s too late”… well after visiting both islands, I’d say St Kitts feels less commercial; tourism hasn’t invaded or destroyed it. Somehow, it’s retained its own character. Other than a Marriott and a KFC, every restaurant and hotel was ‘local’. It’s quite an achievement considering the number of enormous cruise ships that dock each week.
We started our week at Ocean Terrace Inn, a smart hotel overlooking the bay of Basseterre – the island’s lively and colourful capital.
A photo posted by Chloe Gunning wanderlustchloe (@wanderlustchloe) on
As with neighbouring islands, St Kitts is mountainous with Mount Liamuiga standing tall at 3,792 feet. Beaches, mountains, volcanoes, and rainforests – a photographer’s dream!
The island’s past is deeply rooted in the sugar production industry. It’s a dark history, but one it’s important to hear in order to get to know the place. You can’t travel far without passing an old plantation, estate or sugar mill, and Ottley’s Plantation Inn – an 18th century sugar plantation with 35 lush acres of gardens, rainforest and beautiful accommodation was a highlight.
From the incredible rooftop pool, to chic rooms and top restaurants, it’s time for my review of the W Hotel Santiago!
Santiago is a city packed full of hotels perfect for the most extravagant of breaks. After an enjoyable stay at the 5-star Noi in the Vitacura neighbourhood, I popped over to the W Santiago to experience a different style of luxury.
I’ll admit I’ve been longing to stay at a W hotel for a while. I’ve lusted after their hotels ever since I spent hours sipping on beautifully made cocktails in their Central London hotel, and enjoying the best view in Barcelona in their epic Dubai style skybar. With over 40 hotels in 20+ countries, I was excited to receive an invite to stay overnight in Santiago.
W do luxury differently. They’re not old-fashioned, they’re cool. They’re not stuffy, they’re playful. They rewrite the rulebook on 5-star, with their tongue in cheek signage and über fashionable décor. The W? Oh, it stands for whatever.
W Hotel Santiago
With 196 rooms, the W Santiago’s tower sits in El Golf, a region of Las Condes. It’s a desirable neighbourhood quite different from Vitacura, but still home to plenty of Santiago’s mid-to-upper class residents. Within walking distance of South America’s largest shopping mall, the Costanera Center, it’s the ideal location for those looking for a stylish break, close to the action, with great dining options. With hotel amenities including a top gourmet restaurant (Osaka) and one of the city’s best rooftop pools, if you have the budget, this is a hotel you won’t want to miss.
W Hotel SantiagoW Hotel Santiago
After navigating our way through a lift from the carpark, we made it to reception where a helpful member of staff took control of the check in. It was still early, but our room was ready so we opted to head straight up to the seventh floor. Unlike many 5-star hotels, we were not accompanied by a member of staff, and we took care of our own luggage. Service felt pretty relaxed.
As I entered the room, I was struck by two things. Firstly what a huge room it was – the king size bed looked small with so much space around it! Secondly – the incredible floor to ceiling windows looking out over Santiago. One of those moments that makes you go ‘wow’!
Considering booking L’Ecrin Du Val Claret in Tignes for your ski holiday? From more about the rooms, food quality and the spa in this detailed review.
As outlined in my Wanderlust Bambi post I wasn’t a natural skier… but after a few days in ski school, I started to get the hang of it! Thankfully, when I wasn’t on the slopes I had a cosy mountain hideaway to warm up in – the Mark WarnerHotel L’Ecrin in the village of Tignes Val Claret in the French Alps.
Covered in a snowy cotton-wool blanket, the chalet style hotel had a spacious reception area, a comfortable lounge with a fireplace, bar, restaurant, a luxurious spa, and 52 bedrooms.
Lounge area at Hotel L’Ecrin Du Val ClaretHotel L’Ecrin Du Val ClaretSpa area at Hotel L’Ecrin Du Val ClaretLounge area at Hotel L’Ecrin Du Val Claret
The Mark Warner experience is all about warm service, comfort and convenience. Over the course of a few days I got to know the hotel staff – from the front desk team to the spa girls and the barmen. Everyone was friendly, full of info and brought a really lovely social vibe to the hotel. For families, they offer childcare – a great option when the grown ups fancy a day on the slopes.
