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!
Checking out The Pucic Palace in the ancient city of Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Awkward guest – that’s just not my style!
Oh… that was until I checked into The Pucic Palace in Dubrovnik in June 2015. I arrived just as an incredible electric storm struck the city. My arrival in Dubrovnik was already tinged with drama as my shuttle bus from the airport had broken down on a cliff edge and another bus had to come and rescue us. Once at The Pucic Palace, the hotel staff agreed to help me set up my Croatian SIM card, which was a small drama in itself as they searched the entire building for an unlocked phone!
It’s fair to say, they took all my mini dramas in their stride, and went above and beyond to make my stay a pleasant one.
The hotel has two sections: the 17th Century Baroque hotel building, and the annex apartments a minute away. I was staying in Defne Apartment in the annex – a stunning building right in the heart of the old town.
Last week I had the chance to tick another country off my bucket list… and do it in style. Just over four hours from London by plane is the beautiful island of Cyprus. For years friends have been telling me all about the beautiful scenery, perfect weather, and excellent hospitality.
I can’t deny that my love of the Cypriot cheese halloumi was another reason for wanting to visit… (imagine having that for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Yum!) I’d read a few Sensatori Cyprus reviews but was keen to share my own experiences.
Sensatori Cyprus – the main pool
Checking In To Tui Sensatori Aphrodite Hills, Cyprus
In early June, I checked into the Sensatori Resort Aphrodite Hills (around twenty minutes from Paphos Airport). Sensatori is the luxury hotel brand from Tui. They offer “luxury holidays designed to fuel the senses” in 5-star surroundings, with gourmet food and plenty more to make it a truly special holiday. I was staying as an all-inclusive guest, which gave me the chance to check out several restaurants, enjoy a few cocktails and pile up my plate at the buffet breakfast!
I was curious about Sensatori Cyprus as it had just undergone a rebrand. I’d heard this might be the best Sensatori yet and I’m pleased to say it was a pleasant experience. Champagne was waiting on arrival, and the check-in staff were very welcoming. Arriving late at night (11.30pm) I had assumed it may be difficult to find any food, but thankfully a basic version of the buffet was still in operation.
Check prices and current availability at Sensatori Cyprus here.
My room was on the ground floor, and was stylishly decorated in a mix of grey, silver and white. The bathroom was large with a rain-style shower and bath. My French doors opened out onto a small terrace area with a couple of chairs and a table. Bluetooth speakers, fluffy robes, and plenty of toiletries added to the high-end feel.
My bedroom at Sensatori CyprusMy bathroom at Sensatori CyprusMy bedroom at Sensatori CyprusToilettries at Tui Sensatori Resort Atlantica Aphrodite Hills
Time to check out Osmanli Manor Hotel in Cappadocia, Turkey.
Cappadocia is a land of boutique hotels. Tourism is booming in the towns of Göreme, Ürgüp and Uçhisar, but the region hasn’t been spoiled by giant chain hotels… yet. Instead, small hotels designed, built and run by locals, complement the landscape of caves and rocks.
After two nights enjoying the seclusion of Kale Konak Cave Hotel in Uçhisar, I moved to Osmanli Manor Hotel located in Cappadocia’s main town of Göreme. I chose the manor not only because Göreme offers more in the way of dining and shopping, but it is also one of a handful of new build boutique hotels that had opened in recent years.
The hotel is run by Australian/Turkish couple Fiona and Mustafa. She recounted the tale: “15 years ago I was backpacking through the area, fell in love, and the rest is history.” They lived in Australia for a few years, and then decided to return to Cappadocia to open the hotel.
There was a feeling of grandeur as I entered, but any stiffness quickly disappeared once I spotted two young children by reception. Their ‘help’ with check-in provided much entertainment! Also adding to the family-run hotel vibe was an affectionate dog called Penny.
During my visit in April, the area was suffering from some unusually
