Press Releases
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01.03.08 - Boutique hotels: i-escape sorts the wheat from the chaff
05.02.08 - i-escape.com unveils Alternative Hotel Awards 2008
14.01.08 - New Year, New You
01.11.07 - Winter Sun - Our 2007/8 Hotlist
07.08.07 - Chic But Cheap
18.07.07 - Insider's Shopping Tips: Asia and Australia
06.02.07 - i-escape's Good Snooze Guide
20.12.06 - Top 10 spas for 2007 pampering and relaxation
03.10.06 - i-escape brings you Gran Canaria with an aristocratic twist
05.09.06 - Move over Morocco - i-escape introduces boutique Tunisia
21.08.06 - Top 5 places for organic food
01.08.06 - Our inaugural 'Alternative Hotel Awards'
28.07.06 - Healing Through Raw Food at Puri Ganesha, Bali
21.07.06 - 5 stylish new hotels in southern Italy
13.06.06 - Boutique Bed Boom for Rio de Janeiro
17.05.06 - Da Vinci Chic Parisien Hideaways
 Boutique hotels: i-escape sorts the wheat from the chaff
Question:
When is a boutique hotel not a boutique hotel?
Answer: Round about now. Why? Because the term has become so diluted since it was coined in 1980's New York (allegedly by Morgans pioneer Ian Schrager) that it is now being applied to any new or refurbed hotel with an ounce of branding, no matter how small or beautiful. We recently read about a new 'boutique hotel' in Atlantic City with 500 identical rooms, a 250-car parking lot, a retail centre and direct access to its sister casino. Which is like calling Tesco's a family-run deli.
So what should the term 'boutique hotel' really mean, and if it's becoming so over-used, what are the alternatives?
Definition
 The Business Dictionary (it's not in OED yet) defines it as a "small but exclusive property that caters to affluent clientele with an exceptional level of service at premium prices". Wikipedia thinks it's an "intimate, usually luxurious or quirky" hotel which differentiates itself from chain hotels through personalized accommodation and service. We'd go for "a small, usually urban hotel with distinctive design, personalised service and independent ownership". But even then, we'd have to admit that there are boutique hotels in the countryside, boutique hotels which are owned by small chains (Stein, Hospes etc), and boutique hotels whose decor is a cookie-cutter copy of the now-standard noughties look.
The boutique test
So we've come up with 5 criteria to put any hotel to the boutique test:
1. small – we'd put the limit at 50 rooms (rural) or 150 rooms (urban). Anything really small - under 10 rooms, say - or lacking hotel services can go for a spin-off term like 'boutique B&B' or 'boutique guesthouse'. We've even come across 'boutique campsite', while apartments are increasingly dubbed a 'boutique bolthole'.
2. personalised – it has to be an antidote to our automated world: friendly staff who greet you by name (preferably 'Hi Michael', rather than 'Hello Mr. Cullen'), rooms which vary one from another (personalised book and CD collections in your room earn bonus points) and a sociable bar (member-only bars, like those at Bangkok's
Met or Berlin's
Q, get an extra point). Room Mate hotels go further, by naming their places after a fictional friend who is your host, as if the hotel is his home.
3. stylish – if it feels like grandma's spare room, then you might as well stay at home; this should be a treat for today's time-poor, cash-rich travellers. Bespoke artwork and design classics earn extra points – though it doesn't have to be a design hotel (see below). And beware formulaic boutiquification - easily recognised by noughties design clichés like a single kala lily in a huge vase, or a swirl of Osborne & Little wallpaper in a monochrome room. True style has to be more than skin deep. (But we'll forgive the iconic green apple of the Room-Mate hotels, because we think they're a truly innovative group).
4. contemporary– somehow you can't call it boutique if it's got Louis XIV chairs and chintzy curtains. We need hi-tech extras: flatscreen TV's and wifi are de rigueur, ipod docks and guest laptops score extra points. But a bit of deliberate retro is fine, viz.
Hotel 1929 in Singapore,
L'Avenida in Mallorca etc.
5. independently owned – a huge multinational chain,
 with its
standardised procedures, uniform room décor and high staff turnover, can't be boutique, however hard they try (as Starwood have with their W hotels, for example). But smaller chains can get away with it: we reckon anything up to 20 co-branded hotels leaves enough room for individual expression.
Casa Angelina and
Villa Mangiacane (photos right) - both run by the 16-member Stein group - could hardly be more different; while Hospes' 14 hotels are equally varied and innovative.
What about the luxury level? Boutiques are rarely cheap, it's true, but that's not a condition so much as a by-product of the high service levels and small number of rooms. The biggest growth in the boutique sector during 2006-7 has been downwards – into the "affordable chic" category ($150-250 per room).
And what about facilities? An in-house restaurant and bar, preferably serving classy cuisine and cocktails in a buzzy ambiance, will certainly boost the boutique hotel rating (but a boutique B&B doesn't need these, of course!). Spas, fitness centres and saunas are increasingly common - over the last 10 years, it seems that every hotel in the world has built a spa - though again that's not a prerequisite for a boutique hotel. However, put all 3 in a city hotel and, hey presto, you've got an urban sanctuary. Magic, isn't it?
And why boutique – which means 'shop' in French? Does a true boutique hotel have to sell its furniture or artwork? A lot of them now do:
La Sommita in Italy is like a glorified showroom for the upmarket homeware brand which owns it, Culti of Milan. It makes sense, and it's a good way for guests to road test a chair or even a mattress before buying. But of course it's not a pre-requisite, it's a clever additional income stream to pay off all that bespoke design.
Design hotels
Talking of which, what exactly is a design hotel? As you'd expect there's a clear emphasis on design but unlike the boutique hotel, size doesn't seem to be such a constraint: Ian Schrager's New York Gramercy Park Hotel has 190 rooms whilst London's Cumberland hotel has a whopping 1000 rooms. Everyone seems to be jumping on the bandwagon which is perhaps why the Berlin-based marketing company 'design hotels AG' trademarked the name. They now have 140 paid-up member hotels. But that hasn't stopped lots of other places using the term.
Hip hotels
The same applies to hip hotel, which was coined by Herbert Ypma in his 1999 book "Hip Hotels: City" and has since spread across 15 titles. His definition? Hotels which are "excitingly different and aesthetically pleasing", and which "have become the destination".
The new boutique?
And the big question - what is the next two-word epithet which we'll all be using in 5 years time? Hoteliers are always stressing their different-ness, so you'll find plenty of unique hotels, character hotels, even experience hotels. And we've seen a surge of art hotels - a.k.a galleries or collections - in recent years, packed with one-off artworks and bespoke designs which you can often buy at reception. On the other hand the green wave is still rolling, so expect even more eco-hotels, nature lodges, maybe a few carbon-neutral hotels (the UK got its first one a few years ago, at TYF in Wales). As ever more people travel, privacy and homeliness are at a premium - so look out for private residences and variants on the word home (Home Hotel,
Home Apartments etc). Hearteningly for us, we're coming across more and more escape-related tags: exclusive escape, urban sanctuary, exotic retreat. Plus of course our own i-escape - which includes our top boutique hotels (plus some non-boutique favourites) in 40 countries around the world. Perhaps that's what it's all about: hotels as the antidote to daily life, the escape from normality.
Have your say
Do you disagree with our definitions? Applaud our analysis? Or have a hunch about the next label? If so, let us know by email to  .
We'll publish a cross-section of your comments here, so do check back later.
08.04.08 - Michael, You are spot on with your 5 points. I made some of the same comments in Hotel F&B Magazine:
"In my opinion, a boutique hotel is a property that is uniquely significant in 4 ways:
1. Architecture and design.
2. High level of service. A property must not exceed 150 guest rooms, enhancing the guest to staff ratio.
3. Sells to a specific demographic.
4. Independently owned and operated (this is where some will disagree with me). A boutique hotel must be an independent operation. The hotel must not be part of a collection that is more than say, 10 properties."
I think in future an emphasis on experience will emerge; you can see it now with some interesting temporary hotel installations and mobile hotels at events and festivals. Europe will lead the charge on how experiential hotels are developed; brands like CitizenM will better define boutique than, say, "W" in the US.
Kurt Bjorkman, Managing Partner, over5hospitality.com
21.04.08 - I entirely agree with your comments. Just returned from NY, where I stayed at the 1000-room Hudson [a Schrager-Starck collaboration] - defined on expedia as "boutique"!
Evy Cohen, Paris
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i-escape.com unveils Alternative Hotel Awards 2008
Following the success of i-escape.com’s first Alternative Hotel Awards a year ago, they have come up with another hotlist, celebrating the most unusual experiences and hotel features unearthed by the website’s reviewers over the last year of worldwide explorations.
The awards will be in the guise of moons – rather than stars – depending on the level of weird-and-wonderfulness in question (see key below). Find out about where you can order an isotonic heat sensitive pillow, enjoy warthog sausages for breakfast, go llama walking before dinner, or splash around in a swimming pool that changes colour every 5 seconds whilst indulging in a spot of astronaut role play!
1. Best pillow menu –
Evason Ana Mandara, Vietnam
You will find Evason Ana Mandara in Nha Trang on the beachfront, on the East coast of Vietnam. This super sexy hotel has no fewer than 16 types of pillows awaiting you, ranging from an isotonic heat-sensitive moulding pillow, traditional Vietnamese buckwheat-filled pillow to reduce snoring and headaches, a butterfly shape to stop your head rolling around, one to put between the knees to align your spine, and a boring old water-based pillow ... not to mention a choice of 6 topper pillows including a bergamot one (for relaxation), eucalyptus (for clearer breathing) and grapefruit which "clears the mind and reduces stress"!
Prices start from £135 for a garden room with twin or kingsize bed and breakfast
2. Best for would-be astronauts –
Hotel Cocoon, Brazil
Hotel Cocoon in Salvador has just opened. The building itself is like a giant spaceship from a 1950's sci-fi film, the staff dress in citrus uniforms like cosmic Easyjet cabin staff, the pool changes colour every 5 seconds, and notices and menus are addressed to astronauts rather than guests. Ten out of ten for theming !
Prices start from £48 for a double, including breakfast and a welcome cocktail
3. Best for the stressed –
Le Castel, France
Ex newspaper hack Jon and partner Nick love a dose of the bizarre. Inside their historic Normandy chateau, Le Castel, you'll find a shiny white grand piano perfect for Elton-style crooning, while outside a pair of llamas graze the immaculate lawns. Stressed out guests are invited to take these placid beasts for a stroll around the grounds or into the village of Montpinchon. Doctors say it's the ultimate in pet therapy! We dare you to pop into the tabac and ask for "un café au lait et 20 Gitanes pour la llama, s'il vous plait!"
Prices start from £100 for double room and breakfast per night
4. Best for loners –
The One Hotel Angkor, Cambodia
At the aptly named The One Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia, you won't be queuing to check in, or moaning about noisy neighbours: you're the only guest! Owner Martin Dishman offers just the one double room, but it's a real beauty. The One Hotel is in the heart of the old town, with a designer lounge that opens onto a narrow passageway and a shaded roof terrace where you can loll about on a comfy daybed or slip into a hot tub and gaze up at the blue sky.
Priced from £126 for the kingsize room per night
5. Best for your inner children –
Art Hotel Luise, Berlin
If the big bad world is all too much for you, book room 107 (Mammelstraum) at the Art Hotel Luise in Berlin: the bed is 50% oversized in every dimension, so climbing into it and snuggling under the vast duvet makes you feel like a little child again. To leave the real world even further behind, ask for room 309, where a sloping bed suspended on chains, along with two aircraft seats and a log book on the fold-out table, gives the impression of flying through the skies in a plane.
Prices for rooms all vary but start from around £58 per night for a double
6. Best for trainlovers –
Villa Creta, Crete
Take the train... to dinner! At Villa Creta on the Greek island of Crete, the owners have installed a toy ‘choo choo’ train to shuttle between the two family-sized villas and their own home, where they cook dinner for guests. If you prefer a bumpier ride, you can borrow one of their horses (it's a working farm) or ride a mountain bike to the top of rocky Mt Yiouhtas, sacred to Zeus
Prices for Villa Despina start from £156 per night, and it sleeps up to five
7. Best for carnivores –
Lion Sands Lodge, South Africa
Lion Sands River Lodge dinner menu includes some unusual meats: crocodile kebabs in lemon butter and apricot sauce, or blesbok fillet stuffed with peanut butter and coriander. You can also start the day with a cooked breakfast which offers a choice of five different sausages, including gemsbok or warthog meat! Tried all that? What about Eland Bobotie (this is not the name of the chef: eland is a large antelope, bobotie is a spiced minced meat dish).
Prices start from £245 per person per night and include two game drives, all meals and airport transfers from Shukuza, plus as many sausages as you like for breakfast!
8. Best bathtub –
Fumba Beach Lodge, Zanzibar
There are some strong contenders here, with Heritage Suites in Cambodia and bb22 in Sicily topping the list of egg-shaped in-room tubs, while Periscope in Athens deserves an honourable mention for the rooftop Jacuzzi in its Penthouse Suite as well as Holm House in Wales for its shiny bronze monster of a tub in the "Flatholm" room. But the prize must go to Fumba Beach Lodge in Zanzibar, whose Baobab Suite has a treetop Jacuzzi, the perfect place for sociable sundowners after a day of strenuous snorkelling and sunbathing.
Prices for the Baobab Suite start from £83 per night for half board
9. Most appropriately named staff member –
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, South Africa
At Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in the South African Karoo, the Wildlife Manager is called Ryno Erasmus - there is no better name, surely, for a scholar of our big unicorned friend. Priceless!
Prices start from £230 per person, which includes full board and all game drives and nature walks
10. Only hotel in the world on its own time zone – literally!
Six Senses Hideaway, Vietnam
Six Senses Hideaway sets all the clocks in the hotel one hour ahead of the rest of Vietnam and urges guests to do the same with their watches. The reason? To encourage visitors to get up in time to catch the stunning sunrise over the 2km crescent beach where the resort is set.
Doubles start from £372 per night
...And lastly, a special prize for a hotel which didn’t make the grade with the i-escape reviewers...
11. Best for car spotters (hotel rejected): Casas Cuevas de Pedro Alarcon, Spain
We arrived at the Casas Cuevas de Pedro Alarcon near Granada expecting rustic seclusion. Instead we found a 4-lane highway roaring past the prison-like perimeter fence; and in our roadside cave-room (for that's what they are), burrowed under the asphalt, we had the alarming sensation of a stream of juggernauts rumbling quite literally over our head as we slept (or not).
When we emerged bleary-eyed and blurry-brained, and asked to speak to the said Pedro Alarcon, we were told it was "not possible". Only later did we discover that he's been dead 100 years – he's not the hotelier but a 19th-century author!
Key to Moon Awards:
endearingly quirky – an unusual theme, an unfortunate name or a moment of madness in the decorative scheme, this kind of thing is often an accident which just sticks. It's fun, but not worth changing your itinerary for.
decidedly zany – a wacky location, weird and wonderful construction or a deliberately outlandish design concept, this requires some innovative thinking and innate stubbornness, but shouldn't stop you getting a good night's sleep. Worth changing your itinerary for.
totally extraordinary – a one-off among hotels across the world, that makes you think the entire boardroom may have been ‘under the influence’ when they dreamed it up. To achieve full moon status is no accident, but the result of years of counter-intuitive consideration and perverse planning. Worth planning your trip around.
For further media information as well as high quality images please contact Fiona Reece at Fiona Reece Public Relations, fiona@fionareece.com,
0117 330 7282 or 07702 684 682
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New Year, New You
...or "Holiday ideas to help you keep your resolutions"
Thousands of us have welcomed 2008 with countless New Year's resolutions to get fitter and healthier, or to learn a new skill during the year to come.
The ‘i-escape.com New You’ guide includes ten holiday ideas to help you stick to some of these vows over the next 12 months:
1. Learn Spanish in Chile
 The guide kicks off with the chance to learn the lingo in Chile. The delightfully relaxing hillside retreat of Casa Chueca near the town of Talca is the perfect location for learning Spanish. This colonial style house set in vibrant tropical gardens offers week long Spanish courses with local teacher, Pato. The course is made up of five three hour long lessons, giving you plenty of free time to enjoy the stunning surroundings of beaches in one direction and Andean peaks in the other – as well as practising what you have learnt on the local residents.
The seven day course costs £170 per person based on two sharing. This includes bed and breakfast, and all lessons.
2. Get fit the eco way in Brazil
 For the ultimate healthy break i-escape suggests heading to Sitio do Lobo Eco Fitness in Brazil for a six night eco-fitness programme that promises to detox and de-stress. The programme runs from March to October and involves hiking, kayaking, yoga and healthy eating, all set on the paradise island of Ilha Grande, just south of Rio de Janeiro. This breathtaking nature reserve has no roads, only mountain trails and unspoilt beaches, making it the perfect location for Sitio do Lobo’s team of experts to help nourish mind, body and spirit.
Running one week a month from 23 March until 19 October, these seven day courses cost £1,250 per person based on two sharing, including accommodation, meals, activities, yoga and massages and expert guides/trainers.
3. Thai cuisine
 The luxurious Aleenta hideaway in Phuket, Thailand, is situated on a pristine 10 km beach and offers personal cooking courses for guests. The lessons are tailor made for two and a typical day involves a trip to the local market to buy exquisite local produce before heading back to the kitchens for a hands-on class in Royal Thai Cuisine. At the end of the afternoon enjoy the fruits of your labour on the villa rooftop, as you drink in the wonderful, unspoilt sea view.
A two day course, including accommodation and breakfast, taken between now and 16 April, costs from £275 per person.
4. Touch up on Tai Chi
 For an Asian experience a little closer to home, head to La Serrania in Mallorca for Tai Chi and Mountain Walks. This beautiful and tranquil retreat near Pollenca is the perfect place to take a pause from your usual routine and try something refreshingly different. From the 8 to 15 March 2008, La Serrania is offering the opportunity to try your hand at Tai Chi, as well as taking in the magnificent mountain location. Each day starts with a pre-breakfast session of Tai Chi to stretch and warm up your muscles, followed by mid morning classes discussing the principles of this Eastern practice, which aims to strengthen, balance and enliven the body. The afternoons are spent in the mountains enjoying the wonderful scenery and clean air on a walk led by Serrania’s owner, Tim Pennell.
The week long course costs £665 per person, based on two sharing, and includes workshops, accommodation and full board.
5. Write that novel with Patrick Gale’s help
 If 2008 is the year that you vow to write that novel you have always planned, then heading to the Grand Hotel des Bains could be just the thing to get you started. From 6-12 April 2008 this sumptuous, designer hotel set on Brittany’s craggy coast is running a creative writing course with British novelist, Patrick Gale. Aimed at those who love reading and would like to write themselves, the five day course is divided between discussing literature and developing writing skills. Each morning is based around group discussion while the afternoon consists of one-on-one writing ‘clinics’ with Patrick. There is also plenty of time to enjoy the heated pool, spa facilities and cosy bar, or head off for a bracing coastal walk or two.
Prices from £758 per person, including tuition and B&B accommodation, based on two sharing a sea view room.
6. Surf the waves
 Learn to surf at the stylish eco retreat of Vida Sol e Mar in Brazil. Perched on a hillside, this hotel overlooks the perfect surfing beach of Praia do Rosa – a large sweeping crescent of soft sand unspoilt by development. The beach has top class waves to suit all standards and Rodrigo who runs the surf school teaches groups of up to four people. He promises to get you standing by the end of your first lesson, if only for a few seconds, and wetsuits and boards are provided.
A three day surfing package costs from £160 per person based on two sharing. This includes bed, breakfast and surfing lessons.
7. Throw a pot in Italy
 The gorgeous Umbrian hotel of Palazzetta del Vescovo in Italy offers guests the opportunity to have pottery lessons with one of the master craftsmen at the Deruta workshops. You can throw pots, decorate ceramics, improve your enamelling skills or learn Eastern lustre techniques. All materials are provided and you get to keep whatever you make. English translators are provided, and you can do anything from a single 4-hour lesson to an advanced 5-day course. When you’re done playing around with clay, then head back to the beautifully restored ‘little palace’ - formerly a summer residence for the bishops of the nearby town of Todi. Take a dip in the huge swimming pool, walk the two hectares of grounds filled with olives and vines, and delight your taste buds with the authentic, four course Umbrian dinners.
A three night stay costs from £221 per person, based on two sharing and includes bed and breakfast, welcome drink, all soft and hot drinks, plus taxes. Pottery lessons cost £70 for 4 hours, or £250 for 20 hours (divided into 2- to 4-hour sessions, as you prefer)
8. Thai adventures
 Head East to Lisu Lodge in Thailand for a four day adventure extravaganza. This eco lodge set in the hills above Chiang Mai offers hill treks and activity tours that are a cut above the rest. The four day itinerary includes a five hour trek to the Lahu village of Kup Kup, an hour long elephant ride, a rafting excursion to the village of Muang Gurt, cycling along jungle roads, fascinating tribal village tours, an ox cart ride, temple visits, cookery lessons and swimming in crystal clear waterfalls.
The four day/three night package costs £216 per person, based on 2 people sharing a room. This includes accommodation and meals, all tours and activities, and an English-speaking guide.
9. Learn to dive
 Matemwe Beach Village in Zanzibar is a well run budget guest house set on an idyllic beach and home to an acclaimed dive school, One Ocean. Beginners initially take lessons in the new swimming pool before heading out to sea. The school uses a traditional dhow with a motor to take you to the best dive spots on the Mnemba atoll, where the clear waters teem with colourful reef fish, as well as going further a field for deep ocean dives. On most days a double dive is offered with lunch in between, while evenings are spent relaxing and enjoying the fun, social atmosphere of Matemwe.
A five night stay costs £162 per person, including bed and breakfast.
10. Walk the jungle
 Sri Lanka’s Tree Tops Jungle Lodge borders Yala National Park and offers a three night package of jungle walks, which bring you face to face with the local fauna. You walk morning and afternoon, accompanied by experienced trackers, and then head back to camp in the evening to enjoy wonderfully tasty Sri Lankan food, freshly prepared by the lodge’s cook. Observe the Asian elephants at sunset, hike through the virgin jungle, wonder at the Buddhist caves, take in the stunning views and watch the marsh crocodiles at Weliara Wewa. The final day is yours to kick back in a hammock, relax and enjoy this unique wilderness location.
The three night package costs £120 per person and includes accommodation, all meals and experienced trackers to guide you on three jungle walks.
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Winter Sun - Our 2007/8 Hotlist
As the nights draw in and the days start with icy car windows, i-escape.com prescribes a bout of winter sunshine to lift spirits through the months ahead.
Here are our favourite 10 new and stylish retreats in the sun, spanning from Brazil to Zanzibar, with budgets ranging from £34 to over £200 per room.
 1
First stop on the winter sun trail is the newly opened Hindu mansion of Raj Angan in Goa, India. Possibly the funkiest retreat in Goa, this 150 year old house in the village of Siolim has been recently restored and is truly magical. The fusion of traditional Sanskrit architecture and 21st century touches, such as modern lighting and a ‘full moon’ terrace, will make this place a hit with rock stars and creative types. Sleeps 8 adults and 2 children.
From £2600 per week for the whole house, excluding food
 2
Catch some rays on the glamorous Surin Beach on the island of Phuket, Thailand. Stay at the boutique but affordable Manathai, which has just expanded to create another 30 rooms. This elegant, design conscious hotel has a distinctly laid back vibe and a modern feel. Enjoy watersports or simply relax around the pool.
From £46 per double per night including breakfast
 3
Escape from it all at the Unguja Resort in Zanzibar. Opened less than a year, this small and personal lodge offers barefoot luxury and total seclusion from the outside world. The thatched villas are beautifully designed and the bourgainvillea-fringed pool is the perfect place to absorb the sunshine.
From £80 per person per night, including breakfast, tea and dinner
 4
Head to the Uruguayan village of Jose Ignacio for a spot of sunshine. Located in the middle of the village is the beautiful Arbol Casa Loft - new to i-escape. With just five spacious, modern rooms and a two bed apartment, it offers a ‘shabby chic’ getaway which is perfect for couples. There is a choice of two virgin beaches within walking distance, one for surfing and a calmer one for swimming.
From £170 per double per night including breakfast
 5
Take in the ocean views and relax in designer surroundings at Bay Lodge in Plettenberg, South Africa. Another new find for i-escape, Bay Lodge is the creation of a well known South African interior designer – something which is very apparent in its cool, contemporary design and the artistic touches throughout. This place offers a uniquely laid-back, relaxing experience with the most incredible views of the Indian Ocean.
From £157 per double per night, including breakfast
 6
Live like a king at The Bale in the upmarket enclave of Nusa Dua in Bali. In June 07 this hip, modern and minimalist hotel opened nine new single bedroom Deluxe Pavilions with views across the lagoon. Each secluded pavilion has its own pool, garden and butler - with armies of staff, a funky restaurant and buckets of style; it doesn’t come much more luxurious than this.
From £210 per pavilion per night including breakfast and access to beach club
 7
Enjoy the paradise of miles of white-powder beaches, cobalt sea and a zen-like atmosphere at Shambala Petit Hotel, Mexico. This relaxed, friendly hotel has been newly renovated in August 07, following Hurricane Dean’s rampage. The 10 simple yet stylish cabanas are set in a horse shoe on the edge of the white sands, surrounded by coconut palms. Swim, kayak or simply relax in one of the many hammocks.
From £46 per double per night, including breakfast and bottle of champagne
 8
Soak up the sun at Pollethai Beach in Kerala, India. Pack books and sun cream and prepare to seriously unwind on one of India's prettiest coastal stretches. With just 12 rooms, Beach at Pollethai, which is new to i-escape, is an idyllic hide-away not far from the hustle and bustle of nearby Cochin. Laze on the beach, lounge by the pool, admire the tropical gardens and feast on delicious seafood.
From £167 per double per night, including breakfast
 9
Looking for an unspoiled natural environment? Head to the Golden Buddha Beach Resort in Thailand's Andaman Sea, now fully open again post-tsunami. With 10 miles of empty golden beaches, this really is the antidote to the high density resorts such as Phuket. Canoe the tidal river, snorkel in the lagoon or walk the endless beach - staying on Golden Buddha is as close as you can come to having your own tropical hideaway in paradise.
From £34 per double per night
 10
For pure escapism, catch your winter rays in Fazenda da Lagoa near Ilheus in Bahia, the much talked about northern state of Brazil. It's set on 7 miles of deserted beach, and backed by rainforest. Renowned Carioca artist Mucki Skowronski and her husband Arthur Bahia have established a wonderfully stylish resort, whose 14 airy cabañas offer swathes of bright colour, outdoor showers and private decks for hammock snoozes.
From £146 per double per night
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Chic But Cheap
With the cash-strapped, style-conscious traveller in mind,
i-escape.com has trawled its worldwide hotel collection to show how it is still possible to travel chic but cheap (CBC) around the world for under £25 per night (£50 for a double or twin).
The CBC recommendations are ten properties out of over 650 bookable through
i-escape.com, which offers discerning travellers the option to stay in well designed and located hotels on a tight budget.
Nikki Tinto, director of i-escape.com said, “Because we focus on searching out smaller hotels with individual character, we are often uncovering, in my view, some of the world’s best value accommodation. These hotels are usually run by the owner with lower overheads and can be a fantastic alternative to bland chain hotels or drab backpacker accommodation.”
i-escape.com’s ‘chic but cheap’ worldwide journey starts in Chile at the recently opened Hotel Patio in Santiago, offering swanky loft-style accommodation at £34 for a double room. The penthouse patio overlooks a lively shopping and dining plaza in Bellavista, Santiago's bohemian quarter.
Drop in on Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires for a stay at the Art Hotel, a 1927 townhouse turned European-style boutique hotel just a couple of blocks from shop-til-you-drop Avenida Santa Fe. Twin rooms are just £32 per night.
Lie back in the sunshine on the island escape of Bali and check into Puri Madawi, a funky new lumbung-style hotel in up-and-coming Petitenget (next to Seminyak). There are stylish rooms (doubles are £30 per night) close to a secluded beach and Bali’s party capital.
Avoid Bangkok’s Khao San Road and stay on a shoestring at Luxx, which represents a new wave of quirky budget digs in the Thai capital. This shophouse conversion is one of Bangkok's smallest hotels with just 3 doubles from £46 per night.
 Find Sri Lanka’s own best kept secret in the guise of a guest house aptly named the Secret Garden, hidden in a tropical paradise a stone’s throw from the beach near Galle. Doubles cost from £23 per night.
 Explore India’s rich culture in Rajasthan and save the pennies staying at Rohet Garh, a charming, family-run fort in the small village of Rohet. Doubles from £49 a night.
 Heading home, call in on the White River Cottages in Crete for some rustic chic, a delightful hamlet of 13 restored stone cottages in a secluded valley by the island’s southeast coast. £50 a night for a studio cottage.
 Search out the best souks in Morocco staying at Riad Al Jazira, a beautifully restored trio of 17th century riads hidden in Marrakech's medina, keenly priced and very chilled. Doubles normally cost £53, but book 7-nights-for-6 through i-escape and your budget squeezes in under £50/nt.
 For pure escapism from city life, head for Italy’s Tuscan hills and stay in a converted farmhouse on a 500-hectare organic farm, just 30 minutes from Florence and Siena at Fattoria Barbialla Nuova. Doubles are £47 a night.
 Nearly home! On your way through France, pop in at the newly renovated Villa Fol Avril, an unlikely hotel de charme in an untouched corner of Normandy, less than 2 hours from Paris and just £44 for a double.
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Insider's Shopping Tips: Asia and Australia
Our roving reporters have been sending us so many fabulous shopping tips through the years - selflessly gathered as part of our mission to bring you the "complete hotel review" - that we thought it was high time we shared them with you, the lucky public. From where to buy a bespoke engagement ring in Sri Lanka, to how to emulate Harry Potter with a specially crafted "spell" in Melbourne, here are our top 10 tips in Asia and Australia - and details of hotels to maximise your retail therapy.
1. Paperworks, Panjim, Goa, India
What does it sell? Paper - in every conceivable shape, size and form
Why is it so special? Everything is handmade from locally produced paper: notebooks, picture frames, lamp shades, wrapping paper, folders, gift boxes... And it's fantastic value - a pack of five gorgeous cards costs less than 50p.
Where is it?
10 minutes' drive out of Panjim, overlooking Miramar beach. At Campal, near the hospital, look up to your left for their purple logo.
p-2 Pinto Parade, D.Bandodkar Marg, Campal, Panjim; Tel: 2425841; Open 10-5pm (closed Sundays)
Where should I stay?
Vivenda dos Palhacos is only a 40 minute drive away, and the owner Charlotte Hayward knows the shop well. She can arrange their Ambassador car to take you to Panjim on a shopping spree, including Paperworks and other top shopping gems which you would not find alone.
2. Ibrahim Jewellers, Fort Galle, Sri Lanka
What does it sell? Beautiful local gems made into stylish and interesting jewellery.
Why is it so special?
Because it's hard to find original, stylish settings among the many gemstores - and someone who can design it to your precise spec. Ibrahim is a third generation jeweler and he’ll help you choose and design a gem unique to you, which you can watch being made in the tiny workshop round the corner. Choose from white gold and sapphire rings, silver belt buckles inset with moonstones and funky oversized necklaces made from brightly coloured garnet and citrine. Rumour has it that Donna Karan stocked up here on her recent trip to Sri Lanka, and if you decide to get married here it’s the perfect place to get your rings made!
Where is it? Just down the road from the Galle Fort Hotel. The fort is tiny - just five streets - so it's easy to find. Enter through the front gate and veer left into Church Street.
47 Church Street, Fort Galle, Sri Lanka; Tel: 091 2234253
Where should I stay? The Galle Fort Hotel is the perfect place to sip cocktails after a day’s shopping. Hosts Karl and Christopher are happy to walk guests around the fort, dropping in on their favourite shops (which include Ibrahims) on the way.
3. Almeta Silk, Bangkok, Thailand
What does it sell? A magnificent array of silks from Thailand.
Why is it so special? Tucked up a quiet side street off Sukhumvit is this tiny shop - easy to miss but an Aladdin’s cave inside. We were gobsmacked by the sheer number of stunning silks: 1000 different colours, 12 different weights, 4 different yarns, 50,000 combinations. They will weave anything from suits to wallpaper, cushions to ties, all made to order; and can ship worldwide.
Where is it? Best by taxi - head towards Sukhumvit and then turn into Soi 23. If you're staying at the nearby Davis, they'll offer you a ride on their "stretch tuk-tuk" (like a limo 3-wheeler taxi). The shop is in the same district as the vast Emporium Shopping mall.
Almeta Company Ltd,
20/3 Soi Prasarnmitr,
Sukhumvit Soi 23,
Bangkok 10110.
Email: almeta@almeta.com;
Tel: 66-(2) 204 1413;
Open daily 10-6 pm.
Where should I stay? The Davis is a smart, stylish hotel in the heart of Sukhumvit, perfect for shopping. Book 3 nights or more through i-escape and you get a free Luxe city guide containing further recommendations for retail- and gastro-therapy in southeast Asia's most vibrant city.
4. Macan Tidur (Sleeping Tiger), Bali
What does it sell? Beautiful new and antique artifacts from all over the Indonesian Archipelago
Why is it so special? The owner, Susi Johnston, has lived in Indonesia since 1995 and has spent much of the last 10 years travelling around the country collecting textiles, 2000 of which are displayed in her shop. You'll find everything from small batik keepsakes to historic felt  appliqué worthy of a museum collection (in fact, Susi acts as a consultant to curators, art dealers and designers).
Where is it?
It's in Ubud - ask your hotel/driver for directions.
Macan Tidur,
Puri Muwa,
Monkey Forest road,
Ubud; Tel: +62 361 977 121;
Susi Johnston: 081 2366 5669;
www.macantidurtextiles.com;
info@macantidur.com; open daily 10am-7pm
Where should I stay? Uma Ubud is a boutique hotel and spa set on hillside on the edge of Ubud, Bali's cultural hub.
5. Spellbox, Melbourne
What does it sell? Magic spells and the ingredients to make your own spells.
Why is it so special? Because it's magic! Spellbox is a half-serious, half-playful shop for those interested in the Wiccan pagan belief system or those looking for an unusual gift. Buy pre-made spells for courage, new beginnings or birthdays; or have a spell made for you in the nearby witches’ house. Pre-packaged spells range from $25-45 AUD
Where is it? If you’re in the centre of the city you’ll be just a few minutes walk from either store.
Spellbox,
17 Royal Arcade,
331-339 Bourke Street Mall; Tel
9639 7077; Open daily
Spellbox Witches’ House,
Level 1,
387 Little Bourke Street;
Tel 9670 2668; Fax 9670 2308;
Open Monday to Saturday;
www.spellbox.com.au
Where should I stay? Robinsons in the City is one of Melbourne's smallest hotels, more of a glorified B&B. It is centrally located on the edge of the CBD and near the Telstra Dome and the man at the helm, Paul Humphreys, supplies top tips on what to do in the city.
6. The AllThingsNice Spice Company, Bali
What does it sell? Very special gourmet foodstuffs, all sourced from organic farmers in Bali and Java.
Why is it so special? Because they bring the very best Indonesian flavours back to your kitchen at home. Try the "Secret Spices from a Balinese Palace", the "Heavenly Nutmeg & Mango Preserve" or Baliroska (Arak & Raw Honey Marmalade). And if you don't know what to do with all these ingredients, you can book a cooking lesson!
Where is it?Jalan Danau Poso 55, Sanur. Tel: Pak Wisnu 081 2465 3666; open
Friday to Sunday and by appointment.
Where should I stay? Puri Ganesha Villas is an extraordinary, laid-back luxury hideaway on the north coast, whose charismatic owner Diana von Cranach also runs the AllThingsNice Spice Company, and can tell you all about their products, as well as organising cooking lessons and special detox and dietary holidays.
7. The Wooden Toy Stall, Chiang Mai Night Market, Thailand
What does it sell? Handmade wooden toys of all shapes and sizes
Why is it so special? The vivacious English-speaking salesman gives a running explanation of the cleverly-designed, naturally-made puzzles and games. There are infinitely expandable toy trains,  frogs which croak when you rub their serrated back, carved animals which climb strings (with a bit of help from the string-holder), a beautifully painted Snakes and Ladders board with coloured pegs and dice, elephants on wheels which a 3 year old can dismantle and piece together, weird-shaped puzzles which a 30-year-old can dismantle and not piece together! And, best of all, not a scrap of plastic in sight. Most pieces cost just a few pounds sterling, and if you buy several toys, don't be shy to haggle – it's all part of the fun.
Where is it? Intersection of Chan Klan Road & Loi Kroh Road. Most people get around Chiang Mai on foot or by tuk-tuk (3-wheeler taxi), but if you're staying at the Lanna Mantra (see below) you can be whisked in by private boat along the River Ping; the night market is 2 minutes' walk from the river bank. Open 6pm to Midnight daily
Where should I stay? Lanna Mantra is a tranquil, family-friendly hotel right on the River Ping, with a private boat to shuttle you into the town centre in style. It's a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
8. Crumpler, Melbourne
What does it sell? Custom-designed bags in all shapes, sizes and colours.
Why is it so special? Crumpler started as a humble manufacturer of "impossible to destroy" bicycle courier bags. Now they produce and export hip and hard-wearing bags for laptops, cameras, mobile phones, daypacks and satchels. Look out for their spiky-haired-boy logo on a bag near you: it won't be long before it becomes a global brand.
Where is it? There are 14 stores in NSW and 25 in Vic. Biggest and best is 87 Smith Street (Corner of Gertrude Street), Fitzroy 3065, Melbourne. Take tram #86 from Bourke St. Tel: +61 (0)3 9417 5338; www.crumpler.com.au
Where should I stay? The Hatton is a quirky hotel set in an Italianate mansion between South Yarra and the City, with its finger firmly on Melbourne’s urban pulse.
9. Purl Harbour, Sydney
What does it sell? Knitted summer- and winter-clothes as well as homewares.
Why is it so special? John Macarthur has been Sydney’s hottest knitter ever since he appeared in Australia’s top fashion magazines way back when. His quirky, individual designs range from matching bed socks, blankets and lampshades to knitted bikinis (yes, you read that right) which are perfectly suited to the studio’s Bondi Beach locale.
Where is it? 2/ 2 Jacques Ave, Bondi Beach 2026. Take a 20 minute bus ride from circular quay. Tel: +61 (0)2 9365 1521; www.purlharbour.com.au (still in development at this stage..); open Monday to Friday
Where should I stay? The Dive Hotel in laid back Coogee a few beaches south of Bondi, is a funky hybrid of boutique beach villa and friendly guesthouse.
Retail content for Melbourne and Sydney by Michelle Matthews of Shopping Secrets
10. Parisilk, Holland Village, Singapore
What does it sell? All kinds of electrical goods, from cameras to coffee machines, from Apple to Zuiko.
Why is it so special? Because there's no bartering, so you won’t get stressed about the prices (which are fixed but very competitive: ipods are 30% below standard retail). And the products are the very latest. Owned and run by the friendly Primalani family since 1952, this is something of an institution among expats and locals alike, who make a half day of the trip to Holland Village, breaking for lunch in Chip Bee Gardens. Famous figures, from John Major to Jonah Lamu, have been spotted stocking up here.
Where is it? No 15A Lorong Liput, Off Holland Village
(Behind Holland Shopping Centre), Singapore 277730 Tel: (65) 6466 6002; www.parisilk.com; open Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-5pm.
Where should I stay? Hotel 1929 in China Town. It’s a quirky retro-styled hostel-cum-boutique hotel and great value for money at £60 for a double per night, leaving more money to blow in Parisilk
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i-escape's Good Snooze Guide
After sleeping in more than 2000 different places in over 30 countries around the world, i-escape's team of roving reviewers select their 10 best nights' sleep.
1
Bedtime stories at The Elephant House, South Africa
This country lodge located in Addo, just off the Garden Route, eases guests into sweet dreams with bedtime stories. How did the elephant get his trunk? Well, my dear, it’s a long story and you might find the answer in an envelope on your pillow. And, next day, you can see a real elephant and judge for yourself in the nearby game reserves.
 2
Well oiled sleep at Number Sixteen, London
This elegant residence supplies guest with blended aromatherapy oils for bathing – one for inducing sleep and one for waking up.
3
Handcrafted snoozing at Scotts Hotel, Mallorca
Scotts has oversized handmade beds, all with goose down pillows and cotton percale sheets. And if you need more help getting to sleep, you can sample the island's finest wines right on your doorstep, in the cavas of Binissalem.
 4
Sweet dreams at La Sommita, Puglia, Italy
Here, perched in a 16th century palazzo in the white hilltown of Ostuni, you can snuggle down to cashmere blankets, 400-count sheets and pocket sprung latex mattresses, all from Milanese boutique Culti. Every bedroom is a private chapel of meditative monochrome and at a press of a button your motorized window blind will ensure complete darkness.
5
Nods of the Gods at The Gecko, Lefkas, Greece
From your galleried bedroom, you look out, Zeus-like, over endless blue horizons. Flip the motorised blinds and humanity disappears, so you can appreciate the Egyptian cotton, goose-down pillows and pashmina blankets. Outside is a mini-paradise for two: rimless pool, sundeck, herb gardens.
6
Well-aligned sleep at Lama di Luna, Puglia, Italy
This organic working farm offers thick vaulted rooms with feng shui aligned beds - including radial electric wiring to avoid magnetic fields. The environment is totally hypoallergenic (unbleached cotton sheets and 100% olive oil soap made on site), with soft eco-lighting and total silence assured.
7
Urban sanctuary at Fasano Hotel, Sao Paulo, Brazil
A tranquil contrast from the madness of bustling Sao Paulo. Each room’s huge bed is sublimely comfortable with crisp Trussardi 300-thread count linens and a frankly excessive number of goose down pillows.
 8
Geothermal blackout at 101 Hotel, Reykjavik, Iceland
In winter the nights last forever in Iceland. But to cope with summer’s non stop daylight, each guestroom has blinds that completely block out all light. There is also a plentiful supply of piping hot geothermal bathwater to relax guests into a deep sleep.
9
Best turn-down at The Bale, Bali
This hip, modern hotel is located on the south coast of Bali in Nusa Dua. Each guest staying in one of the 20 hillside pavilions has a personal butler; and the turn-down service would put a team of Formula 1 mechanics to shame. We counted a team of 8 housekeeping staff trooping in to smooth the sheets, plump the pillows and stock the beautiful bathroom caskets with ylang ylang massage oil, handmade bath salt and other balms.
10
Dreamy babysitters at Pimalai, Koh Lanta, Thailand
The pool villas, set high on a forested hillside, give parents a chance to relax over dinner, knowing that their children are in good hands and sleeping soundly. The resort's English-speaking babysitters are gentle, patient and never stop smiling (ours was called 'Dream' and lived up to her name!). And 3 hours' babysitting costs the same as a pint of beer back home.
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Top 10 spas for 2007 pampering and relaxation
i-escape.com, the online guide to the world’s best kept secret hideaways, has compiled its Top 10 Spas for stylish pampering in 2007. The New Year is the perfect time to detox, refresh and generally recover from the excesses of the party season, and what better way to do that than to treat yourself to a spa break in a beautiful location.
The selection caters for all, from die-hard detoxers looking for yoga and Ayurveda to stressed-out city slickers just wanting some down time.
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i-escape brings you Gran Canaria with an aristocratic twist
There’s a distinctly aristocratic feel to i-escape’s new Gran Canarian additions, a far cry from the plastic-fantastic resorts often associated with the archipelago, these four newly discovered hidden gems include the oldest Hacienda in the Canaries, an elegant colonial mansion and a home belonging to Spanish nobility.
i-escape’s dedicated team of experts have hunted out Gran Canaria’s most exclusive and elusive offerings, rural retreats away from the crowds but never far from the beach. Starting from just £41 per room per night, these island boltholes are perfect for those wanting some winter sun without the long-haul flight.
1. La Hacienda del Buen Suceso The eye-catching Finca Las Longueras lures you like a ruby parrot behind palm trees, a crimson colonial mansion dating from 1895. The property includes 12 elegant rooms set in fertile fruit groves, you could be peering over orange and avocado orchards, and as Las Longueras is in a deep valley, craggy mountains loom above you in a dramatic backdrop. Hiking or hanging out, Las Longueras covers both in grand style. From £42 per person per night,
2 people sharing.
2. Cortijo San Ignacio Distinguished family history, cultivated old-world décor and private golf course add up to a privileged and relaxing view of the island. This former Jesuit residence is owned by the impeccably-bred de Lara family and still retains the elaborate chapel and the elegant salon ringed by long verandas, but you also have a stunning huge swimming pool surrounded by tropical garden. This is a place to relax in patrician yet people-friendly surroundings, and even learn some history of Gran Canaria through the courtly hospitality of the de Lara descendants. From £41 per person per night based on 2 people sharing.
3. Finca Las Longueras
The eye-catching Finca Las Longueras lures you like a ruby parrot behind palm trees, a crimson colonial mansion dating from 1895. The property includes 12 elegant rooms set in fertile fruit groves, you could be peering over orange and avocado orchards, and as Las Longueras is in a deep valley, craggy mountains loom above you in a dramatic backdrop. Hiking or hanging out, Las Longueras covers both in grand style. From £42 per person per night, 2 people sharing.
4. Hotel Maipez Sophisticated little rural hotel created from attractive re-design of an elegant country house. It perches like a bright yellow canary in the twisting Guiniguada Valley, surrounded by chunks of solidified volcanic rock known as maipez. Hotel Maipaz is a winning combination of old and new with 10 airy and modern bedrooms, a glass-encased restaurant with panoramic ravine views, and tennis courts too. It's only 10 minutes from the capital Las Palmas, yet feels remote and utterly romantic. From £45 per person per night based on 2 people sharing.
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Move over Morocco - i-escape introduces boutique Tunisia
i-escape, the online guide for discerning independent travellers, has introduced Tunisia to its portfolio of the world's best secret hideaways.
With miles of white sandy coast, Cork forests, rolling mountains, dreamy deserts and flying time of only three hours from the UK, it’s no surprise that Tunisia is hot on the heels of Morocco to becoming the destination of choice for a chic weekend retreat or a stylish autumn sun break. i-escape’s team of dedicated experts have sought out three of northern Tunisia’s finest hidden holiday hotspots from as little as £68 per room per night, and will be adding more stylish retreats in the southern deserts over the next few weeks. Ideal for those looking for a taste of ancient exotica with a modern twist.
1. Dar El Medina
There’s no hotel like this in Tunis. Not only is it an elegant 12-room boutique in a gorgeous traditional house, but it’s right in the medina - Tunis’ Unesco-listed inner city, founded by the Arabs in the 8th century. Interiors mix Eastern richness and modern geometry and rooms are all different. There’s a terrace with city views over medina rooftops – a wonderful place to be at the time of the call to prayer. From £44 per night for a double room on a room only basis
2. Dar Said Housed in a rambling two-storey mansion and set around four courtyards The property overlooks the sea and sits at the top of an enchantingly pretty, chic, clifftop village, half-an-hour from Tunis. The small gardens are filled with vibrant flowers and bursting with colour and the pool is glimmering blue. Rooms are elegant, in pale colours, with traditional furniture. From £135 per night for a double room including breakfast
3. Villa Didon A Tunisian one-off, slickly stylish and coolly modern, with 10 huge minimalist suites. Situated in a stunning position, with jaw-dropping views overlooking the white villas of moneyed Carthage, ancient Punic ports, deep-blue sea and shadowy mountains and with a maximum of 20 guests, there's a personal feel that’s often absent in designer hotels. From £141 per night for a double room on a room only basis.
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Top 5 places for organic food
1. Milia, Crete, Greece
At this beautifully restored hamlet hidden in a fold of Crete's White Mountains, everything you eat has been grown or reared on their fields – most of it organically. They make their own jams and raki (grappa), raise pigs and hens, harvest local chestnuts, oranges and arbutus, and use fragrant wild herbs and extra-virgin oil. The ebullient local chef creates magical recipes, served on the terrace or by a blazing fire in the cosy dining room.
 2. Strattons, Norfolk, UK
A stylishly-decorated, ecologically-run country house in one of England's loveliest corners – and spectacular food to boot. The daily table d'hôte menu is locally sourced, largely organic, always imaginative, invariably delicious. Think wild mushroom pâté, monkfish and lemon mash, cranberry pudding with stilton ice cream, and a buzzing vibe in the rustic-chic dining room. Weekends away from London don't come much better than this.
 3. Son Gener, Mallorca, Spain
You know you're getting fresh food when the menu is short, the dishes seasonal - and when you see the chef picking veg from the hotel's organic gardens. At this chic finca tucked away on Mallorca's east coast, your tumbet (aubergine, courgette, potato and tomato ratatouille) is all home grown, your baked sea-bass still has a gleam in his eye, and your orange juice has pips in. Classic Med cooking with nothing added & nothing taken away.
 4. Jnane Tamsna, Marrakech, Morocco
Meryanne and her ethno-botanist husband Gary are so passionate about preserving Morocco's indigenous flora that they created a huge organic fruit and veg garden in the grounds of their stylish retreat in Marrakech's palmeraie. Their chef, Bahija, produces home-grown harira (soup), tfaya (onion-raisin confit), harissa (chillies, garlic, paprika, caraway and cumin) and kefta (spicy meatballs). It's enough to restore the most jaded palate!
 5. Damai Lovina, Bali, Indonesia
For organic food in exotic surroundings, you can't beat this gorgeous hideaway above Bali's north coast. Most ingredients come from their organic farm, the rest from local markets, and the result is an outstanding 5-course feast: honey-sautéed shrimps with chilli and garden salad, tomato soup cappuccino, lime granite, grilled red snapper in creamy pesto sauce, and ginger and strawberry ice tower to round off.
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Our inaugural 'Alternative Hotel Awards'
In the 5 years since we launched, we've visited over 5000 hotels, guesthouses and villas in more than 25 countries across the world. Along the way we've had some strange experiences, met some highly unusual people, and stayed in some totally eccentric places, from a Chilean hideaway where you shower inside a tree, to a city bolthole where you can ogle passers-by using a webcam. So we thought the time had come to honour the weirdest of the weird, with our inaugural 'Alternative Awards'...
Best for sextuplets: Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam
One room has a 4-metre wide bed which can sleep 8 in comfort - so long as no-one snores, sleeptalks or hogs the giant duvet!
Best for Big Brother fans: Periscope Hotel in Athens
A joystick linked to a rooftop 
camera allows guests to zoom in on any passers-by who take their fancy (happily, Kolonaki district is a magnet for the rich and beautiful)
Best for recluses: The Secret Ranchito in Chile
So remote that your luggage is brought in by oxcart, while your shower is built into a tree trunk; if you do get lonely, a cook can hike in and prepare dinner for you
Best for antique lovers: Millers Residence in London
There are 462 candlesticks, 217 oil paintings and 62 carriage clocks in its drawing room alone; owner Martin Miller used to publish the UK's premier antiques guide
Best for fashionistas: Casa Howard in Florence
There are 132 different fabrics in its 11 rooms, from exotic silks to casentino wool, all chosen by owner and fashion designer Jenifer Howard
Best for leprechauns: Hotel Budir in Iceland
Locals are convinced they regularly see the 'hidden people' resting in the neighbouring lava fields; and after a few days among the northern lights, you might start to see them too
Most rock'n'roll arrival: Villa Senang in Bali
They will send a roaring Harley Davidson to the airport to pick  you up for the 3-hour transfer
Most sedate arrival:
Lisu Lodge in Thailand
After a couple of hours among lush forest and riverside rice fields, the hill-lodge hoves into view from the (dis)comfort of an ox-cart or a bicycle saddle
Longest hotelier's name: Casa Numero 7 in Spain
 The owner is called Gonzalo del Rio y Gonzalez-Gordon, which is hard enough to say even before a glass of his excellent sherry...
Shortest name: Sensi Paradise in Thailand
The manager is known simply as 'A' (he also wins the prize for coming first in our alphabetical list of hotel staff)
Spottiest staff member: Puri Ganesha in Bali
 After a rigorous selection process by owner Diana von Cranach, one of her gorgeous Dalmatian dogs has been appointed as the 'guest relations manager'
Most divided opinions: Helgas Folly in Sri Lanka
Some things are clearly a matter of taste. Guest reviews range from "There should be a Helga's Folly in every country by law; what an amazing place to stay" to "Helgas Folly was the  biggest disappointment of our holiday - and that includes the Tsunami!"
Frilliest toilet: Nameless Hotel in Chile
Were it not for the frills covering every surface, this 'easy-loo' could have been branded by Stelios himself (sadly, the guesthouse didn't make the i-escape grade)
Most improbable hotel name: Tikli Bottom in India
 Enough said. Though clearly it's a very satisfying experience, as our guests have rated their enjoyment at 100% so far
If you would like to submit a hotel, villa or one of its staff for our 'Alternative Awards 2007', please email us details before 31 December 2006. Preference will be given to those featured on i-escape, and malicious or libellous submissions must be avoided.
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Healing Through Raw Food at Puri Ganesha, Bali
This September sees the first in a series of raw food cookery workshops offered by
i-escape.com at Puri Ganesha Villas in Bali.
Raw food nutrition is already popular amongst the celebrity set. This new way of eating advocates organic foods that contain living enzymes together with a selection of widely recognised ‘super foods’, alongside keeping a balanced diet of 80% raw/living food to 20% cooked, steamed or flash fried foods. This change in diet is thought to boost the immune system and provide more energy and an overall sense of well-being.
The Sunshine Food and Rawfully Good Live Food Workshop is an eight night break and starts on the 16th September 2006. Guests will attend six hands-on classes and learn from Syd Permberton, (famous Australian cookbook author), how to make the most of basic ‘live food’ preparation using ingredients available back home. Guests will sample alternative organic food menus and find how to optimise health by eating larger amounts of ‘live’ whole foods.
The price is £1080 per person (based on two people sharing) and includes eight nights full board beach villa accommodation.Price for a single is £1510.
A two week Rawfully Good Live Food Nutrition Workshop will be held at Puri Ganesha on the 4th November 2006. This course is run by well known Australian nutritionists Susan Famularo, and resort owner Diana Von Cranach. The holiday will include 12 days of hands-on tuition and 16 nights’ full board beach villa accommodation, as well as ideas for more sophisticated live food menus and entertaining.
The price for this retreat is £1710 per person based on two sharing. (Singles are available at £2320).
Both courses will have a maximum of 12 participants, to ensure a good staff to client ratio. Small groups (up to 12) are welcome, and can request exclusivity if over 8 people.
Puri Ganesha is a stunning luxury hideaway in Pemutaran on the North coast of Bali and offers four large villas all set a stone’s throw from the beach.
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5 stylish new hotels in southern Italy
Everyone knows of the stunning Amalfi coast, the most breathtaking sea vistas in the Med, and of the historic charms of Naples, once Europe’s largest city, with an artistic and architectural heritage to match, including Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Some people will also know of the gorgeous white towns and sandy beaches of Puglia – now accessible with Ryanair flights to Bari and Brindisi; of the jewels of southeastern Sicily, whose Baroque hilltowns offer are a ‘new Tuscany’ with sandy beaches and Greek temples; and of the crystal-clear seas of the volcanic Aeolian islands, a real ‘escape’ from the modern world.
But what few know is that some newly-opened boutique resorts now provide a seriously cool alternative to those famously overpriced and un-customer-orientated hotels which put the area on the map in the 60’s - and which have barely changed since. Here are our 5 favourite scoops, all of them new since 2005.
1. La Minervetta, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast
Sorrento is the grande dame of Amalfitan resorts, with a leisured elegance, fine seafood and excellent hydrofoil / train connections to Capri, Naples Amalfi and Pompeii. This 12-room hotel has been completely redesigned by an Italian architect couple to offer huge windowfuls of sea view across the bay of Naples to the still-smoking cone of Vesuvius. There’s also a new plunge pool overhanging the marina grande.
2. Villa Cervarolo, nr Ostuni, Puglia
Of all the converted ‘trulli’ houses, this 3-bedroom villa is the most stylish, the most lavish and the newest - it opened in June 2006. Based around 4 trullis (stone ‘igloos’ unique to Puglia), with a stylishly contrasting modern wing, it boasts a cosy arched sitting room, a superbly appointed kitchen, an outside BBQ, and (a first for Puglia) a funky beach-edge pool. Cool décor and an ‘inside-outside’ layout make it perfect for hot summers.
3. Talia, Modica, Sicily
Modica is the most stunning of Sicily's Baroque hilltowns, climbing the side of a gorge to its ‘citta alta’. And the best views are from the secret gardens of these lovingly-restored cottages, hidden within the old town. Inside are traditional painted-iron beds with new orthopaedic mattresses, and Grohe plumbing in brightly tiled bathrooms - all courtesy (once again) of an Italian architect couple, who serve the freshest of breakfasts under the fig tree.
4. Capofaro, Salina, Aeolian islands
A unique concept: boutique resort + working vineyard + old lighthouse. Spread across 7 hectares of Malvasia vineyards, its white-cube buildings offer sparkling sea views and pared-down perfection: a few objets d’art in whitewashed niches, aloe vera toiletries in black-tiled bathrooms. There’s a decked pool draped in purple flowers, and a dining terrace where couples bliss out to fusion cuisine and chilled music.
5. Caol Ishka, Siracusa, Sicily
Ancient Syracuse is is the last place you'd expect to find a cutting-edge designer hotel. But these coolly converted barns showcase the latest furniture and lighting from Starcke, Groppi et al. There's a restaurant serving immaculate nouveau-Sicilian fare and a raised pool overlooking the river Anapo. Boat transfers into historic Ortigia compensate for its out-of-town location. A brave step, and one which deserves to succeed.
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Boutique Bed Boom for Rio de Janeiro
(Tuesday, 13th June 2006 ) Finally Rio has got its act together with a decent selection of imaginative and stylish B&B’s. These properties are brought together exclusively by i-escape.com, in the form of a new online Brazil collection. With Pele as your neighbour, and fashionista Giselle’s signature already in the visitor book at one property, you will be in good company.
Bookings go live today and start from just £20 per person per night for bed and breakfast, based on two sharing a double room at Relais Solar in Santa Teresa.
For years Rio de Janeiro has lacked the small chic places to stay found in so many other hip cities. It seems that the French are doing most of the driving behind this Rio Renaissance’ and the result is a handful of new B&Bs set in some of Rio’s more offbeat locations, from the exclusive surfer hideout of Joatinga to the arty hillside neighbourhood of Santa Teresa.
La Maison & La Suite La Maison & La Suite
Two French brothers, Jacques and Francois Xavier first broke the mould with La Maison in Gavea - a five bedroom bijou B&B looking out to the Christ. Having already hosted Giselle and other fashion icons, their latest venture is > La Suite in Joatinga. Just 10 minutes’ drive from fashionable Leblon and Ipanema, and above Rio’s secret surfing haven, it has a stunning cliff top setting and Pele as a neighbour. Its seven bedrooms use vibrant colours to startling effect: each comes with Warhol prints and matching marble bathrooms: yellow bedroom leads into yellow marble bathroom: pink bedroom leads into pink marble bathroom. All have spectacular views of Rio’s coastline. It has two fabulous pools (one an infinity that hangs over the ocean) and a private deck for massages.
Prices for a double room at La Maison: from £150 per night (£75 per person per night).
Prices for a double room at La Suite: from £210 per night (£105 per person per night).
Mama Ruisa, Santa Teresa
Up in the hills of Santa Teresa, you are in a world away from Rio’s beach scene. Instead of Copacabana’s 1960’s tower blocks, there is a more colourful village feel with a touch of bohemia (it is favoured by artists and musicians). Mama Ruisa owner Jean-Michel Ruis has made this old colonial home into a one-off six bedroom retreat. Still preserved are the huge walk in wardrobes, stained glass ceiling, tall wooden shutters and swimming pool, but now it has crisp French fabrics, contemporary touches and all the mod cons. Bedrooms have names such as Jean Cocteau, Josephine Baker and Colette, and old photos to match. It is close to Rio’s best nightlife and the owner will help you find where’s “happening” in Lapa.
Prices for a double room: from £150 per night (£75 per person).
Relais Solar, Santa Teresa Also in Santa Teresa, French-Canadian owner Gwenael Allan, one of the key players behind Cirque du Soleil, has turned his energy into producing an alternative guesthouse - both in style and concept. Together with his Brazilian wife, Relais Solar has been created with five bedrooms showcasing top-notch contemporary Brazilian handcrafts which you can buy. The largest is a bungalow set up in the treetops where you are visited by toucans, parrots and small friendly monkeys. A fun stylish hideout to meet like minded creative people is only part of the picture. The owners can put you in touch with experts to match your special interests whether, football, favelas or forro music. The guesthouse also has its own cutting room for media guests and a snug DVD room in case it rains.
Prices for a double room start from £40 per night (£20 per person).
Casa32, Cosmo Velho Rio's past rarely reveals itself but this 19th century mansion is steeped in history. King Edward VIII once stayed here as did Le Corbusier, Neimeyer, Portinari and other key Brazilian figures. After years lying derelict, Brazilian owner, Lucio, has renovated it back to its former splendour. Today it is a wonderful jigsaw of modern and antique styles: 21st century design pieces sit beneath original baroque ceilings. Its two suites are beautifully and imaginatively decorated - one with bright orange velvet chairs and white muslin drapes, the other with deep red recliners and sitting room.
Prices for a double room start from £170 per night (£85 per person).
All prices quoted are for accommodation and breakfast.
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Da Vinci Chic Parisien Hideaways
The long awaited Da Vinci Code hits the big screens from the 19th May 2006. Fanatics eager to follow hot on the heels of Robert Langdon, ‘aka’ Tom Hanks, can check out some of i-escape.com’s hidden Parisian gems for the ideal safe-haven. The online secret hideaway guide offers an eclectic mix of accommodation within a short walking distance of all the trail’s main action.
The Swell Apartment in Montmarte, close to The Louvre, the opening scene for the action, could have been an ideal bolthole for Langdon and Neveu to spice things up a little. This one bedroom apartment, situated in an art nouveau block, is beautifully decorated with translucent drapes, Christian Dior linen and the fronds of a chandelier to create the feel of a cosy Moulin Rouge boudoir. Prices for the apartment start from £193 for 3 nights based on 2 people sharing (minimum stay 3 nights).
The stunning Hotel Le Sainte-Beuve is located in Montparnasse, minutes from the Saint Sulpice, the location of the Rose Line used by Robert Langdon in his quest for the Holy Grail. The hotel is delightfully warm and welcoming with crisply elegant bedrooms classically decorated with plush curtains, oil paintings and upholstered chairs. Prices start from £93 per night for a standard double/twin room.
Alternatively, The Hotel Verneuil is also located near the church of Saint Sulpice. This hotel is a meticulously renovated 17th-century townhouse and could fairly claim to be one of the most charming buildings on one of the most enchanting streets in one of the world's most beautiful cities! Owner Sylvie de Lattre has chosen every framed engraving, carved bedhead, and inch of fabric wallpaper, to create a beautiful and bustling interior with wi-fi connections. Prices start from £107 per night for a double.
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