It’s that time of year when our Instagram feeds start filling up with images of gorgeous beaches, golden sunsets and glittering pools. Let’s be honest: we all want to show off our travels, so how can we make our snaps stand out from all the holiday spam?
To help you take eye-catching photos, we’ve rounded up a few of the latest Instagram trends, together with a peek at some of our most Instagram-worthy hotels and hideaways. We’re also giving you the chance to win a stay on us by sharing your creations – just scroll down for details…
Room envy
Does your room have an amazing pillow-piled bed like this one at El Fenn in Marrakech? Perhaps a fabulous collection of retro finds (step forward Artist Residence London)? Or even a funky fireplace such as this suspended wood-burner at Portugal’s stunning Areias do Seixo? Then show it off! Just don’t forget to take your photo before you’ve unpacked – no-one wants to see a bed strewn with clothes…
Lounge lizard
Endless pool and beach shots can get a bit boring, so why not focus on a stylish sun lounger instead? We love the funky floor cushions and lampshade-shaped parasols at Ekies All Senses Resort in Greece, the curved recliners by UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa’s shimmering gem-lined pool (Brazil), and the bright bean bags on the beach at Aleenta Phuket (Thailand).
The faceless selfie
Putting yourself in the frame not only adds a personal touch to your photos, it also helps show the scale of the surrounding landscape. But you don’t have to focus on your face – some of the most effective selfies are shot from behind, so find a willing volunteer to entrust with your camera and get posing. The below, taken at Relais Blu Belvedere (Italy), Apa Villas (Sri Lanka) and Ekies All Senses Resort, should provide some inspiration.
Bath time
Bathing may normally be a private matter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t showcase the tub itself – particularly if your hotel has anything as indulgent as the wood-lined ensuite at Artist Residence London, the jade-green affair at El Fenn, or the sparkling zinc tub at The Wheatsheaf Inn in the Cotswolds.
Drinks with a view
A perfectly positioned drink instantly conveys that holiday feeling, particularly when accompanied by a beautiful backdrop. This poolside coconut juice at Sri Lanka’s Sri Villas certainly had us drooling, as did sunset cocktails at India’s Jawai and chilled beachside wine at Mia Resort in Vietnam.
All in the detail
Little details say so much about the style and character of your destination. Keep your eyes peeled for colourful doorways, intricate tiles and quirky collections. There’s beauty in every corner at UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa, Provençal B&B Les Sardines aux Yeux Bleus and Lisbon’s Baixa House.
Take a pew
Chairs seem to inspire particular creativity among furniture designers – perfect fodder for Instagram. We’ve spotted striking seating at Bude Hideaways in Cornwall, The Design House in Essaouira (Morocco) and Linnen in Berlin, to name but a few.
Feeling inspired? Share your holiday photos with us for a chance to win a one-night stay at an i-escape hotel of your choice (see T&Cs below). Just upload an image taken at any i-escape hotel to Instagram by 30 August, using the hashtag #iescape and tagging @iescapehotels. We’ll showcase our favourites in a future post, and pick one talented snapper to bag the prize.
T&Cs
- The prize is a one-night stay at any hotel within the i-escape collection up to the value of £250. The winner will be responsible for any additional costs incurred when booking. The stay must be booked through the i-escape website. The stay must be taken within one calendar year of the end of the competition and is subject to availability. Any additional items involved in the stay and not mentioned here, including transport, food and drink, must be paid for by the prize winner.
- The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative.
- The winner will be selected by a panel of i-escape judges from all valid and correct entries received by the closing date.
- The winner will be contacted within 7 days of the closing date. In the event that the winner has not responded within 14 days of notification, i-escape reserves the right to reallocate the prize to a reserve winner.
- The prize must be taken as stated, and no compensation will be payable if a winner is unable to use the prize as stated.
- Images entered in the competition must have been taken by the entrant.
- By entering, you give permission for i-escape to share your image on its blog and social media feeds, and agree that if you win you will participate in any reasonable publicity arranged by i-escape.
- By entering the promotion, entrants confirm that they have read and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and by the decisions of i-escape, which are final in all matters relating to the promotion. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of the prize. No correspondence will be entered into.
- i-escape reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any person it finds to be tampering or to have tampered with the operation of the promotion, or to be acting in violation of these terms and conditions.
- To the full extent permitted by law, i-escape will not accept liability for any loss, damage, injury or death arising from this promotion beyond its reasonable control.