When people go on vacation or business trip, they use brand name hotels like the Comfort Inn or the Holiday Inn. While these hotels are good for getting a decent night’s sleep, they do not offer much more than that comfortable bed. Yet, there is an alternative if you’re looking for something a little more than a bed.

Well what is so different about a boutique hotel i hear you ask. Well for startets there is a greater emphasis on individual service. The idea is too make your stay a personal experience. You get the hospitality of home, and the luxury of a big name hotel.

Boutique hotels can be found anywhere in the world including the United States of America. Although this is the case, many people are not as aware of them. Why? When you turn on your television, you see commercials about families staying at a particular hotel as they travel the US. Although they can be built from new, you will find historic buildings housing a lot of boutiques.

If you want to stay in a place that is unique, you’ll need to do some searching using the Internet. You may not realize it but many of the antique homes that are fixed up in New Orleans are actually boutique hotels. There are several of them to choose from and many use the 19th century as their theme. These older homes in New Orleans can be used for something more than museums when accented right.

Themes and local culture, artwork and handicrafts play a big impact on a boutique’s decor. This adds a touch of originality and that chain hotels fail to match. This individuality makes them stand out from the chains. If you have ever wondered why all your previous experience at standard hotels have the same resonance, now you know.

The Hotel Union Square in San Francisco bases it’s theme on the Prohibition era. Its rooms and hallways are decorated with black granite and cream travertine tile. Over in Chicago, The Whitehall Hotel is based on the 1920s. You actually feel as if you’re having an experience at these hotels, rather than just switching off.

Other hotels like the owners of the Anasazi Hotel in Santa Fe use its Native American surroundings to decorate the rooms and hallway. Much of it is decorated with some kind of handmade throw rugs and pottery. The Inn of Five Graces, also located in Santa Fe, uses the southwest culture and blends it with the Asian culture.

Giving the enormous range of boutique hotels, and locations, do some research on the web if you plan to visit. Booking all the major cities should be carried out a couple of months in advance. Some boutique hotels are limited in space, from 10-100 rooms. Get your reservation in early to avoid disappointment. Read a few user reviews on the hotel you like before you book.

While mainstream hotels offer plenty of extras, boutique hotels provide more. Even though most buildings are old, they are retrofitted for modern conveniences such as high speed Internet access, spas, swimming pools and even a fitness center. Boutique hotels, larger ones especially, will offer guests a bar and restaurant inside to enjoy.

Do you want something more on your vacation? Then don’t worry about the money try a boutique hotel and see what you are missing.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 4:32 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.