#BoHoLover: Meet Lauren DiMarco of Lola’s Travels @LolaDiMarco

We have asked Lauren DiMarco, founder and content creator of the independent travel blog Lola’s Travels, to share her thoughts with us about her love for hotels, and Amberlair, of course. And before you ask, a #BohoLover is a Boutique Hotel lover… just like us!

How do you choose a hotel when you travel?

I often go to a website called Jetsetter to see what hotels they work with in that particular city. I have never had an issue with any hotel I’ve either booked or found through this website. This is because they work with higher-end, hip, boutique hotels typically.

If you had to choose 3, which were the most special (boutique) hotels you have ever stayed at and what made them so special?

Soho Beach House in Miami is a private club but non-members can stay if there’s availability. It is a very cool yet unpretentious place to stay. It feels like a shabby chic old Miami experience. The food was outstanding.

Soho Beachhouse in Miami. Photo by hotel.

Soho Beachhouse in Miami. Photo by hotel.

Villa Gallici in Aix en Provence had the most amazing staff ever and the food was also amazing. No two rooms were alike. It was the kind of place you never wanted to leave.

Belmond La Residence d’Angkor in Siem Reap felt like an luxurious yet authentic Cambodian experience. Almost other-worldly. The rooms were beautiful as were the grounds.

Belmond Hotel in Angkor Wat. Photo by hotel.

If you had your own boutique hotel, what 3 things would you make sure existed?

• Free WiFi everywhere.
• Full sized high quality toiletries that are locally sourced to add to the experience.
• A full cocktail bar with high-end liquor options and mixers.

Name 3 things you loved in hotels you stayed in before…

1. Full sized amenities that were unique to the property.
2. Happy hour in room cocktail service where a bartender with a bar cart makes whatever your heart desires right there in front of you and pours it in the proper glassware.
3. Unique furnishings and accessories as well as local unique reading material to enrich your travel experience.

Name 3 things you wouldn’t want to experience in a hotel ever again.

1. The lack of ANY minibar.
2. Being charged for WiFi.
3. No late night menu/room service.
4. Having to remind housekeeping to clean the room. Lack of towels. Lack of toiletries.

Lauren DiMarco with Ana Silva O’Reilly

How do you feel about the Amberlair concept?

I love the idea of the consumer being involved with how the hotel is shaped. I’m a fan of hotel brands but with each hotel in different cities having different styles. NO MORE COOKIE CUTTERS! Boutique hotels are so much more able to provide memorable customer satisfaction.

Where are you off to next?

Iceland – one of my favorite countries. Talk about a unique place that loves to boast local quality goods and unique experiences.

Lauren DiMarco is the founder and content creator of Lola’s Travels, an independent travel blog that features original city guides, travel tips, hotel and restaurant reviews and off-the-beaten-path finds delivered with a sense of humor.

You can follow Lauren on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as well.