We have asked Katie Dillon of  La Jolla Mom to share her thoughts with us about her love for travel and 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 adore luxury hotels and choose destinations based on whether they have a hotel or two that really piques my interest. I have a handful of trusted luxury large and boutique hotel groups that I turn to first because they’ve earned my loyalty and I don’t need to worry about whether or not I’m going to have a good stay, I know I will.

 

 

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

I’ve been a guest of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong consistently since it opened in 2005. It remains my favorite hotel in the world for sentimental reasons because we spent almost five years living in the hotel apartments. The staff is largely why its special to me and some of the same people have worked there since the beginning (while other have been promoted to other FS hotels). I think it’s also a testament to the hotel and brand as a great place to work. I like seeing familiar faces every time we walk in. My daughter is 10 now but I still remember the day we brought her home to the hotel at 5 days old and how excited they were to finally meet her (not to mention our hotel driver, a father himself, had to install our car seat because my husband forgot to read the manual).

 

 

Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong is also sentimental to me as that is it was a social hub for us when we lived in Hong Kong. I’ve been checking in as a guest annually for about six years. The top two things that I love about this hotel are the rooms and how they’ve managed to win the hearts of locals with their spa, dining outlets and other services.

In regard to the rooms, I do not think that I have stayed in room that is better equipped than theirs as they are fully-stocked with amenities and user-friendly technology. They have Hermes bath amenities and drawers full of other bath necessities you may have forgotten to pack. While there is an ample mini bar with premium spirits and snacks, they also put in a hot water kettle, Nespresso bar, gorgeous tea pots and ornate ice buckets (if the ice bucket wasn’t heavy, I would have bought it already), dishware, flatware, cloth napkins, full-sized wine glasses, and more.

I also love that they have a valet cabinet to minimize disturbance. In lieu of ringing the doorbell to deliver laundry, for example, they simply slip it into the valet cabinet. A notification light illuminates in your room so that you know to grab it. They really want you to feel at home here and I do. Beautiful decor and a stellar breakfast buffet helps, too.

 

Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire offers activities that are simply different than any other luxury hotel we’ve been in. My daughter learned how to care for a pony, we took a private falconry walk around the estate, you can explore its 500 acres by bike, and they set up an incredible sunset picnic for us near the lake with fishing poles, etc. It’s the type of place you would come for a weekend getaway and never leave because you really don’t have to.

 

 

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

• As you might be able to tell already, amenities inside the room are incredibly important to me. I need to feel like the hotel has thought about who might be staying there and that they have taken care of the little things. Are there enough coffee cups and glasses? Is there an office kit in the desk? What about plugs and voltage converters? Extra toothbrushes? Kids robes? Nice towels? I think the reason why I care is that I want to feel that there is value in paying more to stay in a luxury property.
• Speaking of kids, amenities for them are also important. A welcome gift resets moods after a long flight. I love it when a hotel picks up on queues and does something to blow their minds. I happened to mention in conversation to Brown’s Hotel in London that we were going to do some Harry Potter tours and the pastry chef really knocked my daughter’s socks off with a gorgeous Harry Potter amenity. Later I heard that this was the first amenity that he had created like this. He really stepped up to the challenge! It is always nice when restaurants are flexible enough to alter menu items to suit a child’s taste or honor little requests without hesitation (like banana smoothies in our case) that might be off-the-menu. Traveling can be tough on kids and they, too, need a little familiar comfort food sometimes.
• I also feel that online photos of the hotel should showcase what the property is really like without glamming it up too much. There’s nothing worse than booking into a hotel thinking it has a nice big pool based on the photos when in fact it’s tiny and was just photographed well. This recently happened to us and it was a huge let down for my daughter, too. The pool was awful.

 

 

 

 

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

1. Cool kids amenities such as in-room pop-up tents. Yes, even a cheap pop-up tent can give a child hours of enjoyment while creating a positive and memorable stay. My daughter celebrates a birthday near or during our spring break trips. Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong filled our room with balloons.
2. A complimentary glass of champagne at check-in is a nice touch, especially, if you have to wait for any reason.
3. I am of the opinion that you can gauge what your stay is going to be like based on the thought that goes into a hotel’s flower arrangements. I look for and love extraordinary flower arrangements that are well-maintained.

 

 

 

 

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

1. We once had construction debris and cords in the hallway near our room in a five-star hotel that cost and arm and a leg. And, the construction noise was terrible.
2. Ill-designed bathrooms are not my favorite. I was recently in a hotel where the shower flooded the bathroom floor every time.
3. In-room coffee is a must. I am not a fan of it absent from my room.

 

 

How do you feel about the Amberlair concept?

I think it could be really amazing and they sure picked a gorgeous location. I also suspect its challenging to decide which traveler suggestions to really implement so I’m curious to see the balance that they strike. Through watching this process unfold, I’ve also found it really interesting to read what’s important to other savvy travelers. I do believe that if they really can build a hotel based on needs and wants of travelers, it should be a hit. I really look forward to checking in!

 

 

 

 

Where are you off to next?

Argentina for the Adventure Travel World Summit. It will be my first trip to South America.

 

Katie writes a luxury family travel and lifestyle site called La Jolla Mom that is named after her seaside community in San Diego. Before settling in La Jolla, she and her husband spent seven years as expats in London and then Hong Kong where her daughter was born. Her knowledge of luxury travel stems from plenty of first-hand experience as most of the Dillon family’s time overseas was spent living in a Four Seasons hotel apartment. Luxe Getaways Magazine, Luxury Retreats Magazine and Four Seasons Magazine are a few of the publications that Katie contributes to. She is also the San Diego editor for USA TODAY/10Best and never fully unpacked.

 

Connect with Katie on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

 

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We have asked Andrew Forbes, editor of The Luxury Editor to share his thoughts with us about his love for travel and 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 value the recommendations of my friends, but increasingly I look at comments on social media. And I must admit to being influenced by fabulous pictures on Instagram! It’s great to discover new hotels; and now we have the #BoHoLover hashtag it is getting even easier to be inspired by like-minded travellers!
I look for unique hotels, that reflect their locations; places that feel magical…

 

 

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

It’s hard to choose just three, but my criteria are hotels that are unique, have a keen sense of provenance, and where I had a great night’s sleep!

 

 

Babylonstoren Farm Hotel
For me, this South African historic Cape Dutch wine farm estate has it all. It really captures the quintessential Western Cape winelands experience, with its stunning old-world architecture; an extraordinary market garden serving its farm-to-fork ‘Babel’ restaurant; a boutique spa; and super-stylish hotel accommodation in private cottages that combine rustic charm with the very latest in creature comforts. Attention to detail and style are everywhere.

 

 

Hotel Sant Francesc
This 42-room city boutique hotel in Palma de Mallorca’s old town is a favourite. A 19th century mansion has been converted into a contemporary hotel for the style-conscious. Its avoided the mistakes of some ‘design’ hotels, and has instead created a place of timeless elegance, with sophisticated guest rooms and a wonderful restaurant.

 

Finca Cortesin
This is one of my favourite hotels in Spain. It may seem more of a resort, with its world-class golf course, and expansive, manicured gardens. Yet the 67-room hotel, built in a traditional Spanish Hacienda, Andalusian cortijo style has a genuine boutique style. The guest suites are exquisite, and the service is flawless. They really understand how to delivery great hospitality with a personal flair.

 

 

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

• Genuine, warm welcome
  I recall once hearing the phrase ‘it’s hospitality, not hostility!’ It made me laugh so much; and I think sometimes hotels need to be reminded of this. The initial welcome at reception can set the tone of the whole stay – it should always be warm and friendly
• Make check-in an experience, not a chore
  Some boutique hotels really stand out for the way they offer a personalised check-in. I’m not one to stand waiting at front desk. I like it when the reception staff welcomes you, offers you a drink and check in can be completed in the room or in a lounge. For example, La Sultana Marrakech offered me delicious mint tea, and Moroccan cakes in the drawing room, whilst my cases were taken to the room, and my passport was copied the paperwork done – that’s how to do it!
• Make me feel I’m immersed in the destination
  It’s good to see hotels capture the essence of their location. The advantage of a boutique property over an international resort is that they can be quirky, individual and non-conformist, and reflect the personality of their local community.

 

 

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

1. Privacy is the ultimate luxury
   I love the feeling of having the welcoming atmosphere of a boutique hotel, but also the chance to hideaway, and disconnect. For example, at Hacienda San Rafael, near Seville, they offer private villas, each with a secluded terrace and cabana where the team would serve breakfast and other meals upon request. You’d wake up and stroll out into the sunshine in your robe, and there waiting for you was coffee and pastries, even before you had to think about looking at the breakfast menu!
2. Personalised, intuitive service
   In a smaller property, it’s important that a hotel can remember guests, and fine-tune their experience appropriately. As a first-time guest it’s great when a hotel reaches out to me before arrival by email to help personalise my stay. I’m also really impressed when hotels make thoughtful gestures. For example, at Hotel Sant Francesc in Palma de Mallorca, they discovered it was my birthday and prepared an amazing lunch with a personalised birthday cake!
3. Stylish bathroom amenities & imaginative turndown gifts
   I’m easily seduced by these small gestures! I love it when hotels offer creative welcome and turndown gifts that reflect the local community or location of the hotel. For example, at La Residencia in Deiá, they celebrate local art, culture and gastronomy – with gifts of Mallorca gourmet sea salt, olive oil, a handmade star fish from a local ceramicist, and the book ‘Bread & Oil’ by local resident Tomas Graves (the son of the late English poet and novelist Robert Graves who lived in Mallorca).

 

 

 

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

1. Over attentive waiting staff
   It’s great to be made to feel special, but sometimes hotels can get the balance wrong and overdo it. I’ve eaten in some hotel restaurants where it’s almost hard to finish a sentence with my fellow companion before a waiter has approached the table to top up a glass, ask about the food or take away a dish. It’s uncomfortable when service oversteps and ruins the experience.
2. Mean amenities and towels
   When I go away I want to feel it was worth leaving home for; I want to be pampered. I’m not a fan at all of the ‘one bath towel, one hand towel per person’ rule. I don’t have that at home, so why should towels be rationed in a luxe hotel? I love properties that leave extra towels and plenty of amenities in the bathroom. Even without using them it just makes you feel special, a sense of abundant luxury.
3. Charging for extras – as the Americans say, to ‘nickel-and-dime’ the client
   As a guest, I want to have all the amenities included. There is nothing more off-putting than a mean-spirited host. Seeing a bottle of mineral water for sale in a room drives me crazy! Bottles of water should be provided as a courtesy – filtered water is fine. I also think charging for internet is a no-no. In the developed world it’s a basic utility these days, like electricity. It should always be included.
   I also think that providing a mini bar full of chargeable extras is a mistake. I think it is better to offer a more limited in-room bar and include the items in the room rate. A great idea is when hotels invite you before your stay to choose what you want in the mini bar, personalising it.

 

 

How do you feel about the Amberlair concept?

It’s truly fascinating, and of course original. I guess it’s a natural extension of the notion of the social economy to have a crowd-sourced boutique hotel; but I imagine the challenges must be significant. You are brave to pursue this dream! Having many stakeholders and contributors is wonderful on one hand, to help fine-tune the hotel and make it truly special. Yet of course I imagine it is quite a juggling act on the other, as at some point you must make concrete decisions about overall look & feel, the exact location, architecture, interior design, rooms, food and beverage etc. and some BoHoLovers will be over the moon, but other ambassadors may be disappointed – so just remember, you can’t please all the people all the time! I wish you all the very best of luck. I look forward to booking my stay!

 

 

 

Where are you off to next?

I’m heading to the States. It’s one of my favourite destinations. I have relatives and so many friends there and I find it a very easy travel destination where I feel at home. I will be checking out some interesting properties in California…

 

I’m Andrew Forbes, a marketing communications consultant specialising in the luxury and travel sectors. I also write frequently on travel as a freelancer, as well as for my regular monthly newspaper feature in Spain, where I have been living for more than a decade. I am one of the editors of  the online luxury travel magazine The Luxury Editor.

Connect with Andrew of The Luxury Editor on  Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

 

We have asked Melvin Böcher, the founder of TravelDudes.org to share his thoughts with us about his love for travel and 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?

Usually I do my research online. Then I see if there are any recommendations, which could be on blogs, review sites and booking platforms. Depending on the trip and destination, I look for different criterias. If it’s a city trip, I try to stay central or in a cool district with a good connection to public transport. I usually don’t read the reviews, but see that there are enough and the rating is in general OK. Then I’ll check the images and also check the location on the map. That way I get a good overall impression.

 

 

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

Oh… that is a very tough question. I have stayed in quite a few very nice hotels already. Two which stood out were both on Mauritius, the Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel and the 20 Degrees Sud. The third one was the Tintswalo Atlantic in Hout Bay, Cape Town.

 

 

Mauritius itself is an amazing destination. The color of the water is stunning and the green mountains gives it that very special extra touch. 20 Degrees Sud was relatively small and had a very homely and cozy touch. You see that the owner put a lot of love into this place. Paradise Cove had a perfect location, with its own little bay and a wonderful infinity pool.

 

 

The Tintswalo Atlantic Hotel is a cozy and small boutique hotel and hundreds of tourists pass it every day, though without noticing it. And the good thing is, you as a hotel guest won’t notice the tourists either.
The hotel lies directly at the Chapmans Peak Drive in Cape Town, but at the bottom at the sea and not next to the road itself. There are only 11 rooms and you have to park your car at the top. A transfer then takes you down.

The rooms face all towards the Hout Bay, perfect sunset spot, and the place is very hard to spot, even if you know where it is, as it fits nicely into the countryside. The place is a dream. The rooms a luxurious and provide a warm and cozy atmosphere and each one is different designed. The food is really good and you can get here for sure one of the best meals in Cape Town. The staff is also top and are always around, ready to help, but without being really present.

The Tintswalo Atlantic is place is where I want to stay again, no matter if it’s on a city trip to Cape Town or at the end of a Garden Route road trip.

 

 

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

• First of all free and super fast WiFi. hahaha I’m really surprised in a negative way that there are still accommodations who don’t provide that. It’s like hot water nowadays and simply a must, unless you run a www detox hotel, which can also be nice.
• Then it’s important that guests feel really comfortable and homely. The design and decoration plays an important role here, but especially the staff. I like to have staff which is not just there to serve, but also to have discussions with and that they are natural and themselves, so that it does not feel like a hotel – guest relationship and more of host – guest.
• Then my rooms would have a good stereo device, which works with all different devices. I hate if you see a good looking stereo and you try to connect it with your phone, but it’s the wrong plugs. That’s a no-go and I wonder how hotels can do that part so wrong. And then my guests would always have a free bottle of water on the room. It’s really not that costly to provide that and can easily be included in the room rate.

 

 

 

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

1. If a hotel provides you with a tablet or PC and good internet connection in the room, that’s already special.
2. Big showers with some good water pressure is nice to have.
3. But what really rocks is, if you find out that the hotel really cares about the environment and have its own solar panels, recycles, supports the local community, has its own organic garden etc. That’s when a hotel really wins me.

 

 

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

To arrive and realize that it’s simply a terrible and dirty place with unfriendly staff and nowhere else to go that night. Luckily that didn’t happen often.

 

 

How do you feel about the Amberlair concept?

It’s ambitious, special and really cool! Absolutely love it, as it’s not the usual hotel business. The spot and property seems to be well chosen and the plans look very exciting and the way to achieve those are unique. It will be very interesting to see them develop and especially to see the final result.

 

 

 

Where are you off to next?

I’m heading to South Africa. It’s a destination I’ve been to now a couple of times and I simply can’t get enough of. The people I’ve met were so nice and the landscapes are stunning. So this time we’ll rent a car in Joburg, head to the Drakensberg, drive to the Indian Ocean and from there all the way to the Atlantic (Cape Town). Along we’ll have several stops to enjoy nature, explore the region and meet the locals.

 

Melvin Böcher is the founder and CEO of TravelDudes.org, the first Social Travel platform. He loves to travel, to discover the world, to travel free & untroubled & still be informed like an insider! In addition he is also the founder of onlineROIcalculator, the COO of iambassador and the creater of an award winning marketing campaign Blog Ville.

Connect with Melvn of Travel Dudes on  Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

We have asked Daniela Köster, the founder of Genuss Touren, 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?

Word of mouth – recommendations from friends, family and from my partners in the tourism industry.

 

 

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

Settler’s Drift in South Africa. Strictly speaking not a boutique hotel but a boutique tented camp. It is like the “best of” various luxury camps I have stayed in before. Perfect location with unbeatable views over a valley. Huge suites with the most beautiful bathroom ever and various decks and lounges, where you can sit and soak up the scenery. The Rushmere family with their long standing experience in the industry have listened to the needs of their guests – this has paid off so well.

 

 

Riva – das Hotel am Bodensee, Lake Constance/ Germany. An art nouveau villa transformed into a designer boutique hotels. From the spectacular architecture to the arrangements of flowers, you feel the owners’ meticulous attention to detail.

 

Hotel Louis C. Jacob in Hamburg, Germany. The people. Genuinely friendly, authentic and service orientated staff. The sense of place and history. Sitting on the same terrace that Max Liebermann painted more than 100 years ago. And not to mention the delicious Michelin star awarded cuisine.

 

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

• Personalized welcome notes with some delicacies from the bakery like at Schloss Elmau
• Members of staff that sense whether their guests want to be pampered – or just want to be left alone
• Uniqueness

 

 

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

1. Elegant, chic and comfortable lobbies or lounges that invite you to linger. Loved the one at Fürstenhof in Celle, Germany.
2. Roof top bars like the Blue Spa Bar, Bayerischer Hof in Munich, Germany. Especially during full moon nights a magical place.
3. Baths with a view. I was stunned by the one at Grootbos in South Africa.

 

 

 

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

1. Unfriendly stuff. You might ignore some minor faults, if the people working there are charming
2. Lack of a decent amount of vegetarian options on the menu
3. Overpriced services (transfers, minibar)

 

 

How do you feel about the Amberlair concept?

I just love the idea – the concept of involving guests right from the start. Hotels should be all about the wishes and needs of their customers.

 

 

Where are you off to next?

To Kenya – attending the Magical Kenya Travel Expo and checking out some new properties.

 

 

Daniela Köster founded the tour operator Genuss Touren in 2014 after various jobs in the tourism sector, flight attendant, product manager and CEO of a tour operator.

Her company is specialized in tailor made journeys to Africa, the Indian Ocean and hand picked countries in Europe and won the award “Best Concept”.

You can also follow her travels on her blog, Facebook and on Twitter.

We have asked Mitzi, the CEO and President of Jaunt 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?

My first goal is to think what I want out of the vacation… reading by the beach? Enjoying the city?  Hiking / adventure? Then I focus on the right location. Once I’ve narrowed down the location, I focus on the trip advisor reviews and specifically on the traveler photos. I think you get such a better sense of the hotel and quality by the traveler photos.

 

 

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

Four Seasons Hualalai – Remote, beautiful beaches. Lots of opportunity to connect with nature, take on an adventure or just relax. Stunningly beautiful!

 

 

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong – Situated on prime waterfront.  Great food. Wonderful pool. Walkable to any of the cities locations.  A great city hotel

A remote island hotel in Thailand – I don’t remember the name but it was a beach bungalow hotel.  The only place to stay on the island. No electricity after 8pm and only one phone on the island.  Remote and peaceful.

 

 

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

• Continental breakfast – a great way to start the day
• A comfortable lobby – to read, grab a drink, or just relax and meet others
• I would love a concierge that can give advice on the ‘local’ places to eat and shop. I always like to get to know where I’m visiting

 

 

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

1. Staff that anticipates your needs and helps make it an easy / comfortable stay
2. Great food – especially appetizers around 4 in the afternoon. You come back from a day out and need to relax / eat something before prepping for dinner

 

 

 

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

1. Rude staff!
2. Dirty sheets – eek!
3. Thin walls

 

 

How do you feel about the Amberlair concept?

It’s a cool idea. I’m not clear however what the crowdsourcing will do for the hotel? Input on design? Services? Etc?

 

 

Where are you off to next?

Spain – I’ve never been there before so I’m currently in the exploration stage!

 

 

Mitzi Reaugh is the CEO and President of Jaunt, the leading XR solutions provider.

Prior to Jaunt, Mitzi was Founder and CEO of GoodLooks, an online marketplace of lifestyle experts.

Mitzi has spent her career working with leading digital media brands, such as NBC Universal, Hulu, Miramax and The Chernin Group. She enjoys travelling the world and is trying to be more adventurous in her eating!

You can follow Mitzi on Twitter or Instagram.