Maybe you’ve been absent-mindedly slapping on sun lotion instead of moisturiser, maybe you find yourself reaching for sunglasses instead of spectacles, putting on flip flops instead of slippers, or writing ‘bikini’ instead of ‘biscuits’ at the top of your shopping list – whatever it is, we reckon you need a holiday. Thankfully, hotel-shaped help is at hand: the boutique-bedroom pros at Mr & Mrs Smith have scoured the globe for their top-pick hotels to wake up in.
Borgo della Marmotta, Umbria, Italy
Style: Rooted in rusticity
Setting: Picturesque Poreta hillside
Borgo della Marmotta is the kind of hotel you lose your heart to: a 17th-century hamlet set amid 12,000 olive trees, with deliciously romantic rooms and views of Spoleto Valley. Leave plenty of room in your suitcase – and fill it with bottles of the hotel’s own olive oil (Moraiolo, Frantoio or Leccino are all luscious blends), squeezed from the plump olives dangling in the garden.
Hôtel Crillon le Brave, Provence, France
Style: Trad turreted eyrie
Setting: Seven-house hamlet
Hôtel Crillon le Brave is a charming Vaucluse hotel set among the vineyards and peaceful villages east of Avignon. There’s a peaceful pool with panoramic country views and an ambitious gastronomic restaurant, where chef Jérôme Blanchet – who has a Michelin-starred background and and more than 10 years of culinary cachet – masterminds the refined but unprecocious Provençal dishes.
The Kensington Hotel London, United Kingdom
Style: Regal and ravishing
Setting: Sumptuous South Ken
Situated in beautiful townhouse, just off London’s Old Brompton Road, the Kensington Hotel London is a relaxing spot in which to escape the bustle of SW7’s museum land. Want to bag a prince or princess? Pack some serious party clothes for the downstairs nightclub – the royal-rubbing Boujis crowd around the corner regularly make this their second (or third) home.
Indigo Pearl, Phuket, Thailand
Style: Industrial glam
Setting: Northern Phuket shores
Inspired by the island’s tin-mining heritage, Indigo Pearl boutique hotel in Phuket delights in its industrial-inclined decor, care of American designer Bill Bensley. You’ll be mining a rich seam here, with super-luxe suites and villas taking pampering to new heights, dreamy dining, a cocooning spa and a blissful beach in reach.
Oazia Spa Villas, Bali, Indonesia
Style: Bali meets Ibiza
Setting: Canggu riverside sanctuary
Tropical-modern oasis Oazia Spa Villas boutique hotel in Canggu will pamper you with three super-stylish, exclusive-hire villas, inspired dining and a Watsu pool at its holistic spa. Chilled-out sleeping quarters embrace the outdoors, with inviting pools and light white-and-wood interiors, smartly curated by Russian owner Veronika Blomgren. The vodka bar picks up on the Russian theme, but the creative activities are all about Indonesia.
Big Blue Backyard, Mornington Peninsula, Australia
Style: Out of Africa
Setting: Amid the tea trees
Big Blue Backyard has the privacy of the bush, the romance of the sea, and the culinary prowess of a well-travelled chef – you’ll never breakfast better. Pick from just three rooms – Africa, Beach and Bush – and if you forget your bikini and beach shorts, go back for them: there are outdoor showers and spa baths…
These boutique hotels are all part of Mr & Mrs Smith’s 100+ half-price hotels , exclusively for Women’s Agenda readers. Make a mental note of the password staysmith and head to Mr & Mrs Smith to see the full selection now, or call Smith’s expert travel team on 1300 896 627. Book before 15 November 2013, for stays until 31 December 2013.