Vacations come in all different shapes and sizes — from café-hopping around the Left Bank of Paris to ziplining in Costa Rica to exploring the pastoral charm of the English countryside. While we’re certainly not knocking anyone’s right to slap on a yellow wristband and belly up to a giant buffet, it’s just not our style. If you’re still weighing all the options and need a little nudge in the HAP direction, we’ve compiled a list of six reasons to book a boutique hotel over a mega all-inclusive resort.
Location
Because of the massive footprint, sprawling all-inclusive resorts often sit further from the action in Old Town or are surrounded by other similar properties on a busy beach strip. On the other hand, boutique boltholes offer the advantage of a prime location. If you want to be within walking distance of historic attractions, hunker down in the liveliest neighborhood in the city, or wake up to waves lapping a tiny, secluded cove, an indie hotel is always a better bet.
Design
Design is one of the biggest reasons to fall in love with the category of boutique hotels. The small, curated nature of these overnights means a high level of attention to detail. Design often drives the ethos and lays the foundation for the overall vibe. For evidence of that fact, turn your attention to the tilework oasis Palihouse West Hollywood, check into the Hyggee meets Balinese mashup Axel Guldsmeden, or gaze upon the jaw-dropping prints that define De Witte Lelie, a jewel box in Belgium’s coolest city.
Art
You don’t have to be an art connoisseur to appreciate a beautiful painting, large-scale metal work installation, or thought-provoking photography. Many boutique hotels put an emphasis on art and take pride in being able to display incredible works. The Ace Hotel Kyoto hosts rotating exhibitions in an on-site gallery space. The lobby The Whitby in Midtown Manhattan boasts museum-worthy pieces like carved alabaster sculptures by Stephen Cox. The walls of The Radical, a hiphotel inside an old breakfast cereal factory in Asheville’s River Arts District, are covered in graffiti and street art murals.
Personalized Service
At larger all-inclusive resorts, there are way more people on the property and less of a possibility of the staff knowing guests by name. In a smaller boutique setting, the team has a better chance of interacting with each person who steps through the door. Hotels that take an above-and-beyond approach to hospitality will go a step further by personalizing things like welcome amenities. Ever walked into a room and seen your favorite bottle of bubbly chilling in the ice bucket?
Food
Mega all-inclusive resorts have a ton of people to feed, so volume tends to be the goal. By contrast, boutique hotels focus on quality over quantity. Think: the chefs are making eggs to order at breakfast, rather than a pour-and-flip omelet station. Many times smaller properties also collaborate with talented local chefs to open on-site restaurants that guests, visitors, and residents flock to in equal measure. Add to that extra special culinary experiences such chef-created prix fixe dinners exclusively for guests of Washington School House in Park City.
Local Culture
The best boutique hotels hold up a mirror to their respective destinations and infuse local culture into the fabric of the guest experience. Many are involved in the community, whether that’s showcasing the works of local artists and makers, hosting pop-up events for nearby shops and homespun brands, or bringing in up-and-coming musicians from the city to perform.
