What makes a hotel truly luxurious?

It depends on what your definition of luxury is. For some, luxury is a minibar, telephone, and hairdryer in the room. For others, it’s about an amazing location and great service. Boutique hotels, which are privately owned, tend to give the best personal service, while larger luxury hotels allow you to be more anonymous. Five-star hotels often have a bar, restaurant, and spa, but don’t always provide the best overall experience.

How do boutique hotels differ from traditional luxury hotels?

Boutique hotels are often privately owned, with each room individually designed. Staff are usually passionate about what they do, and the atmosphere is more personal and relaxed. Boutique hotels focus on design, service, and experience rather than star ratings.

What wellness amenities do top luxury hotels offer now (e.g. sleep tech, spa treatments, circadian lighting)?

Top luxury hotels now offer high-tech wellness features such as automatic dimmable lights, in-room voice assistants, circadian lighting, sleep masks, oils, sprays, and mood lighting to support better rest and relaxation.

Which hotels offer AI-personalised wellness experiences or smart rooms?

Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons Resort in Hawaii, offers Thermal Body Mapping and advanced sensors that personalise treatments. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando and W Scottsdale use AI-powered robotic massages and fitness assessments. Clinique La Prairie in Switzerland integrates AI with genomic data to create tailored longevity programmes. Mandarin Oriental’s AI-driven concierge adjusts experiences based on your preferences. Hilton’s Connected Room technology and Zoku Amsterdam’s AI-powered app learn your routines, while Wynn Las Vegas features voice-activated smart suites. Six Senses and SHA Wellness Clinic use biofeedback and real-time mood tracking for fully personalised stays.

Are pets welcome at most luxury hotels, and what special services do they offer for them?

Each hotel has its own pet policy, but many luxury hotels welcome pets. Expect dog-friendly rooms, beds, and treats, though some may charge an additional nightly fee.

What VIP or concierge experiences can you expect at a luxury hotel?

Concierges can arrange theatre bookings, restaurant reservations, private drivers, cooking courses, truffle hunting in Tuscany, hot air ballooning, and bespoke culture trips — it all depends on what you’d like to experience.

How can I find the best boutique hotels near me or in a specific city?

Explore boutique hotel recommendations on www.lulusluxurylifestyle.uk. Lulu Townsend has over 25 years of experience in the hotel industry, including marketing and consulting for luxury and boutique hotels worldwide.

Which hotels in Rome are best for a romantic weekend, spa retreat, or wellness break?

JK Place Roma, Rocco Forte’s Hotel de la Ville, and Crossing Condotti are three romantic boutique hotels in Rome that suit weekends focused on style, spa time, and wellness.

When is the best time to book a luxury hotel for the best price or availability?

Book in off-peak seasons or when flight prices are lower for the best rates and availability.

Do boutique hotels offer flexible booking or cancellation options?

Many boutique hotels offer flexible booking and cancellation policies, especially when you book directly with the hotel.

What should I look for when choosing a 5-star versus a boutique hotel?

A 5-star hotel typically includes a bar, restaurant, and spa, ideal for a full-service luxury holiday. A boutique hotel offers a more personal, romantic stay and often lets you live like a local.

Which luxury hotels are leading in sustainability or eco-friendly practices?

Leaders include The Brando in French Polynesia, Soneva Resorts, Heckfield Place in Hampshire, 1 Hotels, and Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland, all combining conservation, regenerative farming, and eco-conscious design.

What are the best eco-luxury hotels for wellness travellers?

Excellent eco-luxury wellness stays include Euphoria Retreat in Greece, Preidlhof in South Tyrol, Kamalaya in Koh Samui, and Ulpotha in Sri Lanka.

How are luxury hotels adapting to conscious travel trends in 2025?

Hotels are moving from being green to regenerative, investing in renewable energy and refill culture, reducing waste, and supporting local communities. Kitchens focus on local sourcing and low waste, while wellness programmes blend science with traditional wisdom. Luxury is now about how a place makes you feel and the positive mark it leaves behind.

Where should I stay in 2025 for the best wellness escapes?

Ulpotha in Sri Lanka is a standout for yoga, Ayurveda, organic vegetarian food, and digital detox in an off-grid setting.

What are the top luxury destinations for solo travellers?

Italy, Bali, Greece, and Sri Lanka are popular with solo luxury travellers for their combination of safety, culture, wellness, and boutique-style hospitality.

What are the best local luxury stays in the UK right now?

Chewton Glen, Heckfield Place, Lime Wood Hotel, Double Red Duke, and Thyme offer standout design, service, and character.

What are trending boutique hotel locations and hidden gem stays this year?

Trending locations include Puglia, Menorca, the Cotswolds, the Scottish Highlands, Lisbon, Sri Lanka, Suffolk, Kyoto, Oaxaca, and Cornwall, each with small, design-led hotels and a strong sense of place.

A large, Mediterranean-style villa with a red-tiled roof and multiple stories, surrounded by lush greenery, trees, and landscaped gardens. There is a swimming pool with lounge chairs and umbrellas nearby, in a scenic rural area with rolling hills in

Modern house with infinity pool, outdoor seating, and minimalist patio on a sunny day amid trees and greenery.

Luxurious outdoor swimming pool surrounded by lounge chairs with umbrellas, lush greenery, and stone buildings on a hillside under a bright blue sky.

Interior of a bright, elegant lounge with large arched windows, a central bar with a variety of bottles, and comfortable seating including pink and patterned chairs, a glass ceiling, and potted plants.

Elegant library room with wooden bookshelves filled with books, ornate ceiling, and a mix of white and teal chairs around a wooden table with vases and flowers, large windows with drapes, and a portrait on the wall.

Overwater bungalow with a private pool, deck chairs, umbrellas, and ocean view under a blue sky.

Lulu’s Luxury Lifestyle & Travel

Articles, Travel Inspiration and Hotel Reviews

Wellness brands, luxury hotels, reviews, features, articles, little hidden gems, shops, travel tips, travel guides, websites, products and restaurants.

#lulusluxurylifestyle

Lulu Townsend 18/11/2020 Lulu Townsend 18/11/2020

It’s a Wrap!

My selection of Christmas presents for under £30 that will surprise and delight your friends and family. From handmade coffee cups and knock-you-out sleep oil to delicious brownies and beautiful pendants, there’s something for everyone and I’ve tried, tested, bought (not gifted) all of them!

Lulu Townsend 15/11/2020 Lulu Townsend 15/11/2020

Brownie and The Bean

The best brownies in Suffolk, now delivered direct to your door across the UK. Blondies, brownies, gluten-free, mixed box, specials, you name it, they do it! The brainchild of Charlotte and Luke, Brownie and the Bean make the most indulgence, delicious and unforgettable brownies in Suffolk.

Lulu Townsend 10/11/2020 Lulu Townsend 10/11/2020

The Latin Quarter of Paris

Explore the Latin Quarter in Paris where the artistic and literati crowd still gather just as Hemingway once did.

Lulu Townsend 01/11/2020 Lulu Townsend 01/11/2020

Travel restrictions for the second National Lockdown in England

Update on restrictions under second national lockdown in England

Lulu Townsend 27/10/2020 Lulu Townsend 27/10/2020

Best places to eat on the Suffolk Coast

Top 3 restaurants on the Suffolk coast for breakfast, lunch and dinner,.

Lulu Townsend 20/10/2020 Lulu Townsend 20/10/2020

A Very Private Affair

Private places to book and enjoy all to yourselves.

Lulu Townsend 20/10/2020 Lulu Townsend 20/10/2020

SoprArno Suites, Florence

Soprarno Suites is a 13-room boutique B&B in Florence in the cool Oltranto area. Spread across three floors of a Florentine palazzo, it’s filled with charm and quirkiness and sits above a cool deli Sottarno.

Lulu Townsend 15/10/2020 Lulu Townsend 15/10/2020

Ad*Astra FLORENCE

Ad*Astra FLORENCE is a 14-room boutique hotel in Florence just a short walk from the Ponte Vecchio.

Lulu Townsend 07/10/2020 Lulu Townsend 07/10/2020

Rowhill Grange & Utopia Spa, Kent

Rowhill Grange is a luxury country house hotel in the Kentish countryside.

Lulu Townsend 05/10/2020 Lulu Townsend 05/10/2020

Barnett Hill, Surrey Hills, UK

Barnett Hill, a luxury country house hotel in the heart of the Surrey Hills, perfect for a mid-week break or family weekend away.

Lulu Townsend 01/10/2020 Lulu Townsend 01/10/2020

Great Fosters, Surrey, UK

Great Fosters, a luxury country house hotel within 15 minutes of London Heathrow

Lulu Townsend 28/09/2020 Lulu Townsend 28/09/2020

The Duncombe Arms, Derbyshire/Staffordshire UK

The Duncombe Arms, an award-winning pub with gorgeous boutique hotel rooms and a wonderful team of staff. One of my top 5 places to stay in the UK.

Lulu Townsend 25/09/2020 Lulu Townsend 25/09/2020

UK Autumn Escapes

It’s time to book an autumn break, here are a few boutique hotel options that won’t break the bank and have delicious food including the award-winning The Duncombe Arms.