We know that many of you continue to make notes and plan for future travel to visit with friends and family; or to simply get away with a loved one to soak in all the hospitality you can handle with room service, housekeeping and all the extras that come with the activity that we have so dearly missed, travel! These 10 boutique getaways have you covered.
We have seen first-hand all the steps hotels and resorts are taking to keep guests safe, but for this collection of hotel getaways, we also wanted to focus on the boutique experience. We know that these hotels will go above and beyond to keep you safe while also exploring how they can make your future stay with them extra special. Start making plans now for your future boutique vacation, or simply a staycation in your own city…
Boutique Getaways: Asheville, NC | The Foundry Hotel
The hip and thriving mountain city of Asheville offers a near-perfect blend of natural beauty, quirky culture and innovative local cuisine. You can take in stunning long-range views on winter hikes at Great Smoky National Park, dine at the best Asheville restaurants and take a day trip to the legendary Biltmore Estate. Those of you seeking luxury accommodations should look no further than The Foundry Hotel.
This 87-room luxury boutique hotel complex combines three historic buildings with two new builds in the heart of The Block neighborhood, Asheville’s oldest African American business district. Adventure-lovers should be sure to inquire about the Asheville Hot Air Balloons partnership. The hotel’s concierge has VIP access to book this breathtaking experience for those looking to get carried away, literally. Whether it’s for a special occasion or a spontaneous adventure, the experience is unforgettable.
Boutique Getaways: Beverly Hills, CA | Avalon Hotel
Tucked into an unsuspecting tree-lined street in Beverly Hills, this storied boutique hotel for mid-century stars like Marilyn Monroe and Desi Arnaz has long been a local getaway from the crazy Hollywood scene. With 84 guest rooms situated around a boomerang-shaped pool, al fresco patio and charming jewel box restaurant, Avalon offers guests a rare sense of peace and privacy in the middle of all the action.
Newly renovated guest rooms put minds at ease with serene blues and neutrals, soulful furnishings and thoughtful amenities like dog beds and pet treats if traveling with your best friend, in-suite cocktails and complimentary bicycles to explore the neighborhood. We love their Penthouse at this property for the best of everything the area and hotel have to offer! The design of this spacious suite will make you feel like one of the timeless Hollywood stars; and it includes two private balconies, two full bathrooms, a separate living room with Murphy bed, and an oversized master bedroom.
Boutique Getaways: Bristol, VA | The Bristol Hotel
Recognized as “The Birthplace of Country Music” by the United States Congress in 1998, the charming and eclectic town of Bristol offers the perfect mix of history and adventure nestled in the foothills of the dreamy Appalachian and Great Smoky Mountains. The Bristol Hotel is the first boutique property in the region that is housed within the city’s 1920’s historic landmark. You can immerse in Bristol’s historic music scene with banjo lessons led by local musicians and tours of the Smithsonian Birthplace of Country Music Museum (located adjacent to the hotel), take in prime views of State Street’s famed ‘A Good Place to Live’ slogan sign on the hotel’s Lumac Rooftop Bar and get a taste for true Bristol cuisine at the hotel’s family-style Appalachian-inspired restaurant, Vivian’s Table.
Vivian’s Table is a must-experience while in the area. Fresh ingredients and soulful Southern fare come together in this cozy space for street-level dining and drinks with your family and friends. Savor a scratch-made meal, sip on something sweet, and watch downtown Bristol come to life while you dine. If you are traveling with friends and family, the hotel offers a great option on the top floor, known as “A Good Place to Live” as it can be combined with several rooms to give you (up to seven of you) plenty of space to unwind and enjoy your stay!
Boutique Getaways: Charleston, SC | French Quarter Inn
Recently named the No. 1 Hotel in the United States for the second year in a row for TripAdvisor’s 2020 Travelers’ Choice Awards, this 50-room luxury boutique hotel showcases the southern charm the city is known for with a comfortable upscale design coupled with high-touch service and extensive daily amenities. These include locally-sourced artisanal breakfast, personal wine and cheese pairings, and turndown service with hand-crafted chocolates and a sound sleep pillow menu with seven different options.
You will find that the accommodations provide a taste of the French Quarter Inn’s genteel past; along with modern touches such as spacious Italian marble bathrooms and cutting-edge technology to make sure you feel right at home. For a special visit, we recommend the Luxury King Balcony Full Suite, which features custom upholstered furnishings, a king bed finished in luxurious European linens, a private furnished balcony, a separate living room area complete with cozy fireplace, and an oversized marble bathroom with premium spa amenities. Perfection!
Boutique Getaways: Charleston, SC | HarbourView Inn
Charleston’s historic charm and year-round comfortable weather provides a relaxing and intimate vacation and staycation experience like no other. Boasting some of the best views in town, HarbourView Inn is a favorite waterfront hotel in the Historic District that offers newly refreshed rooms and suites, and an intimate approach to today’s bed and breakfast with the features of a luxurious boutique hotel. This includes completely new design enhancements and furniture; and a private rooftop that is flanked by 360-degree views of the historic harbor, famed Pineapple Fountain and the unmistakable church-steeple lined skyline.
Travelers have found their home-away-home from here for nearly 15 years, where they can enjoy an impressive list of complimentary amenities such as gourmet locally sourced continental breakfast delivered in-room, afternoon wine and cheese hour for the parents, freshly baked cookies and milk in the evening before bed (for kids and adults) and nightly turndown service.
It is difficult to pick our favorite accommodations here, but we can narrow it down to The Landmark Suite and the Historic Rooms, so be sure to check these out when making your plans. The Landmark Suite is a two-room suite on the top floor with a beautiful king four-poster bed and a gas fireplace. But our favorite features of this suite are the two balconies with amazing waterfront views. The Historic Rooms just scream “Charleston” with 14-foot ceilings and the fabulous exposed brick walls. You are sure to love either one of these options.
Boutique Getaways: Charleston, SC | The Spectator Hotel
Charleston’s award-winning 41-room luxury property offers spacious accommodations and extensive daily amenities that includes artisanal in-room breakfast, southern turndown service with hand-crafted cordials served in edible chocolate cups, and The Bar, the hotel’s Prohibition-era themed cocktail lounge. The Spectator Hotel is also the only property in the city with personal butler service, with butlers assigned to each guest, who are able to coordinate anything from in-room food delivery to drawing a rose petal bath. You will love this elevated travel experience!
These rooms and suites offer a light and airy feel with only the best in terms of the linens and amenities. While the Grand Suite is slightly larger, we love the Premier Balcony Suite for so many reasons. The arched doorways just add an elegant style to the suite, and pair that with the private wraparound balcony for the ultimate Charleston hideaway. Like so many guests before you, you will probably find yourself trying to extend your visit to have a few more days at this impressive property that leaves you wanting for nothing!
Boutique Getaways: Chicago, IL | Deer Path Inn
Located just 40 minutes north of Chicago, you can experience a European escape just outside of the Windy City in the charming town of Lake Forest at the Deer Path Inn. Reminiscent of the English countryside, you can enjoy the intimate 57-room inn’s private in-suite services such as Afternoon Tea and an elevated food and beverage experience that includes private wine and bourbon tastings in the hotel’s “hidden” wine cellar and one-on-one cocktail classes with the inn’s chief spirits officer, Jorge Centeno. He will teach you how to make a series of drinks that are just as Instagram-worthy as they are delicious. Renowned for its authentically English dining concepts, you have the opportunity to enjoy a new rotating menu of culinary classics and year-round outdoor dining (a first in the hotel’s 90+ year history!).
We have a few favorite things about this boutique hotel experience. As we see so many grandparents finally able to see (and hug) their grandchildren again, they have a package is designed with all these loving gatherings in mind. The Gramping Package includes a magical fairytale experience with afternoon tea, a visit to historic Market Square and a stroll through the Chicago Botanic Garden to make memories with your loved ones. For a suite with all the elegance we want, but with a handsome masculine spin on things, the Cornwall Suite has it all. Cozy up next to the fireplace in this stately suite with a good book and all your worries are sure to fade away.
Boutique Getaways: Fort Worth, TX | The Ashton Hotel
The Ashton Hotel offers an elegant city retreat with a boutique feel in the heart of downtown Fort Worth. There are 39 spacious and luxurious rooms, including the Spa Suite that is equipped with a two-person, claw footed jacuzzi tub for the ultimate in relaxation without leaving your room. You can explore Cowtown from the centrally located hotel, or take advantage of their plush offerings, like formal afternoon tea on the weekends, complimentary wine hour and a fitness center with Peloton bikes.
In addition to the Spa Suite, the other favorite at this hotel is the Signature Suite for the simple reason that is has a lot of character. This extra-large suite is very spacious, including a full living room, high ceilings and oversized windows that allow natural light to flood the suite. If you are looking for a romantic getaway, be sure to inquire about their Romance in the City package this season that starts your getaway with champagne and chocolate.
Boutique Getaways: Lexington, KY | 21c Museum Hotel Lexington
An under-the-radar hidden gem beyond the typical, more crowded Southern cities, Lexington, Kentucky is ideal for an intimate getaway. The 21c Museum Hotel Lexington is centrally located and designed with creatives in mind, providing relaxing inspiration for all their guests. Offering a rotating set of contemporary exhibits filled with more than 2,000 commissioned works of art from local artists, a signature on-site restaurant, Lockbox, and a Queen’s Gambit-inspired “Harmon Room,” visitors can explore the best of the Bluegrass with a self-guided tour curated by VisitLEX.
We love the Harmon Room for something truly unique, but the hotel has a few other rooms and suites that we recommend. If you are a fan of minimalism and love the feel of being in a fine art museum, we recommend the Skylight Suite. However, when we want a rich mix of colors and textures, we need a stay in the 21c Suite. With pops of color everywhere you turn, this suite inspires the artist in all of us.
Boutique Getaways: Waikiki, HI | The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
This hotel is unique on so many levels. The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club feels that true Hawaiian hospitality is about treating their guests like they were part of their ohana. This is at the heart of everything they do here. They wanted to pay homage to the true soul of Waikiki, and to create an inimitable hospitality experience. They collaborated with some of Honolulu’s brightest visionaries to build a hotel reminiscent of the city’s mid-century heyday, all the while celebrating the effervescent creative movement that’s reshaping the city today.
Locals can book the quintessential Waikiki experience with the Get Shacked @ The Jack deal to soak in Hawaii’s sunshine at the customized Wish You Were Here pool while sipping on cocktails from the award-winning Mahina & Sun’s. Locals will particularly love the Surfjack’s curated collection of experiences like live music from local legends and dance parties like Salsa & Carnitas Mondays. Four-legged companions are also welcome, as The Surfjack is one of the only hotels in Waikiki to welcome dogs of all sizes.
