When I plan a vacation, I always try to find a hotel that offers more than a place to sleep. I want my hotel to add to the experience.
I’ve been fortunate to stay in some wonderful hotels. Yesterday I shared my very favorite hotel experience, Thornbury Castle Hotel in England.
Here are the other 4 hotels that make my favorites list.
In no particular order…they are all so different that it is really hard to compare them.
1. San Pedro, Belize: Ramon’s Village Resort
Beach side entrance to Ramon’s Village
Ramon’s Village Resort in San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye, Belize, was a fabulous place to stay. It’s close enough to walk to town, many restaurants and bars and even the small airport. All of the pathways and roads are sand, and the staff delivers and picks up your luggage via golf cart since it’s a pain to drag through the sand.
Ramon’s is also the only hotel in this part of the island that has a good beach and private chairs. Someday I will go back, and I will definitely stay at Ramon’s again.
Garden Rooms and Townhouses
Outdoor Massage Hut (left) with Outdoor Lounge Palapa (center)
Ramon’s Village beach view
Ramon’s reserved beach chairs and hammock hut
Ramon’s swimming pool
Great place to relax in the evening with water view
Ramon’s villa room
Villa room balcony view
Villa room with palapa roof
Villa room sitting area and bathroom
2. Merida, Mexico: Hotel Casa Lucia
Hotel Casa Lucia
A few years ago I visited Merida, Mexico. Merida is unlike any other part of Mexico I’ve visited. It is an inland city about 3 hours by car west of Cancun. It is the cultural center of Mexico, and you are surrounded by history everywhere you go so staying in a historic hotel was perfect. I loved that this hotel had cubbies for you to leave your rather large, old-fashioned room keys at the front desk whenever you went out. I felt like I was in an old western movie.
I loved everything about the hotel, including the free breakfast that let you order off a menu, the window shutters you closed in your room at night and the convenient location in town making it easy to walk everywhere.
I actually stayed here with my Mom, but I’ve never stayed in a more romantic and beautiful hotel.
Casa Lucia entrance
Casa Lucia has just a handful of rooms on 2 floors
Casa Lucia swimming pool and outdoor seating area
Casa Lucia room
3. Playa del Carmen, Mexico: La Tortuga Hotel & Spa
La Tortuga Hotel & Spa at night
I’ve been to Mexico a number of times, and Playa del Carmen is my favorite location. I stayed at La Tortuga Hotel which breaks my pattern of choosing Mexican all-inclusive hotels. Playa has such a vibrant town and so many great restaurants that it would be a shame to stay at a hotel where you had to eat all of your meals. La Tortuga isn’t on the beach, but it’s just a 5 minute walk to get there and you can use just about any resort’s beach chairs as long as you buy some drinks.
I absolutely loved everything about this hotel. The location is an easy walk to everything you want to do and the setting is beautiful. When we arrived, we were given a really tiny room. After one night, we asked to get moved to another room. The first room just wasn’t big enough for 3 people. The staff was accommodating and showed us a few options. When we saw the room with the balcony, we decided it was worth paying just a little more. The next time I go back, I’ll happily stay here again.
And if I was on a romantic holiday, I would definitely pick this hotel.
Peaceful quiet setting
La Tortuga has several small seating areas around the pool offering tons of privacy
La Tortuga 3rd floor room with balcony
La Tortuga balcony…worth every penny
View from 3rd floor room at La Tortuga
4. Indianapolis, Indiana: Nestle Inn
Nestle Inn
I love the idea of staying at bed & breakfast inns. The first two B&B’s I stayed at were ok, but both had drawbacks to them keeping them from becoming a favorite. Last month, I tried again and hit the gold mine with Nestle Inn.
This B&B is located in the best area you could want to stay in Indianapolis, known as the Mass Ave theater and arts district. The owners live in a carriage house behind the B&B, so they are accessible anytime you need them by phone but also stay out of your way, making it almost feel like you area staying in a house you rented. While the room wasn’t decorated fancy or with antique pieces, it was much bigger than what I’ve come to expect at a B&B. Of course, I was staying in the suite…so I’m sure that made a difference.
Nestle Inn 2nd floor family room
Nestle Inn – main floor library
Nestle Inn suite king size bed
Nestle Inn’s suite fireplace
Nestle Inn suite has a bathroom with claw foot tub and separate shower
Read my recent article on the Nestle Inn…
Have you stayed in a great hotel that isn’t ordinary?
Share your favorites in the comments below.
I travel so much for work that so much of hoteling has become too commonplace but when I go on vacation, I have a variety of things that I prioritize depending on where I am going and why. Sometimes the driving factor is location – walkability to restaurants, sites, etc as well as safety then I look for more experiential. The hotel we stayed at in Florence, Italy would be a perfect example. I have stayed at inclusive resorts a few times too and there the considerations were more like the ones you had at Ramon’s.
I agree..what I look for in a hotel depends on where I am going. Convenience to the things I’ll want to do is critical unless it is all-inclusive and I won’t be leaving the resort much. But I still tried to find a place with character or charm no matter where I go.
Free wifi that includes the room has also become a requirement for me. If that can’t happen, I’m willing to pay a small fee for room wifi…but I’m not willing to have to plug in at a desk or head to the lobby to get in my Facebook time!