It can be more than a bit annoying if you are hoping to get away from your hectic home life for some peace and quiet, only to find that your hotel of choice is crawling with chattering tourists from all corners of the globe. How can you avoid this problem? Well, you could either travel during the off-season and hope that no one else had the same idea, or, you could choose to travel to one of these secret havens for the getaway of a lifetime.
Udaipur, India © by ronancrowley
The following five hotels are all hidden away in some of the world’s most beautiful locations both near and far, and because they house only a small number of guests at a time, you’ll be getting the peaceful getaway you deserve.
1. Les Deux Freres, French Riviera
The French Riviera is not usually a place you would expect to find peace and get away from the crowds, however, this quaint 19th century school building that has been renovated into a typical French guesthouse offers just that. It has only ten rooms so you won’t feel overwhelmed even when it is running at full capacity. It is situated at the top of an impressive cliff, which makes for an excellent view of the sea and surrounding hills, and unless you want to, you won’t even need to leave the hotel at all, as the fully equipped bar and restaurant leave nothing to be desired.
2. The One Hotel Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Cambodia may not be at the top of your list when it comes to planning a relaxing holiday, but this hotel certainly breaks the mould. It only has one suite, and as the only guest, you won’t have to worry about bumping into other guests in the hallways or queuing for seating in a crowded dining room. The hotel is an old colonial building that has been modernized to include everything from a Jacuzzi to an elaborate shower to silk sheets and a private dining area on the roof.
3. Albergo California, Positano, Italy
This lovely family-owned hotel is located in the beautiful little Italian coastal town of Positano, a great place to visit if you are looking to ditch the flock of tourists that migrates to Italy’s coast every summer. The hotel has a total of 15 spacious rooms on different floors. Most rooms have a generous view of the sea or the town, but if you happen to be put up in a room without one, the terrace is a perfect place to cosy up for hours with a good book and a few glasses of Italian vino.
4. Mount Haven Hotel, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Who says you need to visit exotic locations in faraway places to ease your mind after a tough year of hard work? Mount Haven is still a fairly new hotel, having opened around 2001, making it less visited than some of the others in the popular tourist county of Cornwall. The hotel has a view of St. Michael’s Mount as well as the sea, which can be viewed from most of its 18 plush rooms. The terrace and open bar area provides comfortable seating along with a wide variety of foods from traditional and organic English fair to deliciously spicy Indian curries.
5. The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
If after Cornwall you’re still craving something a bit further from home, then The Oberoi Udaivilas hotel in India is just what you need. This magnificent establishment couldn’t be further from what you are used to seeing in hotels at home, with its lavish suites complete with personal butlers to its private outdoor dining areas, swimming pools, spas and of course a spectacular view of the City Palace and majestic lake. It’s the perfect destination for anyone who is looking to skip out on reality for a few days and enjoy the finer things in life.
Author Bio
Aileen Pablo is part of the team behind Open Colleges, one of Australia’s leading providers of online TAFE courses equivalent and TESOL courses. When not working, Aileen blogs about travel, lifestyle, and beauty tips. She is also often invited as a speaker in Personality Development Seminars in the Philippines.
