Places to Go: Margaret River, Australia
Head Down Under to beat the heat this summer and take in some amazing views from the Ooi House, a private holiday home in Margaret River, Australia. The award-winning design features 4 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, sliding glass walls that open up to a spacious patio, an interior courtyard with a sparkling Koi fish pond, a separate chalet, and a prime location with awesome river vistas. Don't forget to bring your surfboards either; Ooi House is only a mile from the beach. See you there!
Simple Luxury in Germany: elisabeth am see
elisabeth am see is a peaceful waterfront hideaway on Lake Templin in Germany's beautiful lake district. The home was originally built in 1930 and modernized in 2009 to meet new standards of environmentally-friendly, holistic building techniques. The interiors are an oasis of calm with stunning lake views from every room.
With a large garden, in-house spa, free-standing gazebo, and picturesque jetty, elisabeth am see is the perfect getaway for travelers looking for a private place to rejuvenate and restore. Outdoorsy folk will find many opportunities for boating, yachting, and swimming on 6km long lake.
Luxury Travel in India: Elsewhere
A chic small hotel should make you feel like you've stepped into another world, like you have suddenly been whisked away to different universe, like you are…elsewhere. And Elsewhere is the name is a very chic and very small hotel in Goa, India.
Only accessible by a private footbridge, Elsewhere is an old Portuguese colony that now accommodates up to 26 guests in stylish, relaxing surroundings. Comprised of 4 ocean-facing houses built in the traditional style with thick walls, shuttered windows, and terracotta tiled sloping roofs, Elsewhere is truly a dream destination on the west coast of India. The interiors are an eclectic mix of rustic furnishings with all the bright color and culture of India shining through.
Along with 4 charming houses, Elsewhere also has three comfortably furnished tents that sleep 2-people each. But don't think you'll be roughing it: each tent has a double four-poster bed, en-suite bathroom, and private jetty overlooking the creek. Sounds perfectly heavenly to us.
Places to Stay in British Columbia: Bloom Organic B&B
Just off the coast of Vancouver is Salt Spring Island, an idyllic place to relax and get back in touch with nature. And the perfect place to do it is Bloom Organic B&B.
You will feel instantly at home in this very unique, tiny B&B made up of two suites and a folk art gallery run by your hosts and artists Anna Gustafson and Paul Burke. The self-contained ‘Pond Suite’ is located just above the beautiful Blue Horse Art Gallery and accessed by a private staircase. The ‘Orchard Suite’ has a large sitting area that opens to a private patio and garden.
Both suites are simply furnished and beautifully kept for a light and elegant feel. Yogurt and delicious home-made granola and bread are provided for refreshment. A fresh-baked treat is brought to you in the first morning, and of course, everything is as organic and locally grown as possible.
Bloom Organic B&B is located just minutes away from kayaking and hiking on invigorating forest and ocean shoreline trails – a total escape into nature. Relax here at Bloom or explore the island, your spirit will be nurtured and refreshed. The ideal spot for artists and writers to hideaway for a week or two.
Kid-Friendly California Vacation Spot
It's tough out there for traveling parents searching for chic lodging in far-flung locales (i.e. not a Disney resort). Many places put the kibosh on bringing the kiddies along, so it's a real treat to discover a beautiful place that not only allows children, but is completely set up to welcome them. Longview Ranch is such a property. Set on 187 gorgeous, wild acres of private land in Mendocino County, Longview Ranch is a former industrial workshop turned modern vacation rental that's been kitted out for travelers of all ages.
The owners are parents themselves and appreciate children's need for creative spaces to explore and claim. They've added a 1,000 foot studio space for playing, a fenced yard, several tree swings, and a hilltop fairy ring for picnics, tea parties, and tree climbs. Plus there's plenty for the adults to enjoy in the area: the wineries of Anderson Valley and Orr Hot Springs Resort are both a short drive away. Check out all the details below.
Vacation Spots in Yelapa: Blue House at Verana
Verana Hotel in Yelapa, Mexico is located "where the jungle meets the sea" and nowhere is that more true than in the oceanside Blue House. Every room boasts incredible views of sea, sky, and jungle, including from the canopied beds and large soaking tub. Now Verana has made the Blue House available as a private vacation rental for up to five guests. Guests at the Blue House can enjoy their own separate space (and private pool!) on the hotel's property while having full access to all the amazing amenities at Verana. A kitchenette has a small fridge, coffee-maker, and kettle that can be stocked prior to your arrival with fresh fruit, milk, and drinks. Rent the Blue House and other modern vacation rentals exclusively through Boutique-Homes.com.
Places to Stay in Sayulita, Mexico: Casa Brava
We don't know what the weather's like where you are, but we're freezing over here! While we wait for winter to melt into spring, we're warming ourselves up by planning a summer getaway. This year, we'll be heading down to Sayulita, Mexico, a village located about 25 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. A longtime favorite for surfers (they've been catching waves there since the 1960s,) Sayulita has plenty to offer the casual tourist. To name a few: a tented Sunday market with wares made by local and traveling craftsmen, an amazing selection of street food in the bustling town square, art galleries, and excellent restaurants. Plus Sayulita has one of the lowest crime rates in Mexico and world-famous tacos, too.
Need a stylish spot for your Sayulita getaway? Casa Brava, a stunning house located on one of the area's highest hills, fits the bill perfectly. Comprised of a main house, a guest house, and private studio, Casa Brava was designed by one of Mexico's leading architects and features handcrafted fixtures, onyx walls, polished granite counters, and custom-made furniture. Wake up to the sound of tropical birdsong and spend the day lounging in one of the many hammocks on the property. There's plenty of outdoor space to enjoy 360 degree ocean and jungle views, and if you can drag yourself away from the 12'x124' infinity pool, it's only a 10 minute walk to the beach.
Casa Brava offers a sliding rates scale based on season, number of guests, and which part of the the property is rented. You can also rent nightly and weekly. Full details below.
Luxury Travel in Italy: Pescallo Lake Como, Bellagio
Imagine waking up in the morning and gazing across the pristine blue waters of Lake Como to the eastern shore, as the tiny boats ferry tourists and locals alike from picturesque Bellagio to the many gorgeous locales along the lake. This is the view from Pescallo Lake Como, a new addition to the Boutique-Homes.com collection of modern vacation rentals.
Chic Nomads will find a lot to love about Pescallo Lake Como, a historic waterfront building that's been renovated to contain two stylish apartments. The interiors have been decorated with a clean mix of rustic and modern design. Owner Pietro Castagna, architect and furniture maker, is a favorite with guests for his friendly manner and helpfulness in arranging for daily excursions, boat rental (delivered directly to the Pescallo pier house), catering, cooking classes, and more. All the luxury of a small hotel with the privacy of a vacation rental. Accomodates 4-6 per apartment, rates start at $450 per night.
Traditional Japanese Townhouses
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When you think of traveling in Japan, you probably imagine densely packed high-tech cities, bustling shopping districts lit 24 hours a day by neon lights, and bullet trains packed with business people zooming around the island. Similarly, when you think of a typical Japanese hotel, the image your head is probably one of a super-modernized luxurious mega-hotel, much like the one seen in Sofia Coppola's classic "Lost in Translation".
However we've made an exciting discovery: traditional Japanese townhouses for rent in Kyoto, Tokyo, and beyond. All of these townhouses – or machiya, as they are called in Japanese – embody the elegant elements of traditional Japanese design and the philosophy of "Wabi Sabi". Some are purely Japanese in style, while others mix Western amenities with traditional touches.
The Boutique-Homes.com collection now offers over 14 distinctly Japanese, totally traditional townhouses for rent. Discover this special collection at Boutique-Homes.com and find your very own "Wabi Sabi Inspiration." MT
Topanga House
Los Angeles is a city of canyons, and one of the most famous is Topanga Canyon. Named after a Native American word that means “a place above,” Topanga Canyon is technically part of the City of Los Angeles, though when you’re surrounded by 11,000 acres of natural land, it’s easy to forget that a major metropolis is just a few miles down the coast.
Topanga House is a spacious and airy mid-century modern design in a park-like setting with amazing views of the mountains. Quiet, private, and totally Topanga, make this beautiful house your base for exploring the area and the city beyond the canyon.
