Chic Retreats

Chic Retreats represents an interesting and varied selection of boutique and hip hotels and villas throughout the world. If you're looking for a place to stay that exudes contemporary design or historical charm, make sure you bookmark this excellent site with its collection of privately owned hotels, B&Bs and villas.

PERSONALLY SELECTED HOTELS

Lulu Townsend, who founded the company in 2003, genuinely selects the hotels and by restricting the hotels in the collection that have less than thirty rooms, guests really do get a personal service wherever they choose to stay. The collection includes hotels, B&Bs and villas that suit all budgets and styles. With 560 properties on its books, you can rest assured that you'll find something suitable.

With a relaunched site, browsing the hotels has been made ever easier. Visitors can search by destination, facilities and Chic Retreat collection types. The collection includes British boutique hotels to beach hideaways or for those after something green, Lulu has found a number of eco friendly hotels and villas. The wishlist feature enables visitors to select up to five properties at a time and request availability for all at the click of a mouse. Customer testimonials will build into a useful resource, further backing up Lulu's recommendations.

You'll find gorgeous hotels throughout Europe from real hideaways in France and Italy to newer tourist destinations such as Estonia, in several African countries, the Americas and several very enticing places in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.

Each property listed has a full description, the facilities on offer and special offers for members. Quality images add weight to the offering.

CHIC RETREAT MEMBERSHIP

Membership costs £20 per annum, members receive a book featuring over 350 properties and are entitled to benefits, discounts on room rates and upgrades.

PRESS PLAUDITS

Continually mentioned in the press, with coverage in high profile glossies including Vogue, Tatler and Harpers Bazaar, Chic Retreats was also voted as one of the top 20 travel sites by The Times.

This is without doubt a great site to visit if you are looking for something special, uber-cool and far from the madding crowd. You'll find it here.