Penny McCormick finds happy hotels and other travel trends for 2024…
Choosing hotels for their vibe, especially “happy” hotels is one of 2024’s key travel trends. Many new properties are defined by their joyful, mood-boosting design schemes.
Beata Heuman’s Hôtel de la Boétie, Paris, is a case in point. “Beata’s rose pink Frette bedsheets, silver wallpaper and checkerboard tiles have been a success with guests. Design can often be something very serious, but people want to have fun and feel free when they’re travelling,” explains Adrien Gloaguen, founder of the Touriste group, of which La Boétie is part. If popping over to Paris, do check out Galerie Dior, 30 avenue Montaigne, where an exhibition of archive fashion also celebrates the brand’s close links with women artists. www.hoteldelaboetie.com.
Other new buzzwords include “destination dupes” – more affordable alternatives to popular spots. Think Paros for Santorini, Procida for Capri and Bodrum for St Tropez. Look out for opening rates at the boutique hotel Maxx Royal Bodrum, which will bring the Mykonos Scorpios Beach Club scene to the all-inclusive resort. www.maxxroyal.com.
Big name entertainment is also driving travel (and economics) like never before, with many “tour trippers” using a concert as the excuse to visit a new place. THE GLOSS art director Patricia Marinho is planning trips to see her favourite brand, Keane, playing in Manchester and London. Most recently, she saw Madonna in Antwerp. If visiting this elegant city, by the way, the Hotel Flora is decidedly “happy”, with interiors by Gert Voorjans which mix botanical motifs, Chinese pagodas and abstract artwork. www.hotelflora.be.
“Set jetting” also shows no signs of diminishing. Especially popular are Bath and Windsor, inspired by the new seasons of Bridgerton and The Crown respectively. Beauty editor Sarah Halliwell says she could quite happily move to Bath because of Topping Company Booksellers, housed in a former chapel and a great resource for finding signed first editions. Sarah stays at The Yard Hotel, €109 per room; www.theyardinbath.co.uk. She also recommends booking a spa session at Thermae, from £41stg. “The warm rooftop pool overlooking the city is alone worth the entry fee.” www.thermaebathspa.com.
More people are investing in “transformational trips”. One to book is Greystones-based Georgina Durcan’s reset retreat in the Algarve from February 23-25. Coaching, yoga, meditation, hiking, and access to a hammam all combine for a restorative experience. Prices start from €399 and include transfers, accommodation and meals. www.thesoulfullifecoach.ie.