If you are going to Hvar in Croatia and want to stay in a beautiful boutique hotel right on the water, check out the Riva Hvar Yacht Harbour Hotel. The hotel is located in a renovated 19th century Italian villa only minutes from the historic center of Hvar.

Terrace of Riva Hvar in Croatia

The rooms are small but decorated with flair (huge black and white photos of movie stars like Audrey Hepburn adorn the walls); the suites are larger and the Riva marina suite in particular offers more space and privacy with a private terrace facing the yacht harbour. Rates for a double room start at around 100 EUR. September is a good time to go to Hvar because the busiest holiday season is over, but the weather is still reliably sunny and warm.

The best way to enjoy your stay at the hotel is to hang out at the BB Club, the Riva’s waterfront terrace which turns into a nightclub with DJs. There is also a Japanese restaurant on the premises serving fresh seafood dishes.

Riva Hvar Yacht Harbour Hotel
Riva bb, 21450 Hvar
Croatia
+385 217 50 100

Heading to Jakarta, Indonesia? Check out Hotel Alila, a chic boutique hotel located in Central Jakarta, in the heart of old Batavia. It overlooks the Presidential Palace, the National Museum (Monas) and is just 4 km from the city’s business district and the biggest Indonesian trade centre (and 45 minutes or 25 km from the Soekarno Hatta International airport). Design is contemporary minimalist using a lot of wood and rich fabrics.

Swimming pool of Hotel Alila in Jakarta

The hotel has 249 rooms, suites and apartments, some of which have sweeping views over Jakarta. All rooms have Wi-Fi, a flatscreen TV, iPod dock and large bathtubs. Rates for a double room start at around US$85.

The swimming pool is divine! It has wonderful views over the city and there’s a small bar next to it where you can get drinks at sunset. The hotel is ideal for business travelers, but also for large parties and weddings. Its restaurant, buzz, was nominated one of Indonesia’s best restaurants in 2009 by Indonesia Tatler & HSBC.

Hotel Alila
Jl. Pecenongan Kav 7-17
Jakarta 10120
Indonesia
+62 21 231 6008
Email the hotel to inquire about a booking.

If you want to stay in the region of St. Remy de Provence, the Hotel Chateau de Roussan, a restored 18th century mansion set amidst beautiful serene parkland, may be the ideal place for you. The chateau has a remarkable history; it was once owned by the brother of Nostradamus. It also has a stately library with rare editions of works by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1844 edition), “Les Aventures prodigieuses de Tartarin de Tarascon” by Alphonse Daudet (1878 edition), and more. This is a great place to stay for bibliophiles!

For people who like nature, the gardens feature tranquil streams and ponds where you can wander off and relax. A restored 19th century conservatory is filled with ornamental plants, cacti, and works of art.

The twenty rooms and suites are decorated in the elegant style of chateaux in the region, with antique furniture. All rooms have views onto the Alpilles mountain range. Despite its adherence to tradition, the hotel offers guests the modern conveniences that people expect in lodgings of this caliber: airconditioning, free Wi-Fi, and a flat screen TV. Room rates in the high season range from €230 to €380; in the low season the rates are between €180 and €300.

The chateau has just opened a restaurant called “La Table de Roussan” run by a young chef (Pierre-Louis Poize) who prepares Provençal cuisine in creative ways. The restaurant offers a reasonably priced (€38) prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner.

September is the month of the grape harvest (vendanges) and St. Remy de Provence, like other towns in the area, will be holding festivities related to the harvest. It’s a good time of the year to visit because it is not as crowded as in August and the heat won’t be as severe.

Château de Roussan
Route de Tarascon
13210 Saint Rémy de Provence
+33 4 90 90 79 00
Email the hotel to inquire about a booking.

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Don’t forget to check out Mapplr’s Provence articles. We feature other gorgeous historic lodgings, charming B&Bs and maison d’hotes for all budgets.

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About the author

Esme Vos is the founder and editor-in-chief of Mapplr.com. Since 2007, Mapplr has been providing discerning travelers with advice on where to stay (hotels with character), good restaurants and cafes around the world. Mapplr’s sister site, Shopplr, publishes shopping recommendations around the world.

If you are going to Seoul, check out the W Seoul Walkerhill on slopes of Mt. Acha, only 15 minutes from the Gangnam business district and 30 minutes from downtown Seoul. It is only steps away from the Walkerhill casino with over 100 slot machines.

Swimming pool at W Hotel Walkerhill in Seouil

The hotel is perfect for business and leisure travelers. One of the best features of this hotel is that it encourages exercise. There is a 2-kilometer park-like jogging path on the hotel grounds through the mountain forest. If you prefer swimming, the beautiful indoor swimming pool with city view is irresistible. And for those who love spa treatments, the AWAY Spa (with a Turkish Hammam, Watsu, saunas, spa treatments, swimming pool with beach and outdoor Hinoki soaking tubs overlooking the Han River) is pure indulgence.

There are 252 spacious rooms decorated in a sophisticated style with simple, striking colors. Rooms and suites come with funny names such as the Wow Suite and the Extreme Wow Suite. Double room rates start at around US$185 or €145.

W Hotel Walkerhill
175 Achaseong-Gil
Gwangjin-Gu
Seoul 143-708
South Korea
+82 2 465 2222
Email the hotel to inquire about a booking.

If you are going to Taipei, check out Les Suites Ching-Cheng, a super stylish boutique hotel in the heart of the city.

It is only a few minutes away from Taipei’s impressive buildings, the World Trade Center and the Taipei 101 Tower (one of the tallest buildings in the world). The hotel is perfect for business travelers because it’s very modern and high tech, but the decor is not cold and impersonal. It is also close to luxury shopping boutiques and excellent restaurants.  The hotel has 84 rooms spread over 7 floors; it has a library, cigar shop, and a wine lounge. One of the most attractive features of this hotel is that it is a quiet, peaceful place even though it is in the heart of the business district.

Les Suites Ching-Cheng Taipei
12, Ching Cheng Street
Taipei 105, Taipei
+886 2 87127688
Email the hotel to inquire about a booking.