The hotel’s most distinctive features are the individually decorated rooms designed by the owners’ friends, who happen to be artists and interior decorators. If you loathe the bland standard fittings of most hotel rooms, you will feel right at home at the Hotel Edgar Paris which has verve and personality.

There’s free Wi-Fi and air conditioning (this is critical in the summer when the city can get extremely hot). The hotel has a small restaurant that serves delicious seafood dishes and if the weather is fine, you can sit outside on the terrace for drinks. They serve breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.

For a complete guide to Paris, read our articles on Paris hotels, restaurants and shopping.

Hotel Edgar
31 rue d’Alexandrie
75002 Paris, France
+33 (0)1 40 41 05 69

Hotel Edgar Paris: quirky boutique hotel with artsy rooms is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

L’Auberge Basque is famous gastronomic restaurant and hotel 7 kilometres north of the coastal town of Saint Jean de Luz and 22 kilometres from Biarritz in France. If you are looking for a place to stay in and around Saint Jean de Luz, this is it.

Five years ago, Cédric Béchade, chef and owner of Auberge Basque, bought what was a traditional bed and breakfast inn constructed in the late 1600s, renovated it and turned it into a temple of fine cuisine and relaxation in the French Basque country. The decor is a blend of traditional and contemporary with a neutral colour scheme.

Each bedroom has a unique décor designed by Flamant Home Interiors. All rooms feature large, comfortable showers with the ecological “rain dance” system, flat screen TVs, king-sized beds and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms have a private terrace that overlook the mountains and the valley below. There is a spa with massage and beauty treatments that use products from the luxury Parisian brand, Cinq Mondes. Breakfasts at the Auberge Basque are another culinary extravaganza with delicious Basque cakes, fresh fruit juices, brioches, sheep’s milk yogurt and more.

The reason people come to Auberge Basque is for the restaurant, a bright airy space that looks out onto the garden and the hills beyond. Cédric Béchade creates light, healthy dishes of unusual flavour combinations using local products from the Basque Country such as Banka trout, bonito from Saint Jean de Luz, and Ibaïona ham. The kitchen pays special attention to the aesthetics of food, presenting the dishes with flair and creativity. Auberge Basque offers several tasting menus as well as a la carte dishes. Here are examples from the spring 2013 a la carte menu: calamari in its ink with leek and sesame, stewed dover sole with pine bark and yuzu aïoli, veal with green cabbage and wasabi-sour/sweet fruit, and pineapple in tiramisu with apple and juniper berries. The wine list is extensive and features wines from different regions ranging in price from 26 EUR to 136 EUR.

The Auberge Basque restaurant’s decor is simple and elegant: tables in light oak designed by Isabelle Juy (Flamant Home Interior); glass chandeliers by Flamant; matching dishes specially created by Céramiques Cazaux in Biarritz; Onatiss towels; Bernardaud china; wine glasses and decanters by Jean-Pierre Lagneau.

If you are going to Auberge Basque to eat and stay for the night, ask for a room with balcony facing the hills. I opted for one of the smallest rooms and it was tiny and did not have a view, but it was comfortable. Make sure you take the time to sit out on the chairs on the lawn outside the restaurant with marvelous views of the valley and hills just at sundown. I had a wonderful stay at Auberge Basque and would stay and eat there again if I come back to the Saint Jean de Luz area. It is such a peaceful hideaway, perfect for getting away from the stresses of life.

Check the opening days and times of the restaurant before you decide to go and make reservations.

L’Auberge Basque
D 307 vieille route de St Jean de Luz
64310 Helbarron / Saint-Pée – France
+33 (0)5 59 51 70 00

L’Auberge Basque: great food, rustic hideaway near St. Jean de Luz is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

Buddha Bar Hotel Prague offers state of the art Spa facilities, and hotel guests are offered complimentary use of brand new fitness located just next to the hotel. Siddharta cafe, located in the hotel, offers contemporary French Colonial food with Asian influence.

See Other Mapplr Favorites in Prague

Buddha Bar Boutique Hotel Prague
Jakubská 649/8 – 110 00 Prague
Czech Republic
Tel +420 221 776 300

Buddha Bar Hotel Prague: Contemporary Asian in the Heart of the Old City is a post by Arnon Kohavi on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

Hotel Georgette Paris boasts 19 artistic rooms, each one as bright and unique as the other. The fresh, modern ambiance of the rooms provides a stark and wonderful contrast to the historic streets below. With a focus on art, bright pops of colour (greens, pinks, yellow) greet guests throughout the hotel. Spectacular chandeliers and striking art pieces round out the décor. Among the contemporary artistic themes to choose from are Pop Art style, Dada and New Realism. Tomato cans in the style of Andy Warhol hang on the walls of the Classic Room; a faded pin-up girl poster can be found in the Superior Room; and graffiti-style décor is painted on the wall of the Deluxe Room. Guests are surrounded by art during their entire stay at Hotel Georgette Paris. There’s also free Wi-Fi plus national and international newspapers in the lobby.

All rooms are air-conditioned and include a mini bar and television. A full breakfast is available from 7:00 to 11:00 am, with the possibility of room service upon request.

Parking is available nearby and the hotel is easily accessible by subway on line 11 via the Rambuteau stop and line 4 via the Etienne Marcel stop. With such convenient metro stops nearby, the main attractions in Paris, like the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral, can be reached with ease. Actually you can walk to the Louvre from the hotel.

Hotel Georgette Paris is truly a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel in Paris: it is affordable, centrally located and beautifully decorated.

Hotel Georgette
36, rue du Grenier Saint Lazare
75003 Paris, France
+33 (0)1 44 61 10 10

Hotel Georgette Paris: artistic hotel with a twist is a post by Brittany Trevick on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

The farm has six executive rooms, each one is visually unique, designed with a sense of whimsy to accompany the clean modern design. Three of the rooms face the swimming pool while the other three look across the sprawling gardens. There are many activities to keep one busy The Farm Jaipur,  from yoga and massage to outdoor adventures, cooking and painting classes, all in a lively social atmosphere. Meanwhile, the atmospheric city of Jaipur beckons nearby with all its historic charms. While India has many small historic hotels, usually situated in old palaces, it is a welcoming development to see new boutique hotels developed from the ground up by young entrepreneurs.

Click here for other Mapplr favorites in Rajasthan

The Farm Jaipur Hotel
32 Surgeev Marg
Dhankiya Road, Jaipur 302026, India
Tel +91 9828023030

The Farm Jaipur: Eclectic Art Hotel in Rajasthan is a post by Arnon Kohavi on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

A minibar and an LCD TV with satellite channels are standard facilities in the rooms and suites at Hotel Le Pradey. All rooms have free Wi-Fi access and some suites have a separate seating area and views of the city. Guests can enjoy the continental breakfast from the comfort of the rooms or indulge in the buffet in the breakfast room.

Hotel Le Pradey also has a bar where you can sip an aperitif before dining in the nearby restaurants. While the area is not particularly hip and caters mostly to tourists, it is conveniently located within walking distance from many of the museums and designer boutiques. Several metro lines provide excellent connections to other parts of the city.

For great shopping, check out the boutiques on the nearby rue St. Honore. rue Cambon and rue Faubourg St. Honore: Chanel, Prada, Gucci and other luxury designer brands are packed together on small, walkable streets. The atmospheric Palais Royal is home to the perfume heaven of Serge Lutens. If you are craving something other than traditional heavy French food, rue Sainte-Anne (close to the Pyramides metro) has many restaurants that specialize in udon, ramen and sushi. For a trendy bar, check out the bar at the Hotel Costes, favourite of fashionistas around the world.

For our other recommendations in Paris, check Mapplr Favorites in Paris

Boutique Hotel Le Pradey
5, rue Saint Roch
75001 Paris
Tél. +33 (0)1 42 60 31 70

Hotel Le Pradey: modern take on Haussmannian architecture in Paris is a post by Arnon Kohavi on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

In Cassis, visitors can swim in the many hidden coves, taste the delicious wines offered in the area, bask in the sun, snorkel, hike the cliffs and shop in the markets. And after a tiring day of exploring the sights and sounds of the town, you can look forward to relaxing at Maison 9.

Maison 9 has a splendid pool with views of the surrounding cliffs and Cap Canaille. It is tempting to spend an entire afternoon on the  sunbeds, hiding under the umbrellas when the sun gets too intense. You can spend time in the garden, with its astounding variety of flowers and plants. You will also find plum, olive and fig trees and a bountiful, organic vegetable garden.

Maison 9 has four private modern suites which offer luxurious French bed linens. You will find a hair dryer, bathrobes and bath products for your personal use. Each room also includes a kitchenette in which a Nespresso machine, plates and dishes are included. Best of all you have a private terrace so you can enjoy the fresh air and the views over Cassis.

The residence is located close to the atmospheric old port of Cassis; the nearest coves are about 20 minutes away. You can take short excursions to Saint Tropez and the villages of Les Baux de Provence and Le Castelet. Cassis is extremely crowded from the middle of July to the end of August because of the French summer holidays, so it’s best to visit in the spring and fall.

Old port of Cassis, France

Maison °9
9 av. Du Docteur Yves Bourde
Quartier Les Janots, 13260 Cassis, France
+33 (0) 4 42 08 35 86

Maison 9: luxury bed and breakfast in Cassis, France is a post by Brittany Trevick on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

Casa de Madrid Boutique Hotel has one suite, four deluxe double rooms, one superior double and one single, all of them with an en-suite bathroom. Each one has retained its former proportions and has been decorated in a distinct character inspired by Doña Marta’s travels around the world. The living room features a Roman fresco while other spaces represent India, Greece and Syria. Each is furnished with antiques which gives the house a sophisticated and aristocratic atmosphere.

The house has many balconies that face the Royal Opera House, and have views of Plaza Oriente and the Royal Palace. Since this is a boutique luxury residence, you will enjoy a more welcoming and personal atmosphere that you’ would expect of an intimate luxury accommodation.

For other recommendations in Madrid, check out Mapplr Favorite Hotels in Madrid

Casa de Madrid Boutique Hotel
Calle Arrieta 2
Madrid, 28013 Spain
Tel +34 660 34 24 27

Casa de Madrid: boutique luxury hotel in the heart of Madrid is a post by Arnon Kohavi on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

The Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel has 30 rooms filled with beautiful antique furniture, colourful tiles and richly decorated ceilings—all with a Sicilian flair. There are four different types of rooms: the deluxe spa, junior suite, double classic and single classic. Some have views onto the sea, while others look out to a cozy courtyard. Apartments are also an option for guests desiring more independence and space. They are decorated in the same style and the staff is available via telephone. And one apartment even has a terrace overlooking the sea with a Jacuzzi! They are about ten minutes walking distance from the hotel and can be rented for a minimum of three nights.

Algila Ortigia Charme Hotel recently opened restaurant that offers fresh, Mediterranean cuisine. The hotel employees pride themselves on using food that isn’t frozen or preserved, and much of it is local. The menu changes each season and every day offers a new special of the menu. The wine list is 100 percent Sicilian.

Visitors to the island typically visit such sites as the Galleria Regionale di Palazzao Bellomo, a gallery filled with mostly religious art; the Duomo, offering intriguing relics and wonderful architecture; and the Fonte Aretusa, a fresh-water spring with ties back to the first Greeks to inhabit the island. Underground tunnels are also an option for those looking for an adventure, but Ortigia also offers marvelous shopping at its market where items such as clothing and items for the home can be found. But the best part about the local market is the food. You will find fresh fish, local cheeses, and fruit.

Guests looking for a relaxing, Sicilian experience will feel right at home on Ortigia in this historic hotel.

NOTE: If you are arriving by car, make sure you ask the hotel in advance where to park. Ortigia has a medieval layout (narrow streets, no parking). There’s a lot of parking at the harbour, only a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel
Via Vittorio Veneto 93
I-96100 Siracusa, Italy
+39 0931 465186
http://www.algila.it/

Algila Ortigia Charme Hotel in Siracusa, Sicily is a post by Brittany Trevick on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

The resort has 13 rooms that offer contemporary interiors, soft colours, warm lights and natural textiles.The Shalai’s rooms are also air-conditioned and have a private balcony, and some even boast frescoed walls. Treatments and massages are available in the Shalai Resort’s wellness centre. The restaurant serves fine Sicilian specialities. Free parking is available upon reservation at Shalai Resort. At reception you can also book excursions on jeeps, quads, mountain bikes and riding donkeys. There are many wineries in the area and the beautiful village of Taormina is not too far away.

Click here to view other recommendations in Sicily by Mapplr

Shalai Resort In Linguaglossa
via guglielmo marconi 25 | 95015
linguaglossa | ct | italy
tel. +39 095 643128

Shalai Resort Near Mount Etna Sicily is a post by Arnon Kohavi on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.