Unique Inns With a "Sense of Place"

Today’s sophisticated traveller is looking for a unique experience when on a trip. This, translates into not only visiting a destination and staying in a nice resort, more importantly it means having the opportunity to enjoy a different view of life, having a chance to see the world with different eyes. In order to make this experience complete, there are several aspects that must be fulfilled: the hospitality establishment should be unique, preferably, it should have a “sense of place” which I would translate into being in a unique location and at the same time having its own personality, a special charm that makes you feel at home while at the same time providing a degree of surprise and astonishment. The other specific factor is that you have an opportunity to experience the way that your hosts live, and this is achieved only if you stay in a small hotel, where you actually have the opportunity to interact with the owners and other members of the community.

There are many different places where you can find these unique properties. Many small inns, bed and breakfasts and hotels in the old world provide this kind of experience. There is no doubt that if you are visiting Prague or Budapest, for example, the experience of staying in an inn or bed and breakfast in the old city exceeds that of doing so in a modern high rise hotel on the outskirts of town, where you will not have a chance to walk the streets, meet the people, dine in the small eateries that they do and visit their bars and pubs.

The same is true for all of Latin America. You can choose between staying in a modern facility with a known franchise name, such as Sheraton, Hyatt or Marriott, or you can decide in favour or small bed and breakfasts or inns in pleasant old colonial homes with a character to themselves. The difference between the two is so vast, that they are actually worlds apart!

When it comes to seeking a spot in a rural area, the same is true. The question is how do you find these unique, special, fantastic little hotels and inns in a truly outstanding location, which comply with our definition of “sense of place”?

A group of small hotels in Latin America, all of which understand the concept of “sense of place” have gotten together to market themselves under the umbrella of “My Unique Places” Each and everyone of these properties has been carefully hand picked, and all of those that have been included are proud bearers of the My Unique Places badge. The founding members of this truly unique boutique hotels partnership are Mr. Carlos Barberis, owner and manager of the Casa del Bosque, located in the Argentine Patagonia (www.casadelbosque.com), Flavia Cueva, owner and manager of the world renown Hacienda San Lucas in the lovely town of Copan Ruinas, Honduras (www.haciendasanlucas.com) and Anna McVittie, from the charming Cocolobo resort in Roatan, Honduras  (www.cocolobo.com). Other members are from the countries of Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras. La Villa de Soledad, located in the Cangrejal River Valley, (www.lavilladesoledad.com) just 5 miles from the City of La Ceiba is proud to announce that it has been included to this select group of hotels. We invite you to visit My Unique Places web page at www.myuniqueplaces.com to learn more about the different properties that form this select group of truly special boutique hotels with a sense of place!