Smith Travel BlogTravel tales and hotel news from the boutique hotel experts at Mr & Mrs Smith

This month, the intrepid Smith team of style-seeking hotel hunters began its global trek in canal-crossed Amsterdam, home to a trio of reinvented Dutch stunners: a modern aristocrat named Sir Albert (originally a diamond factory), the fantastical Andaz Amsterdam (formerly a library) and modernist masterpiece Conservatorium (the one-time Sweelinck Conservatory of Music). Then, we headed [...]

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Escape the ennui of the everyday with a dose of the extraordinary at Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa in Chiang Rai. Perched in the jungle hills of northern Thailand, the hotel boasts gorgeous views of the Mekong River, Myanmar and Laos, and an elephant camp on its doorstep. Style Northern Thai splendour Setting Three-country crossroads Why [...]

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This month, we escaped to some dreamy island getaways, including U Palazzu Serenu, a hillside haven in Corsica; The Bulgari Resort, an Italian-inspired designer-den in Bali; and  Soneva Kiri, a family-friendly beach resort on Koh Kood. In the Dominican Republic, a rainforest eco-retreat named Casa Bonita caught our eye, along with the chic shoreside casitas of [...]

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Feel the beat of the Thai jungle at Kirimaya boutique hotel in Khao Yai, just a few hours’ drive north-east of Bangkok. Go elephant-spotting on safari in the national park, slip into the soothing spa or enjoy a round of golf with a backdrop of tropical mountains… Style Grown-up rustic retreat Setting Forested foothills Why [...]

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During this month’s search for sparkly new Smith hotels, there were two words on our lips: Costa Rica. We played ‘I Spy’ (the sea) at Latitude 10‘s bohemian beachfront casitas on the Nicoya Peninsula, developed a design crush at Kurá‘s minimalist jungle bungalows in Uvita, played Tarzan and Jane at Lapa Rios‘ tropical treehouses on the Osa Peninsula and got coffee-drunk at Finca Rosa [...]

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This month, we’ve circled the globe adding stylish hotels to our hand-picked collection. First, we escaped to Thailand, falling for Anantara Rasananda (above) – a blissful Koh Phangan beach retreat – and then for 137 Pillars House, a stylish heritage stay in Chiang Mai. As we continued our travels in Asia, we were wowed by swish [...]

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It’s always a pleasure arriving in style – and it’s hard to beat the rock-star entrance you’ll make at Rayavadee boutique hotel in Krabi, Thailand, as you glide towards a white-sand beach on board a luxury speedboat. Big shades are a must… Style Sand-circled garden pavilions Setting Sun-kissed limestone peninsula Why this week? Set sail [...]

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This month, we dipped into French Polynesia, discovering Manava Suite Resort, a surfers’ paradise in Tahiti; Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa, a lagoon-side hotel on Moorea; Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, a hamlet of overwater bungalows in Bora Bora (above); and Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort, a secluded escape in the Tuamotus. In Malaysia, we [...]

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This month, we discovered stylish hotels in Spain, Ireland, Croatia, Greece, France, Italy, the UK, the USA, Bali and Thailand.

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This month, we enjoyed some barefoot bliss at Niyama in the Maldives, iconic Australian adventure at Arkaba Station & Walk in Flinders Ranges, some super-luxe suites at Indigo Pearl on Phuket’s northern shores, and a Euro-Thai high rise named Hotel Muse in Bangkok. In Marrakech, we discovered Palais Namaskar, a Balinese-inspired masterpiece (above), and in [...]

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