My Top Ten Hotels of 2019

I love writing a yearly retrospective on trips we’ve had and hotels we’ve stayed in. This year has been quite different owing to discovering my pregnancy in January and having Oscar in July we kept fairly close to home.

City Slickers

1. Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

With 180 years of history Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva is the first luxury hotel in Geneva and as soon as walked through the doors, I was blown away by the utter glamour of the place and the incredible floral displays.
Our room was sheer classic luxury with a view of Lake Geneva and a gorgeous marble bathroom.

The hotels two restaurants were easily our favourite of the trip and we enjoyed a romantic Michelin-starred dinner at the Italian restaurant Il Lago as well as lunch on the rooftop at sushi restaurant, Izumi. But what really set this hotel apart for me, was the incredible attention to detail from the handmade chocolate egg in our room, to a mock up magazine cover featuring me! As well as a swan at breakfast celebrating my pregnancy… it truly was an extra special stay. 

2. Ett Hem, Stockholm 

A true home away from home in the centre of Stockholm, Mr S and I loved Ett Hem and the unique proposition of being more like a home than a hotel. With only 12 rooms, this utterly intimate boutique hotel was a personal as can be but with an stunning design aesthetic of understated Scandi-chic.

You could take a seat anywhere in the cosy lounge and a friendly member of staff would bring along a glass of wine or a mug hot chocolate with a slice of cake of the day!

An absolute highlight was breakfast, all made freshly by the chef and then bought to you as you relax in the conservatory over looking the the garden.

4. Soho House Berlin

You don’t get much cooler than Soho House, and Soho House Berlin was no exception! We loved staying there for our friend’s 40th birthday! We absolutely loved the bar and restaurant, and our room (with a library!) was just insane. One day I need to go back in summer and try the rooftop pool!

4. The Lowry, Manchester

After Christmas, Mr S, Oscar and I packed up our bags to visit friends and to stay at The Lowry, the best hotel in Manchester.

A modern hotel filled with art, it’s also a special place for us as it’s the first hotel that we ever stayed in together!

A Sea View

5. Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, Sicily 

Our hotel of choice for our babymoon (aka our final fling before the baby was born) was Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina, Sicily. A stunning historical property with extensive gardens, a view of Mount Etna and the Bay of Taormina, it had that special feel of Italian glamor. 

Perhaps the most stunning element was the hotel’s pool surrounded by flowers and with gorgeous views… and its own ice cream stand.

We also fell in love with the hotel’s restaurant where we ate a few times, whilst enjoying the incredible ambiance. Another great thing about the hotel was that it felt like two hotels in one as there was a free shuttle to Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea, the sister property on the beach. By dining on the half board programme, we were able to take advantage of meals at both.

6. Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay

Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay hotel will alway be special to me now as it’s where we took Oscar on his first holiday! I absolutely loved the stylish white hotel that was also rustic and natural in feel and it was a perfect child friendly option.
The hotel pools were beautiful and there was a super cool adult pool and a fun and friendly family pool near a kids club.

At a Nobu-branded hotel, you just know the food is going to be good and we loved the signature Nobu restaurant, as well as Chambao which served Mediterranean food with Balearic specials.

7. The Atlantic, Jersey 

My only group press trip of the year saw me return to the Atlantic Hotel for the Eat Jersey food festival. This hotel is delightfully retro and incredibly friendly, I felt well and truly welcomed back with open arms and it was amazing to sample the food from the eat Eat Jersey festival back in the environs of the hotel restaurant.

UK Country Breaks

8. Soho Farmhouse, Cotswolds, UK

I’ve been to Soho Farmhouse and enjoyed the comfort of their spacious cabin several times now but this time was even better as I got to show Oscar my favourite hotel! 
Our little man got to see horses and ducks for the first time, while Mr S and I enjoyed the restaurants and relaxing walks around the grounds. Our stay there was a bit different to our usual cocktails in the pool but I loved it so much. 

9. Babington House, Somerset

I loved my country escape to Babington House on a girls getaway, sister property of Soho Farmhouse. We had a lovely few days of eating all the food, exploring the grounds and having some spa time in the rustic, cosy chic country house.

10. Lucknam Park, Bath

I had another fun country escape on a second girls getaway and visited gorgeous country house, Lucknam Park in Bath for the first time.

Those are my favourite hotels of the year. Which one appeals to you most? 

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