2024 is coming to an end, and we’re feeling nostalgic for our year in travel. We visit each of the 1,500+ boutique hotels and hideaways in our collection, then revisit as often as we can to see how they’re getting on and catch up with our fantastic hoteliers. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it! Here, we’ve looked back over the last 12 months and selected our favourite i-escape stays of 2024…
The Directors
Nikki
Director of Research & Content
Casa Bonay, Barcelona, Spain
Casa Bonay is a cool, creative hotel showcasing modern Catalan design, with great-value rooms, a buzzing bar, and a restaurant that’s popular with locals
“Casa Bonay was the perfect hotel to celebrate our daughter’s 18th birthday in Barcelona. From the lively cocktail bar and top-notch tapas restaurant to the rooftop terrace, we soaked up the city’s vibrant vibe. What made it truly special was the outstanding service and warm, welcoming atmosphere—an experience we’ll never forget.“
Aidan
Director of Operations
The Specchia Hideaway, Puglia, Italy
The Specchia Hideaway is an enchanting boho villa with a pool and extensive grounds, close to picturesque towns and white sand beaches (sleeps 8-12)
“A homely and authentic villa in a wonderful location in unspoilt Puglia – great for our group of friends and family. It’s close to a number of enchanting small towns in the region and a short drive to both Ionian and Adriatic coasts. The owner Fausto was super helpful. A place made for making happy memories, just one of which was having a pasta-making class in situ. Such a lot of fun for a week or two...“
Michael
Director of Hotel Partnerships
Terrabona Nature & Vineyards, Madeira, Portugal
Terrabona Nature & Vineyards is an utterly romantic and spoiling four-suite hideaway tucked between vine terraces, ancient forest and the ocean
“It offers a new level of secluded luxury on an island known more for mainstream winter sun. It also opens up the rugged, remote north coast of Madeira to a more discerning clientele. I loved the ‘wine houses’ – half buried under terraced vineyards, super-comfy, spacious – a real sanctuary of silence and seclusion.“
The Hotel Specialists
Kate
Head of Reservations
Douar Samra, High Atlas, Morocco
Douar Samra is a small and colourful guesthouse in one of the highest villages of the mighty Toubkal Massif, imbued with the warmth and vitality of its remarkable owner
“My favourite revisit of 2024 was hands down Douar Samra – such a special place. I went with my husband and two kids and the whole family loved it: stunning views of the mountains, incredible blue skies, fresh air, hiking, hearty local Berber food and cosy cabins. I would go back there tomorrow if I could and do it all again..“
Leah
Bookings Consultant
Lake Garda Boutique Apartments, Italy
Lake Garda Boutique Apartments are set beside Italy’s largest lake, offering next-level comfort and spectacular scenery (sleep 2-5)
“Views, hospitality, tranquillity, style… the list goes on. This is the perfect self-catering property – with the added bonus of daily breakfast delivered to your door. Each apartment has been individually designed and the communal gardens are magical, filled with birdsong and blessed with beautiful views of the lake, nearby golf course and mountains. And at the heart of it: the charming owners, who truly make this place special. I really want to go back soon!“
Ben
Bookings Consultant
Kasbah Ellouze, near Ouarzazate, Morocco
Kasbah Ellouze is an oasis near the famous Ait Benhaddou and Ouarzazate city – an area of biblical beauty – with great food, a refreshing pool and a warm welcome
“The otherworldly location combined with a homely atomsphere made this place stand out. The red desert sands and greens of the palmerie – you feel like your on another planet. Incredible home cooked food, refreshing pool and plenty of nooks and crannies to curl up, drink mint tea and read a book. The outside world melts away pretty quickly… .“
The Creatives
Nadine
Kids Collection & New Hotels
Ceylon Tea Trails, Hill Country, Sri Lanka
Ceylon Tea Trails consists of five elegant tea plantation villas set against a breathtaking backdrop of emerald peaks, with impeccable service and fine cuisine (included in rates)
“A pioneer of tea country hospitality, Ceylon Tea Trails comprise five former planters bungalows set in the hills around Castlereagh Reservoir. Each bungalow has been reimagined for the modern era with 4-6 bedrooms apiece, private swimming pools, immaculate gardens, a smiley chef and impeccable butler service. The food is glorious, the views stupendous, the tranquillity complete. My daughter and I loved every minute of being in this blissful bubble.“
Evelyn
Editor
21212, Edinburgh, UK
21212 is an elegant listed townhouse on a quiet crescent with four suites, a cosy apartment and fine dining in the heart of Georgian Edinburgh
“At the foot of Calton Hill and just a short walk away from the centre, this grand Georgian townhouse was a real treat to stay in. The rooms are comfortable and cosy, with quality linens and furnishings. I loved the personal touches throughout, and the local spirits, beers and cider in the minibar. But the showstopper was our meal at the restaurant downstairs, Lyla. If you’re looking for a blowout meal for a special occasion, there’s no better place..“
Ben
Head of Digital Marketing
Santiago de Alfama, Lisbon, Portugal
You’ll find elegance and luxury at Santiago de Alfama, a stunningly converted palace hidden high in the historic streets of Alfama
“Santiago de Alfama pleasantly surprised my wife and I when we stopped over on the way back from Madeira with our toddler. It’s everything you’d want from a boutique city hotel of its size: luxury rooms, incredible service, and a bar-cafe-restaurant that suited our needs from day til night, all perfectly placed in Lisbon’s oldest district. They were great with our daughter, spoiling her with pancakes and a special kid’s menu, and providing an activity pack just at the right moment. Lisbon, too, did not disappoint – somewhere we’ll definitely be returning to!“
Imogen
Digital Marketing Executive
The Kouloura House, Corfu, Greece
The Kouloura House is a gorgeous 3-bedroom villa on Corfu’s northeast coast – a perfect escape for friends and small groups
“The Kouloura House had everything you could possibly want in a villa rental. Gorgeous bedrooms, plenty of outdoor space, stunning views and only a short drive from the beach. The house is decked out with owner Caroline’s finds from South Africa and her travels all over the world. The concierge service was very helpful and included a generous welcome hamper. Overall we felt incredibly relaxed during our stay – and gutted when we had to leave.“
Alice
Editorial & Marketing Assistant
Dechiu Hotel, Hoi An, Vietnam
Dechiu Hotel is a stunning boutique haven on the beach by Hoi An, one of Vietnam’s most historic and picturesque port towns.
“I stayed in a few fab hotels during my two weeks in Vietnam, but none made me feel the way Dechiu did. The small, friendly team, the achingly cool interiors, the ocean mere metres away – I don’t think I’ve ever been so relaxed. Plus, Hoi An’s colourful old town is within easy reach. I adored it, and I’m wondering if I can justify another trip to Vietnam just to return…“
The Rates Experts
Katya
Rates & Distribution Manager
Polurrian on the Lizard, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Polurrian on the Lizard is a spectacularly sited Cornish coastal hotel, reinvented as a boutique haven, with great family facilities and a spa
“Polurrian is a special hotel in a destination worth the journey in itself. We took our little one for a short break in February and even in winter it was still a spectacular setting. There are plenty of games and books to keep kids entertained, while I enjoyed a much-needed massage at the spa. “
Mariia
Rates & Distribution Executive
Rosalia’s Menagerie, Amsterdam, Holland
Rosalia’s Menagerie is a funky little guesthouse with just 6 rooms and a cocktail bar, centrally located in one of the oldest parts of the city
“This was my first year at i-escape and I’m yet to do my first review trip, but I’m off to Amsterdam in the new year where I’ll be staying at the quirky Rosalia’s Menagerie, and I can’t wait! “