Are you ready for your annual vacation? Whats it gonna be this time, The Hilton or The Comfort Inn, or possibly a splash on The Ramada? All great at doing they're thing. But there is something else. A boutique hotel.

Whats a boutique hotel? Think about the relaxed atmosphere at home, combined with artistically themed furnishings and decor. Mix that in with customer service to die for. Truck loads of must have conveniences; satellite tv, internet access and luxurious spa treatments, make for an appetizing retreat.

The building that houses the boutique may be styled on a particular era, like the 1920s or 40s. The building itself might even date back to the 20s or before it. Don't forget though that all the latest in technology will be at your aid as well.

Some boutiques only have between 20 and 80 rooms. Booking early on the internet or via phone is recommended. You will be able to find some larger boutiques that have over 100 rooms. In these boutique hotels you will find swimming pools, restaurants and bars on site. Some provide free access to roof top terraces.

So, doesn't sound much different than a chain hotel i hear you say. Well for a start your hotel will incorporate a period of history or its local surroundings and ingest them into the theme of the hotel. Local arts, crafts and furniture, will be cultivated from the local area into the hotel. The Anasazi Hotel in Santa Fe for example, displays local southwest region culture to decorate its home.

New Orleans boutiques, have designed their hotels around the 19th century era. This is fitting as most of them are housed in historic buildings. A hotel called The Hotel Union Square, located in San Francisco, bases its decor theme on the prohibition era.

That isn't to say all boutiques base their theme on the local area. The Inn of Five Graces in Santa Fe bases its theme on the soutwest culture and mixes it with Asian culture. There are plenty of boutiues outside of the US, in cities as far away as Moscow and Singapore.

Some of the boutiques in beautiful places like Cannes and Istanbul, are in high demand. Make sure to plan ahead and check out availability well in advance if planning a trip abroad. Bear in mind you may not get your first choice booking, but some of the smaller boutiques also have a lot to offer.

So while the regular hotels offer a high standard of facilites and suites, boutique hotels are renowned for their high levels of hospitality. Couple this with some splendid design touches and amazing amenities, a boutique hotel will offer you a rich rewarding vacation experience.

All in all a stay at a boutique hotel if definitely worth paying the increased premium for. With top notch service, no end of luxuries, and even a bit of culture, who says a vacation has to be a blase experience.