The Hindu Business Line : Boutique breaks

The word boutique spells ‘special’. And distinct, niche holidays are increasingly finding favour with discerning travellers. Luxurious, five-star properties now seem to take second position to intimate, private hotels that promise a wholesome, complete vacation. Rather than acres of space equipped with every conceivable amenity there is growing preference for places that offer unique pampering and concept stays.

A range of boutique hotels have emerged countrywide, especially in smaller towns and secluded areas. Travellers (especially holidaymakers and definitely honeymooners!) prefer privacy, far from the bustle of modern, technology-driven living.

Smitaa and her husband Henry, both IT professionals from London, have clear expectations about the vacation destination and property they choose. Leaving behind London’s busy and chaotic lifestyle, the couple sees their vacation as “time for each other, and a place where we can renew our bond”.

“I had asked my travel agent to help me find a spot in South India, but away from the city. His suggestion of Fort Kochi was perfect. The town is old, serene and charming. And the hotel is an old house, refurbished and restored to its colonial style. The privacy and intimacy is amazing,” says Smitaa.

Anoushka Jain and her kids have travelled to Fort Kochi from Bangalore. They find the service at their hotel perfect to meet their needs as a family. “It is special and, more than anything else, we get to meet travellers from around the world,” Anoushka says.

Ruled by three different European empires since the 16th century until Independence, the small town of Fort Kochi has several boutique hotels fashioned out of heritage structures.

Where tea once traded

The Old Harbour Hotel, once a Portuguese inn and later home to tea-trading brokers, was recently restored after stripping it of all later-day additions. With terracotta and red oxide flooring, lime plaster and wash, antiques, and a private art collection, it sells itself as the grand old lady of the town. The restorers explain that their brief was to provide visitors with a feeling of warmth and luxury. So, each room has been individually decorated and possesses special art. Even the furniture has been handcrafted for individual rooms.

“Thus, no two rooms are the same, and the idea is to make every client feel special,” says its owner, Edgar Pinto. The absence of a business centre is explained away by the fact that most travellers come here to unwind and not work. The rooms have no TVs but guests can request for one. Most visitors however opt to laze in the garden or sunbathe all day long. And a book is the more preferred choice for company. The library at the hotel is expanding constantly, thanks to donations from guests! The opening page of one book reads: “Cheers to the best, quietest holiday ever...!”

Italian on the backwaters

Moments are created in self-indulgence and pampering luxury. Raul and Karolyn from Barcelona spent three continuous days basking in the sun and sipping cold beer. “The occasional rain in the evenings was a treat; it was wonderfully romantic against the magnificent backdrop of the hotel,” they recall with delight.

Maria Fernhof, who developed the Casa Del Fauno property in Marari, Alappuzha, explains that today’s traveller looks for a special stay. Rather than expensive properties with polished floors the preference is growing for hotels with a natural, authentic feel — a home-like holiday place.

The house Maria has built close to the backwaters is an image of herself — a blend of Italian and Indian ways. Boutique properties, more often than not, are an extension of the owner’s personality, where every detail is attended to.

“This is what makes a stay special; it offers a soul to the destination,” says Maria. At Casa Del Fauno, the property itself is the destination where visitors lounge in its extensive yard or linger in the pool, even as they enjoy the personalised attention of the staff.

Begum’s Nook

Raheem Residency, the erstwhile residence of a Muslim family for over 100 years in Alappuzha, was originally built by an Englishman in 1868. Today it is owned and run by Bibi Baskin and her partner, Fleming. The rooms exude a colonial-Indian flavour and the family home has been renovated to accommodate a restaurant and a pool.

The rooms are named after the previous owners but, most importantly, it is dedicated (mostly during off-season) to writers who need the right ambience to finish a book or work on an idea. Paul Bryers, author of The Used Women’s Club, had this to say about the property: “The perfect place for writing can have every luxury, but if you can’t write, it’s useless. This had every luxury — and I could write… This place is too good for writers.”

But it is not just the ambience that works the magic on travellers. The food is just as important. The chefs are equipped to conjure up new dishes or anything visitors may want, says Edgar Pinto of Old Harbour Hotel. “With the Chinese nets close by, guests accompanied by our chef walk to the nets for a fresh pick,” he says. At Casa Del Fauno, the food includes recipes from Maria’s home back in Italy — fresh pasta in a variety of preparations.

One regular visitor says the repeat visits were “always for the pasta and liver pate’ on freshly baked bread… What a treat with a glass of wine!”

The chef at Brunton Boat Yard, part of the CGH Earth hotel group, says the menu has incorporated the cuisines of the various communities in Fort Kochi. Thus, from Railway mutton curry (a throwback to the British Raj) to special Jewish recipes from Jew Town, guests can experience a flavourful stay.

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