What are Boutique Hotels?
 

I will be in NYC in August and will be staying at a Boutique Hotel. What is the difference between a "boutique" hotel and an "ordinary" hotel?<BR>Please excuse my ignorance.

In a boutique hotel all rooms are fitted with the latest industrial hair salon equipment thus allowing occupants of each room to receive full hair treatments, cuts, washes, colorings, waxings, and some boutique hotels even give facials, etc right in the room on the equipment provided.<BR><BR>It's like moving your bedroom into a barber shop. You'll love it.

Well THAT was rude! Must be spring break - the kiddies are on the computer!<BR>A boutique hotel is usually a smaller hotel, not owned by a large company (like Hilton etc.) offering a something besides the usual "bland" chain-hotel decor. Sometimes you'll receive extras like wine receptions, coffee bar, etc. I'm sure someone can offer a better explaination, but I wanted Karene to get some information other than the idiotic remark above. For what it's worth, I'd much rather stay at a Boutique hotel than a large chain.

Lighten up, Emily, it was a joke! And a funny one too, I thought. This question comes up on this board occasionally and I don't think there are any right or wrong answers. To some, a boutique hotel is one with smallish rooms and antique furniture and a bathroom down the hall. To others it is any hotel not associated with a large chain.

Boutique hotels mean no reasonably priced coffee shop, no newstand, no souvenir shop, no large lobby to plop yourself down in after a day of sightseeing, everyone talking in hushed tones, bare-bones over-priced rooms, need I say more?

The Giraffe in NYC would be an example of a boutique hotel; where are you staying, karene?

Kd - During my stay I will be in The Franklin Hotel (E87th St). Know of it?

Pioneer Square Hotel in Seattle was listed as a "Boutique" hotel.(owned by Best Western)<BR>Rooms were small (but adequate), small lobby and in this case was an "older" building. However, had large free breakfast in room next to lobby.Several excellent restaurants across the street and of course Starbucks on the corner.<BR>In retrospect, we were only in the room to sleep and the price was great-$76 --for a tourist area in Seattle this was a "steal"<BR>