I've heard lots of talk about these hotels but what exactly is a boutique hotel?

A boutique hotel tends to be a smaller property (not 5-6-700 room Marriotts/ Hiltons etc..), with an emphasis on more personal service and finer amenities. Usually priced accordingly.

These days the term "boutique hotel" is an excuse to take an old building of very small rooms and miniscule bathrooms, redecorate it in some stark or "trendy" fashion, throw some fancy soaps and shampoos on the tiny pedestal sink that is too small to set your own stuff on, and charge you an arm and a leg to stay there.

I stayed at several "boutique" hotels in Spain and found them to be very well located, small rooms, some with great views, usually 3 star type, helpful front desk, and moderately priced. I have not stayed in small hotels in the US, but will definitely do so in the future.

Evelyntrav, yes, I stay at those wonderful small hotels all over Europe and love them, but unfortunately I think I'd have to agree with the famous xxx this time (have I ever agreed before with an xxx posting?). In the Unite States that assessment is about right. I stayed at the Muse in New York last year which fits the "boutique" hotel image. XXX is right, there was no place to put anything in the bathroom even after we moved all the "wonderful" complimentaries. Nothing much about the room made sense including the fact that you couldn't watch TV from the only lounge chair, and you couldn't hang any clothes in the closet due to the ironing board and various other things there. Unfortunately the term "European" style hotel is now often being used along with "boutique" hotel, and I find them not to be very European, simply small, cramped and more "style" than practicality.

ttt

Having stayed at the Paramount Hotel in NYC, I was initially inclined to agree with patrick and others that in the U.S. boutique hotels are sort of an "emperor's new clothes". My opinion was completely changed last weekend when I had the good fortune to stay at the Hotel Triton in San Francisco. It's operated by the Klimpton Group, wo has other properties including SF's Hotel Monaco. The decor was funky, fun, unusual and soothing - not at all generic but not trying too hard to be far out. The staff was attentive, frinedly, down-to-earth and totally lacking in "hipper-than-thou" attitude (a refreshing change!). Best of alll was the room. Spacious closet with sliding pocket door and roomt o have my oversice suitcase left open on the rack inside of it. Two thick terrycloth robes, pleasant lighting, room to move around including two nighstands - one at each side of the qqueen sized bed. The bed had fluffy pillowes, was triple sheeted with top quality linens and had a thick comfy duvet on top. Bathroom was not large but had full tub and a granite counter along one entire side that had loads of space for toiletries )would be enough room for two people to both have their stuff left out). The only negative (very minor) is that there is no phone or dataport at the curved desk that's tucked inito the corner. It's actually a very efficient small space to work on but a dataport would be a bug plus. I paid $65 per night on priceline - their regular starting price for a standard room is $129 and it's most certainly worth the price. I was allowed to check in early when I arrived (11 AM) and immediately offered a free upgrade to room with queen bed (standard room has double). I can't vouch for all of their rooms but this was one of the best hotel stays I've ever had and I will stay there again (yes - it was impeccably clean also!). I still believe it's caveat emptor for boutique hotels in this country but now that priceline has a boutique hotel category on its bidding screens (in some markets), I intend to try more of them.