Hidden Treasures
WRITTEN BY: BENEDICT WALKER PHOTO CREDIT: ISTOCK, PARTICA
W ith the rise of travel websites, many consumers look no further than online to research their next luxury destination. But can you really find the world’s most extraordinary hotels on the hotel-comparison sites? Luxury Travel Magazine and Benedict Walker uncover 11 of the world’s most secluded properties that you won’t find online. Over the past decade, the advent of online travel wholesalers and hotel-comparison websites has radically changed the way we research and book travel. Stopping in to pick the brains of our trusted travel agent is becoming a thing of the past, but perhaps it shouldn’t. Many of us ask, “Why bother?” when it seems we can find the best deals ourselves on the internet without too much effort and from the comfort of our homes. A glut of so-called hotel
comparison sites offers a huge range of product choice and generally competitive rates: but if you’re looking for something truly remarkable and are of the belief that these sites cover the full spectrum of what’s available, you’ll find yourself mistaken. All is not as comprehensive as it may seem! Despite what the online marketplace might have you think, it’s by no means a case of “if it’s out there, you’ll find it on Expedia, Wotif or Booking.com… and at the best price”, regardless of what any “lowest price guarantees’’ might lead you to believe. Better rates can often be sourced from your chosen hotel directly, via their own website or getting personal with the inhouse phone reservations team. Booking in this way can also have the added benefit of avoiding up-front prepayment requirements. Often, the most extraordinary and exclusive properties simply don’t appear on hotel-comparison websites: we’ll explain why a little further on.
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