The Ambassade Hotel is synonymous with literature and art, and there really is no match for culture lovers looking for a wholesome place to stay that satisfies the mind, eyes, and stomach. The hotel is striking from the moment you approach it, stretching across sixteen 17th century canal houses on Herengracht and Singel, the heart of …

Short for glamorous camping, glamping is one of the best ways of immersing yourself in nature without sacrificing your home comforts. It’s similar to traditional camping in many ways, but you don’t need to worry about cramping into small tents or sleeping on the – more than uncomfortable – ground. Instead, you can get a …

A country as old as the UK, with so many ghosts, castles, medieval villages, and dramatic landscapes, is going to have a lot of unusual places to stay. Some of the most quirky hotels in the UK hide secrets behind their bookcases or are so haunted that they’ve appeared on national TV. Here are some …

If you visit the website of The Venice Beach House, the first words you see will read: “Feels like home”. Nothing sums up the warm, comforting, and sublime experience of staying for a few nights at The Venice Beach House. This historic building, established back in 1911, sits on the edge of the ocean, just …

When you see a mixologist going about their work, pouring in myriad liquids and finishing up with a dramatic flourish and some dry ice, you have to admit that it doesn’t look so far removed from real magic – especially if you’re already a few cocktails deep. As the years have gone on, mixology has …

On an unassuming street in central London, a five-minute walk from Victoria Station, a hotel sits quietly. This hotel, Georgian House, is nestled amongst other hotels with similar facades. Whitewash outer walls, thick columns, large wooden doors, tall windows, short stoops leading to the front door where a knocker may or may not hang. There …

How much do you know about The Hague? Perhaps that it’s home to one of the best universities in Western Europe, as well as the Peace Palace and the International Court of Justice? The Hague does indeed have all of that and so much more besides. Den Haag beach, for example, is an endless strip …

Bristol in the 21st century is one of the UK’s most beloved cities. It stands shoulder-to-shoulder with London, Edinburgh, Bath, and Brighton as being one of the great arts and culture cities of Britain. It was also our home for a year; we miss it every day. If you get a chance to live in …

Ah, Wales. Land of rugged mountains, quiet village communities, Rugby fanatics, and the most charming accent in Britain. Wales is where both of us at Books and Bao have spent a lot of our time: one having been born and raised in Swansea, and the other having studied at Aberystwyth University. Wales is a nation …

Myanmar (once known as Burma) is opening itself up to world travellers in a big way, and is fast becoming a dream destination for many people. It certainly was for me. During my adventure across Myanmar, I stayed at a fair few hotels, both big and small, and so here we’re going to look at …