Where to stay in May: 8 boutique hotels to book now

Sitting perfectly on the cusp of summer, just before European beaches begin to fill to the brim, May is one of our favourite months to travel. City breaks are sunny but not unbearably hot, the countryside is in full bloom, and even further flung, tropical climes are balmy, breezy, and only just edging into rainy season. Read on for the best boutique hotels to book for an early summer holiday…

1. Sant’ Angelo Matera, Italy

Carved into the ancient caves of Italy’s rock-hewn city, Sant’ Angelo Matera is snuggled into Matera’s atmospheric Sassi district (as seen on screen in the most recent Bond film, No Time to Die). Stone-stepped pathways lead down to a set of limestone cave dwellings, which are spread across a restored palazzo and Sant’ Angelo’s namesake grotto-church. The rough-and-ready interiors are softened by canopy beds swathed in creamy linens, and golden-hued views unfolding over centuries-old churches. There are nooks and patios to unwind on, cavernous lounges and sunken circular baths to enjoy by candlelight, and a complex of alcoves to get lost in. Intimate pizza parties and past-making classes are hosted in subterranean Più Sud, and it’s all about the sun-drenched vistas and classic Italian plates at Regia Corte on the terrace above.

4. YNDÕ Hotel, Bordeaux – France

Classical Bordeaux château on the outside, contemporary art haven within, every inch of YNDÕ Hotel is aesthetically pleasing. Owner Agnès Guiot du Doignon has filled each of the 20 rooms with design-forward furniture, including Edra sofas and Tom Dixon pendant lighting. Maximalists will adore the four-poster beds in the Crazy Rooms, which are connected to large, rounded showers tucked into the mansion’s original tower. As there’s no restaurant at the hotel — don’t fret, a freshly prepared breakfast of homemade jams, local pastries, cheese and charcuterie can be brought to your bed or balcony — check your in-room iPad for pre-loaded recommendations on where to dine and what to do in Bordeaux.

Yndō Hotel photographed by Art-Milan Mazaud

8. Eagles Palace, Halkidiki – Greece

The Aegean Sea breeze gently rustles oak, olive, and pine trees which frame Eagles Palace, an elegant Halkidiki hideaway fronted by a private beach and jetty. The calming bedrooms (some with their own pools) are stylishly spartan in design, drawing the eye towards the emerald-green waters, across to Ammouliani island and the sacred Mount Athos peninsula in the distance. There’s a dedicated children’s pool, kids’ club, outdoor playground, and watersports centre for little ones to enjoy, and an Elemis-stocked spa to tempt grown-ups for Mediterranean green fig facials and Pilates. Dining options range from fresh seafood and traditional Greek tapas in the toes-in-sand taverna, to Michelin-starred candlelit dinners featuring ingredients from the hotel’s organic farm.

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