Capturing her travels through a nostalgic 35mm lens, Robyn Davis (otherwise known as @rozzad to her Instagram followers) is somewhat of an escape artist – with plenty of hotel-honing magic tricks up her stylish sleeve. Using her impeccable eye for the little details, as well as the big picture, Robyn delves into her film archives and sheds light on the ingredients for a perfect boutique hotel stay…
As a serial hotel hopper...
I’ve quietly crafted a wish-list of hotel must-haves over the years. Some of these can be found in unassuming corridors, whilst others show up before you’ve even checked in. The ultimate hotel stay might have all of them, but in reality, I just need one or two to convert me into a lifetime guest.
First on my list — the room key.
Small but mighty, the room key is often overlooked, with weightless key cards favoured over the traditional, clunkier option. For me, a chic room key forms a big part of first impressions. There is something very Alice in Wonderland about opening your door with a tasselled door key. Hotel rooms are your home away from home, and I’m a firm believer that all stays should start with unlocking your adopted front door with an actual key.
Naturally, I have my favourites; a vintage-inspired haven in Saint-Tropez favours a stylish brass tag, then a historic hideout in Italy’s walled city of Urbino once presented me with a mediaeval room key that required two hands to carry it — memorable if nothing else.
There is also great poetry in a well-stocked honesty bar.
Honesty bars feel a little naughty and a lot of fun. I adore honesty bars for quiet rooftops that need no fanfare, or for moodily-lit corridors that encourage a delicious nightcap. Honesty bars shouldn’t stop at drinks either — I’ve enjoyed many a midnight cookie in my time. Even better if there is a beautiful book to scribble down your orders in; a romantic reminder of good (read: slightly hazy) times.
Next on my list?
Not a thing, but a feeling. I love a front desk team with an opinion, from the best beach to the hidden bar that you won’t find on Google. A hotel team that knows their neighbourhood is worth its weight in gold; destination cheerleaders with encyclopaedic knowledge. Stuck for dinner reservations ahead of your stay? No problem. Unsure of where to track down the best coffee in Manhattan? They’ve got it covered. I have fond memories of a stay at a hilltop hotel in Provence, where a very patient concierge sketched a map of the local villages, pencilling a route that would prove fruitful for my photo-taking. Spoiler alert: it was. The same appreciation for a hotel’s location should exist in subtle nods throughout any stay — I love spotting honey from a local beekeeper on the breakfast table, or a collaboration with an artist from the community on the walls.
Steering away from the sentimental and into the souvenir; never underestimate the power of beautiful hotel stationery.
Even better, a desk with a pre-stamped envelope and headed notepaper. Favourite friends of mine receive holiday correspondence, and the remaining hotel stationery finds a home tucked in between the pages of my coffee table books. The same magic can be applied to departure gifts. Once slightly corporate flavoured, these check-out mementos have been reimagined by smart hoteliers. Boxes of hand-baked shortbread, a carton of freshly laid eggs from the hen house, a packet of seeds from the estate gardens. These gifts needn’t be expensive, but considerate enough that you spend the entire journey home talking about them.
Undeniably, all of the above have one thing in common — a level of care. Unwavering thoughtfulness that doesn’t disappear after check-in. And this will always make a good hotel great.
P.S. if I am lucky enough to have a bathtub in my room, dedicated bubble bath products (Castello di Reschio has delicious bath salts) will always win brownie points from me…
Share this article
Latest stories
10 boutique hotels SLH Club members can’t wait to visit in 2026
This year, we skipped the crystal ball of travel trends and went straight to the source. Surveying SLH Club members on their most-wanted hotels for 2026 revealed a neatly edited mix: safari camps that migrate with wildlife, mountain retreats that prioritise wellbeing, and rainforest hideaways that rethink the villa concept.
How bathing culture boosts health: saunas, onsen and contrast therapy
Saunas have been a way of life in the Nordic and Baltic countries for generations, as have Japanese onsen and soaking in geothermal hot springs everywhere from Iceland to Italy. Whether you choose to submerge yourself in mineral-rich spring water or bake in a sauna (traditional, infrared or steam), raising
Wildly restorative: 5 nature-immersed wellbeing retreats
When life feels overstimulated and ungrounded, nature has a way of calling us back to ourselves. From jungle canopies and thermal rivers to rice paddies and seaweed-wrapped coastlines, these wellbeing retreats invite a slower, more intuitive kind of restoration — one shaped by landscape, culture and ancient ritual. Part of
From Nordic cabins to cave suites: top boutique hotels for January
January has a way of sharpening the senses — a moment to pause, take stock and choose travels that feel intentional. Some escapes offer deep calm in dramatic landscapes, from Norway’s island edges to Sri Lanka’s mist-wrapped highlands. Others inspire with vineyard views in South Africa’s wine region, stone-carved suites
