Six Stays With a Quiet yet Sophisticated Sense of Luxury to Celebrate World Design Day
World Design Day is celebrated on April 27 every year, and is a day dedicated to show how important design is, by making people aware of its power and impact. Remaining popular in 2024, the “quiet luxury” design and fashion trend continues to capture the attention of the interior design world. Favoring interior design choices in natural materials like wood and muted tones, a mixture of browns and tans, quiet luxury emphasizes elegance and values comfort and wellbeing via calming and serene aesthetics. According to Booking.com research, 16%* of global travelers would recommend a specific accommodation to a friend or to family due to its interior design. With that in mind, we delved into our inventory of more than 28 million listings in over 175,000 destinations worldwide to present six beautiful stays that pay attention to detail and create a quiet yet sophisticated sense of luxury.
MANNA, Valtessiniko, Greece
Reflecting a shift towards valuing experiences and comfort over consumption, the quiet luxury trend is all about creating a space that feels like a sanctuary. Built in the late 1920’s as a sanatorium, MANNA is a modern retreat located at an altitude of 3,937 feet (1200 meters) on Mount Mainalos in Valtessiniko, located in the Arkadia region in the eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. With a strong emphasis on natural materials such as wood and stone, the property respects the original identity of this building and its natural surroundings by preserving the original architecture of this protected monument. This beautiful hotel is a place where guests can find peace and enjoy a sense of warmth and comfort.
Château Voltaire, Paris, France
Highly recommended by Booking.com travelers for its architecture and art, the “City of Light” is a great example of quiet luxury, as the Parisian design is all about understated elegance with a focus on quality and sophistication. Located in the center of Paris, Château Voltaire is a stylish hotel established by Thierry Guiller, founder of a popular French luxury fashion brand. Steeped in history and romance, the property blends the contemporary chic design with the timeless elegance. Its high quality materials along with the serene color palettes provide laid-back elegance for those looking for a quiet luxury retreat in the vibrant city. Catering to every artistic taste, the French capital offers a great variety of activities to discover some of the city’s highlights including exploring the renowned Louvre Museum, a tour of the Montmartre neighborhood or visiting the iconic Eiffel Tower.
Aethos Ericeira, Ericeira, Portugal
Located in Ericeira, a short walk from Porto da Calada Beach, Aethos Ericeira embraces the natural beauty of the Portuguese coast with neutral tones and textures that match the surrounding beaches, dunes and cliffs without being over-the-top. Featuring large windows to allow natural light, each of the modern rooms has an intimate and warm atmosphere. Guests can enjoy one of the hotel’s spa treatments, relax by the heated saltwater pool or meditate at the stunning meditation deck overlooking the Atlantic ocean. Capital city Lisbon is about a 45 minute drive from the property where guests can explore this vibrant city by enjoying one of the many unique attractions the city has to offer.
99 Acres Bangalow Retreat, Bangalow, Australia
While quiet luxury focuses on minimalist aesthetics, personalization is also important. With locally sourced furnishing, 99 Acres Bangalow Retreat is just a short walk from Bangalow town, a small town in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. Sitting on the top of a small hill, this beautiful homestay offers a relaxing break in a scenic subtropical rural landscape. The design of the retreat is focused on tranquility, and in both a sunny day or moody day it offers a unique experience thanks to the stunning views of the Byron Bay. This vibrant coastal town is just a 15 minutes drive away from the property and highly recommended by Booking.com travelers for beach walks, relaxation and food. Byron Bay has a wide range of activities that cater to all tastes, including an art and wine evening class where travelers can create their own art piece.
Casa Cipriani New York, New York, United States
Located in the historic Battery Maritime Building, which was once a waterfront and ferry port for commuters to and from Brooklyn, Casa Cipriani is a successful mix of modern luxury and historic preservation. This beautiful hotel in Lower Manhattan overlooks the water and offers stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. Maintaining the unique architectural details of the building, the luxurious stay is characterized by functional elegance, with interiors that are not only pleasing to the eye but also highly functional to the guests. The “Big Apple” offers a variety of activities to travelers to discover the city, including a visit to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, gaining a new perspective of the cultural scene in the city, with sweeping views over Manhattan.
Naoshima Ryokan Roka, Naoshima, Japan
Offering a blend of traditional Japanese hospitality with modern minimalistic design, Naoshima Ryokan Roka is just a short walk from Honmura, the center of Naoshima island, also known as Japan’s art island as it’s home to incredible sculptures and installations, and modern museums and galleries featuring impressive architecture and artwork. The property provides a serene and luxurious experience with rooms that integrate with nature while maintaining a subtle, understated elegance. Each of the rooms has open-air baths and beautiful garden views. When visiting Naoshima island, guests should not miss the Chichu Art Museum that is built mostly underground to avoid interfering with the surrounding natural scenery. The museum is home to artwork by famous artists like Claude Monet, Walter De Maria and James Turrell.
*Research was commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of adults who took a leisure trip with an overnight stay in the last 12 months, plan to travel in 2024, and are involved in trip planning. The sample is comprised of 32,300 respondents across 32 countries and territories (2,000 from USA, 800 from Canada, 1,800 from Mexico, 800 from Colombia, 1,800 from Brazil, 800 from Argentina, 1,800 from Australia, 500 from New Zealand, 800 from Spain, 800 from Italy, 1,800 from France, 1,800 from UK, 1,800 from Germany, 800 from Netherlands, 500 from Denmark, 500 from Sweden, 400 from Croatia, 800 from Switzerland, 800 from Belgium, 800 from Ireland, 800 from Portugal, 1,800 from India, 800 from China, 500 from Hong Kong, 800 from Thailand, 800 from Singapore, 500 from Taiwan, 800 from Vietnam, 800 from South Korea, 1,800 from Japan, 500 from UAE) surveyed in January or February 2024.
**Travel Predictions 2024 research commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who plan to travel for business or leisure in the next 12-24 months. In total, 27,730 respondents across 33 countries and territories were polled (including 1008 from Argentina, 1012 from Australia, 505 from Austria, 1001 from Belgium, 1002 from Brazil, 1009 from Canada, 1009 from China, 1002 from Colombia, 508 from Croatia, 504 from Denmark, 1011 from France, 1011 from Germany, 1016 from Hong Kong, 1004 from India, 510 from Ireland, 504 from Israel, 1014 from Italy, 1004 from Japan, 1009 from Mexico, 1014 from The Netherlands, 1015 from New Zealand, 500 from Portugal, 502 from Singapore, 1010 from South Korea, 1009 from Spain, 502 from Sweden, 507 from Switzerland, 504 from Taiwan, 1003 from Thailand, 502 from the UAE, 1007 from the UK, 1005 from the US and 1007 from Vietnam). Respondents completed an online survey in July 2023.