Three reasons why isolated hotels are getting popular

Escapism is often at the heart of many peoples’ vacations. The English writer and poet, W.H. Auden, once wrote that we need escape as much as we need “food and deep sleep”. Often, remote hotels instil a unique sense of calm that cannot be found easily elsewhere. Travelling to different locations can help reset the minds and body, which in turn lowers stress levels and boosts a sense of well-being.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that in the 1930s, for example, Agatha Christie escaped to Burgh Island, which is off the coast of south Devon, to write two of her most famous novels, ‘And Then There Were None’ and ‘Evil Under the Sun’. She was presumably attracted to its mix of isolation and 1930s glamour, which has been preserved to this day. 

Here are some of the things that draw vacationers to isolated hotels.

1. The splendour of isolation 

According to the 2023 Booking.com travel predictions, the idea of going ‘off-grid’ and ‘escaping from reality’ is set to become one of the most popular travel trends over the next year. The reasons why this might be could be due to the ever-growing stresses of modern life or the newfound love for nature and the outdoors since the pandemic, but whatever it is for the individual, seeking splendid isolation is forecasted to be at the top of the travel agenda.

Hotels in remote locations that are offering both physical and mental getaways will clearly have an advantage, as they are prepared to impress guests with a true sense of escape and relaxation. 

However, ‘off-grid’ does not have to mean a compromise on luxury, quality, or ambience. Whether guests are experiencing the heights of grandeur, or simply walking through rural countryside, escaping from the monotony of daily tasks can relieve the mind and offer a new perspective. 

2. Vacationers prioritising mental well-being

Almost half of travellers nowadays want to use holidays to focus on their mental wellbeing. Therefore, it’s important for hotels to provide additional extras to help them unwind.

As an example of what you could offer as an isolated hotel, Burgh Island has a saltwater mermaid pool enclosed by the island’s cliffs, in which guests can swim all year round. 

Although not for the faint-hearted, submerging yourself in cold water has been proven to have positive effects for mental well-being by boosting dopamine levels, making it a perfect addition for the health-conscious.

When thinking up new offerings for your hotel, do take advantage of your surroundings and the tools at your disposal; Burgh Island Hotel is also located just off the 630 mile South West Coastal Path, which has an abundance of archaeological sites in the surrounding areas of Burleigh Dolts, Bigbury-On-Sea, Westcombe and Wonewell, and the Avon Estuary. These locations offer lots of chances for guests to reconnect with nature, one of the most attractive elements of this hotel. 

3. A search for ‘transportive’ experiences

Remote hotels that offer a change from reality and routine can provide an escape into a different mindset, detached from the anxieties of the present. 

Burgh Island Hotel was commissioned by high-society socialite Archie Nettlefold in 1927 and completed by 1929. Nettlefold’s ‘Great White Palace’ was designed to reflect his theatrical taste, while maintaining an air of mystery and glamour.

Due to a hotel’s history, you will be better able to provide authentic and historic charm, for example, by recreating a period through a mix of interior design, music, art and food, all combined to help transport guests to another era.

Another example at Burgh Island is how it embraces its 1920s glamour roots, having been described as “the best hotel west of the Ritz”. With regards to its interiors, the standout piece is the exquisite stained glass peacock dome covering the Palm Court lounge, totalling 2,000 individual pieces of glass. In the words of historian Simon Kirby, Burgh is an “art deco masterpiece”.

Good for the mind, body and soul, hotels located in splendid isolation have so much to offer guests when it comes to escaping from the fast pace of modern life. From connecting with nature and travelling back in time, it’s clear that escapist holidays will be a popular trend in 2023, and as Burgh has demonstrated, it is more than capable of delivering such a rewarding and fulfilling experience.