Three unusual boutique hotels

McCarren Hotel & Pool, New York

But it's thepool in the back courtyard "surrounded by apartment buildings and candy-coloured, mid-century pool furniture that makes this hotel a special Brooklyn experience". No one actually swims in it Williamsburg is hipster country, after all. Rather, they drink peach-coloured cocktails and "strike louche poses", says Morais. But "this is what a Palm Springs swimming pool, filled with starlets and hungry actors, must have looked like circa 1953".

Prices from $365 a night see McCarrenHotel.com.

OFF Paris Seine, France

The hotel is an ideal base for a tour of the city, or walks along the river. The modern interiors may not be to everybody's tastes, and the rooms are snug. But large, picture windows are a nice touch the sunlight reflects off the water outside and plays upon the wall. And while the river can be noisy, the sway of the boat will rock you to sleep.

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Doubles from €160 a night see OffParisSeine.com.

Villa Cascais, Portugal

Doubles from £79 a night see TheAlbatrozCollection.com/villacascais.