What Makes a Hotel Worth Staying In (According to Us)
December 16, 2025
Finding the perfect place to stay in Europe shouldn’t feel like work. Yet with endless booking sites and glossy “best of” lists, it’s harder than ever to separate hotels with real character from those simply chasing trends. Too many options, not enough soul.
That’s why we created A Good Stay.
We started A Good Stay to make hotel discovery simpler, calmer, and more meaningful. Not by showing you everything, but by showing you the right things. We handpick Europe’s most beautiful boutique hotels, not just the flashy or impossibly expensive ones, but the places that welcome you in, leave a lasting impression, and quietly become part of your trip.
Each stay we feature is thoroughly vetted by us. Most sit within an approachable price range, with the occasional splurge-worthy hotel if it’s truly exceptional. That way, we’re not just another platform for inspiration, we’re a place where you can actually find and book your next trip. You should be able to blindly stay at an A Good Stay hotel and have an unforgettable experience, every time. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to.
Luxury isn’t the goal, experience is
Some of the hotels we feature are luxurious, others are simpler. What matters to us isn’t the star rating, but how a place feels to stay in. We look for hotels that offer character, comfort, and a sense of place, regardless of whether they fit a traditional definition of luxury.
But what does that actually mean?
Below are the principles we use when deciding whether a hotel deserves a place in our collection.
We look for feeling, not perfection
A Good Stay isn’t about everything being flawless. It’s about how a place makes you feel the moment you walk in.
We’re drawn to hotels that feel lived-in rather than staged, places with warmth, personality, and a sense of ease. Hotels that don’t try too hard to impress, but quietly get things right. Sometimes that means slightly imperfect details, as long as the overall experience feels genuine and thoughtful.
Design matters, but only when it has purpose
We care deeply about design, but not the kind that exists purely for photos.
The hotels we select use design to create atmosphere. Calm rooms, inviting common spaces, materials that age well, lighting that makes you feel at home rather than on display. We value timeless choices over trends, and coherence over decoration. A beautiful space should support your stay, not distract from it.
Location is part of the experience
A hotel’s address matters less than its surroundings.
We favour neighbourhoods that invite you to step outside and explore on foot. Streets where locals live, cafés you’d return to, bakeries you discover by accident. Whether it’s a quiet residential arrondissement or a coastal village just outside the obvious hotspots, the setting should add texture to your trip.
Comfort is non-negotiable
No amount of character makes up for poor sleep.
A Good Stay means comfortable beds, well-designed rooms, proper sound insulation, and spaces that allow you to rest. These things don’t need to be luxurious or excessive, but they do need to work. Comfort is the baseline, not a bonus.
Service should feel human, not scripted
Great service doesn’t have to be formal or over the top.
We value places where you feel genuinely welcome, where the people running the hotel care about what they’ve built. That might mean friendly, informal interactions, thoughtful recommendations, or simply giving you space when you need it. Whether it’s a boutique hotel, a design-led stay, or an aparthotel, the experience should feel intentional rather than transactional.
We curate so you don’t have to second guess
Our goal is simple. Whether you’re planning a European city break, a coastal escape, or a countryside retreat, you should always find a small selection of places you can trust.
No endless scrolling.
No comparing hundreds of similar options.
No wondering if the photos are telling the truth.
If it’s on A Good Stay, it’s there for a reason.
A good hotel becomes part of the memory
We believe travel is about experiences, not just destinations. And the right hotel isn’t just a place to sleep. It’s where mornings start slowly, where you return after long days, where small details shape how a place stays with you.
At A Good Stay, we’re here to help you find those places. The ones that add meaning to your travels and quietly become part of the story you’ll remember.
That’s why we created A Good Stay.
We started A Good Stay to make hotel discovery simpler, calmer, and more meaningful. Not by showing you everything, but by showing you the right things. We handpick Europe’s most beautiful boutique hotels, not just the flashy or impossibly expensive ones, but the places that welcome you in, leave a lasting impression, and quietly become part of your trip.
Each stay we feature is thoroughly vetted by us. Most sit within an approachable price range, with the occasional splurge-worthy hotel if it’s truly exceptional. That way, we’re not just another platform for inspiration, we’re a place where you can actually find and book your next trip. You should be able to blindly stay at an A Good Stay hotel and have an unforgettable experience, every time. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to.
Luxury isn’t the goal, experience is
Some of the hotels we feature are luxurious, others are simpler. What matters to us isn’t the star rating, but how a place feels to stay in. We look for hotels that offer character, comfort, and a sense of place, regardless of whether they fit a traditional definition of luxury.
But what does that actually mean?
Below are the principles we use when deciding whether a hotel deserves a place in our collection.
We look for feeling, not perfection
A Good Stay isn’t about everything being flawless. It’s about how a place makes you feel the moment you walk in.
We’re drawn to hotels that feel lived-in rather than staged, places with warmth, personality, and a sense of ease. Hotels that don’t try too hard to impress, but quietly get things right. Sometimes that means slightly imperfect details, as long as the overall experience feels genuine and thoughtful.
Design matters, but only when it has purpose
We care deeply about design, but not the kind that exists purely for photos.
The hotels we select use design to create atmosphere. Calm rooms, inviting common spaces, materials that age well, lighting that makes you feel at home rather than on display. We value timeless choices over trends, and coherence over decoration. A beautiful space should support your stay, not distract from it.
Location is part of the experience
A hotel’s address matters less than its surroundings.
We favour neighbourhoods that invite you to step outside and explore on foot. Streets where locals live, cafés you’d return to, bakeries you discover by accident. Whether it’s a quiet residential arrondissement or a coastal village just outside the obvious hotspots, the setting should add texture to your trip.
Comfort is non-negotiable
No amount of character makes up for poor sleep.
A Good Stay means comfortable beds, well-designed rooms, proper sound insulation, and spaces that allow you to rest. These things don’t need to be luxurious or excessive, but they do need to work. Comfort is the baseline, not a bonus.
Service should feel human, not scripted
Great service doesn’t have to be formal or over the top.
We value places where you feel genuinely welcome, where the people running the hotel care about what they’ve built. That might mean friendly, informal interactions, thoughtful recommendations, or simply giving you space when you need it. Whether it’s a boutique hotel, a design-led stay, or an aparthotel, the experience should feel intentional rather than transactional.
We curate so you don’t have to second guess
Our goal is simple. Whether you’re planning a European city break, a coastal escape, or a countryside retreat, you should always find a small selection of places you can trust.
No endless scrolling.
No comparing hundreds of similar options.
No wondering if the photos are telling the truth.
If it’s on A Good Stay, it’s there for a reason.
A good hotel becomes part of the memory
We believe travel is about experiences, not just destinations. And the right hotel isn’t just a place to sleep. It’s where mornings start slowly, where you return after long days, where small details shape how a place stays with you.
At A Good Stay, we’re here to help you find those places. The ones that add meaning to your travels and quietly become part of the story you’ll remember.
Bob Stolk
Curator, A Good Stay
