It really is that bad in homogenous hotel rooms these days. In what I suggest is a misguided marketing strategy, the chains have seemingly gone out of their way to ensure the four walls you are wedged into in one property, are basically identical to what you will experience in ANY of their properties. I would term it as pandering to the lowest common denominator, and as I said, as basically misguided.

It absolutely does not have to be this way. There are a multitude of smaller accommodation providers in every town and city out there. Choose them, and in addition to a quality bed, you will be getting so much more. Let me take a tourist town I know well as an example, Sihanoukville Cambodia. In this town, which rambles over three headlands and boasts some of the best beaches in South East Asia, there is the usual wide choice of a room.

At one end of the scale, you can pay big bucks and stay in four plus star luxury. It looks and feels and even smells like any one of a thousand such operations the world over. I have no doubt there will be a chocolate on your turned down bed each evening, but perhaps they would be better off putting a note there, to remind the bewildered guests about what country they are in! I have personally known of people staying in this opulent cocoon for over a week and NEVER once leaving the place. Imagine that, a week in an exotic place like provincial Cambodia, and they have seen nothing but the inside of this one place. I truly feel sorry for folks like this.

If you find yourself in a bland world such as this, venture out and be prepared to save around 80% of you money, in a quest to find a unique and cosy abode. Please be reassured, they will be out there, just waiting for you. Using my town, Sihanoukville again, you could find yourself a basic simple room in a funky guesthouse, complete with all sorts of fascinating guests. People who are there because they can afford little else, all the way to people who could afford to buy the place several times over, but choose to stay there for the experience. Alternatively you could go a bit upmarket with some hot water, perhaps an air conditioner and a TV, and still get to stay in a place with character and individuality.

One thing is for certain. You will not wake up and have no idea where you are. For this alone, choosing a boutique place to stay is well and truly worth it!