atelier sul mare, Castel di Tusa

This isn’t just a 'favourite place’. Atelier Sul Mare is now my favourite place in the whole world. I can’t stress enough how stunning and perfect this hotel is. If I could, I would pack up my bags right now and live here. I actually found out about it after a conversation on Qype too :-)

I’ve never been one to stay in a hotel while I’m on a holiday. Give me a hostel, a cheap b&b and i’m happy - after all I’m not planning on spending much time there so I only really need a bed and a cup of coffee!

Atelier Sul Mare is different. Oh so different. Roughly translated at the 'art hotel by the sea’ you’re treated to a stunning array of rooms. 25 years ago, 15 artists were asked to create hotel rooms with a difference. This is the result.

It’s so difficult to explain the experience. You honestly don’t know what to expect when you get there. One room had a shower like a carwash. There was a room with a bed like a birds nest, one was like a fairy tale tower! When we saw that one on the website images, it looked scary, but when we saw it in real life, it was stunning - shame it wasn’t free when we wanted to stay there. All of the art rooms have sea views - and these are stunning.

You get a tour of the rooms each day - by moving each evening you get to experience different rooms - a clever way of the hotel keeping the rooms free, and a really great twist. it is worth moving your stuff over. All of the rooms have air con, but you won’t find a TV or mini bar. That’s really not the point of the hotel - if theses are on your list of must haves and you aren’t willing to overlook them, them you’re kinda missing the point of the hotel.

The rest of the hotel is beautiful. Really stunning. there’s an art gallery for goodness sake! How many hotels have one of those?! There’s a great restaurant (which I’ve written about serperately). It’s not cheap, but the food is great. There’s a bar next door too. Nice enough, but they’ll serve you your drink by the beach so there’s not much point staying the bar! You also get use of a perfect little private beach with the bluest sea in the whole world. (My boyfriend taught me to swim in that sea, so I promise it’s warm!) Don’t expect any tourists around you. You’re right next to a teeny town - this hotel is perfect for escapism.

All this for €85 per person a night in September for an art room. I think standard rooms are about €65 and while they’re stunning, I think if you’re going to splash out, stay in an art room.

I might just book a flight back there right now. It’s the most perfect place in the world. I have such a special place in my heart for this hotel. I don’t think I could ever stay in a Radisson again.

Perfect. Awesome.