Introduction

With an influx of discerning travellers nowadays, many of them desire much more than just a satisfying stay at a hotel room. While being pampered and kept comfortable is still a very important aspect, they still wish for a room to be more than just a room; They want their stay in the room to be a multi-sensorial experience. Boutique Hotels attempt their hand at this, bringing quirky and quaint touches to the fore. While they lack the first class facilities and services that five-star hotels provide, Boutique Hotels make up for this by focusing their designs on being bold and daring or subtle in nature, crafting together a masterful tour-de-force of positive guest experiences. While the average Boutique Hotel concerns itself with how to impress a guest's mind and experience, a five-star hotel focuses its more considerable assets into luring guests in with promises of exclusive extravagance and unrestrained excess. These two extremes place both types of hotels in opposite corners of a boxing ring.

Similarities

1. Restaurants and bars - Both types of hotels have a complement of restaurants and/or bars.
2. Basic Amenities - Hotel rooms are fitted with WiFi internet access, air conditioning, televisions and private bars.
3. Location - Usually located near to places of interest, or at well connected to via public transport services. 
4. Demographic – Both types of hotel usually aim for a demongraphic of upper crust earners above 25 years old.

Differences

1. Architecture and design - Boutique hotels tend to focus on the arena of the mind, with designs that flaunt eccentricities and quirkiness, while five-star hotels go for grandeur and luxury.
2. Size of hotel - Five-star hotels distinguish themselves through sheer size, as they go by the time honoured creedo of "Bigger is Better." Boutique hotels prefer a quieter, indie approach, attracting guests who think that "It is not the size that matters, it's how you use it."
3. Service - Boutique hotels usually lack the manpower and resources to provide personalised approaches to service, while five-star hotels emphasize on being able to meet a guest's every need.

Conclusion

Boutique hotels and five-star hotel serve very different needs, and tend to manage to stay well away from each other on the spectrum of services and experience. It veritably depends on what experience a traveller is looking for, in order for one to decide which is a better fit.

Erdinger Beer

Erdinger Dunkel is one of my favourite beers for three simple reasons. For starters, it is a dark mahogany colored beer with subtle red shades that show against the light when tilted back, topped with a big off-white head. Such colors enhance it's strength in character, with an equally strong aroma of roasted caramel and hints of sweet, burnt almond. It's subdued, dry taste is perfect for those nights of drinking with the boys, while at a table beating them at Texas Hold'em Poker. Moderately strong, the Erdinger Dunkel will remain one of my favourite beers for many years to come as it looks good, smells awesome and its taste reminds me of one thing I enjoy ever so often; Victory.