Boutique hotels are small-capacity hotels that provide more personalized service than typical hotels. They typically have fewer than a hundred rooms, and are considered more "trendy" and "intimate", often due to their location in urban areas.

A small, intimate hotel is most commonly referred to as a Boutique Hotel. In 2026, the term typically describes a property with fewer than 100 rooms that offers a highly personalized, stylish, and often themed experience. These hotels focus on "intimacy" and local character, setting them apart from the homogenized "cookie-cutter" feel of large international chains. Depending on the setting and style, other names include an Inn (usually more rural or historic), a Guesthouse (often family-run), or a Bed and Breakfast (B&B). In Europe, you might hear them called a Pension or an Auberge. In recent years, "Lifestyle Hotels" have also emerged as a category for small hotels that cater to specific subcultures or interests like wellness or digital nomadism. Whether it's a "heritage villa" or a "modern urban hideaway," the hallmark of a small hotel is a focus on high-touch service where the staff likely knows your name within the first 24 hours of your stay.