Boutique Critique: The Hip Hotels Atlas

How do you define hip? What qualifies as a cool boutique hotel? What extra or special amenities must one offer to earn this nomenclature? Ask Herbert Ypma, creator of a series of well-illustrated travel books on boutique hotels. It’s called Hip Hotels and he has one for Italy, the Orient, Beaches, Escapes and Cities. Now, with The Hip Hotel Atlas, he’s placed his considerable knowledge of these boutiques into regions like Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, North and South America. Warning, you may get a hernia trying to read this hardcover book with 528 pages and over 1,000 photos. It’s available in November but it’s discounted now at Amazon.com from $50 to $31.50. Via Moco Loco.