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The best destinations and experiences

Boutique Hotels and Luxury Hideaways

A focus on owner-run & independent hotels

Let's plan your perfect trip

A handpicked collection of boutique hotels, hideaways and independent stays.

Where you stay matters. Our holidays centre around boutique hotels and hideaways that reflect the spirit of a place—often small, always characterful, and run by brilliant staff. Whether you’re travelling as a family, celebrating a honeymoon, or heading off-grid, we’ve grouped our hotels by theme and traveller type to help you find the perfect fit. These places are a core part of what makes a Sundowner holiday feel so personal and so memorable.

A team of real experts, brilliant at designing bespoke holidays.

Call 01273 923100 to start planning your holiday today.

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"Having hiked volcanoes in Bali, climbed to Machu Picchu, and spotted the Big Five in Kenya, I’m passionate about crafting adventures that truly immerse you in local cultures."
Andrew, Travel Consultant

We believe that where you stay shapes how you feel about a destination. Boutique hotels, luxury hideaways and owner-run properties offer something big hotels often can’t: a sense of place, real warmth, and flexibility.

Some are still run by hands-on owners who greet you at the door or swap stories by the fire. Others are run by managers who’ve been there for years, leading tight-knit teams with pride and care.

These hotels aren’t just somewhere to sleep—they’re part of the journey. You might be offered an off-menu dish, a lift into town, or a last-minute wildlife walk no one else knows about. The personal touches come from deep local knowledge and a desire to make your stay just right. And because these places are often smaller and more flexible, that care doesn’t usually come with a higher price tag.

Many of our clients come back talking as much about the people they met as the places they visited. A thoughtful gesture on arrival, a hand-drawn map for a local walk, or a breakfast shared with the owner’s dog asleep at your feet—these are the details that linger long after the journey ends.

Over two decades, we’ve built close relationships with independent properties around the world. We choose them for their character, consistency, and genuine hospitality. Wherever you stay, we aim for you to feel welcomed, well looked after, and quietly wowed.

Want some help finding the right kind of stay? Contact us for ideas.

Thanks for arranging and organising one of the most memorable and fabulous family holidays we’ve ever experienced. Huge shout out to Lucy, who convinced us Sri Lanka would be amazing (it was!) and the Maldives made for the perfect relaxing end. I normally arrange our holidays myself, so this was a leap of faith based on a recommendation — and we wanted someone to help make it truly special, as we were celebrating a milestone birthday during our 15 days away. I’d have absolutely no hesitation recommending or using Sundowner Holidays again. The accommodation, tours, guides, and local touches all helped make it something really special — there’s no way we could’ve nailed it like this without their input. You obviously pay for the service, but it was a genuine investment in happiness. Thank you Sundowner team for making our holiday so special and memorable we look forward to using you guys again. In the meantime best wishes to you all as we/I interacted with every single one of you to make this trip so special. Thanks again folks, you are all very good at what you do.

Alex Evers, Sri Lanka

Thank you for arranging another fantastic trip — just like our holiday in Borneo, everything ran like clockwork. We were warmly welcomed from the moment we arrived (even at passport control, where we became affectionately known as Mama and Papa!), and every guide and transfer was exactly where they needed to be. We adopted an elephant at the rescue centre, explored Lake Naivasha by boat, walked the gorge at Hell’s Gate, and visited Hyrax Hill and Kariandusi — both fascinating if you're into archaeology. Our driver-guide Alan was exceptional: knowledgeable, calm under pressure, and a brilliant birdwatcher. In the Masai Mara, George and Moses tailored everything to suit us — including walks, game drives, sundowners, and even a late-night outing to see a bush baby. The whole experience felt incredibly personal. Finally, we flew to Diani Beach to relax — the food was amazing, the snorkelling peaceful, and the dhow trip a real highlight. Each lodge was welcoming, beautifully run, and full of thoughtful touches. It was a truly wonderful trip.

Mary & John Doig, Kenya

Well we are home and a little sad our wonderful holiday is over. Our thanks go out to Jo & her knowledgeable team. Firstly over the last few years and because of Covid, Sundowner Holidays have been so helpful and nothing was too much trouble in making this holiday a reality. (Team Thanks as well) you have put together a fabulous personal itinerary for my family, and I would rate this as one of our all time favourites. It was everything the itinerary promised and much more. We have never met so many friendly people, the places we stayed at were superb, the guides were excellent & knowledgeable, and yes we did see the Big 5, plus the Sun Bear. That’s it, 5 ⭐️ for this Borneo Adventure.

Paul Adams & Family, Borneo

We had a fantastic holiday in Costa Rica—our favourite to date. Everything went exactly to plan. Tortuguero was truly magical, with wildlife on our doorstep—from the comical ‘Montezuma’ birds to huge iguanas wandering around the pool. In Manuel Antonio, we took time to relax, spending most of our days enjoying the birds and monkeys; a sloth even rested nearby—what more could you want? The hotel and staff were superb, and the sloths perfectly summed up the holiday for me. The whole trip was organised brilliantly and completely met our expectations and more. This was our first time using Sundowner Holidays, and we would definitely recommend them and will use them again. Overall, the trip was seamless, well organised, and full of unforgettable moments.

Lynda Robinson, Costa Rica
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The Sundowner way

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It's about you

We create exceptional holidays, unique to you, managed in a way that makes everything easy for you, with the aim of surpassing your expectations every step of the way.

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Real travel experts

Our travel expertise ensures authentic experiences, fantastic boutique hotels and outstanding guides that help create unforgettable holiday moments.

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