As I grow older, my hotel selection is no longer solely based on the cheapest, but…
Casa Dovela is a three suite, “Casa-Boutique”. It’s a cross between a luxury home and a boutique hotel located along the art-deco streets of Condesa. The building, which is now the boutique hotel, was left abandoned, like so many other residences in Condesa after the earthquake. But seeing its developmental potential, the creators, Chic by Accident Project and Ludwig Godefroy, snapped it up. They nabbed it just as the revitalization of Condesa was starting to take place. Aspects of the original architecture were preserved, but many parts of the building were modernized both for aesthetics and comfort.
In an age when travel has become more affordable as the world becomes increasingly connected, “tourist” has become a dirty word. People who LOVE to travel will often find themselves avoiding that word at all costs. They call themselves names like, “Globetrotter”, “world traveller”, “explorer” or my most hated term, “digital nomad”. The word “tourist” has seemingly become synonymous with that annoying, loudmouth person who will only eat at Americanized restaurants and prefers overpriced activities over local traditions.
While staying in Kyoto, I wanted to find a traditional Japanese Ryokan where we could relax and unwind after a busy week in Tokyo. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn that originated from the Edo period when inns were a home for weary travellers. Ryokans were once a fairly inexpensive option, but in recent years some Ryokans have become quite the luxury. So finding one with charm at an affordable price, that was also still available, was somewhat of a challenge. But then I came across Ryokan Shimizu.