Boutique hotels are typically small, period-style, quirky hotels with an intimate ambience, perfect for some downtime on a family vacation. Most boutique hotels were originally period homes from the Georgian, Edwardian or Victorian era that have now been refurbished, but retain the original period architecture and furniture for an ambience that is not quite homelike, but still familiar and comfortable.

Boutique hotels are almost always decorated in specific themes, which may not be period-specific. Among popular themes are tropical paradise, fairy castle, ocean islands, and even the Wild West. From the hotel d?r to the waiters' uniforms and upholstery, every part of the hotel can reflect this theme. Some hotels do not have an overarching theme for their decor, but have suites that are theme-based - from Donald Duck to Harry Potter, you really cannot predict what you will find at a boutique hotel until you reach it.

Other types of individualistic d?r may include art hotels, which are decorated with paintings by a specific artist or from a specific era. Yet others appeal to the sensitivities of people, with a prison-style or cave-style getup designed to send shivers down anyone's spine.

Due to their small size - between 8 and 50 rooms - boutique hotels can arrange for special or customized services for their customers much more easily than large-scale establishments. These special services can include

? personalized meals,

? usage of common computers, private WiFi in rooms,

? booking small private lounges or garden areas,

? honesty bars where guests can pour themselves drinks and keep their own tab,

? and such little perks that would not be possible with a large number of guests to deal with.

Many boutique hotels will arrange entertainment - bands, puppet shows etc - for groups of 10 people or more, for affordable rates and on their own premises. They also pack lunches for you if you wish to go sightseeing or on day-long walking tours, and the staff will be able to advise you on the best locations in the area to visit, depending on what you want. Whether you want a day out at Anfield to watch the football game or VIP passes to nightclubs, your hotel will be able to help you out.

Official or social gatherings can also be hosted in boutique hotels, in private conference or party rooms that they lease out. This allows large parties with several out-station guests to be hosted in one venue, without the added hassle of transportation. From weddings to bar mitzvahs to christenings, any occasion can be hosted on the premises as long as the hotel can accommodate the number of guests invited.

The smallest of boutique hotels may be indistinguishable from bed-and-breakfasts, while others may be indistinguishable from a 5-star hotel in terms of service and quality offered. In short, the only things you can say about a boutique hotel is that it will be - a) small, and b) individualistic. Why not start exploring the varieties of these hotels right now?