Fans of American hotel chain Kimpton no longer need to cross the Atlantic to make the most of the company’s boutique style and complimentary extras, thanks to the first European opening.

Just steps away from the city’s Centraal train station, the Kimpton De Witt is also only a short walk from the Jordaan area and Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. 

The hotel’s 274 rooms include 15 signature rooms and suites set within three Renaissance era buildings, including the four-storey “Little House”, which can also be hired exclusively.

Scheduled to open in May, the hotel will also have the usual bonuses of the US properties, including free bikes to borrow to explore the city, in-room yoga mats and the complimentary ‘wine hour’. A second European property is planned for 2020 in Paris.

Give back on holiday

There’s nothing like travel to open your eyes to the world, both its wonders and its inequalities. So what better than indulging your passion for globetrotting and helping to give something back at the same time.

Responsible Travel has launched its new Trip for a Trip initiative, funding a trip for a local child in Africa each time a holiday is sold to a customer who opts in. The project is supported by Michael Palin, who said, “My appetite for travel began with day trips, so I know how much they can mean to a child.” 

The scheme aims to give one million children the opportunity to discover more of their own local area by 2020, something they could otherwise not afford to do. The first trip took place in Swaziland, bringing 24 local children to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.

Digital dream holidays

Once, if you were looking for a tailor-made luxury holiday, you’d find yourself booking an appointment with an expert. These days, you’re more likely to do the research without leaving home — more and more often by flicking through websites on your phone.

But there’s always room for some insider knowledge, which is why the Wexas travel group has launched The Luxury Holiday Company, an online-only tailor-made travel brand creating bespoke personalised trips to destinations including Argentina, Australia, Bhutan, Chile, India, Indochina, Japan, Myanmar, New Zealand, Peru and South Africa.

The inspirational images allow travellers to create a mood board as the starting point for their tailored itinerary, with maps and local information stored within the company’s app.