G! Boutique Hotel

The decor at the G! hotel is wild, outlandish, and wacky, and might not be to everyone's taste, so it's important to look at the photos before booking. From the outside, the hotel looks like any other detached house built in the Victorian period, but inside it resembles a film set from the 1970s. Brimming with space-age furniture, gleaming white floors, and rooms that have glowing hot tubs, the surroundings definitely stray from the norm. The public spaces have had tons of stylistic thought put into them, and the hotel definitely focuses on style over comfort -- the fancy plastic tulip chairs aren't exactly the comfiest seats for sinking into after a long day at the beach or sightseeing. The owners go out of their way to make guests feel at home -- starting with the handwritten welcome letters in the guest rooms. The atmosphere is calm, relaxed, and tranquil. The hotel is popular with couples -- rooms are exclusively doubles and have romantic extras like hot tubs and four poster beds. Although the hotel doesn't cater specifically to children, they are welcome. 

G! Boutique Hotel is on a quiet street, and is about a 10-minute walk to the pebbly beach and seafront. About a minute away from the lobby door is the Natural History Museum, which explains the history of the wild things on the riverbank, marshes, woods, and urban areas of Portsmouth. It also has an aquarium and butterfly house (which is open only in the summer). Across the road is Canoe Lake, which has mute swans that nest there every spring. Gunwharf Keys, with shops and restaurants galore, is a 10-minute drive away -- it's home to the futuristic Spinnaker Tower, which serves a delicious high tea. Mary Rose Museum, HMS Victory, and HMS Warrior are within a 10-minute drive, and the D-Day Museum and the Royal Marines Museum are within walking distance of the hotel. Portsmouth town center is about a 10-minute ride on the bus, which stops right outside the door of the hotel. Albert Road has a multitude of bars and restaurants and a theater, and is within a 10-minute walk.

The rooms all begin with the letter "G" in  playful alliterative fashion. There's "Giddy With delight," "Glamorous," and "Grinning From Ear to Ear." Luxury rooms have king-size beds and hot tubs, but lower-priced rooms still have quirky designs and superb Tempur mattresses. One room has a round bed, so ask about it when booking if a circular sleeping arrangement is a must-have. Other design hits include egg-shaped pod chairs, beaded curtains that drape sumptuously around the bed, a dramatic black leather bed with a TV at the end of it, and a pair of juicy hot lips that hang on the wall over a sunken hot tub. All floors are hardwood, and all rooms receive good natural light. Flat-screen TVs are wall-mounted. The bathrooms are generally large and have claw-foot, free-standing bathtubs, and branded toiletries. Other perks include a personal welcome letter (which includes tips of what to do in Portsmouth), a gift-bag stuffed with treats, and free cupcakes.

Like most bed and breakfasts, the G! provides a full breakfast with locally sourced sourced products. G! does have a bar with an array of alcoholic drinks -- many guests choose to have a bottle of Champagne in an ice-bucket brought to the room. The hotel has a limited range of snacks and light meal options, but no restaurant. Breakfast is served in a room that overlooks the garden,  though guests can opt to have it delivered to the room. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.