About

About Our Unique Stays: Over a Decade of Extraordinary Travel

Welcome to Our Unique Stays, a luxury travel resource curated by Nicola and Ronan Lavin. We believe that where you stay should be more than just a place to sleep. It should be a sanctuary where you can finally hear yourself think.

Our Story: Expertise Born from Passion

Our journey to Our Unique Stays began out of a personal necessity. For a long time, we were searching for something we couldn’t quite name, a sense of calm that a standard, busy hotel simply couldn’t provide. Between the crowded lobbies and the overstimulating nature of “polished” tourism, we found ourselves feeling more drained than rested.

This search became even more vital for Nicola, whose journey with Lyme disease changed everything. When your nervous system is on high alert, you don’t need more distractions; you need depth. You need a space that allows you to reconnect with yourself and find a genuine sense of peace.

We reached a point where we were simply bored of paying for “copy and paste” hotel rooms that offered no real value or connection to our surroundings. To us, a stay should be more than just a functional place to rest your head; it should be an integral part of the adventure itself. We believe that sometimes the place you are staying IS the experience. We prefer uncovering hidden gems with genuine character. Spaces with soul, history, and architectural charm that invite you to slow down. By seeking out these unique stays and the one-of-a-kind activities that come with them, we have found a way to trade standard tourism for something much deeper. Now, we want to find more of those rare, atmospheric spaces and share them with you so you can stop settling for the predictable and start discovering the extraordinary.

With over 10 years of professional travel experience, our journey has taken us from the hidden corners of the Wild Atlantic Way to the most storied capitals of Europe. Our expertise isn’t gathered from brochures or secondary research; it is built on a decade of boots-on-the-ground exploration, navigating everything from luxury castles to off-grid treehouses.

Award-Winning Perspective

Our commitment to authentic, high-value storytelling has been recognised by both our peers and our readers. We are incredibly honoured to have been named:

No.1 Travel Content Creators of the Year – Stellar Magazine, Travel InstaStar Winners
Top 10 Travel Influencers of the Year – The Irish Independent

These accolades reflect our core philosophy: Travel should be deep, not distracting. Following Nicola’s journey through chronic illness and Lyme disease, we realised that “copy-and-paste” hotels weren’t enough. We began seeking out high-character, resorative environments that offer genuine soul and architectural beauty.

The “Unique Stays” Standard

Every guide, itinerary, and review published here is backed by first-hand experience.

Nicola leads the research and narrative, utilising her decade of industry knowledge to vet every location for quality and authenticity.
Ronan captures the aesthetic soul of each destination, ensuring that what you see is a true representation of the experience.

We believe that the accommodation is a huge part of the travel experience. Whether we are reviewing a boutique hotel in Frankfurt or a luxury cabin in Kerry, our goal is to provide you with the “brutal honest” insights that only a decade of travel can provide.

Our Philosophy: Depth Over Distraction

We have fallen in love with the unpolished, the architectural gems, and the off-beat corners of Ireland and beyond. To us, the charm lies in the character of a stone wall, the silence of a rural landscape, and the privacy of a space designed for breathing room.

We curate stays for:

• The Burnout Recovery: Perfect for anyone who needs a few days of total quiet to reset.

• The Repeat Visitor: For those who love Ireland but want an experience far removed from the usual tourist track.

• The Mindful Traveller: For people who value presence, privacy, and a clear head over simply functional hotel rooms.

Our Promise

Whether it is a converted stable in Northern Ireland or a hidden coastal bolthole, every stay we feature offers something rare: genuine calm. We want to inspire you to think outside the box and choose places that leave you feeling better rested, clearer in your mind, and more connected to who you are.