Beautiful Lodge Hastings

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what’s funny about Beautiful Lodge Hastings? The name actually undersells it – I mean, it’s tucked away on this quiet little stretch of Ivyhouse Lane in Ore, and honestly, if you didn’t know it was there, you’d probably drive right past it. But that’s sort of the point, isn’t it? This place feels like someone’s well-kept secret, the kind of boutique spot that doesn’t need official stars because it’s doing its own thing entirely.

The whole vibe here is refreshingly unpolished in the best possible way. When I first walked in, there was this wonderful smell of old wood mixed with something floral – not that artificial hotel lobby scent, but like someone had actually picked fresh flowers that morning. The owner (or maybe it was the manager, hard to tell in places like this) greeted me like I was staying at their actual house, which I suppose in a way I was. They don’t do that corporate check-in dance here – just genuine conversation about the best local spots and whether I’d need extra blankets. The rooms have this lived-in elegance that you can’t fake, with mismatched vintage furniture that somehow works perfectly together and windows that actually open wide enough to let in the sea breeze from the coast.

What really gets me about this place is how it sits in Ore – most people barrel straight through to Hastings proper, but honestly, they’re missing out. You’re close enough to walk down to the Old Town (maybe twenty minutes if you take your time), but far enough away that you don’t get the weekend crowds stumbling past your window at 2 AM. There’s this brilliant little path that winds down toward the coast, and the staff actually knows which direction to point you rather than just handing over a generic map. The 9.2 rating makes complete sense once you’ve been there – it’s not trying to be everything to everyone, but what it does, it does exceptionally well. Sure, don’t expect a massive breakfast buffet or a concierge in a uniform, but you will get proper attention to detail and that increasingly rare feeling that someone actually cares whether you have a good stay. If you’re the type who prefers character over chain hotels and doesn’t mind trading a fitness center for genuine hospitality, this is your place.