IF you haven’t heard of The Nici – pronounced “Nicky” – where have you been?
Because this art-deco, Miami-inspired hotel opened in 2022 and brings a serious dose of cool to England’s south coast.
Its chic-as interiors are super-Instagrammable – rooms are fresh white with bold, palm-print textiles and brass lighting, while ice-cream pastels, glitterballs and eye-catching artwork adorn the communal areas.
But really, it’s the outdoor heated pool that steals the show.
I had worried I didn’t have the statement swimwear (or body) to match the 30m stunner.
But people aren’t judging – they’re just here to have a good time, and they’re all ages, too.
As well as the beautiful pool, there’s a dinky cinema showing four films each day and a petite playroom with table football, giant Jenga and board games.
Some rooms come with hot tubs, while others have freestanding baths – bag one with a sea view and you’ll wake up thinking you’re in the South of France!
Of course, once we venture down the zigzag path to Bournemouth’s seven miles of golden sands, there’s no mistaking we’re in Blighty.
But my kids Poppy, five, and Raffy, three, joyfully build sandcastles before we play crazy golf at pirate-themed Smugglers Cove on the seafront, while daredevils fly down the zipline from the top of the Victorian pier.
A family ticket for 18 holes costs £33 (Smugglerscoveadventuregolf.co.uk).
We lunch on the terrace of nearby Urban Garden, overlooking Bournemouth’s pretty Lower Gardens and tuck into smoked haddock scotch egg, £9, and garden brunches of corn fritters, avocado, potatoes, spinach and eggs, £11, while sipping picante cocktails, £10 (Urbangarden.co.uk).
Back at The Nici, the spa is a little haven, with its sauna, steam room and sleek pool, and I indulge in a rejuvenating Oskia facial, £115 for 60 minutes.
Come evening, the South Beach restaurant, with its stylish coffee-table books and vintage arcade games, serves up succulent lobster, £38, and zingy Isle of Wight tomato salad, £6.
We’d be quite happy not to leave the hotel, but the quaint Bournemouth Aviation Museum delights the kids, who clamber aboard countless planes and vintage vehicles.
Entry costs £10 for adults, £5 for kids (Aviation-museum.co.uk).
And they adore watching the wild ponies on a stroll through the gorgeous New Forest, a 15-minute drive away.
For lunch in town, family-run The Place has dated decor but fantastic food – we devour marinated steak with caramelised onions, home-made cheese and sourdough, £11, followed by creamy wild garlic tagliatelle, £20 (Theplacebmth.co.uk).
Lured back to The Nici, we dine at the hotel’s new poolside eatery Old Harry Rocks, which is decked out in warm woods and seagrass.
The chorizo croquettes, £9, and roast beef picanha with rocket, chimichurri and onion jam, £38 for two people, are crowd-pleasers.
As are the Aperol Sours of gin, Aperol, Campari, strawberry and egg white, £12.
Weeks later, we’re still dreaming about The Nici’s pool – even on a grey afternoon, it’s glorious.
And while, overall, service at the hotel could be slicker, it really does offer a staycay like no other.
Double rooms cost from £180 a night (Thenici.com).
