This is a comfortable, affordable and eco-minded refuge from the demands of south India, on the edge of one of its most interesting cities. Built as a mini-palace for a Maharajah's mistress (with classic Raj era tall, cool rooms), the grounds were first converted into a film studio (with 50's motel style rooms), now all into a hotel, run charitably to benefit poorer local people. So you can feel all good about it all while sipping cocktails in the verandah, dining gracefully on the lawn after dusk, or sleeping mightily well in hand crafted beds under slow revolving ceiling fans. The city centre is a short rickshaw ride away, down a noisy road, back out in the busy world.

cardaid.tclhosting.co.uk/greenhotel/
2270 Vinoba Road, Jayalakshmipuram, Mysore, 570 012, Karnataka
+91 821 425 5000
Google map: bit.ly/sbayhs

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Recommended for anyone looking for a flavour of the older Boracay before it developed into a more tourist-y focused Asian resort. Situated just to the back of Station 3, Melinda's is a selection of authentic Filipino nipa cottages set in a delightful tropical garden. Each cottage has its own verandah and hammock where you can relax after a hard day sipping the San Miguel beers on the famous White Beach. Run by the very hospitable German, Horst - one of the original Boracay adventurers of the 1980s - this is an ideal spot to find a little peace in an increasingly busy tourist environment. Very reasonable prices, too.

www.melindasgarden.com/
Station 3, Boracay, Malay 5806, Aklan
+63 36 2883021
Google map: bit.ly/uYX4vk

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Fort Chanwa, in the village of Luni, 35km from Jodhpur, is an oasis of peace that is far removed from the madding crowds of the Blue City. This restored sandstone fort, owned by the Maharaja Dalip Singhji, is built around connecting courtyards and decorated with intricately carved lattice work. From atop its walls and secret pavilions you can watch village life drift by, trains snaking their way through the surrounding countryside, and glorious sunsets. We travelled into the surrounding bushland by camel cart and wandered down to the train station for a cup of pukka railway chai. In the evenings we sat around fires on the lawns and watched traditional dancing, before stargazing from the rooftop before bed. The staff are charming - as are the Maharaja and his wife.

www.fortchanwa.com
Luni, Distt. Jodhpur, Rajasthan
+91-2931-284216
Google map: bit.ly/vkmkv9

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A retreat from the vibrant chaos of Delhi, Lutyen's Bed and Breakfast is located among mature gardens, in the grounds of a beautiful colonial bungalow. Family run, with elegant rooms, free afternoon tea and home-cooked Indian dinners on request, this is a welcome change to the city's overpriced five-stars or dingy budget hostel accommodation. The rooms have wonderfully silent a/c, flatscreen tv, wifi, ayurvedic toiletries and spare towels for the pool. Many attractions within walking distance, or a short taxi/metro ride, the airport is easily accessible too. A luxurious home away from home, a real find! Doubles from £70 per night.

www.lutyensbungalow.co.in
39, Prithviraj Road, New Delhi - 110003 (India)
+91-11-24611341
Google map: bit.ly/uMnI6d

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This small family run hotel, hard by the central market, and the clock tower and city gate, is a small, inexpensive, heritage hotel. It has interesting, traditional, and comfortably furnished rooms, with all modern amenities, around a peaceful inner courtyard, where wifi is available and free. Family run and friendly, it is delightfully finished off with a rooftop terrace restaurant, with spectacular views of the Mehrangarh Fort, illuminated at night. Watch out for crazy Indian wedding processions going past in the streets of the city below!

www.haveliinnpal.com/
Opp. Lake Gulab Sagar, Near Clock Tower, Jodhpur(Raj.) INDIA
+91-291-2612519
Google map: bit.ly/rQxspP

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Last February me, my boyfriend and two mates drove from Manchester to Aberdeen, hopped on the ferry to Kirkwall and drove onto Orkney in the dead of night. We woke up in our lovely Scapa Flow Lodge overlooking the bay, cooked up a big breakfast and headed out into the neolithic theme park that is the Orkney mainland. We took a guided tour of the mysterious and Viking-graffitied Maes Howe and explored the underground maze of houses that is Skarabrae.
But the most magical experience of the holiday was heading off of the main road and seeing the Ring of Brodgar open up before us as we drove over the brow of the hill. The deserted site saw us drop our cheese and beetroot chutney sarnies to marvel and wander/wonder among the perfectly placed stones. We couldn't help but imagine who'd built them, ask ourselves whether those long gone people had been inspired most by the rugged land or the starry sky, and pretend for those few moments that the stones belonged only to us. There was nothing to distract us but the fast falling sun and the draw of the cosy pub, tasty whiskey, and live music we'd been promised back in Kirkwall.

www.scapaflow-lodges.co.uk/
Scorralee, Scorradale Road, Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RF
+44(0)856 811268
Google map: bit.ly/viSsjx

www.orkneyjar.com/history/maeshowe/
www.orkneyjar.com/history/skarabrae
www.orkneyjar.com/history/brodgar/
www.orkneystore.com/catResults.asp?secondary=26

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A really beautifully decorated and kept villa in a compound just outside Marrakech. Amazing staff and food along with a spa and bar at the club house. Completely relaxing, couldn't fault a thing, 10 out of 10.

www.maison27.com/
+44(0)208 9409493
Google map: bit.ly/vdSoGt

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During a two week trip in India back in November 2007 we stayed at the Samode Haveli in Jaipur. It's perfectly balanced, it has all the luxury you could want, matched with lots of heritage and charm. Probably the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in, a beautiful place.

samode.com/haveli/intro.html
Gangapol Rd, Jaipur, Rajasthan
+91(0)141 263 2407

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Fort Chanwa, in the village of Luni, 35km from Jodhpur, is an oasis of peace that is far removed from the madding crowds of the Blue City. This restored sandstone fort, owned by the Maharaja Dalip Singhji, is built around connecting courtyards and decorated with intricately carved lattice work. From atop its walls and secret pavilions you can watch village life drift by, trains snaking their way through the surrounding countryside, and glorious sunsets. We travelled into the surrounding bushland by camel cart and wandered down to the train station for a cup of pukka railway chai. In the evenings we sat around fires on the lawns and watched traditional dancing, before stargazing from the rooftop before bed. The staff are charming - as are the Maharaja and his wife.

www.fortchanwa.com
VPO : Luni, Distt. Jodhpur
Rajasthan, INDIA
+91 2931 284216

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The Skylounge is a cool bar-restaurant on the top floor of the Mint Hotel. The terrace gives an amazing view of Amsterdam whilst enjoying a cocktail. Free entrance, cocktails were about £12 each.

www.minthotel.com/skylounge
4 Oosterdoksstraat Amsterdam, Netherlands , 1011 DK
+31 (0)20 530 0800
Google map: bit.ly/rogQUj

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BDL is a lodge for skiers and snowboarders based in Niseko Village on the island of Hokkaido. It offers simple comfortable accommodation including breakfast, its own restaurant and bar as well as a range of Backcountry guided tours that are all well priced. It attracts a mix of international punters and professionals alike.
The lodge is well linked to the resort free bus service which allows you to access some of the best snow in the world. Yes, the rumours are true, it does not stop snowing and it didn’t when were there. The staff (a mix of Canadian and Japanese) know Niseko like the back of their hand. They are also extremely helpful before you arrive and will offer you assistance with internal flights and transfers.
The backcountry tour packages they offer range from one day to longer trips in Niseko but also to Rusutsu and beyond. We did a day's guiding with Andrew, who took us through the back gates of Niseko for an unforgettable day of powder riding.
Once you have done all that you can return to the lodge and relax in their wonderful but strange massage chair!

www.bdlodge.com/
+81 136 44 1144
Google map: bit.ly/qqpywa

reservations@bdlodge.com

Black Diamond Lodge
Higashiyama 24-3, Niseko-cho
Abuta-gun, Hokkaido
Japan

Nearest Airport: Sapporo Chitose
Nearest train: Hirafu

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This was the best value hotel we found for our recent stay in Lyon. Rooms were small but the rooms were clean.
Seems to be part of a budget chain in France though we paid £50 per night via a well known hotel booking website which was the cheapest we found and yet not what we would automatically call 'cheap'.
Excellent strength free Wi-FI.
Location was fairly central - the only 'issue' was that while it is situated on the south of Presqu'ile (central area) it could be quite confusing getting to the north of Presqu'ile due to the mass of motorways and train lines crossing the Presqu'ile forming an almost impenetrable Berlin Wall. The easiest way was to go through the Perrache train station which may not appeal to all, especially at night.

www.kyriad-lyon-centre-gare-perrache.fr/en/index.aspx
24, quai Perrache, 69002 Lyon
+33 4 78 37 16 64
Google map: bit.ly/nyroGg

www.hotel-kyriad-lyon-centre-perrache.federal-hotel.com/page_en_1.html

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There’s something primal about sleeping in a cave – being inside the earth cuts off the man-made world. Due to its volcanic past southern Italy is a veritable Swiss cheese of caves, and Cave Central is Matera in Basilicata. Up until the 1980s it was a disease-ridden town of troglodytes, now an astonishing Unesco site where we visited ancient churches in caves, ate in restaurants in caves, and stayed in a cave - albeit nowadays with marble floors, room service and a Jacuzzi bath.

www.hotelsassi.it
Via San Giovanni Vecchio 89, 75100, Matera
+39(0)835331009
Google map: bit.ly/ohGwG6

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Would very much recommend this hotel. Very friendly, very clean and rooms always cleaned to very high standard.
Located only across the road from the Santa Justa train station in a nice part of town.
While we were there in August (six nights) the hotel was in the process of being renovated but that was only a minor inconvenience.
We got a good deal on the rooms from a well know hotel booking website.

www.ayrehoteles.com/en/hotels/ayre-hotel-sevilla/the-hotel/home/
Avda Kansas City 7, 41018 Seville, Spain
+34954 919 797
Google map: bit.ly/oHbUqa

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Definitely one of the coolest hotels and bars in the world let alone Edinburgh. Small and intimate, stylish, and with a fantastic restaurant, this is a must for anyone visiting Edinburgh.

www.ricksedinburgh.co.uk
55a Frederick Street, Edinburgh EH2 1LH
+44(0)131 622 7800
Google map: bit.ly/qJVOif

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The hotel is the perfect mixture of traditional Austrian and modern facilities. The new design rooms and the spa with indoor and outdoor pool has been a highlight for the whole family. The food was delicious and the hospitality of the family Fischbacher and their hotel team has been outstanding. Just perfect for active families who like to ski in the alps or like to be active in nature in summer.

www.alpenhof.info/
5542 Flachau, Flachauer Straße 98
+43 6457 2205
Google map: bit.ly/nSSILJ

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This is a really cool gastropub and hotel in a picture postcard Suffolk village. The building has beams, open fires etc, but with a modern twist and the food is London restaurant standard. Great service and the home baked bread is to die for.

www.thebildestoncrown.com
High Street, Bildeston, Suffolk IP7 7EB
+44(0)1449 740510
Google map: bit.ly/rlhmaj

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This was the best riad I have ever stayed in. Great deco, just near to the Jemaa el Fna square. The staff were so helpful and food is a must to try! There is a pool in the roof terrace and you really disconnect from your day to day activity.

www.riadabracadabra.com
Derb Jamaa 125, Derb Dabachi, Medina,Marrakech, Morocco
+212 524 384 039
Google map: bit.ly/quufed

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Port El Kantaoui comes into it's own at this time of year. It is still hot enough for a beach holiday without being uncomfortable. The port is a purpose built tourist resort and only a short drive to the older town of Sousse with it's traditional medina. The Hotel Kanta is a lovely hotel in the centre of the port with easy access to the beach and marina. It has a choice of pools and very friendly staff, all you could want for an enjoyable holiday.

www.hotel-kanta.com/index.html
4089 Port El Kantaoui Tunisia
+ 216 73 348 666

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This is a 2 star hotel in a historical Ottoman building. It has air conditioning, pool and B&B plus wi-fi all for 30 Euros a night. Ibrahim the manager is very helpful and accommodating.

www.urcuhotel.com/
Barbaros Mh. Hadi Efendi Sk. 07100 Muratpaşa
+90(0)242 243 67 00
Google map: bit.ly/oh7cZB

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