This area of marshland on the Provence region's Mediterranean coast is a wild corner of France. Teeming with wildlife, it boasts pink flamingoes, native Camargue bulls and also native Camargue rare breed grey horses, manned by troupes of traditionally dressed "gardiens" (much like cowboys). Book in to the Mas de la Fouque hotel for an impressive stay in stylish surroundings, right in the heart of the wetlands.

www.masdelafouque.com
Route du petit Rhône, départementale 38, 13460 Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, France
+33 (0)4 90 9781 02
Google map: bit.ly/MtprlA

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A real pub and real pub grub as in enormous portions.

www.georgehotelcastleton.co.uk/
Castle Street, Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S33 8WG
+33(0)1433 620238
Google map: bit.ly/PlrneK

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Marimba bands play while you enjoy either lunch or dinner under the great African sky. Shearwater offers the best one day white water rafting experience in the world and they begin the experience from the Victoria Falls Hotel grounds.

Mallet Drive, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
+263 13 44751
Google map: bit.ly/NIMyNj

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Hotel, Spa and Restaurant, just outside Knutsford at Mere.
Relaxed and friendly hotel, the dinner menu is superb and easily stands comparison with the likes of Jamie Oliver and Andrew Nutter. Breakfasts are substantial; we didn't need to eat for the rest of the day!
Staff are professional, friendly and have their own personalities.

www.cottonshotel.com/
Manchester Road, Knutsford WA16 0SU
+33(0)1565 650333
Google map: bit.ly/M3i6wh

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I really loved this hostel. It is not in the old town but is less than 30 minutes walk to the old town and the main sites. The place is well run, friendly and good value. They gave me a double bed instead of a single.

www.hostalcanovas.com/
C/ Fray Luis de León, 38, 16001, Cuenca
+ 34 969 213 973
Google map: bit.ly/NriRA5

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Calella de Palafrugell is pure Catalonia and one of the most beautiful places we visited on our tour of Spain. Like most of the proper Costa Brava it's surrounded by vertiginous hills and tiny coves which have allowed it to escape mass tourism developments. The whitewashed houses stand right on the sand and there were colourful fishing boats pulled up on the beaches when we were there. One of the best things about it is its summer festivals of Havanares (traditional songs brought back from Cuba by local sailors). The main festival is in early July but we were there in late August and every other cafe seemed to be having a Havenares session. You have to try the local drink of Cremat - flambeed rum, coffee and fruit! We stayed in the Hotel San Roc which has great cliff-top views but there are supposed to be some gorgeous B&Bs around too. (And don't confuse the village with the ugly tourist town of Calella fifty miles further South or you'll be sorely disappointed!)

www.santroc.com/en/
Pl. Atlàntic 2, Calella de Palafrugell
+34 972 61 42 50
Google map: bit.ly/LooCsm

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It's a fab B&B that is a traditional country cottage on the outside and funky design statement on the inside. The food is astounding and there's a hot tub in the completely private garden. Try a champagne bath in the amazing bathroom! A secret hideaway that is just amazing.

Pond Cottage, Selling Road, Old Wives Lees, Canterbury, Kent CT4 8BD
+44 (0)7705 424070
Google map: bit.ly/MytACY

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Putange is in the Normandy area which saw much of the fighting after the D-Day landings. A pretty French riverside village with bars, bakers etc, completely unspoilt by too much tourism. The real jewel in the crown here is "Le Bosquet" a B&B overlooking the village. Resembling a small chateau this residence charms in every way. Excellent bedrooms (five in all each individually decorated) good continental breakfast and excellent decor throughout. The hosts Richard and Magda Green are always on hand to give advice on the various places to visit, like the area of Suisse Normandie, but leave time to enjoy their garden and wildlife.

www.explorenormandy.co.uk
10 Mont Roussel, Putanges-Pont-Ecrepin, 61210, France
+33 2 33 39 59 22
Google map: bit.ly/OFokjt

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A beautiful little art deco boutique hotel built in the traditional style around a courtyard, a five minute walk away from the famous Jemaa el fna square. Wonderful staff, very helpful, especially Oliver the owner. And the food was seriously We found it easily but Oliver gives you a mobile phone so you can ring them in case you get lost and the staff will come and get you.

www.dar-najat.com/marrakech/en.html
Douar Graoua Kennaria, n° 18 Derb Lalla Chacha, 40000, Marrakech medina, Maroc
+212 524375085
Google map: bit.ly/RnEiPc

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Located in the national park at the base of the Cotentin Peninsular near Isigny sur Mer is the delightful Chateau de Monfreville.
Home to Paul & Zoe and their family who look after all visitors with an informal enthusiasm, kindness and unremitting good humour.
The grounds, populated by ducks, geese, hens a variety of wildlife and chickens, plus the ever hungry Labrador Hector, provide organic vegetables for one and all.
You can stay in the Chateau itself or in one of their gites, roulettes or camp in it’s grounds overlooking the national park all within easy reach of Bayeux, the D Day beaches, Mont St Michel and the Normandy coast and countryside.
Staying at the chateau is a unique and totally relaxed experience – just how holidays used to be – families will love it.

Chateau de Monfreville, 14230 Monfréville, France
+33 (0) 231 21 35 42

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A chance to stay in the safari park. From the balcony watch the exotic animals and sunset over the lake (with a glass of wine) while the children/friends interact with free-roaming deer and wallabies. The gibbons, rhinos and antelope enclosures are just a few meters away and for an extra 69euro per group of six you can get a behind-the-scenes tour to get a bit closer to the animals. You can also book workshops and outings (children 5/adults 10 euro), going though the Cerza woods at night which is particularly scary.
All materials used to make the lodges are eco-friendly and they are equipped with the usual mod-cons.
A couple of nights here was a great way to break up the visits to the castles, cheese farms and galleries.

www.cerzasafarilodge.com/
Manoir Saint Laurent, 14100 Hermival-les-Vaux, France
+33 2 31 62 17 22
Google map: bit.ly/P0v65K

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We stayed at Madhu Huts for two weeks last January and it was a fantastic experience living in coco huts by the seaside.

madhuhuts.com
Google map: bit.ly/PEUyAl

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The dining room and gardens of Hotel Royal Victoria, Varenna on Lake Como. Arrive in the evening by rail and it’s a 10 minute walk into town. Check in and enjoy the magnificent style of a charming traditional hotel, sumptuous yet not overdone, as a hotel should be. But the treat is in the morning. Make sure you have a lakeside view. Varenna is situated at the confluence of the lake where it splits in two. Breakfast may then be enjoyed with the most magnificent view of the lake, with the low sun bouncing off the water and outlining the mountains in every direction. Below is an ornate garden and intricate Italian architecture. After breakfast take a walk down to the lake shore through the private walkways and enjoy the views, flowers and architecture. As a base, ferries go from here in every direction and there are lakeside walks. The train can also be used as a means of one-way walking.

Piazza San Giorgio,2, 23829 Varenna
+39 0341 815111
Google map: bit.ly/N7AJdp

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Follow in the footsteps of Napoleon and Churchill and go and paint at the lush promontory of Punta San Vigilio. Park the car and walk down to the lake through the olive grove where you will be rewarded by a spectacular view. Or walk there along the lake from the town of Garda, on a trail edged with lemon and cypress trees.
If you really want to indulge your artistic, romantic side, you can stay at the hotel there, right on the edge of the lake.

www.locanda-sanvigilio.it/en/
Punta San Vigilio 37016 Garda (VR) Italy
+39 045 7256688
Google map: bit.ly/Nirk2P

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Located in the national park at the base of the Cotentin Peninsula near Isigny sur Mer is the delightful Chateau de Monfreville.
The Chateau is home to Paul and Zoe and their family, who look after all visitors with an informal enthusiasm, kindness and unremitting good humour.
The grounds are populated by ducks, geese, hens, a variety of wildlife and chickens, plus the ever-hungry labrador Hector. The chateau gardens also provide organic vegetables for one and all.
You can stay in the chateau itself or in one of their gites or roulettes (gipsy caravans), or alternatively camp in the grounds overlooking the national park. All this is within easy reach of Bayeux, the D-Day beaches, Mont St Michel and the Normandy coast and countryside.
Staying at the chateau is a unique and totally relaxed experience – just how holidays used to be – families will love it.

chateaumonfreville.com
Chateau de Monfreville, 14230 Monfréville, France
+33 (0) 231 21 35 42
Google map: bit.ly/NTU01Q

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Hotel Cannero is on the banks of Lake Maggiore. It was previously a monastery and has been owned by the same family since 1902. It's situated at the end of a pedestrianised area on the bank of the lake and the views of the surrounding mountains and lake are amazing.
From the moment you arrive the staff make you feel so welcome. It's easy to understand why so many guests return year after year.
Breakfasts consist of every fresh fruit imaginable, meats, assorted cheeses, ham, pannacotta, cereals and pastries. There is a superb choice of evening meals.You will not be interested in dining elsewhere.
The small ferry terminal outside the hotel is a huge bonus. Some passengers choose to arrive at the hotel by water taxi. You can catch the ferry boat to numerous destinations including The Three Lake Maggiore Island Wonders (Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Rocca Borromeo. The ferry to Locarno in Switzerland followed by train journey to Domodossola and Stressa is a must.

www.hotelcannero.com
28821 Cannero Riviera, Lago Maggiore, Verbania, Italy
+39 0323788046
Google map: bit.ly/Nh6vGC

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Back in 1990, when England were preparing to be beaten again by Argentina, my boss took me to Italy for a work trip. Since his wife was joining us, I was asked to find somewhere to stay on Lake Garda that was “not too shabby”. The Villa Cortine wasn't quite the exquisite mound of gleaming marble it is today, but its columns and oil paintings gave it a faded aristocratic gracefulness. What really made it, though, was its seclusion and the lush park in which it is still set. Through the palms and conifers, we found our way to the most elegant swimming pool I have ever seen. An occasional leaf, or a fragrant blossom from the overhanging branches, drifted onto the water, while crumbling statues stood sentry at either end. As we lolled in the shallow end with a glass of wine each, it seemed less and less necessary to attend any meetings.

www.palacehotelvillacortine.com/eng/hotel_garda_lake.htm
Via Grotte, 6, 25010 Sirmione, Lake Garda, Italy
+39(0)30 9905890
Google map: bit.ly/R11LYg

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Stay in Bellagio and then you are in a prime position to explore the attractions of the lake by boats which go in all directions. Bellagio has plenty of nice restaurants and we have always found Hotel Florence very comfortable but you can also catch a small boat in the early evening and have supper in Varenna and watch the sun go down across the lake and then catch the last boat back to Bellagio. Magic!

www.hotelflorencebellagio.it/
Piazza Mazzini, 46, 22021 Bellagio CO, Italy
+39 031 950342
Google map: bit.ly/R12Nn9

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The medieval village of Covarrubias is well worth a visit. Surrounded by stunning Castilian countryside, it’s a delightful place for a short stay or stop over where you are unlikely to bump into too many other tourists unless they are Spanish. Casa Galín in the main square serves delicious, copious and very reasonably priced menus and we stay with the delightful Carmen and Alberto in their charming small hotel Doña Sancha outside the centre, where a double room and breakfast costs 60 euros. The much more famous Santo Domingo de Silos with its wonderful carvings and chanting monks is an easy ride away, as is the Yecla Gorge and of course Burgos with its huge cathedral is just up the N234. This is real Spain. We really shouldn’t be sharing it with you!

www.hoteldonasancha.com
Avenida Víctor Barbadillo 31, 09346, Covarrubias
+34 947 406 400
Google map: bit.ly/LF3G6k

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Cannot recommend this hotel enough! After a mix-up with the B&B that we had booked for our honeymoon, my husband and I were left without a place to stay in Alghero on one of the busiest weekends of the high season. By chance, we walked past this place - the only hotel within the walls of Alghero old town. Luckily for us there had been a cancellation only half an hour before, and the lovely staff welcomed us in. Fantastic value (100 euros/night) considering its location in the heart of Alghero, the San Francesco is based in an old Catalan gothic monastery, abutting the church, with a spectacular cloister dating back to the 14th century where in the mornings breakfast is served. In the summer, the cloister courtyard is used for classical concerts and it's possible to sit and enjoy the music for free from the cloister balcony. The rooms are simple (much in the way the original monks' rooms would have been in fact) but it's a real gem of a hotel.

www.sanfrancescohotel.com/homen.htm
Via A. Machin n° 2, 0741, Alghero (SS)
+39 079980330
Google map: bit.ly/MXKDhH

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