This peaceful country-house hotel —which surveys splendid lawns surrounded by magnificent trees — stands minutes from the sea, near Normandy’s legendary D-Day Landing Beaches. With its bright, elegant rooms and two fine restaurants using garden-fresh ingredients, it makes a supremely relaxing rural retreat. See the full post >

Villa San Michele — one of Florence’s most expensive hotels — is housed in an ancient former monastery, and combines Renaissance atmosphere with 21st-century comforts galore. For some, the off-radar location will be a boon while others may feel out of things. Note that the hotel closes in winter. See the full post >

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This place was once the private residence of a German empress (and the daughter of Queen Victoria). There is something very special about the Schlosshotel Kronberg, a magnificent-looking English-style country mansion complete with gothic exterior, sumptuous interiors and extraordinary historic resonance. See the full post >

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This has been Pátmos’ most comfortable hotel for years, with attentive staff, striking views and well-kept rooms. The landscaping in an otherwise bleak area has grown in nicely over two decades, and includes healthy palm trees, now a rarity in Greece owing to the introduced sago palm weevil (snout beetle). See the full post >

Located within the Lago Taurito waterpark, this four-star property boasts thrills and spills on its doorstep. And it’s just as targeted to couples with its Krabi spa open for romantic night-time sessions. See the full post >

What ‘rented rooms’ or apartments in Greece should always have: a peaceful garden setting, welcoming proprietors in Theologos and Giakoumina, and superior interior appointment. See the full post >