Favourite Hotels of the World

I’ve stayed in hundreds of hotels and guest houses around the world over the last decade. While most have been within a shortbread finger or two of average, a few have stood out as exceptional experiences. I try to forget the appallingly bad places – the memories of sleepless nights above a Macedonian disco and bloodstained sheets in a Polish bus drivers’ hostel do fade over time.  But as far as the really good places as concerned, I’m keen to share these with anyone who’s interested.

So I thought I’d start this list – of my absolute top accommodation picks from around the world. If you told me you were going to any of these cities/towns/islands I would give you no peace until I knew you had been safely booked into these places.

This list will be a work in progress and hopefully I’ll add to it over time with more highly recommended places.

There’s one simple rule for this list: I have stayed in every place on the list as a fully paying guest and have no relationship of any kind with any of the properties.

So here goes with my list of favourite hotels from around the world:

Europe

Bosnia and Hercegovina

Musilbegovic House, Mostar – http://www.muslibegovichouse.com/ – Warm welcome, stay in a living Ottoman-era museum

Greece

Pension Sofia, Paros http://www.pension-sofia.gr/ – delightful owners, breakfast served in lovely garden

Hotel Grotta, Naxos – http://www.hotelgrotta.gr/ – owners could not do enough to make our stay a pleasant one

Latin America

Argentina

Tierra de Leyendas – http://www.tierradeleyendas.com.ar/ – young couple owners who spent a few years travelling and set up guest house to treat guest how they liked to be treated. They do a great job.

Mexico

Casa Ollin, Oaxaca – http://www.oaxacabedandbreakfast.com/ – delightful surroundings and unbeatable service. Arrived really early (8am), owners fed us breakfast while getting our room ready; very impressive service.