Where to Stay in Europe

I put a great deal of thought into accommodation, both for my own travels and for these guides. A room in an old house, a guesthouse whose owner has a clear eye for interiors, or a hotel that gives a historic building a new use can become a substantial part of how I remember a place.

I am drawn to properties with a connection to their surroundings, whether that comes through the building, its story or the way it has been furnished. Independent hotels and small boutique collections often offer that, but a label is never enough on its own. Good design matters to me at every price point; an inexpensive guesthouse can have far more character than a much costlier hotel.

For my where-to-stay guides, I assess the neighbourhoods or towns first, then compare the accommodation within them. Across this work, I have assessed thousands of properties, weighing their location and appearance alongside guest feedback, including what people say about cleanliness. The question behind each selection is whether I would want to stay there myself, and who else it would suit.

The guides combine knowledge of the destination with property research. I make clear when I have personally stayed somewhere; the other selections are places I have assessed, rather than rooms I am claiming to have tried.