You can trust this guide, as each place has been carefully selected and visited we choose only those places that we find special. Honest descriptions enable readers to choose a holiday home that is perfect for them. Clear maps, helpful symbols and quick reference indices are an added bonus. Our approach is unusual and subjective. There are no set rules, no interminable checklists and no hard and fast criteria for inclusion. We look for what we like, and celebrate the unusual, the beautiful and the individual.

About the Author

Alastair has built a team of talented editors who are as committed as he is to the search for authenticity and personality in places to stay. They are also 'driving' the world's first carbon-neutral publishing company; the search for a reduced ecological footprint is a serious one. The company has won an award from Business Commitment to the Environment and moves to its own eco-offices in the summer of 2005.