HotelChatter

· Paradores, Spain
The Paradores are the best-kept secret in the Spanish hotel world, because the clever Spaniards want to keep it to themselves.

Hundreds of protected buildings and sites of national interest, old churches and convents, castles and forts, turned into top 3- to 5-star hotels. A government-run chain, so prices are subsidised.

They're either in spectacular slap-bang-in-the-city-centre historic buildings or they're on middle-of-the-wilderness hilltops or buried in forested dens. All have top chefs and artery-bursting restaurants serving champagne buffets for breakfast and the best fresh produce the local area has to offer. Can't recommend them enough.

Try Jaen for a lush converted Arabic fortress or Santiago de Compostela for a spectacular Royal Hospital bang in the middle of the beautiful city of Santiago. Gets booked up a lifetime in advance on St James' day in July, when most of the pilgrims arrive.

· Canal Boats, Amsterdam
Forget any summer holiday nightmare trips (or is it just the English who go on canal boat holidays?). These houseboats are huge, warm, comfortable, and a thoroughly trendy alternative place to stay.

· Sheraton, Iguazu Falls
The only hotel actually within the National Park of the Iguazu Falls. It's on the Argentina side, a hundred times more spectacular than the Brazilian view.

And although if you stay there the money gushes out of your pocket faster than the Iguazu currents fall over the edge, it's worth it for the pleasure of taking an evening stroll round one of the most jaw-dropping natural phenomena in the world.

· Estancias, Argentina
If you find yourself out in the sticks in Argentina, scan the horizon for smoke, set your compass, and you'll soon be heading for the nearest estancia. They're great old houses surrounded by acres and acres of ranch or plantations, whose owners allow guests to come and stay for a day or two and experience life as a proper Argentinian gaucho.

It's a meat-feast of a stay - that smoke was from the barbecue - because those gauchos are hungry men. You can often ride horses all over the grounds, help round up cattle, drink thick red wine round the open fires with the owners as they regale you with their stories and (this bit's obligatory) stuff yourself with freshly roasted, blood-dripping beef.

There are plenty that you easily get to with a bus-ride from Buenos Aires. No excuse, even for vegetarians.

Alright, we've shown you ours now show us yours.

[Photo: Quasimondo]

Related Stories:
· Patagonia Hotel Guide [HotelChatter]
· Buenos Aires Hotel Guide [HotelChatter]
· Paradores [HotelChatter]