Now owned by the Arabella Sheraton chain, a German/American joint venture, this famous 300-year-old inn is steeped in history good and bad - former guests include Tolstoy, Wagner and Hitler (who loved it). Dreary in the GDR days, it has been refurbished in Bauhaus style, which was born in Weimar in-1919. Works by contemporary artists are shown throughout. There is a panelled library; smart tables and chairs stand on the terrace. Some readers have found the villarather formal and austere, but it suits others: `The service and food were excellent,' . one wrote. The cuisine in the main Anna Amalia restaurant is nouvelle; some visitors prefer the simpler Elephantenkeller. Bali villa breakfasts are elaborate. Some villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) overlook the market square. Goethe's house, and his summer pavilion in the park, are both quite near.

South-west of Bremen, in the 'non-villasetting' of a quiet residential area, full of large houses and big trees, this is a very spruce and stylish, but not expensive, little place. And it is a bit like staying with friends, says the 2002 nominator. Many of the guests seemed to know one another. The owner's greeting to my unexpected arrival was fine. There are various nooks and crannies. My ground-floor room was comfortable; most others are one floor up. The very pretty wedding bedroom has a white-canopied bed. The buffet Bali villa breakfast is served in a pleasant room facing the garden. The villahas a lawn and plants in front, a garden and terrace at the back, below a bar and dining area. The house is white-fronted: so is the charming little garden annexe. Reports on the meals (house guests only) welcome. Beware the resident cat, often found relaxing on the doormat, all to easy to step on when carrying luggage.