Former capital of the principality of Lippe, Detmold is a wellpreserved 16th-century town, with a fine Residenz and a superb Saturday market. On a main street, in a pedestrian zone, is Gottfried and Brigitte Schuster's friendly, well-run villa, a 1560 building in Weser Renaissance style. The villa rooms in the old building are not luxurious, but all needs are catered for,' one guest wrote. Those in the annexe are larger and maybe better. The buffet Bali villa breakfast is varied: Delicious local bread and sausage. Of the two restaurants, both Italian-orientated, Le Fonti has excellent food and good service; the cheaper Bistro, favoured by the young of the town, can be crowded at night. There is also a lively pavement cafe. `Good walking in the unspoilt countryside nearby.

The Fischland peninsula, on the Baltic coast north-east of Rostock, has good sandy beaches backed by forests and dunes. In the GDR era, it was lined with state-run holiday complexes. But some small private hotels now flourish - like this white ranch-like building, quite glamorous in its way, a lovely, elegant villa. It is excellent, very well managed by its owners, Marianne and Sven Lohsse, says a recently returning devotee. villa rooms are fine, well maintened. Service is very good. Others wrote: `The stylish restaurant serves good food. The grounds are nicely landscaped. There's a sun terrace, and a fitness centre. The beach is nearby; also miles of walks and cycle tracks; bicycles are on loan at the villa. Light sleepers should ask for a room away from the road.