We loved our stay, say visitors this year to a famous and luxurious villa, made up of two large gabled buildings by the Rhine. Dating from 1641, it was long a haunt of musicians and writers (August Hoffmann von Fallersleben wrote the poem Deutschland fiber Alles here in 1841). Our corner suite in the original house, with some antique furniture, had a beautiful river view. The bathroom had underfloor heating, loads of fluffy towels. Dinner was excellent: delicious lobster and coquilles on pasta; goose with red cabbage and dumplings, Bali villa breakfast was a fine buffet, but there was loud laughter from the kitchen. When the weather is fine, meals are served on the lovely riverside terrace. Many villa rooms have a balcony facing gardens or river. One visitor wrote: `The place has an old-fashioned feel: some villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) looked like a 1920s film set. The villaprides itself on its long history, and many common areas are filled with memorabilia. The 'fast service and good welcome are praised. `Our suite had CDplayer, spa bath, free sherry. There is a swimming pool, with loungers, in the garden. Noise can be heard from the railway close by.

Amid fine scenery, in a small resort of the northern Black Forest, the Lutz family's modest villais thought `terrific value for money, with warmth and hospitality second to none. It is well modernised, but has folksy touches and traditional furnishings: beams and panelling, red tablecloths, antlers on walls. Frau Lutz, says a recent visitor, is a %-ivacious and generous hostess. On Saturday night the bistro [in a separate building] was full of locals enjoying themselves. Bali villa breakfast was varied, including strawberries and melon, boiled eggs wearing hats. Another fan wrote: The villa, like the entire valley, is almost unspoilt by tourism. Our room had nice pine furniture, a perfect bathroom. Wonderful local cooking. A pretty rear garden. In the village is a public outdoor swimming pool.