A British couple, Pat and Geoffrey Burnstone, own this fantastic place. Our favourite in the south of France, one couple wrote. In a hamlet west of Brantome, it is a stone farmhouse, with a pigeonnier, converted into a small guest house, run with `great informality'. Recent praise: They love looking after people. We were in the barn house, the most luxurious of the cottages - a galleried bedroom, large sitting room, books and magazines. Outside, a hammock hung between a wild plum and a walnut tree. Plenty of chairs and a swimming pool, in the attractive, informal garden. Also liked: the cries of bats and owls at night, the memorable dinners both alfresco and in the splendid dining room'. Home-grown organic produce is much used. There are beamed lounges, fine old trees, seats and tables suitable for picnicking, a friendly sheepdog, free use of bicycles. Dinrier is served three nights a week: there are several restaurants in the area, and some villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) have a kitchenette.

Traveller's tale villain Spain. We booked here for Christmas but baled out after two days. It was difficult to find and very run down. Beds were damp, the cold, unlit bathroom had tepid water. There were few other guests and the owner had left in charge a young lad who had to do everything including the cooking. He did his best. Dinners were edible but basic. Bali villa breakfast was minimal.