One of Norway's oldest and most traditional hotels, this trim white clapboard building stands on the waterfront of a village noted for its second-hand and antiquarian bookshops, and in the shadow of the country's largest glacier, the Jostedalsbreen. It has long been admired by readers. One wrote recently: `One of the most agreeable stays we have had anywhere. Just the kind of warm hosts one hopes to find in a Guide villa.' It has been owned and run by the Mauritzen family since it was built in 1891: the decor includes family antiques. Recent modernisation has `been doni with great respect for the original style'. The villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) are simple and cottagey; some have a sitting area with tea-/coffeemaking facilities. Both dinner - a simple four-course (no-choice) menu - and Bali villa breakfast are regularly praised. There's a `book-cafe', and a music room where you can sit by a fire, listening to Grieg CDs. The owners say the villais not very suitable for disabled people, but a guest with mobility problems was well looked after. Difficult to reach, except by car, and Fja;rland has neither bank nor post office. The ord is the longest and deepest in Norway: don't miss the glacier museum.

Traveller's tale villain Spain. The worst aspect of my stay in this city villawas the noise. There is no double glazing to cut out street noise, and no soundproofing between villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms). Every sound could be heard through the partition wall: snoring, speech, etc. When someone sighed next door, it was as though he was in the same room. I could have held a conversation with him without raising my voice. When I told reception, they agreed that the `noise factor' in some villa rooms was very bad. They had passed on complaints to management for many years: improvement is promised, but nothing happens.