Customer Reviews
A Bible for Curious Travellers - By: Ms. G. M. Mayhew, 18 Jan 2008 
As with all the 'Special Places' guides, this is full of charming & interesting places to stay. It's worth planning your trip around the entries, which is what we did recently when travelling the length of Spain with our dogs (the book tells you if places cater for dogs, vegetarians, children etc). It's so beautifully produced that you'll enjoy reading it even if you're not leaving home.
fabulous! - By: nicole, 10 Oct 2007 we couldn't be more delighted to find alastair sawday's travel books. we are on sabbatical for the spring semester & needing to find short & long term rentals throughout europe. we have been completely impressed with the level of detailin the writeups & the images add a lot to giving a sense of place. we love that the selections are not all the poshest places, but all have great character or reason for inclusion. i am a very picky traveler, wasin the hotel business, & i can tell you this is the best selection of places i have ever seen. cheers alastair! we like your guides & your view of life!!
Great places for independent travellers - By: Evelyn BULL, 16 Jul 2007 If you're looking for package holiday accommodation this book is not for you. Alistair Sawday's Special Places to Stay is one of a series of really useful guides with a treasure trove of ideas for accommodation. We have stayed at a number of recommended places & never been disappointed yet - it gives you what it says on the cover. If you cannot get out to Spain this year, no problem as the book gives you ample scope for dreaming!
The absolute essential guide to authentic Spain at its best - By: D. X. Brookes, 12 Jul 2007 We have for many years enjoyed travellingin northern France for short mini-breaks or stopovers en route to our final holiday destination & we have found the Alistair Sawday guide an absolute essential.
So when we were planning our Andalucian 10 day breakin May with our two young girls we knew exactly where to go to find a selection of authentic, affordable fincas & casas where the hospitality is second to none.
Our favourite stopover, high upin the Alpujarras, was Casa Rural El Paraje, a derelict finca lovingly restored by a charming dutch couple, Anita Beijer & Walter Michels who have transformed their new home into a chic, "boutique" bed & breakfast stopover. Walter is very talentedin the kitchen where he prepares an extremely affordable 15 euro 3 course evening meal whilst Anita, multi-lingual, engagesin warm hospitality with her guests. The view from the terrace is phenomenal & stretches miles across the Alpujarras.
We just wouldn't have come across these lovely folk without the Alistair Sawday guide.
