Winning tip: Galeazza Castle, near Bologna
A rustic retreat based in a castle, 40 minutes' drive north of Bologna. It can accommodate just 10 guests, in frescoed rooms, and is like staying in your own personal castle. No TV, no Wi-Fi and probably no mobile phone reception (as it is in the middle of nowhere) but lots of books, music and art, along with good food and wine. Early-morning balloon rides followed by breakfast anyone? galeazza.com. €45pp per night, all meals and drinks included. Pawan
Spain
La Seguiriya, Andalucía
A lovely, friendly, inexpensive hotel and restaurant perched right on the edge of the gorge in the spa town of Alhama de Granada, Andalucía. The owner, Paco, is an ex-flamenco singer who often takes guests down to the hot springs and serenades them under the stars. laseguiriya.com/english. Doubles from €60 per night, B&B.
SteveMcCann
Casa PeteyLou, Catalonian Pyrenees
A small, isolated hotel with fantastic views, very friendly and the food is great - homemade bread every morning. Golden eagles and vultures fly overhead and it's a great area for walking, climbing, canoeing, rafting etc. It is in the province of Lerida, close to the market town of Tremp in the abandoned village of Tolo. The closest village is San Salvador de Tolo. casapeteylou.com. Doubles €50 B&B.
rsouthwo
Hotel Parador de El Hierro, Canaries
It is hard to get more remote and still be in Europe. El Hierro is the smallest and southernmost of the seven inhabited Canary Islands, and there are only perhaps four hotels on the whole Island. The Parador is at the end (yes, it really is the end) of a long road, through a long tunnel, and stands between high cliffs and the sea. parador.es. Rooms €60-€80.
pscriven
Italy
Country House Montali Hotel, Panicale
Tucked away at the end of a "white track", this gem of a rural retreat is set in a 25-acre olive grove surrounded by evergreen woodland and has only 10 bedrooms. This family-run hotel has one great secret - they cook the best vegetarian food in Italy, if not the whole of Europe. Rooms are simple yet comfortable, all with en-suite facilities, and no TVs - keeping the rural idyll quiet and relaxing. Daytimes are spent by the pool or out exploring Lake Trasimeno and the nearby villages, working up an appetite for the evening meals beautifully cooked by Malu and her team and served by her immaculately dressed husband, Alberto. montalionline.com. From €90pp half-board.
jonboylondon
Hungary
Kali Art Inn, near Lake Balaton. Nestled between rolling poppy fields, you could be in Tuscany, but for half the price. There are activities aplenty on offer and I divided my stay between painting in the art studio, horse riding, cycling and lazing by the pool. The owners' homemade truffles and garden-grown dinners rounded off each day to perfection. Although the hotel is completely secluded, it is a stone's throw from the healing, sulphuric waters of Lake Balaton, well worth a day trip. Easy to get to from the low-cost airport of Balaton, which Ryanair flies to, but the hotel also offers transfers from Budapest. kali-art.com. Doubles from €87, room only.
sophiev1
France
Hotel Restaurant du Midi Papillon, Aveyron
Family-run hotel in the tiny village of St Jean du Bruel about 30km from Millau. It lies in the Dourbie valley with views of the surrounding hills. Come here for swimming, walking and cycling. It's a warm, friendly establishment, but its real selling point is its fantastic restaurant, which is worth a visit regardless of whether you're staying here. hotel-midi-papillon.com. From €30 room only, €35.80 half-board, €42 full-board
Matelda
Iceland
Hotel Budir
A beautiful and magical place full of volcanoes, trolls and great cuisine.
hotelbudir.is. Doubles from 14,500ISK (around £95) B&B.
SuperPorts
• Each week the best reader's tip will win a digital camera. This week we are giving away a sleek black Canon IXUS 100 IS worth £299, plus 100 free prints, courtesy of Jessops. Post your tips and photos of vintage shopping in Paris and road trips on our Been there website. The best tips win. theguardian.com/beenthere
The camera is the slimmest ever digital IXUS model with 12.1 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, optical Image Stabilizer and the option to shoot movies in HD.
For more details visit jessops.com or call 0800 083 3113.
