1. St Moritz Hotel, near Rock, Cornwall

Following a modest £15m makeover in 2008, this is now one of Cornwall's chicest boltholes. Each of the 48 bedrooms boasts oak floors, whitewashed walls and crisp furnishings – all in shades of sand, aqua and pale blue. Watch the chef whip up seafood classics in the open kitchen, be pummelled in the glossy Cowshed spa, or raid the selection of buckets, spades and surfboards piled up in the lobby and head to the beach. The Cornwall Coastal Path is on the doorstep, too.

Book it Doubles from £99 per night, including breakfast (+44 (0)1208 862 242; stmoritzhotel.co.uk)

2. Hotel Los Castaños, Andalucia, Spain

Tucked away in the tiny mountain hamlet of Cartajima (population 100), this gem of a hotel makes a great base from which to explore Andalucia, with the historic town of Ronda just 10 miles away and Marbella – a holiday choice of Michelle Obama – 35 miles away. It has six bedrooms with tiled floors, Moroccan fabrics and small balconies, three of which overlook the valley. The best views are from the rooftop terrace, complete with plunge pool. There's also a relaxation and massage room, a Moorish patio, sitting room and dining room serving home-cooked suppers. Tracks from the front door lead into the forest, and the village swimming pool opens at 4pm every day in summer.
Book it Doubles from €80 (£68) per night, including breakfast (+34 952 180 778; loscastanos.com)
Get there Monarch (monarch.co.uk) flies from London Luton and Gatwick to Malaga from £60 return

3. Hotel Corte Altavilla, Puglia, Italy

Located in the historic centre of Conversano, an ancient town in Bari province, this hotel is housed in a building that dates back to the 11th century, parts of which were the court of the Counts of Altavilla. It has 32 elegant rooms (some with self-catering facilities) – with exposed stone walls, wood beams and wrought-iron furniture – as well as a restaurant, roof terrace and newly opened "wellness" centre built in the court's old stone basements. The dramatic cliffs of Polignano, underground caves of Castellana and trulli (unique architectural structures, with conical roofs) of Alberobello are all nearby.
Book it Doubles from €98 (£83) per night, including breakfast (+39 080 4959668; cortealtavilla.it)
Get there Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from London Stansted to Bari from £50 return

4. La Villa, Lopud, Croatia

This 16th-century stone villa gets the crown for the best location: right by the sea on the tiny car-free island of Lopud, just an hour's ferry ride from Dubrovnik. There are six stylish rooms – with whitewashed walls, wicker chaise-longues and colourful Indian cotton bedcovers. Relax in the lounge, with its library and internet corner, follow the footpath that winds its way across the island to Sunj beach –one of Croatia's rare sand beaches, set in a sheltered horseshoe bay – then return for supper made using La Villa's homegrown vegetables and herbs.
Book it Doubles from €70 (£59) per night, including breakfast (i-escape.com/lavilla.php)

Get there Easyjet (easyjet.com) flies from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik from £57 return. Then take a ferry from Dubrovnik to Lopud. For timetables and prices visit jadrolinija.hr

5. Casa Grande de Bachao, Galicia, Spain

This 12-bedroom hotel is situated in a 14-hectare estate, with direct access to the River Tambre. The buildings which make up the hotel are typical of 18th-century Galician architecture, with two houses, corn granaries and spacious stone terraces. It has a mix of singles, twins and doubles, combining exposed stone walls and classic furnishings. There's also a sauna, library, games room, restaurant and outdoor pool. Make use of the free bike hire and head to the historic city of Santiago de Compostela, just 15km away.
Book it Doubles from £85 per night, including breakfast (+44 (0)1223 328 721; casas.co.uk)

Get there Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from London Stansted to Santiago de Compostela from £40 return

6. Riad al Jazira, Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech has its fair share of riads, but this one, tucked away in the Sidi Ben Slimane district of the medina, has to be one of the coolest – and most affordable. It's made up of three beautifully restored 17th-century riads, with 15 bedrooms featuring cool stone floors with brightly coloured rugs, linen drapes and little windows. The central covered courtyards and colonnaded swimming pool are equally tranquil – just the ticket after a day spent haggling and getting lost in the crazy souks. Had enough shopping? The riad can organise cooking, pottery and dance courses.
Book it Doubles from €89 (£76) per night, including breakfast (+212 524 426 463; riadaljazira.com)

Get there Easyjet (easyjet.com) flies from London Gatwick to Marrakech from £75 return

7. The George, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire

This foodie-themed boutique hotel gets the prize for the best-named bedrooms; there are 16 in all, with names including chocolate, oyster, chilli pepper, popcorn and fig, each with a huge canvas print representing its theme above the bed. Some also have freestanding rolltop baths, beamed ceilings and bay windows overlooking the market square. The sitting room/library is just as smart, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and leather armchairs in front of an open fire, and there's also a private dining room and decked terrace for a pint in summer. Blenheim Palace, Charlecote Park and Warwick Castle are all within driving distance.

Book it Doubles from £70 per night, including breakfast (+44 (0)1608 661 453, georgehotelshipston.com)

8. Hotel le Dormeur du Val, Ardennes, France

This uber-cool hotel caused quite a stir when it opened in the serene 16th-century town of Charleville-Mézières last year. Housed in an old factory building, it has 17 bedrooms, all of which have an edgy industrial feel, with steel girders, funky furniture and bright wallpaper. There's also a bar, library and relaxation area with a sauna, Turkish bath and massage treatments. You're very close to Place Ducale square, the basilica and the Rimbaud Museum, and it's a great base for exploring the Ardennes, with its rolling landscapes, historic towns and grand châteaux.
Book it Doubles from €102 (£85) per night, including breakfast (+33 324 420 430; dormeur.fr)

Get there Take the Eurostar from London to Paris, then a connecting train to Charleville-Mézières from £92 return (raileurope.co.uk)

9. Dun Na Mara, near Oban, Argyll

Not only is the location unbeatable – it is perched on the seafront with views of Ardmucknish Bay towards the Isle of Mull – but this Edwardian house is also as chic as they come. The seven minimalist bedrooms (two singles, five doubles) mix original Edwardian fireplaces with whitewashed walls and Oriental detailing, like bowls of zen stones, buddhas and Chinese teapots. There is no restaurant or bar, but a hearty breakfast is served in the light-filled dining room, and there's a decanter of sherry in the sitting room. Walk to the Iron Age fort on the headland, take a day trip to the Isle of Mull or kick back on Dun Na Mara's private beach, which is reached via its informal gardens.
Book it Doubles from £98 per night, including breakfast (+44 (0)1631 720 233; dunnamara.com)

10. Lu Ciaccaru, Sardinia

The owner of this traditional farmhouse, located in Arzachena on the northern tip of the island, has converted her childhood home into a charming hotel. There are 10 spacious and elegantly furnished suites, with separate living areas and large covered verandas, plus two smaller doubles decked in cane and local stone. You will probably spend most of your time outside, catching some rays by the pool or dining on fresh seafood on the terrace of the restaurant. The hotel (which has its own boat) can arrange excursions along the Costa Smeralda coast, and sandy beaches are a short drive away.
Book it Doubles from £95 per night, including breakfast (+44 (0)1223 460 100, essentialitaly.co.uk)

Get there Easyjet (easyjet.com) flies from Bristol to Olbia from £40 return

11. Le Tresor, Languedoc Roussillon, France

Step inside this classic three-storey "maison de maître" (master's house) in the quiet village square of Sonnac-sur-l'Hers, near Carcassonne, and you're in for a surprise: contemporary prints and fabrics, cool chandeliers and eye-catching art. There are four rooms (one suite, a twin and two doubles), all with high ceilings, original wooden floors and marble fireplaces. This is a place in which to put your feet up – in the sitting room-cum-games room with its full-size pool table, TV and collection of DVDs or perhaps in the garden with its hammocks. The Pyrenees are on the doorstep, or you can head to the lakes at Puivert or Montbel for an afternoon's windsurfing.
Book it Doubles from €85 (£72) per night (i-escape.com/letresor.php)

Get there Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from London Stansted to Carcassonne from £30 return

12. The Drawing Room, nr Builth Wells, Powys

Dating back to 1725, this Georgian country residence is now one of Wales's best restaurants with rooms. Have a pre-dinner tipple in the drawing room and feast on Welsh Black beef or lamb from local farms in the homely dining room – perhaps rounded off with a lip-smacking hot apple and calvados soufflé – before retiring to one of the three bedrooms upstairs. Each one has Laura Ashley bedlinen and underfloor heating, though Oliver is the pick of the bunch, with a leather armchair, wrought-iron bed and a free-standing bathtub. Ask the owners to arrange a visit to some of the local food producers, or put on your walking shoes for a romp through the Elan Valley.
Book it Doubles from £80 per night, including breakfast (+44 (0)1982 552 493, the-drawing-room.co.uk)

13. Carmen de la Alcubilla del Caracol, Granada, Spain

This carmen, or traditional house, dates back to the Moorish period and is located on a steep cobbled street above Granada's historic Realejo district. Inside are seven bedrooms filled with furniture and antiques that have been in the owner's family for generations, as well as great views of Vega – the fertile plain which stretches south towards the Sierra Nevada. Most rooms have private verandahs or open on to the terraced garden and orchard – a perfect spot in which to unwind. Don't miss the Alhambra – an ancient hilltop palace and fortress – and the old Moorish warren of the Albayzin.
Book it Doubles from £82 per night, including breakfast (+44 (0)20 7580 2663, travelintelligence.com)

Get there Monarch (monarch.co.uk) flies from London Luton and Gatwick to Malaga from £60 return

14. Casa da Lapa, Serra de Estrela, Portugal

Constructed from old shepherds' cottages, this hillside hotel is perched above the small village of Lapa dos Dinheiros in Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in Portugal (almost 2,000m). It has eight bedrooms, each decorated with contemporary furnishings, including cube armchairs, cylindrical lamps and contemporary paintings. Set off on a ramble through the mountains or go cycling (there are free bikes for hire), then return to the casas for a swim in the pool, sunbathe on the rooftop solarium or steam in the sauna and Turkish bath.
Book it Doubles from €90 (£75) per room, including breakfast (i-escape.com/casasdalapa.php)

Get there Easyjet (easyjet.com) flies from London Gatwick to Porto from £49 return

15. Hotel Victorie, Amsterdam

This is easily one of the hippest – and most affordable – hotels in the city. It's located in the trendy De Pijp district and has 24 simple but stylish bedrooms featuring polished wood floors, bold retro furniture, furry cushions and wall-mounted magazine racks. The breakfast room is equally cool, with one long white-leather banquette running the length of the room and cowhide pouffes, and in the lobby you'll find an open fire, menu of bar drinks and free internet access. Head to the nearby Albert Cuypstraat market with its mile-long stretch of stalls, or Museumplein (Museum Square) – a 20-minute walk away.
Book it Doubles from €69 (£59) per night, including breakfast (+31 20 3057470, hotelvictorie.nl).

Get there Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Brussels, then cross the platform and take the Thalys train to Amsterdam, from £115 return (raileurope.co.uk)

16. Kemp Townhouse, Brighton, Sussex

Once a derelict B&B, this Grade II-listed Victorian townhouse, just off the sea front, was transformed into Brighton's most sophisticated hotel in 2008. It has nine individually decorated rooms; pick of the bunch is Fabulous Four Poster, with its bay window with sea views, free standing bath and enormous mahogany four poster bed. Chef-cooked breakfasts (full English, pancakes and pastries) and afternoon tea are served in the dining room, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and original fireplace. Take a stroll through The Lanes, lined with jewellery shops and arty boutiques, or pack a picnic and head to the beach.
Book it: Doubles from £95 per night, including breakfast (+44 (0)1273 681400, kemptownhousebrighton.com)

17. La Hacienda del Buen Suceso, Arucas, Gran Canaria

With 50 hectares of banana trees, this working plantation - the oldest in the Canary Islands (established in 1572) - is also one of the most luxurious rural hotels in the Canaries. It has 20 bedrooms and suites with exposed stone walls, floral wallpaper, shuttered windows and some with four poster beds, as well as a good restaurant. Divide your time between the communal terraces, scattered with white wicker sofas, outdoor pool and wellness area with Jacuzzi and Turkish bath, or, if you can tear yourself away, walk to the nearby town of Arucas, nicknamed the "pearl of Gran Canaria".
Book it: Doubles from €105 (£89) per night, including breakfast (i-escape.com/lahaciendadelbuensuceso.php).

Get there Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from London Stansted to Gran Canaria from £74 return.

18. The Railway Inn, Burnham Market, Norfolk

Owner and interior designer Jeanne Whittome has transformed the station house of the old railway at Burnham Market, which ceased functioning as a station in 1957, into seven en-suite bedrooms, which are part of the Hoste Arms Hotel. Stylishly furnished, with contemporary wallpapers, fabrics and plump beds, they are set around a central sitting room, where guests can choose from the sink-in sofas or seats right on the platform. There's also a converted railway carriage, which opened last year and sleeps two. The Royal Estate at Sandringham is just a few miles away, or grab the binoculars and head to the nearby nature reserves at Titchwell, Holme, Holkham and Cley.
Book it: Doubles from £89 per night, including breakfast. Railway carriage from £137 per night (+44 (0)1328 738777, hostearms.co.uk/Railway/)

19. Blue Sturgeon, Charente-Maritime, France

This hotel is all about the finer things in life, from the location - situated in the small port of Saint-Seurin-d'Uzet, famous in the 1920s for being the first place in Europe to produce caviar - to the house itself, a converted wine store tranformed into a luxury haven by Yorkshireman artist Robert Stansfield, who in a past life created window displays at Harrods. It has five bedrooms, each featuring one of Robert's abstract paintings above the bed and L'Occitane goodies in the bathroom. In the restaurant-cum-sitting room, caviar serves as an entrée to a four-course seafood dinner, and there's a swimming pool outside in the garden. You're a 10-minute drive from one of the loveliest beaches in Charente, and Bordeaux is just over an hour away.
Book it: Doubles from €95 (£81) per night, including breakfast (i-escape.com/bluesturgeon.php).

Get there British Airways (ba.com) flies from London Gatwick to Bordeaux from £97 return. Or take the Eurostar from London to Paris, then change to the TGV to La Rochelle or Bordeaux from £109 return (raileurope.co.uk).

20. Cortijada Los Gázquez, Andalucia, Spain

Artists Simon and Donna Beckma spent three years transforming a dilapidated complex of five farmhouses (or "cortijada"), set in the heart of the little-explored Sierra de María-Los Vélez National Park, into a gorgeous eco guest house. Run on solar and wind power, it has six beautifully decorated bedrooms, featuring art from the couple's collection and large wet rooms. Meals, cooked from locally sourced ingredients, are served around a large communal table and guests are invited to join in hosted creative courses, from landscape painting to botanical illustration. Or set off to explore the national park, with its lush pine forests, varied flora and over 100 bird species.
Book it: Doubles from €85 per night, including breakfast. Three-day courses from €314 a night for two people (+44 (0)20 3137 2096, losgazquez.com).

Get there: Easyjet (easyjet.com) flies from Bristol and Newcastle to Murcia from £44 return.