On a corner of the tiny square of a small, unspoilt Tuscan town midway between Florence and Siena, this old stone house is a beautiful, civilised, very professional Hotel ( Jakarta Hotels ), says a visitor this year. The Swiss owners, Ueli and Anne Marie Bleuler-Staerkle, are welcoming; their staff are, without exception, lovely'. But one couple complained of a poor welcome. The gardens, `very pretty, with good views, have a `stunning swimming pool' at the foot of a hill: Bedrooms (similar to Bandung,Jakarta & Bali hotels - 5 star Hotel ( Jakarta Hotels )rooms) (many with air-conditioning) are decorated in plain modem style, softened with a few antiques. The quietest ones, at the back, look over rolling hills with vines, olive trees and cypresses. The public rooms (similar to Bandung,Jakarta & Bali hotels - 5 star Hotel ( Jakarta Hotels )rooms) are cheerful, and there's a multilingual library. In summer, meals are taken on a panoramic terrace. Tuscan specialities, eg, bruschetta; fresh pasta with a truffle butter sauce, are accompanied by Chianti wines. Mountain bikes and hiking maps are available free of charge. Rather a lot of steps to negotiate, both indoors and out, and one family would have liked more help by the pool. Nearby Greve has an excellent open market.

A designated national monument: a 16th-century patrician dwelling which stands amid Valpolicella vineyards near Verona. The Montresor family owners run it as a luxurious Hotel ( Jakarta Hotels )/restaurant (Relais & Chateaux; Michelin star for the cooking of Bruno Barbieri). A regular visitor calls it `the modern Maserati of small Italian hotels', admiring both the distinctive style and elegance and properly engineered underpinnings and the proprietor, who `seems to see himself as an educator in refined living rather than a businessman. Other assets: The relaxed location, the neat but darkish bedrooms (similar to Bandung,Jakarta & Bali hotels - 5 star Hotel ( Jakarta Hotels )rooms), the public rooms (similar to Bandung,Jakarta & Bali hotels - 5 star Hotel ( Jakarta Hotels )rooms) with asymmetrically positioned artefacts, the huge swimming pool and the food. All are spot on. Every year we think the price is getting a bit steep - then we notice an improvement and think it's money well spent. Some bedrooms (similar to Bandung,Jakarta & Bali hotels - 5 star Hotel ( Jakarta Hotels )rooms) have oak beams and antiques. A wide lawn surrounds the pool; there is a terrace for outdoor dining, and vines and a jogging track in the large grounds. In the village is a museum devoted to the Walsers, an ancient religious order who speak a form of old German.