Author(s): Fid Backhouse

Travel

501 Great Places to Stay features a wonderful selection of appealing places to stay. How about an underwater bedroom where the fish are looking in at you, or a treehouse you share with forest birds? An old bullring in Mexico or traditional riad in Morocco? A magical safari camp in the Galapagos or vintage railway carriage in the English countryside? A five-star hotel in one of the world's great capitals or mud hut in northern India? An island paradise in the sunny Pacific or ice hotel inside the Arctic Circle? An eco-resort on Easter Island or ger in the Gobi Desert? A haunted hotel in New Mexico or castle in Ireland? A New England colonial inn or 15th-century manor house in the English countryside. A Victorian steamship in Peru or cave in Spain? A Napoleonic fortress in France or windmill in Greece? A paper house in Japan or working cattle station in the Australian outback? A tipi in the Canadian wilderness or jungle lodge in South America? A (grounded) jumbo jet or old gaol complete with cells? From luxury to budget, traditional to quirky; some have the wow factor, others novelty value. All are bound to stimulate the imagination and inspire your future travels.