Germany

Germany's hotel landscape is quieter and more varied than its reputation suggests. The grand houses on the Baltic coast at Heiligendamm and Binz, the spa architecture of Baden-Baden, the timber farmhouses of the Allgäu and the converted castles along the Rhine and in Saxony all sit within a few hours of each other by train. The cities add a strong layer of design hotels, particularly Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, while the Black Forest and the Bavarian Alps keep the old tradition of family-run houses with their own spa, cellar and forest paths.

Dogs are welcome more often than not, transfers from the nearest station are usually arranged on request, and quiet is easy to find outside the trade fair calendar. Late spring and early autumn are the sweet spots for lakes and vineyards, December belongs to the cities. Regulars book the small houses first and treat the well known names as a fallback.