Читать книгу Great Book of Spoon Carving Patterns - Joseph Fullman - Страница 66

At the top end, where you might find a rambling country house with a walled garden or a mellow townhouse in a well-heeled provincial town, guest accommodation is close to hotel standard in its professionalism. The character of the smaller places, however, is determined by their owners, whose tastes, hobbies, interests, backgrounds, aspirations and housekeeping skills are all reflected in the décor, furnishings and atmosphere. If you want to know the real Southwest, stick to the diamond-graded properties as opposed to starred hotels. But be wary of five-diamond properties where the level of care is misplaced in gift-wrapped chocolates on pink satin pillow, and en suite hot tubs. In four-diamond places the comfort and care matches the informality of the service. Three-diamond houses might be a real treat – a beautiful old house with threadbare rugs – or merely well maintained with the right choice of breakfast cereals. Two- and one-diamond properties are clean and comfortable, and often take the form of delightful family homes, farmhouses or country pubs. You are unlikely to find en suite bedrooms, but at least your room will have four-square proportions.

Working farmhouses are always memorable and welcoming, and remember what it is to be truly hospitable, perhaps knocking up baked beans and toast with the children if you are too frazzled to go into town for dinner.