1. Clan Cottages, Scotland
These five self-catering cottages outside Oban might be modern inside, but they've been constructed to look like a small Celtic settlement. Part of a five-acre smallholding, each cottage has a thatched roof and a garden. They sleep between two and six people, If you wish to explore more ancient local architecture, the adjacent loch has a crannog (Iron Age defensive loch-dwellings built out in the water, found throughout Scotland and Ireland), and the area also has several Neolithic chambered cairns.
Clan Cottages, Dalnabreac, Kilmore, by Oban, Argyll, Scotland (01631 770 372; www.clancottages.com). Rental of a one-bedroom cottage starts at £120 per night or £625 per week.
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2. Dwarika’s, Nepal
This is one of the most intriguing hotels in the Nepalese capital. In the Fifties its founder, Dwarika Das Shrestha, started collecting carved wooden pillars, windows and doors from ancient Newari buildings that were being torn down throughout the Kathmandu Valley in the name of modernisation. Eventually running out of space in his garden, Dwarika decided to use his collection to form a new structure, financing it by running the building as a hotel. The result is surprisingly successful, with all the trappings of an upmarket contemporary retreat (including a swimming pool, bar, restaurants and shops), but with a fantastic atmosphere.
Dwarika’s, Battisputali Road, Kathmandu, Nepal (00 977 1 447 2328; www.dwarikas.com). Double rooms start at US$186 (£98), room-only.
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3. Serinn House, Turkey
A boutique hotel on the outskirts of Urgup, in Cappadocia, Serinn House features dramatic cave architecture and great views out across both the town and the surrounding mountains. This is no Flintstones experience, however. Each of the hotel’s five stylish guest rooms has designer furniture, fine linens, custom-made toiletries and Wi-Fi, while in the shared living area you can access a DVD/CD library. Breakfasts are taken on a sunny outdoor terrace and make the best of local ingredients, with freshly brewed Turkish coffee, homemade bread and cakes.
Serinn House, Urgup, Cappadocia, Turkey (00 90 384 341 60 76; www.serinnhouse.com). Double rooms start at £75, including breakfast.
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4. Trulli Cervarolo, Italy
This three-bedroom bolthole may have been decorated in deceptively pared-down style, but it is one of the most lavish villas in Puglia. Surrounded by olive groves and palm trees, it incorporates one of the region’s conical-shaped houses, or trulli, making use of its thick walls to keep out the heat of the Italian summer. Inside, there are plenty of modern amenities, such as a state-of-the-art kitchen and designer bathrooms. Outside, there’s also a pool and suspended daybeds for lounging in the shade.
Trulli Cervarolo, near Ostuni, Puglia, Italy (rental through Global Artichoke: 01886 853 920; www.globalartichoke.co.uk). Rental starts at £2,950 per week; sleeps seven.
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5. Hotel Djenne Djenno, Mali
Opened just over a year ago, in one of the country’s prime tourist destinations, this Swedish-owned hotel takes its inspiration from Djenne’s mud-walled mosque. Putting a contemporary spin on Malian style, it was largely constructed from mud – the hotel recently hosted a global conference on mud architecture – and its 11 en-suite rooms are decorated with colourful West African bogolan textiles. Other Malian influences include a restaurant serving local foods such as rice cakes with honey and peanut butter, and there’s a rooftop bar that serves millet beer alongside fusion cocktails such as lemon, ginger and dark rum.
Hotel Djenne Djenno, Djenne, Mali (00 223 660 0117; www.hoteldjennedjenno.com). Doubles from 25,000 CFA francs (£29), room-only.
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8 March 2008, Chosen by Rhiannon Batten
