Doubles from £71, B&B (00 39 018 523 9003).

DUE MORI, Veneto, Italy

A scurrying little Medieval town, complete with walls and castle, Marostica is handy for Verona and Venice, and, better still, for Palladio’s Vicenza. The best reason to come here, though, is Due Mori, an 18th-century townhouse tucked away from the centre. It’s been refurbished with the best of light, bright Italian taste by Monica Facchini and her husband, Riadh. Though contemporary in design, the whole place is shot through with family warmth.

Doubles from £79, room only (00 39 042 447 1777, www.duemori.com).

The Sunday Times Travel Magazine - December

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They’re small, charming — and scandalously cheap. Welcome to our pick of this summer’s inexpensive dream hotels

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MYLAND NATURE HOTEL, Cirali, Turkey

Unpretentious is the key word here, but unpretentious is rarely this idyllic. Set on the most dramatic and archeologically rich Lycian coast, 90km from Antalya, Myland comprises 13 wooden cabins with air-con, verandas and hammocks, scattered in an organic orchard. Other plus points include free morning yoga sessions, superlative Turkish home-cooking, bike hire and one of the Med’s most gorgeous beaches (protected thanks to nesting turtles) only a minute away.

Doubles from £67, room only (00 90 242 825 7044, www.mylandnature.com).

PENSION ACRONAFPLIA, Nafplion, Greece

Located in four historic buildings in the heart of Nafplion, the Acronafplia’s accommodation ranges from plush and romantic to barebones-basic. All rooms are decorated in warm colours, and may (or may not) have marble floors, stone or brick walls, balconies, painted furniture and wrought-iron beds. There’s a friendly parrot, too.

Doubles from £30, room only (00 30 27520 24481, www.pensionacronafplia.gr).

WRH TRASTEVERE, Rome, Italy

In the centre of the historical capital, on leafy Viale Trastevere, the hotel of the same name is a breath of fresh air – bright modern white with splashes of racy red, angular modern furniture, and shiny tiles, in direct contrast to its crumbly surroundings. Flatscreen TVs and computers complete the package but probably won’t be enough to stop you from slipping back out in inhale a little more of old Roma.

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