Italy, the birthplace of the Slow movement and the home of Slow Food, is a natural as the second destination in our new Slow series. Alastair Sawday has handpicked forty-six exceptional places to stay–places where attention is lavished on some of the most important things in life: convivial meals, community, a respect for the environment, and a celebration of regional distinctiveness. From the mountainous north, through cypressdotted Tuscany, and on down to the gutsy, colorful south, you’ll discover innkeepers and cooks that have an unmatched passion for Slow Travel and Slow Food, and whose hospitality embody their commitment to the finest accommodations and food. Go Slow Italy celebrates fascinating people, fine architecture, history, landscape, and real food.
The best of Portugal is here: the luxury of a palace in Lisbon, a rustic farmhouse of the Alentejo, or a west coast fortress engulfed by crashing waves. Each entry has two color photographs, useful details and a "tell-it-like-it-is" Sawday write up.
Nearly 250 of the most entertaining and special beds & breakfasts, hotels, and vacation homes across the island of Ireland are described in honest write-ups with color photographs.
A charming and beautifully written account of the pleasures of slow travel - for readers of Patrick Leigh Fermor, Colin Thubron and Eric Newby. 'Lawrence Sterne once suggested that we travel for one of just three reasons: imbecility of mind, infirmity of body or inevitable necessity. One might add to Sterne's little list: envy, curiosity - or just too much bloody rain at home. Escape, in other words.' Campaigner, publisher and wanderer Alastair Sawday has spent his life travelling. En route he has unearthed a multitude of stories - stories of people ploughing their own furrows, of travellers' tales, stories from the 'front line' of his publishing , ruminations and reflections about places, people and ideas. In this deeply charming, erudite and spirited book, he shares his experiences and explores the value of travel. 'The richer our imaginations, the richer our travel experience. We British do things one way and the Spaniards another; there are unlimited ways of doing everything. Kindness is found in unexpected places, as is eccentricity. Eccentrics are an endangered species and need as much protection as does the house sparrow.' Travelling Light is a gradual awakening to the fragility of everything we love through contemplative, consciously slow journeying. Every visit uncovers difference - from France profonde to the darker side of Sicily, and to the woodland, flora, fauna, views and silence of rural Britain. Alastair Sawday gives voice to those of us who have climbed no mountains, discovered no rivers, created no great institutions, powered no legislation, changed very little - but who yearn to understand the world and make sense of its infinite variety.
A journey through the treasures of Spain and Portugal, with this new edition there are even more fascinating and unusual places to stay. In Portugal there are remarkable private homes, many of them old palaces and manor houses, and the most interesting of the country's hotels. In Spain the range is vast, from mountain B&Bs to family-run hotels, from stunning farmhouses to old monasteries. Wherever you are in Spain or Portugal you close to an oasis of good taste, a welcome, and a fine building.
Amazed by London prices? Tired of bland, featureless hotels? Alastair Sawday has the answer. This long awaited guide to the capital, manages to unearth a bewildering array of hidden treats ranging from delightful family homes, to the splendour of The Dorchester, taking in everything grand and groovy in between. Sleep in a four-poster bed that came from Hampton Court, or bed down for the night in a barge off the river. All properties have been thoroughly inspected and given a sharp, lively write-up, and are illustrated with the help of over 300 full -colour photographs throughout.
Now in its second edition, this trusted guide is essential reading for the independent traveller to India interested in culture, style and people. It has 210 special places to stay, including colonial hill stations, safari camps and sprawling palaces. From £10 to £210 a night, this is a remarkable collection of places that will transform travel in India.We look for owners, homes and hotels that we like – and we are fiercely subjective in our choices. ‘Special’ for us is not about the number of creature comforts, but relates to many elements that make a place ‘work’. Certainly, the way guests are treated comes as high on our list as the setting, the architecture and the food.
Over 300 entries, accompanied by more than 600 full-colour photographs help make Alastair Sawday's Special Places to Stay: Spain, one of the best guides to accommodation in Spain available today. Now in its fifth edition, the guide includes details of a wide range of properties including castles, monasteries, manor houses and coastal villas. More than 100 of the properties listed are available for less than GBP17 per person, making this guide ideally suited to both the well-heeled traveller as well as those on a tight budget. Symbols denote the availability of hiking, walking, and horse riding facilities, along with information on the provision of vegetarian catering, wheelchair access and air conditioning.
Now in Its eighth edition, and covering the whole of France, Alastair Sawday's Special Places to Stay: French Bed and Breakfast is one of the bestselling travel accommodation guides to France on the market. Listing almost 800 places to stay (including over 400 that charge less than GBP15 per person), the guide covers a wide range of places including mills, farms, towers and chateaux. A quick reference index also provides details of courses, workshops, mushroom collecting and disabled access. The result, is a personal selection of special places, chosen by someone who has lived in France for over 30 years.
Sawday''s British Bed and Breakfast is easy to use with colour photographs, maps and helpful information on each B&B listed. Extra information is included such as whether the B&B is child-friendly, serves organic food or if your pets are welcome
Now in its fourth edition, Alastair Sawday's Special Places to Stay: Paris Hotels contains details of more than 100 of the least pretentious, good value hotels serving the French capital. This guide helps readers avoid paying inflated prices, or having to put up with the bland corporate hospitality culture that has come to be associated with many of the leading international hotel chains. The editor carefully steers readers away from surly staff and the other grim effects of mass tourism. The result is a personal selection of hotels chosen by someone who has lived in France for over 30 years. Also included are helpful hints on travelling and visiting Paris, together with a section on making the most of Paris.
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