Hotels where you can catch the last rays of the European season on a strict budget? That was the challenge we set ourselves – and this is the selection of fantastic options we’ve discovered, all offering good value for money in beautiful locations. By Xenia Taliotis
This article was taken from the October 2025 issue of Food and Travel. To subscribe today, click here.
Why stay? The delightful hillside village of Koutouloufari in Crete, with its tavernas, cafés and local shops, is within walking distance of this terrific Grecian-blue and white, 11-room, two-suite (no-children-under-12) guesthouse. All studios are tastefully decorated and have a living room and kitchenette. The vibe is relaxed and the location excellent, at around 25km from Heraklion Airport, 1km from a calm and uncrowded beach and less than 2km to the Lychnostatis Traditional Museum. Ippocampi has a palm-lined saltwater swimming pool, lavender and geranium gardens and a fabulous little café serving fresh orange juice, coffee and cocktails.
Local flavours Koutouloufari has several tavernas and a small bakery that does great pastries. Blue Moon, the restaurant at the Creta Blue Suites hotel, serves excellent Greek food.
Doubles from £132 (two nights minimum). ippocampi.gr
Photography by Renee Frinking.
Why stay? Owner Alfio Puglisi took a decade to restore his family’s 17th-century palazzo in the foothills of Mount Etna into this exceptional property with three bedrooms, one suite and two cottages. As much about history and art as it is about hospitality, Previtera provides guests with endless opportunities to enjoy the rich culture and gastronomy of Sicily, even within its own walls. It has a museum, housing artefacts from the family archives, and a contemporary art gallery. An added bonus is the botanical garden, dating from 1908, which is packed with flowers, mature fruit trees and evergreens. The restaurant, Previtera Kitchen, has tasting menus (choose from Earthborn, From the sea, Vegetarian or Vegan) featuring local ingredients such as citrus olive oil, foraged wild garlic, ancient grains, figs and borage. Specialities are ravioli with peas and asparagus, and roasted black pork chops with wild garlic. Spacious rooms come with a balcony and are finished with beautiful fabrics, while cottages have a kitchenette.
Local flavours Many wineries, such as Pietradolce, serve cheese, bread and olive oil alongside tastings of Mount Etna wines. In Randazzo, 25 minutes by road, head to Vitis Vineria for a relaxed lunch and Santo Musumeci for granita. If you’d rather walk from the hotel, try Shalai hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant.
Doubles from £121, including breakfast. palazzoprevitera.com/en
Photography by Justine Grajski.
Why stay? This charming b&b in the foot hills of Mont Ventoux would be a bargain at double the price, yet here it is, providing tranquillity, elegance and excellent cuisine. And there’s no downside – the five rooms are the epitome of elegance; the setting is picture-perfect Provence and the owners are delightful. To top it all, you can eat well too: the restaurant (open Wednesday to Sunday) does a three-course menu for £42.
Local flavours At La Colombe, 20 minutes away in Bédoin, Michelin-starred Christophe Schuffenecker impresses with two set menus that might include trout, eel and goats’ cheese. Closer to the hotel is Hangar No 1 restaurant at Spa Ventoux Provence, where the always-delicious three-course set menu is a steal at £23.
Doubles from £140, including breakfast. pontdelorme.com
Photography by Julia Liebisch.
Why stay? Alaçati, a cobblestoned beauty on Çeşme Peninsula, was once a fishing village but is now a fast-paced resort that attracts younger visitors who come for the windsurfing, the beach clubs and the restaurants. This hotel is close to Alaçati’s designer shopping, nightlife and sea – Ilica Beach and Alaçati Marina are both less than five minutes away by road. Guests wishing to spend a lazy day within the hotel can still shop since many top labels have premises there, but might instead choose to enjoy the pool, gardens and restaurant – which serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, high tea and cocktails – and the library. Rooms are lovely – stone walls, artisan furniture and well-thought-out lighting.
Local flavours Turkish wine may not yet have gained recognition outside its borders, but a young generation of vintners aims to change that and wine tours now operate locally. On the restaurant side, Agrilia – 20 minutes’ drive away – has a creative menu that includes smoked beef with fava beans and lamb shank with gnocchi.
Doubles from £135, including breakfast. hotelsgaia.com/en/gaia-alacati-en
Photography by Olcay Tokdemir.
Why stay? Kastellorizo island in the Dodecanese has a rich heritage dating back to antiquity that includes Ottoman, French and Italian influences. The property – three restored mansions, which now houses five rooms and a suite – is gorgeous. There’s a pool, and terraces where evening drinks and delicious Greek breakfasts of fruit, just-baked breads, feta and honey are served.
Local flavours Try Lazarakis, a family-run, waterfront restaurant serving superb meze, and Alexandra’s for the moussaka.
Doubles from £148, (three nights minimum) including breakfast. mediterraneokastellorizo.com
Why stay? Picturesque Artà in a valley in north-east Mallorca that’s within easy reach of the Llevant Natural Park and just a few km from the coast, is the perfect early autumn getaway for those who love cycling and walking. It’s adults-only, so lounging by the pool is rarely interrupted by anything louder than ice clinking against glass. All 12 rooms are spacious, with exposed beams, and the junior suites have terraces. There is also a sauna and hammam.
Local flavours Forn Nou is an institution not to be missed.Founded in 1929 as a bakery by the owner’s grandfather, it is now one of Artà’s best restaurants, serving Mallorcan specialities such as suckling pig. Badia Bistro, in an old manor house, is also special, with terraces that overlook the Bay of Alcúdia and Pollença.
Doubles from £137, including breakfast. yartanhotels.com/en/yartan-boutique-hotel
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