Deciding where to say is one of the most important parts of planning a trip, whether it's a holiday or business. If you're tired of faceless resorts or corporate institutions, however alluring their comforts, then the hotels featured in this guide will come as a revelation, from the insane (The Ice Hotel, Lapland where even the beds are made of ice) to the mildly peculiar (The Rogner-Bad Blumau Hotel, Austria which looks like a primary school project) through to the stunningly beautiful (Perivlas Traditional Houses, Greece, built into the cliffs of Santorini). Each hotel is a one-off and guaranteed to be the highlight of any visit abroad. More than a guide book, "A Place to Stay" is full of anecdotes and is a photographic celebration of some of the world's most desirable homes from home.