Some holidays are remembered for the views, others for the places you stayed — and some are remembered most of all for the food.
From a farmhouse breakfast made with fresh local produce to seafood caught that morning, the right place to stay can put you closer to the flavours that make a destination special. Here are some of the best places to stay when good food is part of the holiday, with ideas for what to eat, where to stay and what makes each destination worth savouring.
A stay at a traditional Japanese ryokan can make food part of the experience itself. Many ryokans serve beautifully presented seasonal meals, often featuring local ingredients and several small courses, with breakfast served in your room or dining area. Look for a ryokan in a smaller town or countryside setting, where you can enjoy regional specialities as well as the calm atmosphere of the stay.
Bring the experience home: Try a simple Japanese breakfast with rice, miso soup, grilled fish and pickles.
A stay in a Moroccan riad can make mealtimes feel like part of the adventure. These traditional houses are built around a peaceful central courtyard, and many serve breakfast there, often with warm bread, olives, fresh fruit, yoghurt and sweet mint tea. Some also offer dinner, giving you a chance to enjoy Moroccan dishes without leaving the calm of your accommodation.
Bring the experience home: Make Moroccan mint tea and serve it with warm bread, olives and a simple tagine for a taste of your trip at home.
A farm stay in Scotland lets you wake up surrounded by fields, animals and the quiet of the countryside — and often puts you right where some of your breakfast comes from.
Look for working farms and crofts offering comfortable accommodation, particularly places where you can enjoy farm-fresh eggs, homemade bread, local cheese, honey, preserves or a hearty cooked breakfast. It is a lovely way to experience the Scottish countryside at a slower pace, with good food waiting at the end of the day.
Bring the experience home: Make a proper country breakfast with eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, good bread and local cheese — then take your time eating it.
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A log cabin weekend is made for slow mornings and simple food. Tucked into a forest, beside a lake or high in the mountains, a cabin gives you the freedom to make your own meals and enjoy them in your own little corner of the countryside. Pack a few favourite ingredients, shop for local produce when you arrive, and make breakfast something to look forward to.
Bring the experience home: Stock up on good bread, cheese, eggs and something delicious for the fire, then recreate that relaxed cabin breakfast at home.
A campsite can turn even the simplest meal into part of the holiday. There is something special about making coffee outdoors, cooking breakfast over a fire and sitting down to dinner while the sun goes down. Choose a campsite near a farm shop, food market, fishing village or small town and you can combine outdoor cooking with some of the best local produce in the area.
Bring the experience home: Light the braai, put a table outside and make a simple meal from fresh ingredients. Sometimes the setting is what makes dinner memorable.
A farm stay in the Cape Winelands is a lovely way to put good food right at the heart of your weekend.
You can wake up among vineyards, enjoy fresh farm produce for breakfast, visit a nearby wine farm or farm stall, and settle down to a long lunch with the mountains in the distance.
Look for working farms and wine estates where accommodation sits alongside gardens, vineyards, olive groves or orchards, and where local produce is part of the experience. The Winelands has a wide choice of farm stays, particularly around Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Tulbagh, Robertson and Wellington.
Bring the experience home: Buy some local cheese, fresh bread, olives and wine before you leave, and recreate that relaxed Winelands lunch at home.
A capsule hotel is not the first place that comes to mind when you think about a food-filled holiday, but that is part of the fun. In Japan, capsule hotels are often found in lively neighbourhoods where excellent food is just outside the door.
You can start the day with a quick breakfast, spend the day exploring, then wander out in the evening for ramen, sushi, yakitori or tiny plates at a neighbourhood izakaya.
The hotel becomes your convenient base for discovering what the local streets have to offer.
Bring the experience home: Make a simple bowl of ramen or pick up some onigiri for lunch. It is an easy way to bring a little taste of Japan into an ordinary day.
A self-catering stay can turn food into one of the nicest parts of a holiday. Instead of eating every meal in a restaurant, you can visit the local market, choose what looks good, take it back to your apartment or holiday home and cook at your own pace.
A kitchen also gives you the freedom to enjoy a lazy breakfast on the balcony, prepare a picnic for the day or make dinner with ingredients you would never normally find at home.
Bring the experience home: Pick up one or two local ingredients before you leave and recreate your favorite holiday meal at home.
Sometimes the place you stay becomes part of the reason you loved the holiday. It might be a breakfast of warm bread and local cheese, fresh fish by the sea, eggs from a nearby farm or coffee beside a campfire.
Good food gives you another way to experience a destination — and sometimes it is the simplest things you remember long after you have unpacked your suitcase. So next time you choose somewhere to stay, take a look at what is waiting on the breakfast table too.
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Thailand is a wonderful choice when food is part of the holiday. A simple guesthouse, boutique hotel or self-catering villa can put you within easy reach of local markets and little restaurants where you can eat incredibly well without spending much. Choose somewhere close to a morning market and you can start the day with fresh tropical fruit, hot coffee and something cooked right in front of you.
Bring the experience home: Pick up Thai curry paste, coconut milk, fresh herbs and a few spices, then recreate your favourite Thai meal when you get home.
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We all dream of staying in beautiful places. Part of the fun when going on vacation is finding the best place you can afford. Sometimes, you’ll stumble upon those hidden gems—beautiful, affordable spots that are fabulous to stay in. Whether it’s renting a villa, staying on a farm, or enjoying a beachfront view, these unique places are within your reach using the links on this page.
Imagine staying in an apartment in Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower, a villa in the South of France, a glamping spot in stunning South Africa, a family holiday rental near the beach, or a ryokan experience that will create everlasting memories.
So start planning. Search for that fabulous glamping spot or that beautiful apartment with a stunning view. Book online, and you’re set for a fabulous holiday.
