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Top Ten 4-star Hotels for a Little Indulgence

You are always assured of high standards of comfort at a 4-star hotel, but some are a little more indulgent that others, whether you are looking for a gastronomic treat, a spot of pampering at a spa, or simply first-rate hospitality and service. Compiling this Top Ten was no easy task - we feature many 4-star hotels, from the Relais Mirabella on the shores of Lake Iseo to hotels such as the Can Xiquet in Catalonia, all of which will spoil you with the finer things in life.

Romantik Hotel Bella Tola, Valais. As soon as you step through the door of this 4-star hotel, you know that you are in for a real treat. The hotel's romantic fin-de-siècle charm has been carefully preserved and enhanced by hosts Claude and Anne-Françoise, who welcome you effusively and go out of their way to make your holiday a memorable one. Even the spa complex, a relatively recent addition to the hotel, has been designed sympathetically, and the rooms all look towards the distant Matterhorn.

Hotel Urthaler, Südtirol Dolomites. This is a hotel which consistently earns 5 out of 5 for every category (food, facilities, welcome/service, bedroom) in post-holiday questionnaires. This comes as no surprise really, as the hotel, opened in 2003, is outstanding. The cuisine, a blend of Tyrolean and Italian influences, is superb, the bedrooms and public rooms are all stylishly and elegantly appointed, and the large spa is the perfect place to unwind.

Hotel Valldemossa (featured on our Mountains & Villages of Mallorca walk), Mallorca. Located in the village which Chopin described as "the most beautiful place in the world", the Valldemossa is one of those hotels that you never want to leave. With rich tapestries hanging from the walls of some of the lounges, exquisite antiques, an indoor and outdoor pool, sweeping views over the surrounding hills and a menu de degustación to die for, this is a special place.

Le Vieux Castillon (featured on our To the Pont du Gard walk), Roman Provence. With its well-deserved Michelin star, Le Vieux Castillon should feature on any gastronomic tour of southern France. The cuisine is delicate and refined, and presented so beautifully that it almost seems a shame to eat it! You should, however, to discover delicious Mediterranean flavours and dishes inspired by traditional Provençal recipes. The Rhône Valley wines are the perfect accompaniment.

Hotel Excelsior Vittoria (featured as an upgrade on our Sorrento Peninsula walk), Sorrento Peninsula. The Vittoria is actually a 5-star hotel, but we couldn't very well omit it from a list of hotels that we recommend for a spot of indulgence. 'Opulent' is undoubtedly the best word to sum up the atmosphere of the hotel – it was popular among Victorian travellers and exudes Grand Tour elegance. In a hotel in which everything is of the highest standard, there is no one aspect that stands out more than any other, but perhaps the icing on the cake is the tranquil five-acre garden, a mixture of lawns, terraces overlooking the Bay of Naples, flower beds and citrus groves.

Hotel Castle, Goms Valley. This secluded hotel is an ideal choice if you like to be treated to top-quality cuisine – owner Peter Gschwendtner is an outstanding chef whose exquisite mountain dishes have earned him an enviable reputation. If that weren't enough, you are also treated to service that is second to none – the hotel has won awards for the exceptional standards of hospitality, and your hosts go out of their way to ensure that your holiday is a memorable one.

Hotel Wiesenhof, Tyrol. Though it is hard to beat the spa of the Hotel Urthaler above, that of the Hotel Wiesenhof really does excel, offering a mind-boggling range of facilities and treatments – the perfect way to unwind after a morning of skiing or winter walking. What guests really like about the hotel is that, despite the addition of fantastic facilities that make it hard to believe it originated from a farmhouse with a few guest rooms, the Entner family has been careful to keep the emphasis firmly on warm hospitality, personalised service and good food.

Torre del Visco (featured on our Mountains of Southern Catalonia walk), Aragon. At our most sumptuous hotel in mainland Spain you can really remove yourself – quite literally – from everyday life because it is set by itself in a tranquil valley, some miles from the nearest road. In fact, the location is so secluded that a pair of Bonelli's eagles nests in the grounds. What guests appreciate most is the atmosphere – while being undoubtedly elegant, there is no stuffiness, meaning you can really unwind and make the most of your stay. You can easily while away the hours in the well-stocked library, on the tranquil terraces or by the picture windows of the inviting lounge, and later indulge in refined cuisine in the light and airy restaurant.

I Due Roccoli (featured on our Lake Iseo walk), Italian Lakes. The Due Roccoli is another great choice if you are particularly looking for culinary indulgence. The restaurant is renowned throughout the region, and prides itself on its well-crafted dishes incorporating the finest of local ingredients, including delicious fish from the lake. On top of this, you can expect friendly, attentive service, a sense of restfulness enhanced by the tranquillity, and comfortable bedrooms that have been stylishly converted from a villa and its outbuildings.

Il Cenobio dei Dogi (featured on our Along the Ligurian Coast walk), Liguria. We have featured this hotel before in our Top Ten Pools, but there is more to this hotel than its beachside pool and private stretch of sand. Dinners in the panoramic restaurant are a real treat, especially if you love fish and seafood, and the views along the coast are inspirational – it is well worth upgrading to a superior sea view room so as to be greeted with the sight of the rugged coastline and blue-green waters of the Mediterranean when you open your curtains each morning.

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