Room Service: Park Hotel, Siena

The Park Hotel, just outside Siena's city walls, is a grown-up hotel with grown-up prices. The 70-room horseshoe-shaped villa, on a hill facing the city, was built in the 16th century, and was originally the country seat of a count.

The Park offers a compromise between staying in the centre of Siena and the Tuscan countryside, and is one of the few hotels in the city to have a swimming pool (which is not far off a necessity in the heat of summer). It also has a tennis court and golf club. An offshoot of Siena's suburbs has unfortunately encroached on an otherwise clear vista of the Tuscan hills, but the hotel has an immaculate formal garden, as well as a canopied terrace, and grassy steps alongside the pool leading down to the golf course.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

The Park Hotel is at via Marciano 18, Siena (00 39 0577 44803, www.parkhotelsiena.it). It is a five-minute drive from the city walls. Shuttles run into Siena four times a day but otherwise it's a taxi ride or a 2km walk. It is a few minute's drive from Siena's railway station where trains and buses leave for Florence, Pisa and Rome. Florence airport is less than an hour's drive away.

ARE YOU LYING COMFORTABLY?

Bedrooms are decorated in deep blues and yellows, and muted greens and reds, with matching curtains and bedspreads. Many of the rooms have four-posters. We had fresh flowers and fruit awaiting us.

Freebies: own-range toiletries, plus body buffer and slippers.

Keeping in touch: rooms have direct-dial telephones and TVs. Internet in the lobby.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Doubles start at €298.10 (£190) including breakfast.

I'm not paying that: Albergo Cannon D'Oro inside the city walls (via Montani 28, 00 39 0577 44321, www.cannondorotel.it) offers doubles for €86 (£55).