Hotel Asilomar Conference Grounds (Pacific Grove, USA)

The extensive grounds here couldn't be more relaxing and the clean, sea air is like (free) champagne. There are lots of attractive features for hikers, bikers and golfers. All this! - and less than 90 minutes travelling time from San Francisco.

Rooms are impressive and meals are mouthwatering. The seafood available here is incredible. If you fancy the self-catering bit, why not reserve one of the larger cottages … with kitchen facilities.

Ideal for meetings, conferences and family or group holiday breaks; this offers a genuine opportunity to get away from it all. To this end, there is no TV in the room … or anywhere else. Just perfect!

It's a very isolated setting and discovered by meandering roads and lanes. Very much ‘off the beaten track'; once here, you won't really want to travel again to find food. You can self-cater in the cottages but, otherwise, you are at the mercy of the menus and imaginative prices offered by the restaurant and café.

It sounds idyllic and certainly, the setting is just that. Accommodation, though, doesn't match up. It's quite basic; ideal for conferences and group getaways. If though, you want somewhere for an impressive romantic break … look for somewhere else ... if you want the relationship to flourish.

Unless you specify a 'balcony', you'll end up with a not very satisfactory walkway. Other, less than romantic issues include: poor catering, particularly in the cafe. The place is frill-less with no hairdryer, room coffee maker, hairdryer, refrigerator, bathrobes … or any of the items now expected in any hotel.