Best of British with an accent

Make a reservation at the very English 404-year-old Brickwall Hotel in East Sussex, Britain, and the voice at the other end of the telephone will be Italian.

The Brickwall Hotel, offering 26 luxury rooms and fine four-course dining, is in Sedlescombe, an hour's drive from Gatwick Airport. Originally built in 1597 for the local ironmaster, the hotel is a Tudor-style mansion, steeped in history. The Pollio family, from Sorrento in Southern Italy, has owned and run the hotel for 20 years.

A three-night package for the price of two costs £110 ($NZ382) a person.

Contact: The Brickwall Hotel (0044 1424) 870 253 (13 hours behind New Zealand), or e-mail their reception desk.

SmoothHound.