Aurel's laurels

Relais Villa Vittoria in Laglio, Lake Como

This property is a rarity on Lake Como: a good-value boutique hotel. Smaller and a tad more aristocratic than the neighboring Relais Regina Teodolinda, its sister hotel, the apricot-hued villa surveys one of the lake’s most sought-after stretches (George Clooney has a home nearby) from across a pretty garden. It features a handsome Moroccan-style spa, and the rock-hewn basement restaurant provides a striking setting for dinner (though the Mediterranean cuisine has received mixed reviews). The bedrooms have walls painted in earthy hues, whitewashed beams, and comely decor. Be sure to book one with a lake view. Rooms from $230;