With over one million books sold worldwide, Sawday's guides have been championing excellence, character and sustainability for over 10 years. In 1994, after ten years of running his own travel company, Alastair Sawday turned to publishing guidebooks.

This move was a direct result of his personal frustration with the robotic nature of the write-ups in travel guides then on the market--their preoccupation with trouser presses, coat hangers, and "all mod cons."

In rejecting what he saw as the clip-board mentality, Sawday's approach was selective: to include only those accommodations that were "special places to stay" and then to present information about them in a way that was accessible, honest, and fun to read.

Once you know Alastair Sawday's guides, you will appreciate that the write-ups are vivid and honest--they can be trusted. Whether a place is grand or simple, perfect or flawed, it is included only if there is something special about it.

These books offer a seductive selection of places to stay. Color photographs and maps, clear directions, and easy-to-use symbols, make the choosing easy and fun.