Grand Hotel Savoia ★★★★★

A beautiful nautical themed room with pretty, parquet floors, pastel colours, a plush Queen-size bed and lovely, bright bathroom with bath tub. This is what I see as I step into my quarters during one of my latest of adventures that has taken me to the rich and fascinating city that is the largest on the Mediterranean Sea.

I am right in the heart of the action, a stone's throw away from the Port and the impressive Aquarium, the second largest in Europe. But the major triumph is my place of residence itself. Every one of the five stars glitters enticingly in every nook and cranny of the vast, regal pink palace built in 1897 by Federico Fioroni, founder and first president of the Italian Association of Hoteliers.

Perhaps it is the warmth of the staff, perhaps the fresh, contemporary touch that lends it that atmosphere of relaxed well-being. Certainly, the modern addition of a flat-screen television with satellite channels, free Wi-Fi, minibar and tea and coffee facilities make my bedroom that more inviting and difficult to leave! Yet there are other treasures that can, and do, entice me away, such as the mouth-watering hotel restaurant Salgari for a romantic meal outdoors, or the Trattoria Tralalero that offers traditional local dishes and fish straight from the port.

I head directly for a long, languid session in the hotel's incredible Spa, beginning on its 'secret beach' where I pamper myself in the sauna, steam room, hydro-massage pool and ice cascades, before moving up to the stunning solarium. Here, two ample hot tubs overlook the entire city and the sea as I lie in bliss on a deckchair gazing out at the dazzling panorama under a blue sky and sip on a divine cocktail. My adventure has led me to a veritable paradise and I cannot wait to share my discoveries with my love, who is joining me tomorrow. Columbus can keep America; I am over the moon with the Hotel Grand Savoia!