Casa Migdia

Cuba meets Marrakech meets Paris in this hippy deluxe hideaway, set in a quiet medieval village near Girona

The riot of colour in this 5-roomed guesthouse in rural Catalonia is enough to leave you speechless. Bright yellow throws cover beds; doors are painted in turquoise, pillar-box red and apple green; pillows are cherry red, mustard yellow and deep purple. It’s shorthand for the exuberant, carefree air that French owners Sébastien and Mary have cultivated here, and reveals their love of travel, referencing Cuba, India, Paris and Marrakech in particular.

Set in the quiet village of Sant Jordi Desvalls, the building is a former presbytery and has been modernised with style and verve. Outside there's a delightful garden with a hot tub, caged canaries and tumbling flowers; indoors, a relaxed bistro-restaurant for guests only, and a soothing upstairs lounge stacked with French coffee-table books about interior design and food, plus daybeds and a turntable with vintage Beatles records. Come and spend a week cycling around medieval villages, stopping for picnics in flower-filled fields, having 2-hour siestas in the afternoon, reading books, playing cards and relaxing. It’s perfect for families (the owners have 4 young children), and great value for money.

Highs

• From the red Austin out front to the furnishings and hippy-chic items inside, it’s all about fun
• The bedrooms are huge, and excellent value for money
• Communal feasts in the evening - Sébastien used to run a Thai-French restaurant in Paris
• There's a lovely atmosphere; relaxing and upbeat at the same time, and you feel instantly at home
• Only 30 minutes' drive from Girona, with its lovely buildings and riverside setting, and close to the stunning beaches of the Costa Brava

Lows

• Mosquitoes can be a problem in the summer
• No mod cons in your room apart from a small plasma TV and DVD player; no minibar, no phone
• Dinner is served at 9pm and is a no-choice menu
• The village’s church bell rings like crazy right through your window (but not all night)
• Breakfast isn't included in the rates