Mas de Canicatti

Contemporary spa hotel in traditional finca set amid orange groves and mountains not far from Valencia

Orange is the top banana at Mas Canicatti: the hotel is set in a 130 acre working orchard (complete with roaming peacocks) with 14 varieties of orange trees - during our spring stay they were dripping with heavenly-scented blossoms. All the rooms are named after the various types (Naval, Clementine et al) and orange beauty treatments are offered in the extensive spa.

The spa's indoor pool has a glass wall facing the landscaped gardens while a large salon runs alongside the outdoor swimming pool overlooking the mountains. Rooms are divided between the renovated but original masiaor farmhouse and a separate modern wing; another building houses the restaurant and banquet rooms - all luxurious. You can easily imagine an elaborate wedding taking place here, but it's just as easy to picture a romantic weekend for two, sweetened with orange blossom perfume.

Highs

• The peaceful setting amid lush gardens and acres of orange groves
• The pool with far reaching views of the groves and mountains
• The 6 Royal Suites luxuriate in their own 5m pools (see main photo)
• The Orange Spa's unique (and bracing) body scrubs using the various citrus fruits grown on the estate

Lows

• No train station nearby, reachable only by car/cab and the half-hour drive from Valencia is through unappealing industrial suburbs
• Local villages don't offer much in the way of dining or nightlife