Alastair Sawday"s Special Places to Stay This is a seductive collection of over 330 hotels, chateaux, auberges and other places, which are beautiful, unusual and of great value - all selected and inspected in the best Sawday tradition: they are here because we like them. At inns, or restaurants with rooms, food takes priority and le terroir - seasonal, fresh and local food - is de rigueur. These Special Places are just that - special, for they have been selected for their fascination and character, and also for the people who run them.