Hotel Le Saint James, Bordeaux

The view of the Garonne river from my bedroom window was spectacular, no question. But even that charming montage was surpassed by the full-size Harley-Davidson motorcycle standing next to my bed.

As well as that, and despite spotting a personal Jacuzzi in another room, there was much to admire in my airy guestroom: arty lounge furniture, a super-comfy bed with high-thread-count linen, your own pod-fed coffee machine, windows that went from floor to ceiling, many with sliding doors onto a terrace or deck, electric blinds, soft robes and slippers, a super shower and high-end toiletries.

Famed French architect Jean Nouvel's design brings a sense of speciality to Hotel Le Saint James, perched atop the tiny hamlet of Bouilac, known locally as the "balcony of Bordeaux" for its stunning views. It is an homage to the 18th-century tobacco barns that were once everywhere in these parts; the hotel's 18 guestrooms are contained in four interconnecting rusticstyle pavilions, with a 1 Michelin-star restaurant at the centre.

The entrance is framed by a small garden area offering up random pieces of art, and there is that wow factor as you spot the huge expanse of countryside playing out behind the terrace at the end of the corridor.