Coonoor, South India, India

The Gateway is like a provincial British hotel from in the 1950s housed in rather splendid planter’s bungalow from the 1900s, only with a more exotic view, and a few more mods and cons around the place.

The rooms, which have recently been refurbished, retain their original wooden floorboards and open fireplaces which staff light in cold weather (they’ll also bring around complimentary hot water bottles!). Hunting trophies hang in the lounge, and a bonfire blazes in the garden after dinner.

Our opinion

A character property with mid-range facilities and small garden.