The best accommodations Wales

The big international hotel chains are present in the major Welsh cities, Cardiff and Swansea in particular. Otherwise, there are smaller, independent hotels of varying quality, often relatively expensive and rated from 1 to 5 stars. Please note that each en suite room has its own bathroom.

Charming hotels have proliferated in recent decades. The most impressive are undoubtedly those occupying castles or listed buildings of notable architectural or historical interest, often decorated with antiques or high-end traditional furnishings.

Hostels offer a more economical alternative to hotels and B&Bs. The range is vast: from central locations in the heart of Cardiff to the most remote in the mountains of Snowdonia, from simple and inexpensive hostels to trendy and fashionable...

Independent hostels abound in most towns and cities in Wales. Their services match or exceed the quality of YHAs.

YHA (Youth Hostels Association)youth hostels offer accommodation with no age limit, in rooms that are often shared and single-sex. Some have rooms for families. Others also offer very inexpensive meals and a variety of leisure activities. They are accessible with a membership card valid for one year. To obtain your card, visit www.yha.org.uk.

University residences. Student residences are only open to tourists during school vacations (Christmas, New Year, Easter and June to September). Rates per night range from £12 to £20, including breakfast. They also offer weekly rental accommodation, as well as a variety of leisure activities.

Most campsites are open for six months of the year (usually Easter to October). Tourist resorts often offer camping facilities, sometimes even in fields that have been converted by farmers. Tourist offices can tell you how to find these sites; everything seems perfectly organized. The quality of services offered by campsites falls into five categories. Larger areas often have a section for campers, as well as facilities such as swimming pools, games rooms, tennis courts and television. Be discreet if you're wilderness camping, and if you're asked to leave, don't ask, just do it. In rural areas, camping is often possible on arable land with the permission of farmers.

For alist of camping areas, visit www.pitchup.com or coolcamping.co.uk.