Monsano | Pineta ECOHotel

Not your usual, garden variety of hotel, this one near Ancona, low-slung and wide-spread in an out-of-town location. A motel concept has parking space for each room right outside its door, but Pineta Hotel offers weary travellers lavishly ample spaces, state-of-the-art technology, a singular style of blue-chip interior design and even the feel-good factor of sustainability. Yep, with its A Class energy certificate, it really does tick all the eco-boxes. There are solar panels on the roof producing more electricity than the hotel uses. At Pinetathey plant trees and use energy-saving lighting, recycled paper, ozone air purifiers and the eco-friendliest cleaning and washing products. All rubbish is rigorously recycled, of course. And no fear if the battery’s running low in your EV: it’ll be recharged as you sleep.

The 81 rooms come in 5 types with family accomodation too, and are all superb value for the price. If the décor and artwork are a trifle high-key, still you’ll sleep soundly on some of the most comfortable mattresses you’ve tried, shower with enough space to dance as well as sing, blithely access high-speed wifi and subscription tv channels, and get an excellent breakfast too. Did I forget anything? Ah, yes, the mock grass out front and the bogus twittering of birds. Pity about those, but still… Pineta Hotel is 20 km inland from Ancona and not a bad base at all for exploring the Marche region –  Jesi, Ostra, Senigallia, the Conero Riviera, Loreto, Recanati, Osimo etc: hills and mountains, great beaches, history and fabulous wines.