26 JULY 1946, Page 4

I am glad that Mr. Ashley Courtenay, who confers benefits

on holiday-making humanity by recommending hotels to it, has got out a 1946 edition of his quite invaluable travellers' guide Let's Halt Awhile. (To save stamps and trouble, let me mention that it can be got for -6s. from Messrs. Simpkin Marshall, Rossmore Court, N.W.z.) Having spent many pleasant hours in the past in studying the attractions of hotels that I should like to go to and never shall, I am glad to find a good many new inclusions in this 1946 edition. It makes all the difference to be told not merely what a hotel charges and whether h. & c. is installed, but something about its character, about the host and hostess, about the country it is in and various other incidentals. All this is here, with even occasional subtle indications that though a particular town is the right thing for a lot of people it may not 'exactly suit you. Everything, of course, depends on whether advice of this kind is really disinterested. I have good reason to believe that in this case it is. Many houses that

would like to be in Mr. Courtenay's book are not there.