West Sumatra
Down a maze of footpaths about 300m northwest of the main intersection, these beachfront bungalows are a good deal in central Maninjau. The small beach…
Must-see hotels in Asia
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The stunning location, only a short stroll from Jodogahama beach, is the biggest draw for this elegant oceanfront hotel. Most rooms are Japanese-style,…
Phuket
Bag one of the split-level, private-rooftop-terrace suites at this small beachfront hotel for sunset views over the golden sand and aqua-hued sea. The…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Very sleek for an InterContinental: all earth tones and East Asian chic, and deluxe sea-front rooms are sizeable with a massive picture window. Halfmoon…
Ko Samui
Occupying an entire bay, this sprawling uber luxury delight encompasses dozens of pool villas hoisted above the foliage by spider-like stilts. Golf carts…
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer’s erstwhile royal family still lives in this sprawling 18th-century palace just inside the town walls. Named for its many mandirs (temples), it…
Hokkaidō
Among the fields of Biei's pretty Patchwork Road, charming Potato-no-Oka, though small, has a big variety of accommodation, including dorm rooms, private…
Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
This former brewery and sprawling complex of cottages is dotted with flower gardens. With clean, character-filled and freshly painted rooms, helpful staff…
Hua Hin & the Upper Gulf
The owners have creatively and beautifully adapted this old building into a stylish hotel that's refreshingly out of the ordinary for Cha-am. There's a…
Hat Khao Lak
The large turquoise pool at this unpretentious, reasonably priced beach resort dominates lush grounds that ramble to the sand. Freestanding big bungalows…
Ko Lanta
This is a cute multi-option find on the north end of the beach. Stilted bamboo-and-wood fan bungalows are simply styled (the cheapest share hot-water…
Kochi (Cochin)
A chicly remodelled mango-yellow 1800s home with its origins dating back to the Portuguese-rule era, Forte Kochi is a welcome 2018 luxe arrival. Tiled…
Bukit Lawang
One of Bukit Lawang's most popular backpackers for many a year, Rainforest has a cluster of rooms set close to the gurgling river. The cheaper rooms have…
Dharamsala
Set in the gorgeous Norbulingka gardens, Norling House offers 13 fairy-tale rooms richly decked out with Tibetan artwork and Buddhist handicrafts from the…
Ho Chi Minh City
Look beyond the overblown lobby to attractive corridors and lovingly presented, light, bright rooms with a slight deco feel. Standard rooms are actually…
Sabah
Simple rainbow-coloured huts with attached bathroom, Caribbean-blue walls, fresh linen, a dive outfit and less-cramped quarters than other budget places…
Kuching
Dashes of lime green – a pillow, a bar of soap, a staff member’s tie, the lobby’s Cafe Sublime – accent every room of this well-run boutique hotel. (The…
Hokkaidō
Expect a warm welcome at this humble wooden hostel, a 10-minute walk uphill from the bus station. There are bunk-bed dorms and a few private family rooms …
The Gobi
It's ageing a bit and the bathrooms should be cleaner, but this remains one of the more original camps, with a giant mosaic tortoise building for a dining…
Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
This 1855 British bungalow has an edge over many of its peers. The cosy cottage features garden-fresh flowers, four-poster beds, working fireplaces and…
Pulau Perhentian
The once-humble Abdul’s continues to upgrade, and options range from garden-view bungalows at the lower end of the price range to sea-view family rooms at…
Manali
Manali's branch of the reliable hostel chain works its usual backpacker magic with walls you're encouraged to write on, and a lawn whose overhanging trees…
Kansai
This is a great budget choice, with owners who love welcoming foreign guests. Rooms are simple (with shared facilities) but well cared for, and the onsen…
Central Honshū
Day bathers (adult/child ¥700/300) at the town's only onsen can choose from a sauna, a small rotemburo (outdoor bath) and a large communal bath from 10am…
Bangkok
It's admittedly off the grid, but that's part of the charm at this 60-year-old renovated house. Welcoming hosts, four small but attractive and…
Coron Town
Coron has a dearth of quality at the midrange, but Sunz en Coron fills that void with its collection of compact but efficient rooms set around an elegant…
Kuala Lumpur
Set on a backstreet of prewar shophouses, Paloma is well run and quiet, with simple, mostly wooden-floored rooms, featuring occasional flashes of magenta,…
Matsumoto
Nestled quietly in the mountains above Matsumoto is one of Japan's most exclusive ryokan, revered since 1931. A variety of room types await: many have…
Udaipur
This 300-year-old haveli (traditional, ornately decorated residence) snuggling up to the back wall of the city palace, is a little rough and worn around…
Jodhpur
Ajit Bhawan is set back from dusty Circuit House Rd, 2km southeast of the centre, in splendid gardens. Behind the gracious 1920s building, built for…
Hangzhou
A Chinese–Japanese minimalist mood holds sway at this hotel with tea-themed artwork, muted colours, soft lighting and heavy wood in the bedrooms to create…
Kii Peninsula
A boon for budget travellers, this light and clean guesthouse has capsule-style bunks and a few private rooms, all with shared facilities. It's also a few…
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
These double-storey, fan-cooled huts (with private shower but communal toilet) look to the water; the cosy bamboo bungalows have open-air bathrooms; and…
Padang
A little out of Padang's centre, this slick business hotel features spacious, contemporary rooms with polished wooden floors, large bathrooms, sumptuous…
Bikaner
Located 2km northeast of the city centre, this pink-sandstone, all-suite, hotel is part of the royal palace, dating from 1902. It has opulent interiors,…
Karnataka
Large, concrete beachfront hotel with comfortable rooms, many with sea views. It offers several ayurvedic packages, which include massages and specialised…
Bukit Peninsula
A rare budget find amid the pricey resorts of Jimbaran, this former spa is older and slightly rundown, but in an aesthetically interesting way. The best…
Bhaktapur
A peaceful courtyard and attentive staff are the drawcards at this brick-built guesthouse between Durbar Sq and Taumadhi Tole (the rooftop offers views…
Kuching
The Hilton has spacious, international-standard rooms in shades of cream, beige and maroon and all the amenities you'd expect from this class of hotel…
Pulau Perhentian
This huge resort occupies the eastern flank of Teluk Dalam and has a swath of narrow beach frontage plus a huge pool. The cheaper ‘standard’ rooms are a…
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