Varkala
This intimate, romantic and elegantly understated boutiquey retreat just inland from southern Papanasham Beach revolves around four bright, spacious rooms…
Must-see hotels in Asia
Gili Air
On Gili Air's quiet northwest coast, this sandy but tidy compound has 25 basic bungalows (ranging from budget-friendly and fan-cooled to mildly snazzy)…
Osaka
This hip design hotel ticks many boxes for those looking for a smart modern stay close to Shinsaibashi's shopping and nightlife. Rooms are stylish with a…
Siem Reap
Siem Reap's number-one party address among backpackers. The entire downstairs courtyard is taken up with a swimming pool where regular bouts of water polo…
Gyeongsangbuk-do
The island’s most expensive property, this impressive resort has amazing mountaintop views of the sea, but the rooms are overpriced for what they are:…
Jaipur
This welcoming guesthouse is in a small, quiet street behind busy Kabir Marg, very convenient to the train station. The air-con dorm features big lockers…
Myanmar (Burma)
This long-standing, slightly shabby place at the quieter, northern end of the beach is popular with foreign visitors, possibly because of its breezy…
Sumatra
In keeping with its contemporary dining space downstairs (Lani's Resto), this place has gleaming, modern, ultra-clean and luxurious rooms, with balconies…
Kashmir & Ladakh
Fine value at walk-in (₹3400) or online-discount rates (as low as ₹2000), the Lords Inn has some of Jammu's most luxurious beds in fresh rooms that fit…
Koh Trong Community Homestay I
Kratie
Set in an old wooden house, with dorm-style accommodation as well as proper bedrooms and fancy-pants bathrooms (that is, thrones not squats). There are…
Gunung Mulu National Park
A very friendly and homely place with beds crammed into small rooms and basic, clean, outdoor bathrooms. Owner Dina cooks buffet-style lunches (RM15) and…
East Bali
German-owned, this oceanside resort is dated but well maintained. A reef just offshore keeps the on-site dive centre busy (dives €23 to €60, snorkel…
Nha Trang
Beachfront Fusion's unique selling point is its complimentary spa treatments (two daily per guest guaranteed) and free yoga, t'ai chi and meditation…
Bardia National Park
With a biogas plant, organic garden and solar water heaters, Mango Tree Lodge leads the eco-friendly trend in Bardia. The open-sided communal dining area…
Pokhara
Much smarter than the surrounding hotels, this tidy pink-brick lodge is owned by the same folk as 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking. Rooms are tastefully…
Dalat
A respectfully refurbished 1932 building that offers a dash of colonial-era style at enticing prices. The grand lobby lift sets the tone and the rooms,…
Manali
Fifteen full-comfort rooms in a new but attractive construction built using traditional materials are accessed from L-shaped open balconies with little…
Baguio
There’s a cabin-in-the-woods feel to this lodge overlooking Baguio Country Club. Well removed from the centre, it’s so quiet (unless the live band is…
Srinagar & the Kashmir Valley
Built in 2015, this central, half-timbered hotel has 20 attractive rooms, corridors decorated with large sepia photos and a lobby lavished with khatamband…
Nara
In Naramachi and close to the sights, Guesthouse Makura occupies a 90-year-old wooden machiya (shophouse). It's been lightly renovated but retains much of…
Sumatra
Set up by expat American surfer gal and host Amy, this purpose-built surf resort on a garden property overlooks the waves. She goes to great lengths to…
Iloilo
This chain's icon, a sombrero and palm tree, suggests something akin to Club Med. And the pool area, with a small slide and faux statuary, tries to evoke…
Johor
Cheaper digs at this 10-room resort are in stylish A-frames while the more expensive options are in huge, louvred wood bungalows – all exuding a tropical…
Hokkaidō
This friendly, family-run place is in the middle of the village, straight down from the ropeway terminal. There are nature photos everywhere and the meals…
Bicol
One of Tabaco's neat and serviceable lower midrange options, Gardenia has large, clean doubles, volcano views and a relatively quiet location behind the…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Fresh and modern rooms available in a 1940s three-storey building with just two guest rooms per floor. Those located upstairs have better light. There's…
Koh Rong
The delightfully rustic bungalows at Koh Rong's original resort come in all shapes and sizes, and climb up a hill amid rambling jungle foliage. The US$35…
Bandung
While it's a tad out of the way, 4km north of the city, the Attic remains one of Bandung's best budget options. It's run by a friendly crew, who are…
The Hill Country
In an isolated spot within a tea plantation, 2km west of Deniyaya, the Rainforest Lodge has spacious, plain but decent-value rooms with en suites. The…
Rajasthan
This heritage hotel is not luxurious, and it (along with its sibling concern in the same building) is the only place to stay in Mahansar. This is a proper…
Ko Chang
Perched over the canal near Khlong Prao beach, this Dutch-run beauty has just two tastefully decorated rooms and a lovely open lounge-bar area with steps…
Lhasa
A mixed bag here. Most rooms are small and suffer from a lack of natural light, with windows facing on to a cramped and sometimes noisy interior courtyard…
Nakhon Ratchasima Province
This Thai-German-run guesthouse is in an almost rural location on the north bank of the river (where you can swim) and features simple but good wooden and…
Myanmar (Burma)
Set at the southern end of the beach, this place has long appealed to budget backpackers, and offers a choice between simple bamboo huts with fans or more…
Samarkand
There's a dizzying variety of rooms in this sprawling three-storey, old town edifice, Samarkand's very first B&B. Top-floor rooms have splendid views of…
West Bengal
With a great Hooghly-side setting 50km southwest of Kolkata (about 2½ hours' drive), the chic river-view suites and duplex villas at this swish resort are…
Kampot
With a gorgeous location way upriver and a less party-oriented crowd than other riverfront hostels, this is a place for serious unwinding. Catch rays and…
Ko Pha-Ngan
A friendly, forested sanctuary on the deliciously remote and inaccessible (except by boat) Hat Thian. This is a haven for those looking for a yoga and…
Ko Kut
You'll get a genuine welcome at this place with a garden setting just off the southern beach road. Excellent modern huts are simple and stylish, with…
Hong Kong
The Chinese styling at this 162-room hotel, in staff uniforms and decor with a contemporary twist, adds a local touch that's hard to find in Hong Kong…
