South Goa
This lovely boutique hotel, run by a well-travelled Indian-born British brother-and-sister team, is a gem of the South Goan coast and strictly for…
Must-see hotels in Asia
Western Honshū
This restored farmhouse in the Okayama countryside offers four large tatami rooms, a shared bathroom and kitchen, and bicycles that are free to use. In…
Myanmar (Burma)
Around 9 miles south of central Bago, surrounded by lush gardens and fields with a nearby golf course, this beautifully designed property is run by…
Sichuan
Run by an American family, this fabulous hillside hostel is a comfortable base in Kangding. It provides all manner of top-end hostel services, from…
Pokhara
This delightful family home sits in an idyllic setting and features a dozen guestrooms – all spotless and comfortable with solar hot showers. There are…
Dalian
Arguably the best hostel between Harbin and Beijing, UniLoft has open-plan rooms and the feel of a hip office co-op, with statement pieces and a quiet…
Ipoh
This stylish boutique property invites you to step inside with a gorgeous greenery-festooned timber frontage and an intimate, shady cafe tucked into a…
Kampot
This chill riverside spot caters to long-term backpackers who enjoy grabbing a cold one or a happy shake from the bamboo bar, then relaxing in hammocks…
Bangkok
The matchless and ageless Pen has it all: the location (towering over the river); the reputation (it’s consistently among the world's top-ranking luxury…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Eighteen designers were given free rein to decorate the suites at this sophisticated love motel, tucked off the main road. Check the website for the…
Chennai (Madras)
Chennai's most talked-about hotel is this ultraluxurious, 600-room, temple-inspired beauty in the city's southwest. A maze of sumptuous iPad-operated…
Bukhara
Traditional Bukharan style is faithfully on display at this superb courtyard hotel, although the decor is toned down by flashes of modern art and subtler…
Khiva
This 20-room place (and 13-room annexe) is perhaps the best budget option in the Ichon-Qala. The migraine-inducing wallpaper in the rooms may not scream…
Coron Town
Funny Lion has the nicest rooms in town and incredible views from its 5th-floor walk-up bar area, where duelling cold-water whirlpools, sunset views and…
Central Honshū
Yarimikan is a wonderfully traditional onsen ryokan (hot-spring inn) on the Kamata-gawa, with two indoor baths, eight riverside rotemburo (outdoor baths;…
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
Hidden in a rocky nook on the island’s southern end, Kapas Turtle Valley has eight bungalows – all furnished with colourful local batik – and sits above a…
Chitwan National Park
Sparkling from an impressive 2016 renovation, Shiva's Dream sports renovated rooms and an entirely new building with a winning design that pumps lots of…
Doi Inthanon National Park
Easily the region's best-value stay, this delightful collection of stilted bungalows is set in a picturesque rice paddy with splendid views of Doi…
Pai
Set in a tiny, secluded valley of rice fields and streams, the seductively bucolic location of this place is as much a reason to stay as the attractive…
West Sumatra
This bright, modern guesthouse is run by thoughtful owner Ling, who understands the needs of budget travellers. She is happy to provide maps of town, has…
Phu Quoc Island
Beautiful Chen Sea has stunning villas with sunken baths (some with hot tubs) and deep verandas, designed to resemble ancient terracotta-roofed houses,…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
If the location on the main road makes you think twice about booking this hotel, stop thinking and just book! Touted as one of the hottest openings in…
Kochi (Cochin)
Overlooking a lush garden with lily ponds and a pool, the stylish Old Harbour is housed in a 300-year-old Dutch/Portuguese heritage building. The elegant…
Hiroshima Region
Hotel Cycle, within the large U2 complex right on the waterfront boardwalk, is aimed at both the cycling crowd and those with an eye for design. The dark,…
Bukit Lawang
More on the hill than on the rocks, the 10 ‘tribal’ huts here verge on being luxurious in a rustic way. Each hut has a verandah and sunken bathroom, and…
Melaka City
Claw-foot tubs and polished four-poster beds are just some of the trappings at this regal hotel. The bar, library and dining areas groan with nostalgia …
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Making the most of its hilltop aspect, the Grand Hyatt is lord of all it surveys. On a clear day, the views from the lobby lounge, through a soaring wall…
Pulau Langkawi
On the adjoining plot to Bon Ton, sister hotel Temple Tree raises the stakes with a collection of antique structures relocated from various points in…
Yogyakarta
Raising the bar in standards for Yogya's hostel scene is this popular backpacker that features a contemporary, designer aesthetic and luxurious plunge…
Paro
This well-run three-star place, on the west bank of the Paro Chhu across from the airport, features great views of the Paro Dzong. Deluxe rooms are well…
Phu Quoc Island
Run by a friendly family with a coterie of cheeky dogs, Bamboo Cottages has Vung Bau Beach largely to itself. The focal point is an open-sided restaurant…
Kyūshū
Visiting dignitaries might stay in the sumptuous, 40-room Rikyū wing, but those of more modest means can splurge on the less expensive of Hakusuikan's 164…
Chiang Rai Province
On a remote bamboo-covered hilltop, this resort is the most unique place to stay in the Mae Salong area. The more you pay, the bigger your bungalow and…
Puerto Galera
The views from this hilltop property 1.5km east of Sabang are nonpareil. Four luxurious pool-front rooms boasting Apple TVs stare straight at magnificent…
Aceh
Behind the diving centre of the same name, Lumba Lumba offers some of the best-quality accommodation in Gapang. Wood-decked cottages have tiled rooms,…
The Hill Country
Located at around 1000m, this gorgeous former tea planter’s bungalow enjoys a temperate, sometimes coolish climate on a steep forested hillside surrounded…
Mörön
Friendly, knowledgeable Saraa is a gracious host and a font of information on the region. She is a well-regarded contact with the Tsaatan reindeer people,…
Sabang
The winner of numerous sustainability awards, the Daluyon goes to show that luxury doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment. Inside the…
Northern Kerala
Surrounded by jungle and spice plantations, lovely Varnam is an oasis of calm 3km south of Katikulam in northern Wayanad. Varghese and Beena will look…
West Java
If you want to get away from it all, this wonderful spot is the place to come. Surprisingly smart given its remote location, it has a good restaurant and…
