Boracay
High up the green valley behind Diniwid Beach, these five private hillside villas look ready for an architectural magazine photo shoot. The owner has…
Must-see hotels in Asia
Himachal Pradesh
Few places in rural India exude such a sense of well-judged classic-contemporary taste as this remarkable tea-estate retreat. The centrepiece is a sports…
Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
Mick Jagger, Demi Moore and Sting have all indulged in this heritage hotel in Maheshwar Palace owned by Prince Shivaji Rao (Richard) Holkar, an Indian…
Kampot
A derelict 1930s Chinese cinema – one of Kampot's modernist architectural icons – has been lovingly restored and turned into a boutique hotel. Rooms are…
Tainan
A cheerful block housing a hotel with 87 rooms plus a 110-bed hostel. The agreeable rooms come with industrial-chic interiors that are echoed by the steel…
Thimphu
A top-end tourist-class hotel, Namgay Heritage is a riot of hand-carved timbers. The rooms are less traditional than the five-storey atrium, but are warm…
Manila
This is QC's most chic address for the wannabe hipster in you. The rooms are fit for the pages of Wallpaper*, with beautiful 3m-long recycled-hardwood…
Mongolia
This eco-conscious camp is in a splendid location on its own little peninsula north of the other ger camps. Accommodation is a mix of tepees, gers and…
Kachchh (Kutch)
Run by a delightful Indian-British couple, Jehan and Katie, this lovingly restored 19th-century traditional Parsi heritage house – Jehan's ancestral home …
Kii Peninsula
Among Kōya-san's most atmospheric temples, with a thatched roof and an old kitchen with exposed wooden beams, Shōjōshin-in is a wonderful choice for your…
Thanon Sukhumvit
Located at the end of Soi 1 behind a wall of tropical greenery, this beautifully renovated 1940s-era villa is one of the worst-kept accommodation secrets…
Melaka City
Sleeping four, this gorgeously restored shophouse has kept the big old beams and original exposed brickwork but has been updated with stylish contemporary…
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
This eyrie atop a Tange Kenzō–designed skyscraper in west Shinjuku looks no less tasteful and elegant than when it opened more than 20 years ago, and it…
Mui Ne
An intimate beach retreat with superb attention to detail, the Sailing Club (formerly the Mia) has gorgeous bungalows built from natural materials…
Jaisalmer
Italian-designed and superslick, this is Jaisalmer’s most sophisticated hotel and it is beautiful throughout, with a desert-meets-contemporary-boutique…
Panglao Island
This classy beach getaway is run on environmentally sound principles. It's so boutique it has its own art gallery and library. Rooms with polished…
Sichuan
So, you thought travel in Kham was going to be tough? Think again! At this sublime 15-room boutique hotel, set in a renovated 700-year-old building…
Port Barton
Stress seems to slide away at this tranquil hideaway, on a pretty mainland bay one hour by boat from Port Barton. The British owners, dedicated to…
Kathmandu to Pokhara
With the best views on the river, this colonial-style resort can't be beaten. It manages the impressive feat of remaining upmarket while offering…
Singapore
A short stroll from Orchard Rd is where you'll find this spread-out, minimalist boutique hotel. Eight types of rooms each engage with nature in different…
Johor Bahru
Opened in 2019, this top pick for both the budget- and style-conscious features comfy, twin- and queen-size bunk beds with plush linens and privacy…
Sigiriya
An outstanding place to stay, thanks to the genuine welcome and attention paid to guests by Ajith and Ramya, the owners. Rooms are divided between the…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Saluting guards usher you out of the chaos of Chowringhee Rd and into a regal oasis of genteel calm that deserves every point of its five stars…
West Sumatra
Run by a friendly, energetic local couple, Fifi and Jack, this hostel and cafe is Danau Maninjau’s backpacker central. Bunk in the four-bed dorm or go for…
Jodhpur
This stunning haveli (traditional, ornately decorated residence) one of the best and most attractive in the old city, was built by the Thakur of Pal in…
My Tho
It's hard to imagine a more tranquil place than this intimate island hideaway. The occupants of its 12 rooms are cheerfully attended to by professional…
Sumatra
One of south Sumatra's best hostels, Flip Flop is an immaculate multilevel space that's lovingly decorated with vibrant furnishings, murals and pot plants…
Sarawak
Tucked away in the quiet Malay village of Santubong, this place exudes serenity. Rooms with belian (ironwood) floors and four-poster beds are arranged…
Pushkar
This welcoming budget hotel is nestled in the quiet laneways north of Sadar Bazaar. It’s run by a friendly father-and-son team who can’t do too much for…
Panglao Island
The best base for backpackers in Panglao, if you don't mind being inland, with nipa huts that are entirely appropriate for the rustic setting. There's a…
Hue
A short walk from decent restaurants, Hue Riverside Villa combines five whitewashed and red-brick bungalows with a relaxing and breezy shared garden and a…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Room options here range from quaint cottages with private bathrooms to split-level dwellings where you're just within snoring distance of your fellow…
Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
This former 19th-century palace lost none of its colonial-era charm through conversion into a top-class hotel. Pillared walkways and immaculate lawns lead…
Pyin Oo Lwin
Boasting a splendid setting, five of the 15 rooms are inside a 1921 British-era house that was British Military Intelligence HQ after World War II. The…
Banyak Islands
The Banyak hot spot for backpackers at the time of research, Nina's comprises five spacious, thatched bungalows with hammocks swinging on shady porches…
Mongolia
Mongolia’s first luxury hotel and spa is an incongruous neoclassical building set on the edge of tiny Terelj village. Opened in 2008, this five-star hotel…
Yangon
When it comes to affordable, trendy lodgings in Yangon, there's little competition for Hotel G. The standard 'Good' rooms are snug but strikingly…
Pulau Perhentian
Family-run D'Lagoon is the sole property on a tranquil bay, Teluk Kerma, with fine coral a short swim from the beach. Accommodation ranges from camping…
Kachchh (Kutch)
Run by infectiously enthusiastic naturalist Dhanraj Malik, Desert Coursers Eco Lodge is a supremely relaxed place to hole up for a few days and get into…
Arugam Bay
This Danish-run place sits at the north end of the bay. There's a magnificent open-sided restaurant-lounge-terrace facing the ocean, perfect for languid…
