Sen Monorom
At this tented camp in the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, rates include Khmer meals and primate treks in the forest to spot rare yellow-cheeked crested…
Must-see hotels in Asia
Chitwan National Park
Situated 1.5km north of Sauraha, this serene lodge is an excellent option for anyone, but especially those with an interest in Tharu culture. Set up by…
Prayagraj (Allahabad)
Ivan – a guitar-playing Indian rum enthusiast – and his wife, Purnima, are your South Indian/Bengali hosts at this fabulous homestay offering a window…
Uttarakhand
Binsar's original Raj-era estate was built in 1856 as the home of British high-commissioner Sir Henry Ramsay. Today it's run by adventure-travel-writer…
Matsumoto & the Northern Japan Alps
This rambling resort with indoor and outdoor onsen at the end of a twisting valley road to nowhere will delight anyone seeking a peaceful retreat. The…
Agra
If you aren't set on sleeping under the nose of the Taj, this centrally located travellers' hub offers the best-value accommodation in Agra, if not the…
Danau Toba
Horas Family Home is perfect for those wanting a homely space with cooking facilities, and is a unique option for those seeking something different. Best…
Manila
With its innovative program of cultural immersion, Red Carabao Manila treads the line between hostel and tour. If you want in, you must commit to a multi…
Ahmedabad (Amdavad)
Easily Gujarat's best hotel, this 1920s building – once the home of textile magnate Sheth Mangaldas Girdhardas – was converted into a heritage hotel by…
Varanasi
This homestay in a 1936 colonial home in a residential neighbourhood 1.5km from the old town is a true catch. Good-hearted host Harish, a 37-year veteran…
Flores
Run by an environmentally and socially conscious family, this tropical garden setting beside the sea is our pick for budget accommodation. There are four…
Poring Hot Springs
A 45-minute jungle walk from Poring (meet at Nongling Restaurant at 3pm daily), this eco-camp is surrounded by forest and has two gin-clear rivers to…
Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
Live like royalty in this grand 1880 building with expansive gardens that was built as a guesthouse for the Prince of Wales (later King George V). Every…
Mandalay
This intimate gem feels like a cosy Southeast Asia–chic palace. Gleaming teak floorboards, toiletries in potion bottles, tasteful Asian knick-knacks and…
Chiang Mai Province
Chiang Mai's lavish Four Seasons resort is a sprawl of vaulted pavilions and self-contained residences scattered through the rainforest near Mae Rim, with…
Tianjin
China's oldest foreign-run hotel, the Astor dates back to 1863, when it was opened by British missionary John Innocent. Although it's not as luxurious as…
Pulau Pangkor
Hidden deep in the jungle 1km south of Pangkor Town, Tiger Rock offers romantic rooms decorated with vintage flair. Local artwork and upcycled materials…
Sumba
About 39km east of the airport, this French-run slice of heaven is a peaceful oasis with two houses. Interiors are pristine white, decked out in rattan…
Mongolia
Set on a pretty headland on the northern shore of the lake, Maikhan Tolgoi is easily the most attractive camp on the lake. The well-maintained gers are…
Amritsar
Founded by the much-missed Mrs Bhandari (1906–2007), this slightly mothballed but friendly guesthouse is set in spacious grounds in Amritsar cantonment,…
Borobudur
Atik, owner, tour guide and author, is on a mission to preserve traditional Javanese culture at this unique guesthouse, which offers a nostalgic trip back…
Shantiniketan
About 2km north of the university in verdant Phuldanga village, the art-, craft- and book-filled home of a retired diplomat and his chef-and-designer wife…
Shanghai
Spanning the 79th to 93rd floors of the towering Shanghai World Financial Center, this soaring hotel sees Pudong’s huge buildings dwarfing into Lego…
East Java
Quite simply one of the finest hotels in eastern Java. Each of the five rooms here have been individually and tastefully designed – think high ceilings,…
Bundi
This rambling 200-year-old haveli (traditional, ornately decorated residence) is run by the very helpful and knowledgeable Braj Bhushanjee family,…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
The Fullerton Hotel's contemporary sibling flanks Marina Bay. It's a light-filled, heavenly scented, deco-inspired number. Rooms are suitably plush, with…
Agra
A retired director of Uttar Pradesh Tourism is your host at this wonderful upscale homestay tucked away in a quiet residential neighbourhood near…
Sichuan
This peaceful guesthouse is part of a renowned art centre and is run by a fluent English-speaking Tibetan woman and her family. At the time of research,…
Koh Rong
Lonely Beach is a traveller Shangri-La hidden on a private beach along Koh Rong's northern tip. Committed to ecofriendly living, the jungle-chic bungalows…
Taipei
The use of an open central courtyard, balconies on every floor, architectural tricks, lots of white and huge windows gives Flip Flop an inconceivably…
Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island
An updated classic, this Wan Chai boutique hotel evokes the golden age of travel, with 66 clubby rooms bedecked in colonial whites, bottle greens,…
Northwestern Cambodia
Secluded in the Cambodian wilderness, this eco-stay is the brainchild of two conservation-minded expats who left jobs with NGOs to save 70 sq km of…
Rakhine State
Get away from pretty much everything at this unique beach resort built and designed with locals' assistance and with sustainability foremost in mind,…
Arashiyama & Sagano
Sitting in a secluded area on the south bank of the Hozu-gawa in Arashiyama (upstream from the main sightseeing district), this modern take on the classic…
Lucknow
The 1939 Morris by the entrance sets the tone here, with a classy and stylish collection of courtyards and all-white terraces given colour by original…
Myanmar (Burma)
One of the most memorable lodging options south of Bagan is in Yengangyaung, some 30 miles north of Magwe. On a breezy hilltop overlooking a peaceful…
InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland
Shanghai
The world's first underground hotel, this architectural feat transformed an abandoned quarry lake into a luxury resort. Everything overlooks the water…
Sumbawa
On Moyo’s western side, 7km south of Labuhan Aji, Amanwana is the ultimate island hideaway. Guests stay in lavish permanent tents with antique wood…
Khampa Nomad Ecolodge & Arts Center
Sichuan
Tibetan/American couple Djarga and Angela run this superb ecolodge way out in the grasslands. There are only four cosy rooms (one of them can just about…
Bagan
This cleverly designed, Italian-owned flashpacker hostel leaves all other budget digs in the dark. The big, comfortable dorms have between four and eight…
