Upper Galilee & Golan
Northern Californians Joy and Evan Yisrael warmly welcome guests to their two spacious, Ottoman-era rooms, both with high, vaulted stone ceilings and…
Must-see hotels in Middle East
Dead Sea
Has two studio apartments off a garden (great for kids) decorated with garrulous owner Asaf Madmony's extraordinary stone, wood and metal sculptures.
Riyadh
With large, smart rooms, a hearty breakfast included in the price and a central location, the Coral Olaya Hotel is a great budget option.
Nazareth
On the top floor of an Ottoman mansion, this vast, all-wood studio apartment affords breathtaking views. Unbelievably romantic.
Little Petra
A 10-minute walk from Little Petra (signposted off the approach road), this camp is in Siq Al Amti, hidden in a spectacular amphitheatre of sand and hills…
Qatar
This lovely low-rise, beachside resort just south of Mesaieed is a favourite among expats wanting to escape the city for the weekend. Far enough away to…
Zein-o-din
After a three-year renovation, during which 13,000 pumice stones were used to scour centuries of grime from the walls, this simple accommodation was pared…
Abu Dhabi
This oasis in the desert loses some of its charm in high season when big overnight tour groups can dominate, but the surroundings are so lovely you might…
Iran
Charming Furukh and her gregarious husband Kamran converted a rustic, thick-walled adobe homestead into this delightful four-room ecolodge, artfully…
Sharjah
Nestled into the traditional architecture of the Heart of Sharjah heritage area, the low-rise luxury suites of Al Bait rest on the foundations of old…
Ras Al Khaimah
Desert life doesn't get more opulent than this. The arabesque-style mud-brick villas of this resort feature mashrabiyya (lattice-screen) detailing and…
Oman
Reflecting its origins as an accommodation block for athletes, this concrete structure is stuck rather unsympathetically on the seashore and has something…
Little Petra
Signposted along a track off the road to Little Petra and tucked discreetly into a hillside, this relaxed and good-value camp looks particularly magical…
Lebanon
Wealthy Beirutis in search of fresh air dominate the guest list at this elegant place. Built in the 19th century as an emir's residence, it opened as a…
Kuwait
The only hotel on Failaka Island has a range of facilities, including a petting zoo, a lake, horse riding, camel rides and watersports. Crafts are…
Dana
Perched at the edge of an escarpment, this wonderful camp is run by a hospitable local who knows the area ‘because’, he says, ‘it runs in my blood’. The…
Abu Dhabi
Opened in 2015, this idyllic getaway has 32 massive one- and two-bedroom villas that you'll need to be pried from at checkout. The modern villas, dressed…
Qatar
This four-star resort just off the corniche is a fine getaway, if eclectically decorated, with cast-iron horses in the drive and abstract art and Middle…
Yas Island
This bright, airy and entirely contemporary hotel sits in pole position on Yas Island, literally straddling the Yas Marina Circuit. Its avant-garde, steel…
Doha
The pyramid-shaped Sheraton Doha is more than a place to stay; it’s an institution. The oldest of Doha’s five-star hotels, it still has one of the best…
Lebanon
The grande dame of Beit Mery's hotels, this is an excellent choice during the Al Bustan Festival as many concerts are performed here. Though ugly from…
Baalbek
This grand old hotel, opened in 1874, is a nostalgic and beautiful reminder of Baalbek's glory days of tourism: Kaiser Wilhelm, Einstein and de Gaulle all…
Doha
The Torch, at 300m high, is the tallest structure in Doha, and its sleek grey rooms are well known for their panoramic views over the city and the desert…
Southeastern Iran
Faux Corinthian columns and King Kurosh (Cyrus) reliefs give a sense of slightly kitschy grandeur, while warmly decorated rooms are comfortable if…
Jerusalem
Stepping into this gated complex feels like discovering a treasure. This castle-like guesthouse first opened in 1863, and its gardens, archways and stone…
Dubai
This sail-shaped landmark regularly hosts pop stars, royalty, billionaires and the merely moneyed. The lobby with its eye-catching waterfall and opulent…
Iran
The most comfortable rooms in Sanandaj are a long way from the centre in this schmicked-up, multistorey warren of restaurants and coffee shops that's…
Hajar Mountains
Beside Snake Gorge and handy for an early-morning assault on the canyon hike, this guesthouse is in a pretty location surrounded by fruiting figs, guava…
Jerusalem
Within this unmistakable building, which rather resembles a big concrete thumbs-up, are 128 modern rooms with brooding colour schemes. The mustard and…
West Bank
Situated above Taybeh Winery, Taybeh Golden Hotel is an uber-modern family-run place just a few minutes' walk from centre of the village. Some of the…
Downtown Dubai
Opened in 2018, this 75-storey hotel looms like a golden beacon, and at 356m high, claims to be the world's tallest hotel (this is Dubai, after all!)…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
With its domed ceiling, golden pillars and jewel-like lamps, Zabeel Saray’s lobby is as lavish and majestic as an Ottoman palace. The rich decor transfers…
Southeastern Iran
German-speaking tour guide Jalal has poured his heart into restoring his classically styled ancestral home to create an appealing little guesthouse. The…
Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort
Al Zahiyah & Al Maryah Island
A visitor could be forgiven for taking one look at the outside of this particularly rust-orange hotel and running off to the competition. That would be a…
Dead Sea
This 89-room hostel is ideal if you’d like to climb the Snake Path to see sunrise from atop Masada. The five- or six-bed, single-sex dorm rooms border on…
Jerusalem
At the centrally located, seven-storey Paamonim Hotel, rooms are large and comfortably furnished with a small table and lounging chair, microwave and mini…
Southeastern Iran
Eight of Meymand's old cave-rooms have been equipped with clean bedding, tree-branch shelving, heater and lamps for overnight stays. Yet with namad and…
Sea of Galilee
From 1948 to 1967, when most of the Sea of Galilee’s eastern coast was under Syrian control, the only way to get to Kibbutz Ein Gev was by boat. Today,…
The Negev
This pioneering eco-community offers two types of accommodation: traditional guesthouse rooms (26 of them) that are simple but comfortable; and 10 'eco…
Tel Aviv
This pretty, urban hotel is bang in the middle of Dizengoff, one of the main shopping streets, but you’d be forgiven for missing it. A simple doorway with…
