Nusa Tenggara
Built by surf legend Felipe Pomar, this lodge blends comfort, cuisine and style better than anywhere else in Rote. Four rooms are set in a large wooden…
Must-see hotels in Southeast Asia
Lahad Datu
Winning applause for its cycling excursions in the area, and the quality of its accommodation, B&T is run by friendly Swiss/Malay couple Itisha and Simon…
Myanmar (Burma)
This 20-room rural complex on the edge of town is reason enough to stop in Taungoo. The Beauty has a pick-and-mix of rustic, all-wood, bungalow-style…
The Southern Islands
On the southwest coast of Koh Rong Sanloem, this idyllic getaway fronts one of the most stunning beaches you’ll find anywhere. The 20 bungalows have…
Le Tonlé Tourism Training Center
Kratie
The Cambodian Rural Development Team (CRDT) runs this fantastic budget guesthouse in a beautiful wooden house in the centre. With silk pillows and bed…
Mandalay
The main 1960s house of this lovely homestyle inn is set in a tree-shaded yard complete with fairy lights, parasol seating and an old horse cart. Dated if…
Myanmar (Burma)
One of the best guesthouses in central Myanmar, Salay River View (part of Salay House cafe) is a treat. The main building dates from 1906 and drips old…
Koh Rong
This poshtel at the southern end of Long Set Beach is a step up from anything in Koh Tuch. The well-designed dorms are air-conditioned and feature double…
The Southern Islands
Part of the Mad Monkey hostel empire, this edition wins big with its secluded private cove and beaches to the north of Saracen Bay. Dorms of varying size…
Sabah
Named one of the Unique Lodges of the World by National Geographic, this is the most upscale place on the river. It has beautifully appointed split-level…
Hat Kata
This contemporary all-white beauty, poised on cliffs between Kata's two beaches, is known for its superyacht scene. Villas are minimalist-chic apartments…
Bandung
A brilliant central boutique hostel with well-designed eight-bed pod dorms, which provide more privacy than the traditional bunk-bed-style dorms (though…
Sumba
This secluded resort 2km east of Kalala Beach is on a wide strip of sand where pigs frolic and harvested seaweed dries in the sun. There are two, basic A…
Candidasa
Stylish, environmentally conscious and lavishly endowed with facilities, this is undisputedly Candidasa's best accommodation option. Rooms come in six…
Palawan
Warning: leaving this idyllic low-key resort can induce severe depression. The staff are warm and friendly, the native-style cottages are a perfect mix of…
Jakarta
This boutique hostel in Glodok offers hip, Ikea-chic environs and plenty of amenities close to Kota. Choose among the four- and eight-bed dorms where the…
Ha Giang Province
This wonderful ecolodge is tucked away in a hidden river valley in the High Song Chau mountains, with simple, solar-powered bungalows set in a riot of…
Siargao
Located down a quiet road just northeast and inland from the centre of GL, Swiss-Italian-owned Kermit is a deservedly popular choice. The 10 rooms include…
Mandalay
A no-brainer for midrange travellers in Mandalay, the high-rise brick Bagan King is ideally situated, with restaurants, cafes, shops and spas all a short…
Aceh
This delightful cluster of breezy rooms sits above Pulau Weh's nicest stretch of white-sand beach, which has a small coral reef. It’s perfect for those…
Ayuthaya
Adventurous travellers will love this special countryside retreat 4km north of the island. The three guest rooms, giant deck and the bridge between them…
Sarawak
The flagship Batang Ai accommodation for Borneo Adventure, Nanga Sumpa features surprisingly stylish rooms – some with private bathroom – wooden verandahs…
Chiang Mai
This refined, atmospheric Lanna-style property sprawls across the grounds of an old tamarind orchard in a prime location off Th Ratchadamnoen. Walkways…
Mekong Riverside Resort & Camping
Loei Province
This delightful spot, nestled up against a postcard-worthy view of the Mekong, is popular with travellers. Owner Khun Ben and her husband Mike are founts…
Bangkok
Located in the lush green zone known as the Phrapradaeng Peninsula, the Bangkok Tree House's 12 multilevel bungalows are stylishly sculpted from…
Surabaya
This landmark colonial hotel exudes class and heritage, with colonnaded courtyards, fountains, verdant greenery and a gorgeous pool area (though it's…
Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
Originally opened in 1932 and the pre-WWII KL equivalent of Raffles in Singapore, the impeccably restored Majestic is one of the city's top luxury hotels…
Central Mountains
These beautiful two-level bungalows are built on the side of a hill just a 10-minute walk from a protected rainforest preserve. Notable amenities include…
Busuanga & the Calamian Islands
Offering a touch of the Mediterranean and a dash of Disney-like fairy-tale architecture, this Swiss-conceived place is perched on a hilltop overlooking…
Balikpapan
Unique in Kalimantan, this old-world Asian luxury hotel proves to the younger generic business hotels that experience and wisdom count. Fine woodwork…
Jakarta
Hidden in a quiet alley, adjacent to the Six Degrees hostel, the dorms here are capsule-style with personal reading lights and lockers for your belongings…
Kratie
Set in a colonnaded buttercup-yellow mansion dating to 1916, this sumptuous hotel spoils visitors with its stately furnishings, four-poster beds, silk…
Nyaungshwe
This very well-organised hostel – part of an expanding chain – has become the go-to place for backpackers in Nyaungshwe. A variety of dorms is on offer,…
Lovina
Set on a hillside behind Lovina, Damai has the kind of sweeping views you'd expect. Its 14 luxury villas mix antiques and a modern style accented by…
Raja Ampat Islands
Two kilometres east of Yenbeser village on Gam, Biodiversity is one of the overall best-value places to stay on the islands. Accommodations include nine…
Padangbai
Crowning a clifftop at the town's eastern edge, this place is notable for its sea-facing yoga deck (free classes daily), well-priced spa (massages 210…
The Southern Islands
Unplug, unwind, destress – Ten103 is a beachfront backpacker bolthole that dishes up simple beach living the way it used to be. Stilted open-air 'tree…
Taiping
Unquestionably Taiping's most attractive place to stay, this complex of villas is alive with durian trees, palm groves and teeming ponds. Chalets have an…
Jakarta
Formerly the Hotel Indonesia, Jakarta's original luxury hotel will be forever linked to the Suharto era. Now renovated and reimagined, it still delivers…
Banglamphu
After lying dormant for over 30 years, this elegant 19th-century mansion in Thonburi was reborn as an attractive riverside boutique hotel in 2011. The 17…
