Must-see hotels in Southeast Asia

  • Praya Palazzo

    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…

  • Hanchey Bamboo Resort

    Eastern Cambodia

    This eye-pleasing resort built entirely from natural materials is a real stunner, perched atop a hill near Wat Hanchey, 20km north of Kompong Cham. A…

  • Fern Resort

    Mae Hong Son

    This veteran resort is one of the more pleasant places to stay in northern Thailand. The 37 wooden bungalows are spaced out for privacy among tiered rice…

  • Tabo Cottages

    Danau Toba

    The most attractive accommodation on Pulau Samosir is this sprawling German-run lakeside place that has the feel and professionalism of a laid-back resort…

  • Zeck’s Travellers Inn

    Kota Bharu

    Zeck and Miriam Zaki’s home, located in a peaceful nook north of the city centre, is a great way to experience Malaysian kampung (village) life in the…

  • Nam Kat Yorla Pa

    Northern Laos

    This stunning eco-resort is set on the banks of the Nam Kat in the lush mountains beyond urban Udomxai. Spacious rooms are built in traditional style by a…

  • Makabata Guesthouse & Cafe

    Manila

    This training hotel provides at-risk youth with a chance to get a start in the hospitality industry. But it's more than just a feel-good story. Rooms…

  • Mia Resort Nha Trang

    Around Nha Trang

    Mia has an exceptional setting, on a secluded, private sandy beach, and the villas are supremely spacious and contemporary, with vast bath tubs and either…

  • Bat & Arrow

    Padang

    With a great location in the atmospheric old quarter along the river, this unique choice is upstairs from its popular eponymous bar. It's more of an art…

  • Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    No expense was spared, no feng shui geomancer went unconsulted and no animals were harmed in the building of this luxe establishment. Its spacious rooms…

  • Avillion Port Dickson

    Malaysia

    Beautifully designed and lushly planted with lily ponds, birds of paradise, bromeliads and palms, this highly awarded five-star has over-the-water chalets…

  • CUBE

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    Ensconced in a beautifully restored row of heritage shophouses, CUBE offers travellers boutique capsule accommodation with several great perks – free…

  • Six Senses Ninh Van Bay

    Ninh Van Bay

    With a magical setting on a secluded cove and elegant traditionally inspired villas, each with its own swimming pool, Six Senses makes an astonishing…

  • Happy Buddha

    Yogyakarta

    Hidden away in the network of back alleys branching off Prawirotaman is this vibrant, fun lovin' hostel with an urban beach-hut vibe and done out in…

  • Ankermi Happy Dive

    Flores

    Run by Claudia and Kermi, Balinese-influenced Ankermi has eight cute, tiled and thatched bungalows with private porches and stunning sea views (fan only)…

  • Henry Hotel

    Manila

    We run out of superlatives when describing the two Henry Philippine properties – first the stunningly creative original in Cebu, and now this: a leafy…

  • Mandala Ou Resort

    Nong Khiaw

    This stunning boutique accommodation in cinnamon-coloured chalets – six facing the river – has imaginative features like inlaid glass bottles in the walls…

  • Maisons Wat Kor

    Battambang

    About 2km south of central Battambang, Maisons Wat Kor is a secluded sanctuary of 10 rooms in traditional-style Khmer houses that once welcomed Angelina…

  • Nut Tonton Homestay

    Raja Ampat Islands

    This newer homestay in the vicinity of Pulau Misool is an absolute dream for the secluded location and setting, with six overwater bungalows backed by…

  • Villa Ma'rasai

    North Maluku

    This sweet boutique sleep has 19 rooms, which book up fast, spread across two buildings. Rooms are immaculate – light and spacious with hardwood floors,…

  • Sang Tong Huts

    Mae Hong Son

    This clutch of ecofriendly, fan-cooled, TV-free, bamboo and wood bungalows is set in an expansive forested garden just outside town and has loads of…

  • Abdi Homestay

    West Sumatra

    Run by young and energetic owners Ikbal and Noni, Abdi Homestay is the loveliest place to stay in the Harau Valley. Eight adorable thatched bungalows …

  • Tugu Sri Lestari

    East Java

    There's a real sense of history throughout this hotel, which is in a converted Dutch colonial building dating from the 1850s. The rooms in the principal…

  • Villa Varich

    Chumphon

    Only 4km from Chumphon, but deep in the countryside, Villa Varich is unlike any other Chumphon hotel. The large rooms, half sitting along the jungle-clad…

  • Ermaja's Pavilion

    West Java

    Not your average backpackers' beach shack, Ermaja's Pavilion is a stunningly converted colonial building set in landscaped gardens, where the rooms…

  • Artotel Thamrin

    Jalan Jaksa Area

    You can't miss this building – it's covered in an enormous pink, white and black illustration. Eight Indonesian artists were each given one floor of this…

  • Shelter Hostel

    Malang

    The pick of Malang's backpackers is this friendly, centrally located hostel, opened in 2019 by a Dutch-Indonesian couple, both of whom are experienced in…

  • Angel Island Resort

    Labuan Bajo

    Set on its own 15-hectare island linked to Labuan Bajo by private boat, this resort offers delightful garden-ensconced cottages behind one of three white…

  • Jiwa Jawa Ijen

    East Java

    There couldn't be a greater contrast between the hellish landscapes of the Kawah Ijen crater and this boutique hotel, which snuggles away under banana and…

  • Canvas Boutique Hotel

    Puerto Princesa

    A refreshing lobby equipped with public iMacs heralds that you are in one of Palawan's most sleek and stylish refuges. The bright, buoyant rooms are all…

  • Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat

    Perak

    Stepping inside Banjaran Retreat, fish-filled water features and Grecian urns instantly establish the resort's sheer opulence. The spacious villas – some…

  • Huba-Huba

    The Southern Islands

    Perched on secluded Sunset Beach and flanked by the jungle, this small collection of thatched-roof bungalows and glistening hardwood common spaces looks…

  • Duli Beach Resort

    El Nido

    Duli features six thoughtfully conceived bungalows mixing European (the owners are Dutch) and local styles on a jaw-dropping beach about 45 minutes north…

  • Bukit Raya Guesthouse

    Kalimantan

    A gorgeous palm- and tree-filled garden, spotless timber cabins with lofts and a rough-hewn treehouse make this one of Kalimantan's most inviting and…

  • Our Melting Pot

    Around Manila

    Makati's original backpacker relocated to a larger space in 2016 and added more beds, a fully equipped kitchen and a guests-only roof deck, while…

  • Thad's Boutique Hostel

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Looking more like a cool dance club with its graphic artwork, neon lighting and cage walls, this self-proclaimed 'sociatel' is all about everything social…

  • Fusion Suites Saigon

    Ho Chi Minh City

    In a relatively quiet street lined with tall, decades-old trees, Fusion Suites Saigon offers spacious rooms decked out in warm natural wood and enlivened…

  • La Pari-Pari

    Pulau Langkawi

    Tucked away in a calm garden on the landward side of the main Pantai Tengah road, La Pari-Pari has an easy, tropical vibe, a great restaurant, and a small…

  • Outside Inn

    Ubon Ratchathani

    A nice little garden lounge area sets the relaxed, communal vibe here. The rooms are large, comfy and fitted with tastefully designed reclaimed-timber…

  • W Singapore – Sentosa Cove

    Sentosa Island

    At one of Singapore's hottest slumber spots, rooms are playful, whimsical and spacious, with a choice of mood lighting, botanical motifs and good-size…