Oscar Wilde famously said: ‘I can resist anything except temptation.’ However, when temptation is too expensive, you have a problem.
With this in mind – as who doesn’t like staying in a posh hotel now and then – here’s our ultimate guide to the world’s best value five-star hotels. From £34 a night for a hideaway in Dubai to a top room rate of £217 (for a chic pad in Stockholm), you don’t have to exercise restraint at these indulgent venues.
In the UK…
The Roseate, Reading
Expect marble hallways, vaulted ceilings and Italian chandeliers at this elegant townhouse hotel in the splendid former HQ of Berkshire County Council, built in 1911. Try the seven-course tasting menu (£87) and luxuriate in the spa, with its sauna and treatments.
Book it: Doubles from £102 (roseatehotels.com).
Grand Central Hotel, Belfast
Sip cocktails in the swish 23rd floor bar at this towering hotel in the centre of Belfast, offering unparalleled city views. Rooms are sleek with more great vistas and you are a short stroll from the cobbled streets and lively pubs of Cathedral Quarter. There’s a fine-dining restaurant.
Book it: Doubles from £144 (grandcentralhotelbelfast.com).
The Marcliffe, Aberdeen
On the outskirts of Aberdeen, this 40-room hotel is in eight acres of well-tended grounds. Services include same-day laundry and spa massages featuring Elemis products. There’s a whisky lounge, drawing room bar and restaurant serving Shetland cod and Aberdeen Angus steaks.
Book it: Doubles from £135 B&B (marcliffe.com).
Voco St David’s, Cardiff
Enjoy great views of Cardiff Bay from Voco St David’s, a waterfront hotel in a striking modern building. Rooms are brightly decorated and have ceiling-to-floor windows. The spa features a pool big enough for laps, a sauna and hydrotherapy pools. Classy restaurant, Tir a Mor, serves the likes of rump of Welsh lamb.
Book it: Doubles from £99 (ihg.com).
In Europe…
Grand Continental Bucharest, Romania
Opposite the National Theatre, Grand Hotel Continental has a history dating back 200 years, with an ornate facade featuring columns and balustrades. The lobby has plenty of bling: gold decorations, sparkling chandeliers, plus antiques and oriental carpets. Rooms continue in this style. There’s a plush spa and elegant bistro.
Book it: Doubles from £99 (grand-hotel-continental-bucuresti.continentalhotels.ro).
Art’otel Zagreb, Croatia
Featuring works by the renowned Croatian artist Boris Bucan throughout, this stylish hotel has a pan-Asian restaurant, a hip rooftop bar (with DJs Thursday to Saturday) and a spa with a pool, sauna, hydromassage bath and treatments. The 100 rooms are sophisticated and comfortable.
Book it: Doubles from £102 (artotel.com).
Lily Country Club Ullensaker, Norway
Just a 25-minute drive from Oslo, Lily Country Club is in pleasant countryside and features 486 smart rooms, most with balconies. There’s a huge spa with indoor and outdoor pools and treatments galore – plus a golf course.
Four restaurants serve Norwegian dishes utilising seasonal produce.
Book it: Doubles from £165 (lilycountryclub.no).
Swissotel Tallinn, Estonia
In a mirror-glassed tower block – the tallest building in Estonia’s capital – rates can be extremely reasonable at Swissotel Tallinn. Enjoy sweeping views of the Baltic Sea from many rooms. As well as trying the saunas, you can go for a dip in the long pool or book a massage. The 30th-floor Horisont Restaurant & Bar is Michelin-listed.
Book it: Doubles from £95 (all.accor.com).
AC Hotel Malaga Palacio Spain
Rooms are minimalist with pale wood walls and leather sofas at AC Hotel Malaga Palacio, which is in a great location between Malaga Cathedral and the Paseo del Parque next to the marina and Centre Pompidou Malaga. Dine or just have a drink at ATICO, the lovely rooftop restaurant/bar.
Book it: Doubles from £135 (marriott.com).
Nobis Hotel, Stockholm
It’s all refined Scandi chic at this hotel designed by the award-winning architect Claesson Koivisto Rune. Rooms have a restful, elegant simplicity, while NOI is a fine-dining restaurant serving the likes of steak tartare, seared tuna and grilled venison that has relaxed service and smart wood-panel walls. Meanwhile, the Gold Bar offers top-notch cocktails.
Book it: Doubles from £217 (nobishotel.se).
Hotel Haven, Helsinki
By the South Harbour and Market Square, Hotel Haven enjoys comfortable arty rooms with plush sofas, soft-grey walls and smart bathrooms.
The fine-dining restaurant is in the city’s second oldest stone building with original cornicing, antique chandeliers and salmon-coloured walls. Plus, there’s a cosy old-fashioned lounge bar with a fire.
Book it: Doubles from £202 (hotelhaven.fi).
Hotel Kosciuszko, Krakow
About two miles north of the old town, this 20-room hotel is in an 18th-century manor house named after Tadeusz Kociuszko, a famous Polish general who stayed in 1794. Rooms have exposed brick walls and bright, homely traditional decor.
The restaurant serves Polish dishes including soups, pierogi (dumplings) and pork tenderloin.
Book it: Doubles from £54 (donimirski.com/hotel-kosciuszko).
Hilton Rotterdam
Close to the main train station, this Hilton is in a large modern building with spacious contemporary rooms with plush carpets, designer lights and wide beds. Request a higher floor room for best views towards Erasmus Bridge and the docks. There’s a hip cocktail bar and a popular, dimly lit restaurant offering seven course blow-out meals.
Book it: Doubles from £99 (hilton.com).
Sofitel Luxembourg Europe
Check in here for sleek rooms with bright retro 1970s furniture, wide beds and Nespresso machines. It’s close to the old town and the first-rate Mudam Museum Of Modern Art – a perfect base for a luxurious visit to explore the Grand Duchy’s capital. There are three restaurants and a malt whisky bar – plus a fitness centre.
Book it: Doubles from £154 (sofitel.accor.com).
Green Suites Boutique Hotel, Athens
From the superb rooftop pool/bar you can see the Acropolis (four miles away) and Lycabettus hill. Downstairs, the lobby is all white from the marble floor to the walls, modern scultures and furniture.
Meanwhile, the exterior of the hotel is notable for its striking wooden criss-cross pattern. Rooms are minimalist, most with balconies with more great views.
Book it: Doubles from £70 B&B (g_reensuiteshotel.gr_).
Le Louise Hotel MGallery, Brussels
Featuring a 400 square metre garden that’s like an oasis in the middle of the Belgian capital, a short stroll away from the Grand Place, this MGallery hotel exudes tranquillity. Tasteful rooms are decorated with splashes of modern art. Fresh seasonal produce is served in the restaurant, which has garden seating when it’s warm.
Book it: Doubles from £167 (mgallery.accor.com).
Hilton Vienna Park, Austria
Overlooking pretty Stadpark in Austria’s capital, a 12-minute walk from St Stephen’s Cathedral, this large hotel’s interior design was inspired by the Vienna Secession art movement. It’s a rich, warm look with burgundy banquettes in the restaurant, wood panels, mirrors and dimly lit ceiling lamps. DJs play at the hip cocktail bar.
Book it: Doubles from £133 (hilton.com).
Pullman Riga, Latvia
Renovated this year, Pullman Riga is in an 18th-century structure merged with a modern building. It has a great 19-metre pool at its large, slick spa/fitness centre.
Stylish rooms have high windows and are decorated in shades of grey, while the restaurant serves fusion food and the bar has a two-for-one policy from 4pm to 6pm.
Book it: Doubles from £83 (all.accor.com).
Sofia Balkan Palace, Bulgaria
Part of the President’s Palace complex built in 1956, this 241-room hotel is a grand affair with marble hallways, Corinthian columns and gilded decorations that tip a hat to Bulgaria’s gold-smelting past. Rooms have parquet floors and marble bathrooms. The restaurant serves authentic Bulgarian dishes in an ornate dining hall.
Book it: Doubles from £117 (sofiabalkanpalace.com).
Crowne Plaza Porto, Portugal
In a tall tower block in the central Boavista district, near Porto Botanical Garden, this Crowne Plaza may look stark but it’s a sleek affair inside – and room rates are enticing.
There’s a gym, a spa (with sauna), and treatments from £65 an hour. The smart rooms enjoy great city views. Downstairs, seafood and padron pepper feature on the restaurant menu.
Book it: Doubles from £80 (ihg.com).
Sofitel Lyon Bellecour, France
Stay in style in Lyon, the third largest city in France, at this sleek Sofitel, located in the city centre with a spa and a renowned top floor restaurant with sweeping views, Les 3 Domes, run by head chef Chef Jeremy Ravier. Dishes include sea bass with fennel, duck a l’orange and quail with foie gras. Rooms are modern and super comfortable.
Book it: Doubles from £163 (sofitel. accor.com).
Albergo Diffuso Borgo Montemaggiore, Marche, Italy
In a pretty hilltop village, Borgo Montemaggiore has rooms with exposed beams, wooden shutters and a traditional style.
It’s in the Marche region, about 20 miles south-east of Rimini, and has a homely, old school feel, with panoramic views of the countryside. The restaurant serves rabbit casserole, gnocchi with duck sauce and cheese fondue. Rates are especially low in the off season.
Book it: Doubles from £77 (eng.borgomontemaggiore.it).
The rest of the world…
Angkor Miracle Resort Siem Reap, Cambodia
You can stay in splendour at Angkor Miracle Resort, close to the 12th century Cambodian capital of Angkor, with its huge Theravada Buddhist religious complex, and the town of Siem Reap.
It’s got a huge pool and rooms are elegantly decorated with hard wood floors and wide beds. There’s a spa, a gym, and a restaurant serving traditional local dishes.
Book it: Doubles from £48 (angkor miracle.com).
Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
With views of the dramatic skyscrape of ‘KL’, including the landmark Petronas Twin Towers (rising to 452 metres), this Mandarin Oriental has all the style of the upmarket chain’s other properties – which can cost as much as £1,000 a night in a basic room in London – but for a fraction of the price. Expect top-class, tastefully designed rooms and a great spa.
Book it: Doubles from £130 (mandarinoriental.com).
Ritz-Carlton, Beijing
This is another example of a first-rate luxury hotel chain offering cheaper prices in Asia than the West.
It’s in Beijing’s central business district and features traditionally designed ‘English manor-inspired’ rooms with chandeliers and hardwood furniture.
There’s a large indoor pool and a spa – plus an Asian restaurant.
Book it: Doubles from £162 (ritzcarlton.com).
Riad Jona, Marrakech
A ‘RIAD’ is a large traditional Moroccan house converted into a hotel and Riad Jona is a fine example of one.
It’s located in the centre of the medina, close to Jemaa El-Fnaa square, and comes with plush rooms – some with patios – and a feeling of being tucked away yet in the heart of the city.
There’s a hamman and spa treatments are available.
Book it: Doubles from £98 (riadjona.com).
The William Inglis Hotel Sydney, Australia
In the south-west of Sydney, a five-minute walk from Warwick Farm racecourse, this slick hotel comes with a pool and a spa, plus an ‘equine’ theme including a statue of a horse by the entrance and paintings of prize racehorses in the restaurant/bar.
Rooms are decorated in soft greys and some have views of the racetrack.
Book it: Doubles from £102 (williaminglis.com.au).
Melia Lima, Peru
With a grand piano in the lobby and a large pool on a terrace – plus a hamman – Melia Lima feels like a luxurious hideaway in the centre of Peru’s capital. Yet room rates are enticingly low. From the outside it may, with its stocky rectagular shape and mirrored glass, look a bit like an office block, but inside it’s sleek and chic.
Book it: Doubles from £75 (melia.com).
Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza, Egypt
Visit Egypt’s intriguing second biggest city and enjoy walks along the Mediterranean seafront and a trip to see the remarkable, 15th-century Citadel of Qaitbay, while holing up in this hotel for less than £70 a night. Expect high-class rooms and a massive pool with bar.
Book it: Doubles from £69 (hilton.com).
Avani Deira Dubai Hotel, UAE
You’re close to Dubai’s old town near Dubai Creek and the main souks when staying at Avani Deira. It has a rooftop pool and 215 smart rooms, with entry level ‘Avani Rooms’ from as little as a bargain basement £34 a night (if you book well ahead, at other times prices are more like £75).
Book it: Doubles from £34 (avanihotels.com).
Capital On The Park Sandton, South Africa
In the northern part of Johannesburg, Sandton is a wealthy business/residential area and Capital On The Park is one of the best places to stay, with an infinity lap pool and terrace bar, plus stylish rooms.
Spa treatments are available including facials and massages.
Book it: Doubles from £70 (thecapital.co.za).
Radisson Blu Kaushambi Delhi, India
This Radisson Blu has large, colourful rooms and makes a great base for exploring Delhi. After seeing the sights, relax by the big pool or visit the sauna and steam room. The main restaurant serves regional and international cuisine, while there’s also a bar with a micro-brewery connected, plus street food snacks at the Great Kebab Factory.
Book it: Doubles from £46 (radissonhotels.com).
Eaton HK, Hong Kong
Enjoy Michelin-starred Cantonese cuisine at this fun hotel, which also features live music or DJs in the cocktail bar as well as a rooftop pool plus yoga and fitness classes. Rooms feature modern art, comfortable beds and power showers. It’s in the popular Jordan district, close to a metro station for getting about.
Book it: Doubles from £94 (eatonworkshop.com).
Dusit Princess Srinakarin, Bangkok, Thailand
Check into this bargain hotel for less than £50 and enjoy comfortable, minimalist rooms plus use of the large swimming pool.
There’s a Cantonese and a Thai restaurant and a relaxing terrace garden surrounded by tropical plants. You’re also close to a metro station.
Book it: Doubles from £44 (dusit.com).
Sheraton Oman Hotel Muscat
This Sheraton has indoor and outdoor pools and large fitness centre – plus it’s close to the centre of Muscat, Oman’s intriguing capital. There’s a pool bar serving burgers and salads, plus Asabo, a South American steakhouse. Rooms are smartly decorated with good city views; some with four posters.
Book it: Doubles from £99 (marriott.com).
Movenpick Hotel Wellington, New Zealand
Within walking distance of Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum – and overlooking Wellington’s vibrant Cuba Quarter – you’re in a good spot to explore New Zealand’s charming capital.
Rooms are spacious, in shades of yellow and blue, with designer lighting. There’s a heated indoor lap pool and a sauna.
Book it: Doubles from £81 (movenpick.accor.com).
Pullman Santiago Vitacura, Chile
Close to Bicentennial Park as well as art galleries, lively bars and restaurants in Chile’s vibrant capital, this Pullman also enjoys great views of the Andes.
Relax by the outdoor pool with a glass of local wine or grab something to eat at the Ofelia Gastrobar, which serves mean pisco sour cocktails (comprising grape brandy, lime juice and egg white).
Book it: Doubles from £90 (all.accor.com).
Sentinel, Portland, USA
In a historic building in downtown Portland, Oregan, the Sentinel is a hip haven with rooms in subdued, muted colours.
Leather armchairs and sofas are scattered around public areas including the atmospheic cocktail bar. Jake’s Grill serves seafood, steaks and a wide selection of whiskies.
Book it: Doubles from £124 (sentinelhotel.com).
