Let’s face it: all too often, “affordable accommodations” means your basic cookie-cutter chain-hotel room or a property that’s seen better days. But—surprise!—it can also mean an award-winning hotel at a reasonable price. And who doesn’t want that?
That’s why, when we asked the readers of Travel + Leisure to pick their favorite properties in our annual World’s Best Survey, we noted which spots wouldn’t break the bank. The result is a list of great-value inns, hotels, and resorts that offer appealing ambience, top-notch service, and a compelling setting. And many offer nightly rates lower than the cost of an iPhone (with no two-year commitment!).
Of course, Las Vegas is known for room prices that won’t empty your wallet (alas, the casinos do that), but even here there’s a luxury property with rates so good you’ll feel lucky even before check-in. The two-year-old Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas is a glamorous, Asian-inspired haven in one of CityCenter’s contemporary glass towers. Its 392 rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows, elegant Oriental details, and glass-paneled bathrooms with deep-soaking tubs, while its 23rd-floor Sky Lobby offers glimmering views of the Strip, including the iconic Eiffel Tower replica. And Vegas being Vegas, it’s possible to find deals that cut the great rate even more.
If actual architectural wonders are more your thing, you can sleep affordably yet chicly on the edge of Cambodia’s most-renowned World Heritage Site at the 238-room Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort in Siem Reap. When you’re not out admiring Angkor Wat’s centuries-old temples, you can retreat to the soaring lobby with its Khmer-French design elements and rooms with soothing sage and gold décor.
Another exotic property offering top value is the 79-suite Serengeti Sopa Lodge, set in the hills overlooking the southwestern plains of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Bold African design in rich earth tones accented by local fabrics and artwork offers a true sense of place—especially when the view outside is of the wildebeest migration.
Closer to home, the rustic and tranquil charms of Vermont are on offer at 19-room Rabbit Hill Inn. Located in Lower Waterford and featuring rooms with fireplaces and antique canopy beds, this circa-1785, white-columned inn is ideal for a romantic couple’s getaway.
Read on for more great affordable hotels worldwide.
Chic-but-casual cliffside retreat: private sundecks, a chilled-out spa, a Jamaican street-food restaurant, and great snorkeling. Doubles from $125–$160.