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World's Top Affordable Hotels

World's Top Affordable Hotels

By Donna Heiderstadt

December 22, 2011

Courtesy of Rockhouse Hotel & Rockhouse Foundation

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.

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FourSeasons Resort Carmelo, Uruguay

Courtesy of Four Seasons Carmelo Uruguay

20 bungalows, 24 suites, and an Asian-influenced spa on a beach nestled between a eucalyptus forest and the Rio de la Plata, all just a 3-hour trip north of Buenos Aires. Doubles from $240–$445.

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TurnberryResort, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Turnberry, Scotland

Courtesy of Starwood Hotels

150 rooms (40 recently updated) in a massive estate on a rocky coastal bluff; 2 championship golf courses and a 19th-century lighthouse overlook the bucolic scene. Doubles from $220–$399.

Room to Book: One of the 4 suites named after the legendary golf course’s Open Championship winners: Watson, Norman, Price, and Cink. Each has unique design touches, and all face the craggy Alisa Craig island.

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Victoria House, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Courtesy of Victoria House Resort

Relaxed island resort of 7 thatched-roof casitas (plus plantation rooms and suites) and 2 pools; the best jumping- off point for exploring the world’s second-largest barrier reef. Doubles from $185–$205.

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Domainedes Hauts de Loire, Loire Valley, France

Courtesy of Domaine des Hautes de Loire

31-room 19th-century former hunting lodge on 178 forested acres between Blois and Amboise. Doubles from $201.

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Innon Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

The Biltmore Company

A 210-room mansion set on George Vanderbilt’s 8,000-acre Biltmore estate, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Doubles from $189–$379.

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Villagio Inn & Spa, Yountville, CA

Andy Berry/PurkinjeBlue

A cozy, 112-room escape close to French Laundry that offers digital wine guides and unlimited champagne at breakfast. Doubles from $250–$480, including breakfast.

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Hotel1000, Seattle

Courtesy of Hotel 1000

High-tech and eco-friendly property with 120 modern rooms, 4 blocks from Pike Place Market. Doubles from $209–$479.

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Rabbit Hill Inn, Lower Waterford, VT

Jumping Rocks Photography

Romantic getaway (candlelit breakfast; canopy beds) at a restored residence and tavern, both about 200 years old. Doubles from $169, including breakfast and afternoon tea.

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Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, FL

Hedrich Blessing

295 rooms and 2 Greg Norman–designed courses that double as an Audubon sanctuary. A complimentary shuttle brings guests to the sister Ritz-Carlton hotel for access to white-sand beaches. Doubles from $229–$499.

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SerengetiSopa Lodge, SerengetiNational Park, Tanzania

Courtesy of Serengeti Sopa Lodge

79-suite secluded hotel with African interiors (traditional masks; handcrafted wood furnishings), overlooking the plains. Doubles from $225–$480, including meals.

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FourSeasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Scottsdale,AZ

Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels

Pueblo-inspired property (plus a renovated pool and a soon-to-open gastropub) surrounded by the foothills of the McDowell Mountains. Doubles from $139–$719.

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TajMahal Hotel, New Delhi

Courtesy of Taj Mahal Hotel

11-story landmark close to the city’s diplomatic and political heart; its butlers and astrologers are favored by New Delhi’s power players. Doubles from $192–$444.

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MandarinOriental, Las Vegas

Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Hotels

Asian-inspired interiors by Adam D. Tihany and the first U.S. restaurant by French chef Pierre Gagnaire in a non-gaming hotel in CityCenter. Doubles from $255.

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SofitelAngkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Courtesy of Sofitel

A regal retreat (antique ceiling fans; Cambodia’s largest swimming pool) on Siem Reap’s tranquil periphery. Doubles from $170–$225.

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TheHomestead, Hot Springs, VA

Courtesy of The Homestead

1766 grand red-brick National Historic Landmark (157 rooms; archery; off-roading) on 3,000 Allegheny Mountain acres. Doubles from $185–$325.

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Arizona Inn, Tucson

Courtesy of Arizona Inn

Historic, 95-room pink-tinged adobe-style estate, piano bar, and pristine gardens. Doubles from $169–$329.

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Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, Orange County, CA

Courtesy of Hyatt Resorts

Expansive Mediterranean-style resort with waterslides, surf instructors, and all 517 rooms

redone in 2011. Doubles from $179–$499.

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Hotel Monaco, Denver

Courtesy of Hotel Monaco

After a 2011 renovation, the 189 eclectic rooms at this business-oriented hotel—walking distance from the Colorado Convention Center—match the bold colors in the public spaces. Doubles from $149–$349.

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Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square

Courtesy of Sofitel Lafayette Square

Art Deco–style hotel updated by Pierre-Yves Rochon, but retaining some original details (black marble floors; gold-leaf accents). Doubles from $195–$340.

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One Ocean Resort & Spa, Jacksonville, FL

Courtesy of One Ocean Resort

193-room resort (butler service; northeast Florida’s only waterfront spa) on a 254-foot stretch of sand. Doubles from $139–$229.

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Mansion on Forsyth Park, Savannah, GA

Courtesy of The Kessler Collection

Over-the-top 125-room hotel (grand piano; cheetah-print chairs) in an exquisitely restored 1888 mansion that also houses a cooking school and art gallery. Doubles from $169–$299.

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Fairmont Orchid, Big Island, HI

Courtesy of Fairmont Orchid, Big Island

A recently refreshed 540-room hotel with lanais and hidden dining spots on 32 acres on the Kohala Coast. Doubles from $239–$335.

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21c Museum Hotel, Louisville, KY

Courtesy of 21C Museum Hotel

A trendsetting spot: 90 spare-but-polished rooms and a collection of works by living artists, all set in a complex of 19th-century warehouses. Doubles from $225–$325.

T+L Insider Tip: Pick up a map at the Louisville Visitors Center and head out on the Urban Bourbon Trail to taste more than 50 bourbons. The trail stops at 21c’s Proof on Main.

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Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel

Courtesy of The Roosevelt Hotel

Grand 19th-century hotel adjacent to the French Quarter, featuring the iconic Sazerac Bar and Domenica, by Next Iron Chef’s John Besh. Doubles from $159–$499.

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Harbor View Hotel & Resort, Martha's Vineyard, MA

1891 mansion and cottages overlooking Chappaquiddick Island, suffused with Yankee beach style (gingham prints; teak rockers). Doubles from $119–$365.

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Wynn, Las Vegas

Courtesy of the Wynn Las Vegas

The flagship property from developer Steve Wynn has 2,716 rooms, gardens, and 14 restaurants, including the new wine-focused La Cave. Doubles from $169.

Room to Book: One of the rooms in the Tower Suites, where you’ll get VIP check-in, exclusive concierge service, and access to a terrace with private pools.

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Sagamore Resort, Adirondacks, NY

Courtesy of The Sagamore Resort

381-room resort, fresh from a $20 million renovation that added a pool, on a private, 70-acre Lake George island. Doubles from $169–$299.

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Snake River Lodge & Spa, Jackson Hole, WY

Courtesy of Vail Resorts Hospitality / RockResorts

A 123-room Teton Village lodge by Rock-Resorts, plus Wyoming’s largest spa. Doubles from $144–$404.

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Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City

Courtesy of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

1893 castle-style building with views of the St. Lawrence River. Doubles from $170–$379.

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Hotel Eisenhut, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Hotel Eisenhut

78 rooms in a series of 15th- and 16th-century mansions in the Bavarian town’s medieval walled center; traditional Franconian dishes are served on the terrace and in the beer garden. Doubles from $135–$275.

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Ashford Castle, County Mayo, Ireland

Courtesy of Ashford Castle

Medieval crenellated castle on 350 acres along the banks of Lough Corrib. A newly added 50-room country house (pillow-top mattresses; heated bathroom floors) debuted in July. Doubles from $240–$460, including breakfast.

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San Clemente Palace, Venice

R.E.Bright A.De Crignis

Venetian history meets resort charms at this converted 18th-century monastery with an outdoor pool and 2 tennis courts on San Clemente Island. Doubles from $247–$289, including breakfast.

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Westin Bund Center, Shanghai

Courtesy of Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Two streamlined towers, a stylish lobby, and a Banyan Tree Spa, just a 5-minute walk from the historic Bund. Doubles from $203–$360.

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Pangkor Laut Resort, Perak, Malaysia

Courtesy of Pangkor Laut Resort

43 overwater villas on a private isle off the western coast of Malaysia—a lush, undiscovered hideaway. Doubles from $243–$371, including breakfast.

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World's Top Affordable Hotels

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FourSeasons Resort Carmelo, Uruguay

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TurnberryResort, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Turnberry, Scotland

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Victoria House, Ambergris Caye, Belize

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Domainedes Hauts de Loire, Loire Valley, France

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Innon Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

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Villagio Inn & Spa, Yountville, CA

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Hotel1000, Seattle

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Rabbit Hill Inn, Lower Waterford, VT

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Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, FL

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SerengetiSopa Lodge, SerengetiNational Park, Tanzania

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FourSeasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Scottsdale,AZ

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TajMahal Hotel, New Delhi

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MandarinOriental, Las Vegas

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SofitelAngkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia

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TheHomestead, Hot Springs, VA

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Arizona Inn, Tucson

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Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, Orange County, CA

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Hotel Monaco, Denver

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Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square

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One Ocean Resort & Spa, Jacksonville, FL

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Mansion on Forsyth Park, Savannah, GA

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Fairmont Orchid, Big Island, HI

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21c Museum Hotel, Louisville, KY

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Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel

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Harbor View Hotel & Resort, Martha's Vineyard, MA

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Wynn, Las Vegas

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