11 Surprisingly Affordable Luxury Hotels

The Royal Surakarta Heritage boasts a beautifully intricate design, first-class facilities and a fantastic location right in the heart of Surakarta City. Indeed, it’s right over the road from Fort Vastenburg, with several big malls and the city’s main historical attractions only a short walk away. The beautiful Grand Mosque of Kraton Surakarta and the Kasunanan Palace are both within a kilometre of the hotel. If you’re in Solo (as Surakarta is also known) for its historic features, this is a fantastic choice for you.

Regardless of why you're visiting the city, The Royal Surakarta Heritage offers an incredibly comfortable stay that won't break the bank. Despite its historical décor, the building itself is very modern, with a modest swimming pool, fitness centre and spa as well as a well-regarded restaurant.

Grand Venus La Residence is a small yet chic resort a short distance from the famous Angkor Wat. It’s located in a quiet part of the city, meaning that many of the roads around it are just dirt tracks. However, it also means that it provides a quiet and peaceful place to relax between trips to explore the nearby ancient Khmer ruins.

There’s more than just a peaceful location that makes Grand Venus La Residence a great place to relax. The price tag may be modest, but the luxury is certainly not. The whole resort is built around the main pool, with day beds available and even tables in the pool, so you can snack while you chill. The place has a clean and crisp décor that extends from the luxuriant bathtubs to the onsite spa and restaurant.

The Grand Ion Delemen Hotel is an elegant modern hotel on top of a mountain in the Titiwangsa Range, just an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur. You certainly don’t need to rough it just because you’re out in stunning natural surroundings, either – the hotel has a very chic, minimalist design, with the occasional lavish feature.

If the balcony view of mist-shrouded mountains ever gets old, the Grand Ion Delemen Hotel has plenty to keep you entertained. There are indoor and outdoor pools, a separate children’s pool, an extensive gym, a flying fox and rock-climbing facility and a wide range of fun family activities. Naturally, these and many other fun workshops and activities make this an excellent family hotel, as does the fact that the Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park is just down the road.

Windsor Marapendi is a beautiful beachfront hotel in fabulous Rio de Janeiro. Located just over the road from Barra da Tijuca Beach, the hotel is both convenient for the coast while being far enough from the centre of the city to be peaceful and more affordable. The views out to sea take some beating, too.

The hotel itself has gone for the classic luxurious style of marble and mahogany, albeit with modern facilities. These include a rooftop pool, fitness room, sauna and an outstanding restaurant.

NH Collection Buenos Aires Centro Histórico is located, as the name suggests, right in the heart of the Argentine capital’s historic centre. In fact, it’s just next to the hugely significant Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada and is a short walk from several more museums and landmarks.

Despite this historical setting, this hotel is very modern in its design and the rooms are very stylish and spacious. While the rooftop pool isn’t huge, the view from its terrace over the surrounding old rooftops is amazing.

Villa Chinka is a beautiful, classically luxurious resort on the shore of the Black Sea. Expect an elegant design somewhere between Romanesque and modern, with elegant columns and arches alongside stylish and spacious rooms.

The most impressive feature of Villa Chinka is definitely its choice of places to enjoy the water. It has an outdoor pool and the Black Sea is just a few steps away, with the resort's own breakwater creating a calm beach. There's also an indoor pool and a sauna overlooking the sea. If all else fails, you could just enjoy the huge deep-soak bathtub in your room.

The Al Najada Doha Hotel is palatial in its design and scale, yet surprisingly not its price tag. The high-ceilinged restaurant, elegant pool bar, luxurious spa and delightful décor will have you feeling like royalty. The rooms have an iconic arabesque décor but modern furnishings, creating an experience with both traditional elegance and contemporary comfort.

Even the location of the Al Najada Doha Hotel is fantastic. It’s right in the middle of Doha, just down the road from Souq Waqif, the Dhow Harbour and the Corniche. It’s a convenient spot for exploring the city’s cultural highlights, including the Museum of Islamic Art, the National Museum of Qatar and the Msheireb Museums.

The Marmorosch Bucharest is a delightfully elegant and luxurious hotel in Bucharest’s Old Town. Taking over the former headquarters of Romania’s most influential bank, it’s a striking architectural masterpiece both inside and out. It actually looks very much like the Palace of Parliament or the Royal Palace, both of which are only a short walk away.

Naturally, the hotel combines classic beauty with modern convenience. That certainly explains the excellent spa, fine-dining restaurant and indoor pool. The rooms themselves feature modern furnishings with chic décor. Be sure to check out the bar, which is in an old safety deposit box vault.

The Mount Juliet Estate makes great use of its magnificent Georgian manor house while still providing modern comforts and a realistic price tag. The house has been extensively modernised with an indoor pool, gym, spa and 2 restaurants, one of which has earned a Michelin star and 4 AA Rosette awards. The rooms still boast a very classic décor, but with modern fittings.

Arguably the best bit of this particular resort is its extensive grounds. The River Nore runs close by the manor house and the onsite golf course. There are also hiking trails, a riding hall, and beautiful views across the rolling countryside of County Kilkenny to enjoy.

The Parco dei Principi Hotel di Sorrento exudes style by the bucketload. The décor, while simple, has that distinctive Riviera style that gives it a timeless elegance, especially when matched with the glittering blue of the Bay of Naples. The rooms, restaurant, bar, pool and clifftop terrace all prominently feature the iconic blue-and-white design.

Parco dei Principi takes full advantage of its beautiful surroundings, giving guests access to a 3-hectare botanical garden and a private beach with a second restaurant. The breakwater keeps the waters off the beach calm while the towering cliff the hotel sits atop provides shade for much of the day.

The Akra Hotel in Antalya is a massive resort that features several outdoor pools, a private beach, tennis courts, park-like grounds and more. Despite its massive size, it doesn’t sacrifice its style and comfort, offering guests a genuinely luxurious stay with modern conveniences.

The Akra Hotel also boasts a next-generation spa, a health club, a sauna and an indoor pool. There are also 4 first-class restaurants and 2 chic lounge bars to choose from. If you’re travelling with little ones, you’ll appreciate the free children’s club and supervised childcare services.