These cities offer luxury for less with five-star stays for under £200 a night
Some of the world's most luxurious hotels can set you back thousands a night, making world-class hospitality, state-of-the-art spas and fine dining restaurants out of reach for those on an average traveller's budget.
However, Hotels.com has revealed how those seeking a five-star experience can save hundreds of pounds if they choose the right destination to travel to.
The accommodation booking platform has used its hotel listings to create its 2025 Hotel Price Index, revealing where guests can book luxury for less and where money will go further to deliver the best value five-star stays.
The index found that the best international cities for five-star stays under £200 a night also correlate with a recent rise in visitor popularity.
The city with the best value-for-money five-star hotels is Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, with stays in high-end rooms for as little as £108 per night.
Bangkok, Thailand, known for its glitzy luxury hotels that offer private terraces and large pools in the middle of the bustling city, was next on the list. The city can offer five-star stays for as little as £123 per night.
The booking site has flagged The Standard in Bangkok as one of the best value five-star hotels in the world.
Set within one of the city's iconic skyscrapers, the five-star stay offers floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views over Bangkok, a rooftop pool and a selection of bars and restaurants. With Hotels.com VIP Access programme, guests can stay here for as little as £139 per night.
Over in Europe, Prague in the Czech Republic and Istanbul in Turkey have also earned their place on the list, with five-star accommodation starting from £136 and £137 per night, respectively.
The Crowne Plaza Istanbul Ortakoy Bosphorus was spotlighted by Hotels.com as being one of the best value five-star stays. The property sits along the sparkling Bosphorus straight in the quieter Ortakoy district, offering modern luxury throughout its rooms, a rooftop restaurant and a traditional Turkish hamman in its spa.
Guests can stay here for as little as £117 per night, as well as receiving 20 per cent off spa treatments through the VIP Access programme.
Finishing off the top five is Doha in Qatar, with stays in its five-star hotels, some of which make up its ultra-modern, futuristic skyline, from £173 per night.
Hotels.com compared these destinations to some of the most popular cities that Brits tend to visit when they are booking five-star hotels, including Paris, which usually sets guests back £505 a night, minimum.
A five-star hotel in London usually costs around £306 a night, whereas Barcelona also has a high price point of £281 a night.
The 2025 Hotel Price Index revealed that Brits looking to spend less on luxury may need to look a little further afield to get the most out of their holiday budget, with international cities offering better value five-star stays than destinations within the UK and short-haul European destinations often visited by Brits.
Melanie Fish, vice president of Global PR and Hotels.com's travel expert, said that the Hotel Price Index offers a rare, data-driven lens into where 'luxury quietly costs less'.
'Cities like Bangkok, Budapest and Bristol stand out for offering top-rated stays across all star levels, proving that great travel doesn't have to come with a high price tag.
'And for those looking to stretch their money further, programs like Hotels.com's VIP Access can add unexpected value, from complimentary upgrades to spa credits, turning a good deal into a great experience.'
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Whether you're looking for a summer city break, a European beach getaway or a Thailand backpacking adventure, has plenty of options to get excited about. With everything from stately castles to sleek high rises and boutique boltholes, our team of deal experts is pulling back the covers on how to stay in your dream hotel for less. Here are all the best ways to save money on your booking. The best ways to save at Apply a discount code You can almost always save 10 per cent or more on your booking by applying a promo code. To apply the code that we've listed above, continue to the booking confirmation screen, where you'll see an 'Apply a coupon code' field under the hotel summary section. Paste in your code and apply to see your booking cost reduce. Sign up for a one key membership One key is a free loyalty program, available for UK and US customers, where you work your way up the tiers for more benefits. All members start with a blue tier membership, moving up to silver, gold and platinum, unlocking more perks with each level. Here's a breakdown of what you get: Blue: Save 10 per cent or more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide Silver: Get 15 per cent or more off member pricing for 10,000+ hotels, plus three per cent one key cash (aka rewards points) towards future stays and hotel food or drink perks. Gold: Save 20 per cent or more thousands of hotels, plus room upgrade and four per cent one key cash and hotel food or drink perks. Platinum: All of the as above, plus six per cent one key cash and VIP customer support. You earn one key cash on eligible bookings, which starts at two per cent and increases with each tier. These accumulated rewards points can be used towards future hotel or car hire booking. As well as the one key membership can be used on partner sites Expedia and Vrbo, meaning more opportunities to build up your perks and discounts. 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From corporate travel and wedding parties, to travelling with friends or family, it's well worth getting a direct quote from the customer service team to see if this beats any other rates. In fact, guarantees to meet or beat the price of any other quotes for the same number of rooms at another hotel of comparable quality. What to know before you book Flexible vs non-refundable rates Flexible bookings usually let you cancel up to 24 hours before check‑in for a full refund. Whilst non‑refundable rates are cheaper, they do come with a risk of losing more money should you need to change or cancel your booking. We recommend checking the cancellation policy on the room page, as times and terms vary by hotel. To amend or cancel, head to the 'Trips' tab on the main menu and click on the relevant booking. You will see options to change or update the booking, where you can follow the prompts until you reach your desired outcome. Mobile app vs website bookings It's worth downloading the app to take advantage of app-exclusive deals and lower rates. You can also set up push notifications and alerts for sales or price drops, and easily manage your booking in just a few clicks. Price match promise You can book with peace of mind that you're always getting the best deal, thanks to the price promise. This means that if you find the same room cheaper elsewhere, even after booking, you'll be refunded the difference. Just make sure to submit your claim before 11:59pm the day before check‑in. Other important details include: The cheaper rate must be for the same hotel, room type, dates, cancellation policy and currency. You can't claim on stays booked via other platforms' promotions (such as package deals, discount codes or membership pricing) The price promise is only applicable to refundable bookings. The team at The Independent specialises in finding the best travel deals and discount codes. 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