• Majestic Grande (Bangkok, Thailand): The Majestic could rightly be called either a small-scale luxury hotel or a bloated boutique hotel. It's in a prime spot off bustling Sukhumvit, with rooms going for half the price of the large chains.
  • Tamarind Village (Chiang Mai, Thailand): If you're going to travel on a budget, do it with style -- and style is what Tamarind Village has wrapped up in its quiet courtyard in the middle of Old Town. Rooms are new and rather spartan in concrete and rattan, but everything is tiptop.
  • Day Inn Hotel (Vientiane, Laos): There's a comfortable, laid-back feel here, and this many long-stay visitors can't be wrong. You'll find rooms for $32 (£18).
  • Spring Hotel (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam): Not especially luxurious, but rooms in this privately owned downtown property (one of few nongovernmental places in Saigon) start at $36 (£20). It's light on amenities but very comfortable, convenient, and friendly.
  • Goldiana (Phnom Penh, Cambodia): It's no-frills, but friendly and cheap, set in a quiet neighborhood south of the town center. The hotel is popular with long-staying visitors and NGO workers.
  • Perak Hotel (Singapore): A homey budget gem on the edge of Little India, where narrow back alleys are filled with excellent food, great shopping, convenient facilities for backpackers, and tons of cultural charm.
  • Swiss-Inn (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia): Right in the center of Kuala Lumpur's bustling Chinatown, the Swiss-Inn is the perennial favorite for travelers here. A comfortable choice, plus it's so close to everything.
  • Heeren House (Melaka, Malaysia): Bargain or no bargain, this boutique hotel in the heart of the old city is the place to stay in Melaka if you want to really get a feel for the local atmosphere.
  • Telang Usan Hotel (Kuching, Malaysia): An informal place, Telang Usan is homey and quaint, and within walking distance of many major attractions in Kuching.
  • The Losmen (Homestays) of Bali: These small-time accommodations will give you a large, comfortable (though no-frills) room or bungalow with a big, often fancy breakfast for about $5 a night for two.
  • Alila Manggis and Alila Ubud (Bali). These twin resorts have nearly all the amenities of luxury properties but at rates ranging from $100 to $150 (£67-£100) per night. You'll have to put up with slightly cramped rooms, but in return you'll get beautiful common areas, stellar service, excellent food, and expert spa treatments. And just in case you don't want to sit by the beautiful infinity pool at the Ubud property, the Alila offers a daily activity schedule with cooking classes, treks, and cultural lessons.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.