The Best Hotel Bargains

Majestic Grande (Bangkok, Thailand): The Majestic could rightly be called either a small-scale luxury hotel or a bloated boutique hotel. Regardless of the label, 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 tip-top.

Day Inn Hotel (Vientiane, Laos): So it's just a few notches above your average guesthouse, but there's a comfortable, laid-back feel here, and this many long-stay visitors can't be wrong. You'll find rooms for US$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 US$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.

SHA Villa (Singapore): This boutique hotel is packed with Southeast Asian charm. It has an attentive staff and an ideal location, close to Orchard Road.

Swiss-Inn (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia): Location, location, location! 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 (Malacca, Malaysia): Bargain or no bargain, this boutique hotel in the heart of the old city is the place to stay in Malacca 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 US$5 a night for two.

Ritz-Carlton Bali (Jimbaran, Bali): Okay, it's certainly not cheap, but the resort -- with spectacular amenities and massive grounds made for strolling -- offers great value for money.