Budget hotels to stay in Taipei

As one of the more expensive cities to visit in Asia, Taipei isn’t always at the top of the list for the budget traveler, but this lively city full of culture has a lot to offer the thrifty tourist. And far from being a city full of boutique hotels and five-star establishments, there are more than a few budget-friendly hotels right here in the city.

CityInn Plus Ximending

This new hotel is right in the heart of one of Taipei’s coolest neighborhoods, Ximending. The entire building is super modern and very well maintained. Some of the rooms feature murals and modern art touches that give CityInn Plus a very chic and stylish feel that often makes guests wonder if the rates they are paying are actually correct.

Meander Hostel Wanhua

Located in the lively district of Wanhua and just a short walk from Ximending, Meander Hostel offers a warm and friendly welcome, with the staff and owners taking pride in keeping the backpacker spirit alive and well in Taipei. The public areas and bathrooms are incredibly well maintained and everywhere is spotlessly clean. The added bonus of staying here is the likelihood of meeting and hanging out with other travelers.

Dandy Hotel Daan

Hotels near Daan Park are usually in a much higher price bracket than this unusually named Dandy Hotel. Here, the focus is on providing as clean and modern a living space as is possible without overcharging guests. The décor is incredible, and the fact that you are in Daan where there are great public transport connections and so many things to do just makes the place an ideal find.

Flip Flop Hostel Datong

This colorful hostel is an oasis of calm in the busy center of Taipei. Close to a variety of local sights and public transport links, Flip Flop Hostel is a favorite with backpackers or travelers who just want to save a few dollars and stay in a friendly and safe environment. The rooms are modern and serviced regularly, while the staff are happy to help with local tourist information.

Space Inn Hengyang

This futuristic hostel is like something from a sci-fi movie with space themed décor found throughout. Aptly named Space Inn, guests will find a huge kitchen with a variety of appliances as well as a gaming room. The beds are pretty cozy, too, but it’s the décor and location near Ximending that puts this hostel on our list.

See more: 7 amazing themed cafés and restaurants in Taipei

Source: Internet

5 best luxury hotels in Maldives

Dreaming of a picture perfect island vacation? Maldives hotels are undoubtedly among the most beautiful in the world. Think isolated private islands, seemingly illusory over-water villas, and sparkling pristine lagoons.

Velaa Private Island

Ever wondered what you'd do if you were rich enough to afford your own island? Velaa Private Island is the 'beyond luxury' boutique hideaway owned and created by a Czech billionaire. Word has it that he invested $220 million to realize his dream.

The name Velaa comes from the sea turtles that inhabit the island, and they feature prominently in the hotel's contemporary design.

Privacy and comfort are the focus at Velaa Private Island. You'll find it hard to choose between the beachfront and over-water accommodations, as they're both sumptuous and subtlety classy in muted colors. All come with butlers, and alluring outdoor spaces with alfresco dining areas, bathrooms, day beds, and private swimming pools. However, those above the water also have glass viewing panels in the floors of their living rooms, and face either the sunrise or the sunset. For the ultimate honeymoon, look no further than the exclusive one-bedroom Romantic Pool Residence. It's only accessible by boat.

Rooms: 47 villas, houses, and residences, 18 of which are over-water. The largest has four bedrooms, spread over two levels on a private stretch of beach.

Rates: Expect to pay around $2,750 USD upwards per night, during peak season. This includes breakfast and taxes/service charges. Rates drop to around $1,800 USD upwards per night during the low season.

Facilities: Spa, yoga, golf course, tennis court, dive center, fleet of marine vessels (including a submarine and luxury yacht), kid's club, swimming pool, boutiques, library, three restaurants, two bars (including one by the poolside with DJ), and the largest wine and champagne collection in the Maldives.

Cheval Blanc Randheli

You'd expect a hotel owned by luxury fashion group Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy to be spectacular, and Cheval Blanc Randheli certainly doesn't disappoint. It was conceptualized by architect Jean-Michel Gathy, who's widely known for his decadent hotel designs.

Cheval Blanc Randheli is sleek, stylish and glamorous -- and it has what are possibly the best villas in the Maldives. They're modern, with natural materials and textures effortlessly blended in. Can't decide if you'd prefer an island or water villa? The Garden Water Villas are built on stilts over the lagoon and open to a lush private garden in the back, so you get the best of both.

Art is a feature at the hotel, with many pieces that have been especially commissioned by Vincent Beaurin. Don't expect to see the flashy showcasing of Louis Vuitton logos and labels though. The hotel goes beyond that!

Rooms: 46 villas, all with private swimming pools. The four bedroom Owner's Villa is situated on its own private island.

Rates: Expect to pay around $3,500 USD upwards per night, during peak season. This includes breakfast and taxes/service charges. Rates drop to around $2,300 USD upwards per night during the low season.

Facilities: Spa, yoga, dive center, kids club and teens club, Turkish hammam, swimming pool, boutique stocking exclusive products, five restaurants, thee bars, wine and cigar cellars. Bespoke experiences and activities are offered.

Soneva Jani

When intimacy is essential, head Soneva Jani. Opened in late 2016, this new hotel has only 25 villas, making it one of the smallest in the Maldives. It's low on density and big on privacy.

Like its predecessor Soneva Fushi, the hotel was designed by Eva Shivdasani, one of Soneva’s co-founders. The highlight of some of the villas are undoubtedly its retractable roofs in the master bedroom, so you can stargaze in bed at the touch of a button. Some of the water villas also feature slides from the top deck directly into the sea.

Medhufaru Island used to be a farming island, and guests can follow walking trails through the organic gardens that supply the hotel's kitchen.

Rooms: 25 villas (24 water villas and one island villa). Each has its own saltwater pool.

Rates: Expect to pay around $3,200 USD upwards per night, during peak season. This includes taxes/service charges. Rates drop to around $2,000 USD upwards per night during the low season.

Facilities: Spa, yoga, dive center, dolphin cruises, tennis court, kids club, observatory with high powered telescope, outdoor cinema, library, boutique, swimming pool, several restaurants, wine cellar.

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

Not only can you stay over the water at the new St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, you can dine and drink over the water as well, for the ultimate sea experience. The hotel's tapas Whale Bar juts out into the ocean and is the perfect sunset spot!

If that's not enough, the hotel also has a massive signature over-water Iridium Spa. Focused on wellness, it comes with an Ayurvedic specialist, acupuncturist, hydrotherapy pool, private steam rooms, and spa cuisine.

This stunning new luxury Maldives hotel opened in late 2016, on a leafy 22 acre private island, and it's certainly been set up to facilitate relaxation and rejuvenation.

Rooms: 77 villas, all with their own pools.

Rates: Expect to pay around $2,500 USD upwards per night, during peak season. This includes breakfast and taxes/service charges. Rates drop to around $1,300 USD upwards per night during the low season.

Facilities: Spa, dive center, water sports center, tennis court, fitness center, kids club, recreation area, four restaurants plus a pop-up dining experience, two bars, swimming pool, library, underground wine cellar.

Six Senses Laamu

The Six Senses Laamu resort has perfected the art of eco chic, with a Robinson Crusoe castaway feel. The rustic yet hip villas and their furniture have been made from timber grown in sustainable forests. Cushions in vibrantly colored fabric add a modern twist. Highlights in the Water Villas include glass sunken bathtubs and glass-bottomed dining areas.

Much of the resort is situated over the water as well, including lobby, restaurants and bars, wine cellar, dive center, library, and gift shop. The spa, on the island, is just as striking. Its cocoon shaped treatment rooms are made from twigs and branches twined together!

What's more, Six Senses Laamu is the only luxury resort in Laamu Atoll, where dolphins swim. Outstanding surfing is also to be had there, with the world-class Yin Yang surf break nearby.

Rooms: 72 over-water villas, 25 beach villas. Some have private pools.

Rates: Expect to pay around $2,100 USD upwards per night, during peak season. This includes breakfast and taxes/service charges. Rates drop to around $800 USD upwards per night during the low season.

Facilities: Extensive spa with Ayurvedic therapies, dive center, water sports center, kids club, six restaurants and bars, swimming pool.

See more: The most spectacular dining locations in the Maldives

Source: Internet

5 most amazing hotels in Japan

Japan, also known as the Land of the Rising Sun, is an exciting and culturally fascinating travel destination. Its hotels are equally appealing, and they are just as diverse as the nation itself. You will find the skyscrapers catering to international business travelers in hubs like Tokyo and Kyoto, but you’ll also find luxurious resorts and capsule hotels.

Park Hotel Tokyo

The Park Hotel Tokyo is a contemporary skyscraper in the middle of the capital city. From its top floors, you can expect stunning views over the city. The Park Hotel Tokyo is also conveniently located just a two-minute walk from the Shimbashi Station, which allows you to get to other major destinations in the area via subway. There are seven dining options within the Park Hotel Tokyo that serve up Japanese cuisine as well as international fare. Other luxury amenities include a spa, a fitness facility and a lounge filled with modern art.

Gate Hotel Asakusa Kaminarimon

A brief walk from the Asakusa Train Station is the upscale Gate Hotel Asakusa Kaminarimon, one of the most popular contemporary hotels in Tokyo. The convenient location makes it easy to travel via train around the city, but you can also walk right to attractions like the Senso-ji Temple or the Hanayashiki Theme Park. The rooms are comfortable and modern, and guests will have access to hotel amenities like in-room massage therapy, a French restaurant and an open-air terrace exclusively available for guests to enjoy, which happens to be an amazing place to soak in city views.

See more: Things to do in Asakusa, Tokyo

Hoshinoya Kyoto

You’ll find the upscale Hoshinoya Kyoto on the banks of the Katsura River in the popular Arashiyama district of Kyoto. Although it is in the center of the city, the setting is wooded, and guests will be just a short walk from the wildly famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. The rooms are sleek, modern but minimal, and they feature bamboo decor and tatami mat flooring. A floating tearoom is an ultimate luxury, allowing you to sip upscale teas right over the waters of the river.

Hakone-Ginyu

This luxurious spa resort can be found in Hakone, and it is surrounded by lush green mountains. The suites are spacious but minimalist, designed with relaxation in mind. Many of the rooms and suites at the Hakone-Ginyu offer private terraces, and the views are definitely one of the most appealing things about this incredible resort. You’ll also be able to unwind in one of the two open-air bathhouses, not to mention the countless hot tubs. Indulge in spa treatments, and then enjoy incredible Japanese cuisine while making the most of the mountain views.

See more: Hakone, a peaceful place in Japan

The Windsor Hotel Toya

On the Japanese island of Hokkaido, you’ll find the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort and Spa. At the Windsor Hotel Toya, you can choose from traditional minimalist rooms with tatami mats or upgraded western beds, all of which offer amenities like wifi access, personal fridges and flat-screen televisions. The spa facilities are the main attraction, featuring a bathhouse, an indoor pool, and a hot tub, but there is also a scenic golf course on the property. Guests will also be mere minutes from the enticing Toyako Hot Spring.

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Best luxurious resorts in Vietnam

Accommodation in Vietnam ranges from simple dorm accommodation in backpacking hostels to world-class resorts, both in large cities and in popular coastal and rural destinations.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Situated right outside the very center of Hanoi, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is within a 10-minute walk to Hoan Kiem Lake and the National Museum of Vietnamese History. The hotel offers an outdoor heated pool. Wellness facilities include a Turkish steam bath, a jacuzzi and a spa bath and a relaxing massage session can be requested. Family-friendly rooms are available, big enough to accommodate guests traveling with kids.

Park Hyatt Saigon

The Park Hyatt is situated on Lam Son Square in Ho Chi Minh City providing guests with easy access to such attractions as the Saigon Opera House and the Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theater. The 252 guestrooms available at the Park Hyatt Saigon include amenities such as air-conditioning, cable television, and high-speed Internet access. Guests can also enjoy a swimming pool, a fitness center and a full-service spa, which offers a selection of massages and beauty treatments.

See more: 4 romantic getaways in Vietnam

Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang

Situated at Nha Trang’s beachfront, the Evason Ana Mandara offers stunning views of Nha Trang Bay. Featuring luxury, elegant design and decor, the luxury resort offers guest rooms that are either situated in the lush tropical gardens or with spectacular views of the sea. Each unit is provided with a Jacuzzi and has free internet access. There are several dining options, from the Pavilion Restaurant that offers Vietnamese and International specialties to the Beach Restaurant where visitors can taste freshest local seafood by the infinity swimming pool.

Bai Tram Hideaway Resort

Properly, peaceful hideaway Bai Tram is a place of such rare beauty you can't believe that you haven't heard before. A sandy bumpy track leads past shacks within roofs aflame with bougainvillea, past a wide mouth of blue water and a rickety bamboo bridge; past shrimp farms and velvet-eyed cows. The road ascends to the entrance, where you climb out of the car to take in the view: a 100-hectare sweep of creamy white sand and green bush encircled by hills, remote and stunning.

See more: 5 most luxurious resorts in Quy Nhon

Pilgrimage Village

The Pilgrimage Village is located 4 miles from Hue’s city center and offers guests a rustic village setting. The luxury resort was renovated in 2007 and offers a blend of local culture, modern art concepts, and traditional Vietnamese style elements. A total of 99 accommodation units are available including 72 deluxe units, 15 honeymoon bungalows, 5 honeymoon pool huts, and 3 traditional Vietnamese pool houses.

Princess d'Annam Resort & Spa

Facing a century-old French lighthouse and placed in a picturesque surrounding amidst magnificent sceneries, the Princess d’Annam Resort is Vietnam’s first all-villa luxury boutique resort. The hotel is situated on the pristine bay of Ke Ga about a 4-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh city. Overlooking the South China Sea, it is features stunning mountains, red canyons, sand dunes and a rich ecosystem. Guests can participate in a wide range of outdoor activities from four-wheel exploration on dirt roads or spectacular mountain raids, to playing at one of Vietnam’s best golf course.

La Residence Hue Hotel & Spa

Located in the heart of Hue, the La Residence Hue Hotel is made up of 122 spacious guestrooms. All of these accommodations are gracefully appointed with a wide array of modern amenities. Enjoyable local, regional, and international cuisine can be appreciated in hotel’s restaurant and guests can sip on their favorite drink at the cozy bar. Visitors can work out in the gymnasium, take a dip in the swimming pool, soak in the sauna or enjoy a variety of spa services.

Source Internet