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Ten top hotel deals in luxury destinations

3rd June 2010 Print
Luxury Hotel Deals in the World's Top Destinations

Booking a dream vacation is rarely easy – planning usually starts months in advance, and exorbitant travel costs can make certain distant or exotic destinations impossible or unpalatable. Yet the sights and sounds of these spectacular cities offer unforgettable memories and experiences.

To resolve this dilemma, trivago.co.uk has identified ten great, affordable hotels in some of the world’s most expensive holiday destinations, proving that a dream vacation can be achieved without sacrificing service or savings.

Here are the top hotel deals, ranked according to the ratings given by travelers from the trivago travel community.

1. Grand Palladium Bavaro Resort & Spa, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The Grand Palladium Bavaro Resort & Spa is a 5-star hotel located right in front of the Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. This graceful property is surrounded by tropical vegetation and a coconut palm plantation, while a bountiful coral reef extends outwards from the hotel’s white sand beaches. The rooms are large and luxurious, with views looking out on the sea, pool or gardens. As part of its all-inclusive food and drinks program, the hotel features six restaurants – the Behique, Torres, Cathedral, Bohio, La Uva and El Arrecife restaurants – serving a wide range of local specialties and international cuisines. With leisure activities including four pools, a spa, watersport equipment and dancing classes, there should be something for everyone at the Grand Palladium Bavaro Resort & Spa.

Available starting from £102 for a standard double room (breakfast  incl.) through gtahotels.com

2. Shine Hotel, Imerovigli (Santorini), Greece

Shine Hotel is located in the small village of Imerovigli on the island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea. The hotel’s rooms feature the standard comforts of a top hotel, but go one step further: guests have their own private Jacuzzi. The village of Imerovigli is built around the caldera of a dormant volcano, 300 metres above sea level, and is quite breathtaking in itself – the dazzlingly white buildings paint a stunning contrast to the deep blues of the surrounding sea and sky. Sandy beaches are within walking distance of the Shine Hotel, and the island is famous for its delectable wines and magnificent sunsets.

Available from £64 for a standard double room (breakfast incl.) through LateRooms.com

3. Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora Hotel, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

The Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora is located along the edge of a gorgeous lagoon on the southern tip of the island of Bora Bora. In addition to modern beach houses, guests can also stay in traditional Tahitian overwater bungalows, fashioned out of natural materials such as bamboo weaving, pandanus thatched roofs, woods and shells. This does not prevent them from being equipped with all the latest technological amenities; TVs, telephones, minibars, electricity outlets and fully functioning bathrooms are all integrated. As for the island of Bora Bora itself, there is much to see and do. The waters are teeming with marine life and multi-hued corals, many types of watersports are available, and the tropical jungle paradise of Bora Bora is a treasure waiting to be explored.

Available starting from £89 for a standard double room through gtahotels.com

4. La Pensione Svizzera, Taormina (Sicily), Italy

La Pensione Svizzera is a charming three-star hotel located in the heart of Taormina on the island of Sicily. Taormina is well known for its spectacular beaches, medieval architecture, and gorgeous landscapes, and there are many sights to see, from the grand Chiesa di San Giuseppe cathedral to the ruins of the ancient Greek theatre. Not to be missed is the Corvaja Palace, a former Arabian military tower that was converted into a mansion by one of Taormina’s oldest and noblest families, the Corvajas, who resided there from 1538 to 1945. La Pensione Svizzera is also a piece of living history; it has belonged to the Vinciguerra family since 1925. In addition to a splendid view of the sea, La Pensione Svizzera features a lovely garden and terrace on which to enjoy a fine Italian breakfast or Cappuccino.

Available starting from £82 for a standard double room through Booking.com

5. Hotel Alexandra, Locarno, Switzerland

Hotel Alexandra is an early 20th Century villa located in Locarno, Ticino, one of the most beautiful regions in the Italian part of Switzerland. Lounging serenely on the edge of Lake Maggiore, this cosy three-star hotel has 18 comfortable rooms and a wonderful courtyard in which to relax. Locarno is a perfect getaway for those who love nature and harmony – between the extensive mountain hiking trails, idyllic countryside, and calming waters of Lake Maggiore, there are few more enjoyable places to see. The cable car up to Orselina, Cardada and Cimetta offers unmatched vistas of the surrounding region, and the Visconteo Castle and Piazza Grande are also enjoyable visits.

Available from £72 for a standard double room (breakfast incl.) through Booking.com

6. AC Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

The AC Barcelona is a four-star hotel located in Barcelona, the Catalonian capital and Spain’s  second largest city. The AC Barcelona’s intended theme is one of relaxation, and this is reflected in the comfortable rooms and welcoming lounge. The hotel’s inhouse restaurant, Dia & Nit, prides itself on its healthy cuisine, and offers a wide range of Mediterannean delicacies, Spanish tapas, salads, meats and risottos. The solarium terrace and swimming pool on the higher floors offer additional ways to unwind, in addition to a great view of the city and the sea. Barcelona itself has much to offer travellers. The magnificent Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia, famed architect Gaudi’s spectacular Magnus Opus, is an absolute must-see. Guell Park, another of Gaudi’s masterpieces, is also worth the visit, as are the Picasso Museum and botanical gardens of the Parc de Collserola.

Available starting from £93 for a standard double room through LastMinute.com

7. Hotel Milan, Moscow, Russia

Hotel Milan is a lovely four-star hotel located just outside the center of Moscow – one of Europe’s most expensive metropolitan cities. For business travellers looking to enjoy a touch of Moscow’s regal charm, the hotel’s comfortable rooms, nine modern conference halls and regular shuttle service to and from the airport are an excellent advantage. For leisure travellers looking to experience the sights and sounds of the Russian capital, the hotel is equally well located. The Kolomenskoye and Tsaritsyno estate museums are conveniently close, and more recognizable attractions such as the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral and Bolshoy Theatre are all within easy travel distance. Hotel Milan’s top-notch restaurant features a wide range of both Russian and Mediterannean fare, and the piano bar’s touching melodies will add a dash of class to the evenings.

Available from £80 for a standard double room (breakfast incl.) through HRS.com

8. Clarion Hotel Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

The Clarion Hotel Copenhagen – a four-star hotel conveniently located only seven minutes away from the city’s downtown area. This stylish hotel offers all the conveniences of a modern hotel: comfortable rooms with satellite TV and wi-fi, fully equipped meeting rooms, and soothing pursuits such as a sauna, hot tub and lounge. It is the perfect place from which to explore the beautiful canal city of Copenhagen. Most of the buildings in this Danish city are 200 to 300 years old, and the wide streets are a pleasure to stroll through. Nyhaven, the boardwalk promenade along the canal, is one of the coastal city’s most famous icons. So is the statue of the Little Mermaid (currently on loan to Shanghai for the World Expo 2010), which celebrates the works of famed fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen.

Available starting from £83 for a standard double room (breakfast incl.) through Hotels.com

9. The Regency, Roquebrune, France

The Regency in Roquebrune is a small hotel de charme located in front of the Grand Bleu, a fine white sandy beach only a short distance away from the Municipality of Monaco. The twelve rooms of this lovely hotel are invitingly cosy, and eight of them have an incomparable view of the sea. With its close proximity to Monte-Carlo, the Regency is an ideal starting point to explore the luxurious, glamorous city of Monaco; the shopping districts, casinos and Jardin Exotique de Monaco are all extremely popular. For a more relaxing day out, the Italian border is only a few kilometres away, making daytrips into the Italian foothills an attractive alternative.

Available starting from £82 for a standard double room through Booking.com

10. NH Rex, Geneva, Switzerland

The NH Rex is a four-star hotel located in the business district, close to the center of Geneva. Only a short distance from the airport and main motorways, this makes the NH Rex ideal for business travellers looking for a relaxing and affordable stay in Europe’s most expensive city. The hotel’s location is also perfect for casual travellers; beautiful Lake Geneva is only a few minutes walking distance, as is the Jet d’Eau, the city’s most recognizable landmark: a towering, 140 metre high water jet in the lake itself that has been in operation since 1951. For those with an interest in world politics and fine architecture, the impressive headquarters of the United Nations are also nearby. The NH Rex has all the features of a top modern hotel, including wifi, currency exchange services, and a business center, and the rooms are elegant and spacious.

Available starting from £76 for a standard double room through Hotels.com

The ranking is based on the top rated hotels on trivago.co.uk with the best deals during the months of June and July in the world’s most expensive cities (as determined by the trivago Hotel Price Index of May 2010).

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Luxury Hotel Deals in the World's Top Destinations