Asia's best luxury stays with an affordable price tag

Luxury and affordability rarely go hand in hand, but here we speak with travel search engine, KAYAK.com.au, to reveal the cheapest countries in Asia for a five-star hotel break.

Sri Lanka

Jungle Beach Resort, Trincomalee

Sandwiched between a lagoon and the ocean, decadent cabins are hidden among the mangroves, providing an idyllic setting for both privacy and enviable views.

Here you can also enjoy private dining on the beach with delicious, locally-sourced, five-course dinners.

Rooms from approximately $213 per night.

India

Radisson Blu Resort and Spa Alibaug, Alibaug

Situated in a coastal town just south of Mumbai, the nearby cultural and heritage sites are well worth a visit alone.

However you may not want to leave the hotel at all given its spa, fitness suite, library, entertainment centre and two impressive restaurants, all for a steal.

Rooms from approximately $151 per night.

Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

This especially beautiful property is the embodiment of Indian luxury, where you can expect to be treated like royalty.

Aside from the faultless service, think stunning views across the Arabian Sea, along with spas, luxurious lounges and fitness areas.

Rooms from approximately $279 per night.

Malaysia

Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur

With one of the best views of Kuala Lumpur’s impressive skyline available, the hotel features a rooftop infinity pool and its own florist (yes, florist), among countless other amenities.

Cocktails at the stunning rooftop Skybar are a definite highlight.

Rooms from approximately $187 per night.

Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur

Travellers looking for quiet respite whilst being conveniently located in the city centre will enjoy the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.

With a standard room you can expect a marble bath, king-sized bed and walk-in shower, or treat yourself to a suite and lap up your own spa bath overlooking the city skyline.

If you can tear yourself away from the view there’s also a luxurious outdoor swimming pool and the popular Essa spa.

Rooms from approximately $271 per night.

China

Hyatt on the Bund, Shanghai

Located on the Huang Pu River, Hyatt on the Bund is an oasis within the city, a short walk from the bustle of central Shanghai.

Those in Bund Club rooms can enjoy complimentary cocktails overlooking the city every evening, before indulging in the incredible Yuan Spa downstairs.

Rooms from approximately $218 per night.

The Westin Bund Center, Shanghai

Just 300 metres from Shanghai’s iconic Bund, The Westin Bund Center is a popular base for a city escape.

The hotel’s impressive lobby, with sculptures throughout, leads to rooms with unparalleled views of the city.

And for an especially luxurious experience, visit the Bayan Tree Spa and indulge in the Ying Yang package, promising to rejuvenate any weary traveller.

Rooms from approximately $244 per night.

Thailand

Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn, Bangkok

Eastin Grand is undoubtedly excellent value for money.

For lovers of luxury the rooftop swimming pool has panoramic views of the city, and if you’re travelling as a family you can reserve a whole floor with connecting rooms and a play area.

Rooms from approximately $101 per night.

Lebua at State Tower, Bangkok

The Lebua is extravagant living with a budget price tag. From standard to high-end, all rooms at the Lebua are more than comfortable.

But it’s the Lebua’s extra facilities that the hotel is renowned for, most notably the rooftop bars including Sky Bar, and the world’s highest open-air restaurant, serving award-winning contemporary Mediterranean cuisine, Sirocco.

Rooms from approximately $137 per night.

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Philippines

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Manila

Luxury of this level doesn’t come much cheaper. This elegant hotel is infused with Filipino culture, from the decadent hotel suites to the spa and lagoon-shaped pool.

Rooms from approximately $166 per night.

Fairmont Makati, Manila

Each room at the Fairmont Makati has floor-to-ceiling glass windows, access to the rooftop pool and all the amenities you’d expect of a five-star luxury property, but for a fraction of the cost.

Rooms from approximately $205 per night.

Note: Average nightly rates shown in rankings table are based on searches made on KAYAK.com.au in 2015.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Asia’s best luxury stays with an affordable price tag