Where to stay

Discover the best neighbourhood to base yourself in Dubai, whether you’re here for the paradise of beaches, the world-class shopping, the desert and the souqs, the cuisine? or to explore this incredible Emirate and its history. Our detailed guide has recommendations for the best neighbourhood for families, explorers, shoppers, couples, and combinations of all of the above and more!

The Hotel Guru’s guide to the towns and villages of the Cotswolds, from Burford with its pretty high street; to Chipping Campden, birthplace of the Arts and Crafts movement; and historic Cirencester. Check availability and book online.

Florence is the favourite city of many, loved for its art, architecture, cuisine, and history. Unusually for such a popular destination, the big hotel chains haven’t made huge inroads here; the Florentine accommodation scene includes numerous converted palazzo and historic villas, townhouse hotels, and other independently run conversions. There’s plenty of accommodation close to the historic centre of Florence, but it’s worth considering some of our alternative recommendations too.

One of Tokyo’s appeals are the city’s contradictions, how can a city be both so historic and traditional, and yet so contemporary? And the type of accommodation you can find in Tokyo really reflects this, from historic, family-owned ryokans, to luxurious contemporary skyscrapers, quirkily elegant boutique hotels and chic business hotels. And then there’s Tokyo’s neighbourhoods to navigate. Our guide will certainly help with this...

The Hotel Guru’s guide to Crete’s towns and villages will help you match your travel plans with where to stay. Whether you want to explore Crete’s history in Heraklion, stay in charming old Chania, or head for a beach resort. Check availability and book online.

Montréal is well known for being the meeting place of old and new. Regularly referred to as Canada’s cultural capital, Montréal is rich in both historic treasures and in contemporary prizes...

Bright, effervescent and often quite thrilling, it’s easy to argue that Las Vegas is the world’s capital of hedonism. It can be all that and more, but it can also be a great place to spend time with your family and friends, seeing the desert, the Grand Canyon, and enjoying some of the crazy sights of Las Vegas...

Buenos Aires is one of the most exciting cities in South America, a destination of historic sights on elegant boulevards; cosmopolitan eateries; invitingly lively wine bars; colourful street markets; and opportunities to dance until dawn. Old but vibrant, Buenos Aires has plenty of neighbourhoods with personality...

The Hotel Guru’s guide to the neighbourhoods of São Paulo, from luxurious Jardins, to foodie-favourite Pinheiros, arty Vila Madalena, and Republica in the Centro Historic...

Osaka is grittier, more entrepreneurial and more vibrantly fun-loving than Tokyo. It’s also a much more affordable destination, and the best place in the whole of Japan for a bar crawl. It’s got great food, and great shopping, and a reputation for friendliness. Osaka is an historic destination too, though, you probably recognise Osaka Castle? it’s one of the most famous landmarks in Japan, a vast, many-roofed building built on two rock platforms - both with moats? And Osaka also has a number of important shrines, an important history museums, several art museums and galleries, an aquarium, and an outpost of Universal Studios. Accommodation in the neighbourhoods around the castle, and the older parts of town, is a mix of ryokan, luxury and boutique hotels, and aparthotels. While the downtown neighbourhoods, with their sparkling, contemporary bars, restaurants and shopping precincts, offer more in the line of high tech. and contemporary accommodation - including capsule hotels.

Discover the best neighbourhoods in London. In our detailed guide we’ll help you find the right area, whether you're here to enjoy the museums? the landmarks, the shopping, the nightlife, live theatre, to explore this great city with your family, or if you're here for a wonderful combination of everything!

The Hotel Guru’s guide to Santa Barbara, from classic beach stays like West Beach, East Beach, Carpinteria or upmarket Montecito; to hip, arty Downtown or Lower State...

Zermatt is compact and car-free, so wherever you choose to stay you’ll be relatively close to everything else, but it’s still worth comparing each nieghbourhood's atmosphere.

Memphis is synonymous with music and music history, but it’s a fantastic destination for nightlife generally, for eating and drinking, and rich cultural experiences. There's a great array of accommodation that stretches wider than just the central, more touristy pockets. Use our neighbourhood guide to plan your visit...

Charming, vibrant, sunny, and a little bit Italian, Nice is the Côte d’Azur’s capital, a place where the art scene buzzes, the beach beckons, and the food beguiles. This is a city for shopping, sunbathing, strolling through gardens or art galleries, and eating and drinking well...

If you’re into bluegrass or folk music, or invigorated by spectacular mountain scenery, Asheville, North Carolina, might be worth considering for a city break. The mountains are the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains, beloved by photographers, hikers, trail bikers and riders, and white water fans...

The Hawaiian group have long been the stuff of paradise island dreaming. These islands are honeymoon heaven, while also being known for world class surfing, spectacular scenery, and the promise of both tranquility and adventure. And of course there is a vast array of accommodation!

Sydney is blessed with not only great sights, but also a plethora of fantastic bars and restaurants as well as some fabulous beaches. But the real dilemma is where to stay! Our neighbourhood guide to Sydney outlines all the top areas and will help you choose the right one for your trip...

Seoul is known for being a hip and glittering metropolis of good times, but as well as being incredibly cool, Seoul is a destination with a rich cultural history that it welcomes you to explore.  Seoul’s neighbourhoods are as varied as your reasons for visiting: whether you’re on the hunt for Gangnam style; ancient treasures in Insadong or Bukchon Hanok Village; a musical good time in Hongdae, or shopping paradise in Myeongdong. 

Some of us travel to Tuscany for a specific sight: Pisa’s tower? Florence’s duomo or Ponte Vecchio? Siena’s liquorice-striped cathedral? the whole of magical medieval San Gimignano?  And if you see yourself in this description then you may think you don’t need any suggestions for where to stay in Tuscany.  But once you have your pins in the map you might start thinking about what else you might be able to fit in while you’re in the vicinity, and that’s when our guide to Tuscany’s towns and centres might come in handy.  There’s so much to see in Tuscany that you can’t really go wrong, but why not plan a trip that features the places you most like the sound of!

Bangkok has many facets: the ancient temples and palaces; the world renowned shopping - both market and mall; the food… and then it’s all topped off with the wonderful activity of the streets and the genuine friendliness of the people. This is a city to lose yourself in, and find yourself in, and as long as you know where you’re staying you’re just a tuk-tuk ride from a nap and a change of clothes. So you can get on out there again and keep exploring.