The first thing which may come to mind when hearing the term five-star hotel or resort property is luxury, which is usually quite expensive — think plush bedding with high quality linens, opulent bathroom with marble vanities and tile, a private swimming pool right outside your door, a spectacular view of the ocean, butler or maid service at your beck and call, and gastronomic delights on which to dine as only several of many examples — but even better is when you can experience luxury for a fraction of the price if you know where to stay as a guest.
Five-star hotel and resort properties in every country in the world were searched on Hotels.com for a one-night stay for two guests in July 2021 and the 10 least expensive accommodations for each country were found. Sale prices were ignored; and any countries which had fewer than five five-star hotels available were removed. Equally priced hotels in the top 10 were separated by favoring the bigger room in terms of square footage.
I have been given express written permission to use the images and the verbatim text from this article pertaining to the least expensive five-star hotel and resort properties in almost every country in the world — which was written by Mikaela Sullivan for Top Dollar — by using some fun maps to compare the prices of hotel and resort properties in different countries; and by imparting interesting statistics. While Top Dollar has endeavored to ensure the information provided is accurate and current, it cannot guarantee it. Neither Top Dollar nor The Gate accept liability for the information which is presented in this article.
The Least Expensive Five-Star Hotel Properties in Almost Every Country in the World
There are few pleasures quite as exquisite as a stay in a five-star hotel. Add “getting a bargain” into the experience, and you may as well add an extra star. Bliss!
Unfortunately, the words “five-star” and “bargain” rarely appear together. To qualify for the top rating, a hotel’s staff must personally greet every guest (with flowers or a gift if in Europe). The accommodation should be luxurious. The facilities should meet every need. This costs money.
Add the “exclusivity premium” — the idea that charging more for a room makes it seem more luxurious — and a plain old night at a Holiday Inn starts to seem more feasible.
Until now! Following our guide to the lowest-price Michelin meals in the world, Top Dollar has identified the cheapest five-star hotel in every country. And they start at less than thirty bucks for a room for two.
The World’s Cheapest Five-Star Hotel is India’s Novotel Ahmedabad Hotel
Click through the gallery to learn more about the world’s 10 cheapest five-star hotels. And scroll on for a closer look at the map, continent-by-continent.
The world’s cheapest five-star hotel costs $28/night: the Novotel Ahmedabad Hotel in Ahmedabad, India. Positioned on the SG highway with nearby airport access and proximity to industrial hubs, the hotel is priced to entice business travelers to stay an extra night. The restaurant serves Japanese and Korean cuisine, and an open-air pool offers respite from the heat.
Eight of the ten cheapest five-star hotels in the world are in Asia, and the other two are in Turkey, which straddles the Europe-Asia border. The resort town of Siem Reap in Cambodia has three of the cheapest hotels in the top ten. The Grand Venus La Residence costs only $39/night for a 592-sq-foot room – and if you can force yourself to go outside, it’s just a short stroll from the ancient temples of Angkor Wat.
North America
South America
Europe
Middle East & Central Asia
Rest of Asia & Oceania
Africa
Five-Star Accommodation at Three-Star Prices
Five-star hotels aren’t usually associated with modesty, but it is possible to have a calming, sensual experience at a very reasonable price. Many of the hotels in our study offer either brand-new facilities or a taste of local tradition, lovingly maintained.
Next time you travel, don’t assume the best hotels are out of your price range. And if you don’t have the cash for a full getaway at the moment, why not book a luxury night away for two at an affordable five-star hotel near you?
Final Boarding Call
This article may also be used as an approximation of in which countries the least expensive hotel and resort properties are located. Paying as little as $25.00 per night for a room which you would otherwise pay almost $100.00 in the United States is not uncommon in certain countries. By my experience, Egypt and Malaysia are only two countries in which I enjoyed very nice accommodations — sometimes with access to a fully-appointed lounge — and paid very little for the room rate itself, which sometimes included all taxes.
I expect a lot of scrutiny from you debating what you believe are the least expensive five-star hotel and resort properties in the world — especially as no universally agreed-upon uniform rating system for lodging is arguably available. What really is a five-star hotel or resort property, anyway?…
…so at which of the hotel and resort properties which are featured in this article have you stayed — and how many different hotel and resort properties have you stayed?
Please let us know in the Comments section below — and thank you in advance.
Photograph ©2019 by Brian Cohen.
