Luxury for less: 7 hotels for bougie on a budget

Sleek style and all-inclusive amenities in Paris 

OKKO Hotels Paris Gare de l’Est, Paris, France  

In France, OKKO Hotels’ “all-inclusive four-star” concept feels almost revolutionary, and is a perfect example of what real hospitality should be all about: making a guest feel like they’re truly welcome. Wherever you stay, the group promises complimentary club lounges with help-yourself snacks, drinks and magazines, plus pristine gyms and saunas and chic, fuss-free rooms. The cherry on top? The hotels are found all over the country. Of the five in Paris, the well-connected Gare de l’Est property provides easy access to key landmarks throughout the city.

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Freehand New York shows you don’t need to splash out big time to enjoy the Big Apple. In Manhattan’s Flatiron District, it’s an easy stroll from various world-class attractions and seconds from the subway—you’ll save a fortune on taxis for starters. That said, it’s easy to linger here. The hotel’s slick interiors elevate the vibe considerably, plus guests have priority access to both a packed activities program (featuring art classes, live music and more) and the hip, 18th-floor rooftop bar, Broken Shaker. Get there early for daily Happy Hour deals; go any time for the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building views—they’re free of charge. 

Live like London royalty beside a Bridgerton palace 

The Mitre, London, UK  

A bargain stay in a 17th-century waterside property, right by a palace in one of the world’s priciest cities? Even to in-the-know Londoners, this combination would sound far-fetched—but The Mitre delivers. Just over the road from the historic and handsome Hampton Court Palace (a filming location for Bridgerton) and on the leafy banks of the Thames in the far south-west of the city, this characterful hotel lays on the traditional British flair with its hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper, four-poster beds, and roll-top baths looking out towards the river.  

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For decades now, the architect and landscape gardener Bill Bensley has designed decadent hotels that are fantastical but ultra-pricey—think Bali’s dreamy Capella Ubud or Thailand’s leafy Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle. But there is a way to experience Bensley’s signature botanical style at a lower price point, relatively speaking: In Cambodia’s Siem Reap and near the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, Shinta Mani Angkor is Bensley’s very own property. Built to his uncompromising vision and supporting local charities, it’s luxe but laid-back, and comes decorated with some of his favorite market finds alongside all manner of artworks and antiques. 

Japan’s Hoshino Resort Co. has operated celebrated properties across the country for more than a century. Always set in urban locations, their innovative OMO hotels go all out to provide guests with incentives to discover the surrounding city. At OMO5 Tokyo Otsuka, guests are gifted complimentary guided tours of the area and thoughtful baskets of amenities (think towels and juices) should they wish to visit the neighborhood bathhouse. As hotel perks go, properties going out of their way to showcase their community always score top marks.  

In Portland’s Alberta Arts District, the new Cascada is enticing for lots of reasons. Consider its beautifully finished suites, all featuring kitchenettes, balconies, and even washers and dryers, so they’re properly homelike. And then there’s Terra Mae, its intriguing restaurant that melds Portuguese and Japanese cuisines. But the star of the show here is its partner premises, Cascada Thermal Springs. On gray, rainy days in Portland, its array of amenities (including warming baths, countless spa and fitness facilities, and a cozy conservatory) makes it one of the most inviting places to be in the city. But even on the busiest days, hotel guests are in luck: Splashing out on a room means they get priority entry.

The international business hub of Panama City offers that rare combination of cosmopolitan style with a lower cost of living. What does that mean for travelers? Consider the city’s outpost of the Waldorf Astoria, a name that operates at the highest possible standards, usually with room rates to reflect that. But not so at Waldorf Astoria Panama: While the service is on par, rates are significantly less than sibling properties in, say, Amsterdam or Chicago. Rest assured you’ll still enjoy proper five-star facilities, such as an elevated outdoor pool; meanwhile, locals gather inside for afternoon tea in the day or cocktails after dark at the airy, buzzy Peacock Alley.