Patrick Welch

Ah, the Gold Coast. For decades, it's been synonymous with visions of flashy bikinis, wild things to do, pounding white surf and glittering skyscrapers. But these days, the tides are turning for the Gold Coast. Once dubbed Australia's answer to Las Vegas, the coastal city is carving a more polished, laid-back luxe identity – and nowhere is that shift more obvious than in the Gold Coast's emerging hotel scene. While you can still find plenty of (ahem) unsubtle gold decor and marble pillars on Queensland's flashiest coastline, a cheeky $1 billion off the back of the Australian Commonwealth Games has welcomed a fresh new world of transport, restaurants and accommodation. The result? A wave of new and reimagined Gold Coast hotels that range from beachfront resorts and boutique stays to stylish city hotels and budget-friendly options. To save you the legwork, we've rounded up the best hotels on the Gold Coast right now. You're welcome! Editors' favourite hotels on the Gold Coast: ☀️ Best new hotel: Mondrian Gold Coast ⭐️ Best luxury hotel: The Langham Gold Coast 🌊 Best family-friendly hotel: JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa ✨ The best things to do on the Gold Coast🍽️ The best restaurants on the Gold Coast Time Out makes a small commission from the affiliate links included in this article. These links have no influence on our editorial content, but they do help us to bring you more recommendations every week. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

With over 6,000 islands, a seemingly endless coastline, ancient sites and lively party towns, it's easy to see why Greece is such a top tourist destination. Plus, it’s a country that caters to all tastes and all budgets. Whether you’re looking to tuck into Cretan dakos and assyrtiko wine in a taverna run by a feisty grandma, explore Athens’ overabundant art scene, or just install yourself by an infinity pool overlooking the Adriatic, you’re well covered. Accommodation options range from wallet-friendly, family-run digs to some of the most exclusive (and expensive) hideaways in the world, offering all manner of appealing extras; from yachts and private beaches to billiard rooms and free bikes. Here is our pick of the best hotels in Greece. RECOMMENDED: 🇬🇷 The best places to visit in Greece🏨 The best hotels in Mykonos This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

The capital’s streets may be lined with all the big names in hospitality, but there are also loads of great cheap hotels in London that you needn’t trek out to the sticks to find. Yep – we’re telling you that you can stay somewhere better located and more fun than many of the city’s grand five-star hotels, all for less than you’d pay for a slap-up meal at one of London’s best restaurants. Whether it’s a dorm bed in the heart of Soho, a traditional family-run guesthouse on a period square, or a tech-smart room near St Pancras you’re searching for, London’s got it covered. Have a peek at our list of the best cheap hotels in London and save your pennies for exploring. Looking for more options? 🇬🇧Check out London’s best Airbnbs 🏨Or how about a stay in London's best hotels? Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

As the writer Paul Bowles, who wrote most of The Sheltering Sky here back in the 1940s, knows, Morocco is inundated with unique experiences. In Bowles’s case it was supposedly copious quantities of drugs that fuelled the sense of alienation his novel deals with, but these days the North African country offers a far less troubling experience, the smells, colours, tastes and, of course, sunshine combining to create a memorable vacation whether you’re looking to rummage through the souk, trek through the Sahara or splash about in the Atlantic surf. But be warned, as, in Bowles’s day, it’s still a place that can be seriously hectic or delightfully peaceful, so make sure you book somewhere you can unwind at the end of a hot, dusty day.  Accommodation here varies from lavish international hotels to simple backpacker hostels, from mountain-top kasbahs to enchanting city riads and laidback beach belles to wellness retreats - with prices, especially at the mid and lower end of the scale, that are a total steal compared to Europe. Here’s our selection of the best places to stay throughout Morocco. 

Yes, most – actually, no, let’s be clear, all – hotels worth their salt now provide free wifi (check out our list of those still charging for internet, the scoundrels!). But not all places with free wifi are created equal. If you need to catch up on emails, Skype the folks back home or just research the best attractions, why not do it in style? Here is our list of the best hotels with wifi in London: from roof terraces with superb views to quiet, relaxing gardens or lobbies that are veritable hives of creative activity. When it comes to nice, connected corners, London's got it covered. Now, what’s that password again? Looking for more options? Check out London’s best Airbnbs

The archipelago of Langkawi off Malaysia’s west coast consists of 100 or so islands (no one can quite agree on how many), but really, it’s the main Island, Pulau Langkawi, that people mean when they say Langkawi. As well as being where all the hotels are, it offers a mix of wildlife, ancient rainforest and traditional Malay villages, and, of course – star of the show – the warm Andaman Sea. Amazing things to do in Langkawi abound—as do amazing hotels. It’s become the go-to weekend break for people in nearby Singapore or Kuala Lumpur wanting to spend a couple days trekking through the jungle, splashing about in the sea or kicking back in a hammock. And although cheap places to crash still exist in the form of backpacker hostels on Cenang Beach, now, much like the Seychelles or Mauritius, it’s pretty much synonymous with luxe resorts: think opulent spas, impressive restaurants and landscaped tropical gardens, all just a stone’s throw from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Traditionally synonymous with sailing and Victorian seaside breaks, the Isle of Wight is perfect for families looking to pile in the car, jump on the ferry and spend a few days enjoying summery things to do like splashing about with a bucket and spade, eating ice cream and fossil-hunting on the island’s many lovely, sandy beaches. It’s also a great place to enjoy laidback cafés and local seafood restaurants along with a burgeoning gallery scene in Ventnor and, every June, big bands at the annual Isle of Wight Festival. As far as places to stay go, accommodation ranges from smart, family-run B&Bs and Victorian cottages turned boutique hotel to miniature houses, safari tents and even – get this – an early 19th-century maritime fortress in the middle of the Solent. Here’s the pick of our favourite.

Mid-range but far from middle-of-the-road, London’s best boutique hotels offer a touch of luxury without commanding the sort of sky-high prices you’ll find at the city’s five-star hotels. Most benefit from designer interiors, unique rooms and the sort of facilities you won’t find among London’s best cheap hotels and hostels. So if you’re looking for a classy place to stay that won’t break the bank, try one of the affordable options below. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best hotels in London

We all know it can cost a fortune to visit, so that's why the we've compiled a list of the best cheap hotels in London. And just because the places listed below are easy on the wallet, don’t go thinking they’re light on comfort. Free from the corporate stuffiness of the big chains, you’ll find the options listed below offer way more than you’d expect, often including free Wi-Fi, private rooms and even on-site nightspots. Best of all, avoiding London’s five star and boutique hotels means you’ll have more dosh left over for expensive luxuries like a tube ticket or half a pint of beer at one of London's best hotel bars. RECOMMENDED: Try the 50 best hotels in London

While London has a wealth of great cheap hostels and mid-range boutique hotels, sometimes only the best will do. And when you check into a five-star hotel in London, the best is exactly what you’re going to get. Luxury toiletries, high-tech rooms, classic style, decadent breakfasts and service fit for royalty all await at London’s top five-star hotels – here’s our pick of the very best of the best. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best hotels in London

If you’re here for a bit of a flutter, this Vegas-style casino hotel – Queensland’s oldest, in fact – combines eating and sleeping with the possibility of winning some dough. Housed on its own island in Broadbeach, The Star has a theatre, spa, large pool area with cabanas and five signature dining venues. It’s opulent, yes, but with a sense of humour (NB: the vending machines selling mini bottles of Möet). Respite from the kerching-ing throngs can be found in the serene, outdoor Garden Bar.

On the southern tip of The Gold Coast, Coolangatta is a surf town with a laidback, slightly ’70s vibe on the border with New South Wales. Mantra, on its main beach, is great if you’re looking for a budget-friendly apartment hotel a short drive to the casinos, shops and malls in Surfers Paradise and the unmissable Currumbin Wildlife Park. On site, you’ll find a tennis court, a gym, a small sauna, and a pool, and you’re walking distance to one of the region’s best surf breaks too. Added bonus for Aussie film fans? Much of the 1994 classic Muriel’s Wedding was shot here.

This grand, five-star hotel is within walking distance of Seaworld and boasts a sky bridge that connects it to the shopping centre on the other side of the road. It's also one of the only big hotels with direct access to the beach, though the waves up here can be rough, which is possibly why the pool area is one of the biggest on the Gold Coast, with a kids' pool, a hot tub area and a heated, colossal lagoon-like main offering. There’s a modern gym, a stylish spa, and Terraces Restaurant gives the Imperial Hotel across the road a run for its money when it comes to its seafood buffet.