Top 10s

Top 10 budget beach BBs in the Seychelles

January 26, 2015

Colibri Guesthouse, Praslin For a room with a five-star view, Colibri is hard to beat. Nine rustic rooms – all wood and stone – ensconced amid tropical foliage that tumbles down a hillside to the turquoise waters of Baie Sainte Anne. There’s no beach but you can use the small infinity pool overlooking the bay […]

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Top 10 budget beach guesthouses and BBs in South Africa’s Western Cape

January 5, 2015

WEST COAST Not Forgotten, Yzerfontein It costs a small fortune to rent many of the artfully dressed properties in the Perfect Hideaways’ portfolio, but it also has more affordable options, including this sand-between-the-toes beach house. Less than an 1½ hours by car from Cape Town, it’s in a peaceful village, in a landscape that’s carpeted […]

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Top 10 budget beach stays in Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

December 8, 2014

Wild Coast Swell Eco Lodge, MngcibeOffering a stylish and serene alternative to the sometimes rowdy backpacker lodges in nearby Coffee Bay, Swell Eco Lodge is a clutch of thatched rondavels on a grassy hillside at the mouth of the Mdumbi river, with sweeping ocean views. Each unit is spacious, with handmade furniture and cute, upcycled […]

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Top 10 budget beach hotels, villas and bungalows in Bali and Lombok

October 6, 2014

BALI Good Karma Bungalows A long standing local legend on Bali’s north-east coast, Good Karma sits at the foot of the sacred volcano Gunung Agung, the island’s highest peak at 3,031 metres. The sand here is volcanic – in fact the beach in front of Good Karma is of smooth black pebble. The draw is […]

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Top 10 budget beach hotels, villas and campsites in Croatia

July 3, 2014

Croatia has a short and intense high season. All prices cited here are valid for stays from mid-June to late August. Note that rates drop dramatically – sometimes by up to 50% – out of season. Beaches are rare in rocky Croatia, so these top 10 picks book out far in advance. Hotel Solitudo, Lastovo […]

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Top 10 budget beach hotels, hostels and campsites near Vancouver, British Columbia

June 25, 2014

HI Jericho Beach, Vancouver A whiff of military utilitarianism still permeates the basic private rooms of this converted 1930s air force barracks, 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver, set amongst the beachside blackberry bushes. But the imposing white HI Jericho Beach hostel also retains the convivial air that wafted around the decommissioned base when it was […]

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Top 10 budget beach hotels in Andalucía, Spain: part two

March 25, 2014

Hotel Fuerte Conil, Conil de la Frontera The Hotel Fuerte Conil can’t be called budget in high season, when prices rocket, but, for anyone lucky enough not to have school-age children, it can be a bargain in autumn or spring. It’s part of a small chain but despite the fact it has a whopping 469 […]

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Top 10 budget beach hotels in the Dominican Republic

November 6, 2013

The Dominican Republic is not just about merengue music and package holidays. It’s a big island (more than twice the size of Wales, and second only to Cuba in the Caribbean) so there’s plenty of room for variety and genuine Dominican life, unlike on smaller islands that are monopolised by tourism. With the all-inclusive resorts […]

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Thailand’s top 10 beach hotels and places to stay on a budget: part two

October 15, 2013

Mango House, Koh Lanta You’ll find Mango in the only remaining non-tourist fishing village on popular Koh Lanta. Set in a traditional wooden house on a small pier, rooms are bright with large balconies and sumptuous sea views. Beaches are on nearby islands a short boat ride away or a 15-minute bike journey. They have […]

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Top 10 budget beach hotels in Malaysia

September 26, 2013

Colourful Motel, Pantai Cenang, Langkawi It is difficult to imagine a more idyllic escape than Langkawi, 104 tiny islands that shoot up out of the deep blue Andaman Sea, offering divine beaches, coral-reef diving, jungle walks and accommodation that caters for every budget, from total luxury to funky backpacker hostels like Colourful Motel. The motel […]

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