Have you ever eagerly anticipated the rooftop pool at your vacation hotel, only to discover it's more the size of a bathtub?

It's possible that you might not be getting the whole picture when you book your vacation stay online.

Elie Seidman, CEO of Oyster.com, tells travelers how to best evaluate hotel websites.

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Courtesy of Eccleston Square Hotel

The rooms at Eccleston Square Hotel in London offer 3-D TVs wth surround sound, iPod docking stations, VoIP phones and a personal iPad 2 to tap the Internet and room service.

While flat-screen TVs, wireless Internet and iPod stations have become standard amenities at many hotels, some innovators are hoping to attract guests with high-tech gadgets like Moodpads and automated espresso machines. With features that include electronic room privacy settings and spa reservations at the touch of a button, technology may be the latest secret to getting a more relaxing stay. 

Citizen M, Amsterdam
Each room at this boutique budget hotel comes equipped with a Moodpad, a tablet that lets guests control music, blinds and even the color of the lights. Doubles from $77; citizenm.com.

Eccleston Square, London
This 39-room hotel has 3-D TVs in every suite, plus iPads that can be used to book spa treatments and order room service. Doubles from $292; ecclestonsquarehotel.com.

Peninsula, Tokyo
Japanese hotels are famously tech-savvy; rooms in this luxury tower feature Internet radio, digital panels showing the weather forecast and automated espresso machines. Doubles from $784; peninsula.com.

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Aria Resort & Casino City Center, Las Vegas
Rooms feature bedside touchscreens for controlling shades, lighting, temperature and TV, as well as an electronic do-not-disturb sign. Doubles from $129; arialasvegas.com.

Montage Deer Valley, Park City, Utah
At this LEED certified ski resort, TVs with Control 4 technology operate lighting, temperature, privacy settings, energy-efficiency and the cozy fireplace that’s in every room. Doubles from $295; montagedeervalley.com.

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Courtesy of Charleston Place Hotel

Charleston Place in Charleston, S.C., is home to 442 elegant rooms furnished with Chippendale-style furnishings and flat-screen TVs.

The Brown is a Kentucky institution: the Georgian Revival–style hotel in Louisville wows guests with marble flooring, ornate ceilings, feather beds — and the Hot Brown, a decadent, open-faced turkey sandwich. Even more impressive, the rates start as low as $129.

Slideshow: See the hotels and where they're at

This irresistible combination of character and value makes The Brown one of America’s top affordable city hotels, as selected among high-scoring properties in Travel + Leisure's annual World’s Best reader survey. All these favorite hotels offer room rates between $90 and $250 a night — meaning there’s bound to be a hotel that’s right for you.

That’s especially good news considering that finding a good deal may get a little tougher for travelers in 2012. Business data firm TravelClick predicts that, after a long slump in hotel prices, rates will rise almost 4 percent in 2012, thanks to increased demand as the economy recovers.

At least there’s no need to compromise on quality. The Waldorf Astoria Orlando, for instance, has outposts of celebrated dining venues from the flagship property in New York. Not to mention two pools and a spa with 21 treatment rooms. But at $159 a night, its rate is less than half that in Manhattan — and you get a free shuttle to Disney World. Besides, visiting a city that’s not on the West Coast or in the Northeast practically guarantees that other costs, such as dining and entertainment, will be more affordable, too.

Top affordable hotels such as the Waldorf Astoria Orlando also defy the conventional wisdom that you should look to a city’s outlying neighborhoods for a good deal. In Santa Fe, N.M., the pueblo-style Inn of Anasazi wins over guests with its tasteful, luxurious décor — handwoven rugs, paintings by acclaimed local artists, kiva-shaped gas fireplaces, and four-poster beds — placed in the heart of the action.

Although plenty of celebrities have been spotted checking into the fashionable Inn of Anasazi, you don’t need to star in a hit movie to be able to afford its nightly rates.

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Courtesy of Earthship Biotecture

Before we abandon Earth for another planet, it'd be useful to test out the potential new digs. The Earthship Project in Tres Piedras, New Mexico, has been at it since the 1960s and in 1997 began allowing guests to sleep in its sustainable pods (for periods of less than an eternity).

On a Sri Lankan riverbank stands a lone, slightly misshapen, enormous elephant. As you approach cautiously, you realize this creature isn’t some freak of nature; it’s an eco-lodge of grass and twigs that sleeps up to 10 people in its belly.

Kumbuk Hotel belongs to a peculiar breed of hotels that continue to crop up worldwide, winning over travelers with their sheer novelty. Some of these unusual hotels have never-knew-you-needed-them amenities like an in-room sailboat, while others go for shock factor: ever slept in a coffin bed or a rescue pod? Still others are in improbable locations: the depths of a silver mine; atop a coral reef. But what all the world’s most unusual hotels promise is that you’ll be talking about your stay long after you check out.

Slideshow: See the world's most unusual hotels

Make no mistake: while these unusual hotels may look crazy, they aren’t the result of hoteliers gone mad. The owners are often forward-thinking architects or tinkerers inspired to make their small hotel creations into quirky destinations in and of themselves. They’re well aware that anything strange attracts publicity and curious travelers.

Berlin’s Propeller Island, for example, has become popular among artists, who seek stimulation among the green padded walls, floating beds, and fun-house interiors, which, not surprisingly, have been featured in many music videos. While it jives with Berlin’s artsy reputation, some other unusual hotels go to more radical lengths to blend in with their surroundings. The salt pans of Bolivia make the Palacio de Sal hotel—constructed entirely from salt blocks (even the beds)—a true product of the environment.

Sure, your usual tastes probably run sweeter—say, to a hotel pool, a king-size bed with a down comforter, and tasteful décor. Yet there’s something liberating about letting loose and giving in to a strange suite once in a while—just as there’s something reassuring about knowing these properties exist and thrive. In cases like Sweden’s futuristic all-suites Treehotel, unusual hotels can even be beautiful examples of out-of-the-box design.

Still, that doesn’t account for a life-size hamster hotel where guests are greeted with masks on arrival. That’s just downright strange—and you need to see it to believe it.  

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It’s that time again.

Condé Nast Traveler unveiled its annual Hot List on Tuesday, a selection of the very best hotels all across the globe.

Forty-one reporters visited 172 hotels in 49 countries. Their anonymous visits resulted in 121 properties that made the 2012 list of editors’ picks.

Click here to see a slideshow of the 121 top hotels.

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Courtesy of Gladstone's Library

Gladstone's Library at St. Deiniol's, Hawarden, Wales, is a hotel inside a library. British Prime Minister William Gladstone founded the residential library in 1889 as a sleepover haven for bibliophiles.

Books have long been essential traveling companions — perfect for pulling out on airplanes, perusing during solo meals or sparking conversations (remember how Jesse met Céline in "Before Sunrise"?). Libraries, too, have traditionally been welcome retreats for those abroad; travelers can learn about a new culture through its literature, or find comfort in the familiar pages of a favorite novel.

Slideshow: See the wonderful hotel libraries

These days, as travelers turn increasingly to e-readers and tablets, the allure of libraries might seem to be fading — but luckily, some hoteliers are preserving, and even revitalizing, the tradition of linking travelers with books. And they’re doing so right in their own hotels.

For these hoteliers, a carefully curated in-house library speaks volumes (no pun intended) about their property’s character. Some, like the Taj Falaknuma Palace, in Hyderabad, India, embody the timeless bibliophile’s fantasy of ceiling-high shelves, leather-bound tomes and cozy armchairs. Other properties put a distinctly modern spin on the library experience: For example, The Library resort in Koh Samui, Thailand, where the slick, white-on-white reading room evokes a poolside gallery space. And some hotels have been teaming up with art-book publishers to offer brand-specific reading material — like the Trump SoHo in New York City, where the library is stocked exclusively with Taschen monographs and art anthologies.

Some hoteliers need guidance in selecting what should go on their library shelves — which is where companies such as the Oxford-based Ultimate Library come in. By helping to create bespoke library collections especially for hotels and resorts, says Ultimate Library’s chairman, Philip Blackwell, his company “enhances the guest experience with books to educate, inspire and entertain.

“Someone once said that ‘a hotel should be a home from home but better,’” Blackwell continues. “Books are a vital component in creating this homeyness. Carefully chosen, they create a sense of place.”

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Courtesy of Ibis Hotels

The Ibis hotel chain has 919 outposts around the world, including this one in Casablanca, Morocco.

Whether you favor basic, no-frills bargain hotels or accommodations with a happy balance of perks and price, you've probably already found a hotel chain or two that suits your needs — at least here in the States.

But what happens when you travel abroad? We searched far and wide for the foreign hotel chains locals rely on most, from Mexico City to Moscow, compiling them all in this international cheat sheet to a good, cheap night's sleep (almost) anywhere on Earth. Among our search criteria, consistency was key — we prioritized chains with reliable standards of service, cleanliness, and amenities (since you can't always trust hotel ratings abroad, and filtered out those with erratic pricing or less-than-desirable locations. But that doesn't mean there won't be some (pleasant) surprises in the mix — many of our bargain picks also include indulgent extras like monsoon showers, on-site spas and design-mag-worthy interiors.

Slideshow. See these dependable hotel chains around the globe

Best Worldwide:

NH Hotels
Started in Pamplona, Spain in 1978, NH has grown to become one of the top 20 largest chains in the world, with more than 400 properties in 26 countries, from Andorra to Uruguay (most are concentrated in Europe and South America). The look varies from one hotel to the next, but many are set in historic buildings with original architectural details and filled with stylish, modern furnishings: solid, neutral-hued linens on the bed and abstract art on the walls. NH also often has several hotels in the same destination, so it's worth it to check out all your options for the best rate and location. Sample rates:from $120 at the Hotel NH Musica, Amsterdam; from $114 at the Hotel NH Anglo American, Florence; from $143 at the Hotel NH Tango, Buenos Aires. nh-hotels.com
Properties: 400-plus
Average size: Medium
Typical location: All

Ibis
Sure, the hotels may be cookie-cutter (furniture is of the basic, blond-wood variety) and the locations aren't exactly thrilling (most properties are near business districts and airports), but the brand definitely has a lock on convenience, thanks to 24-hour snack bars, WiFi and often on-site parking. All 900-plus outposts, from continental Europe to Asia, Africa, South America, the Middle East and Australia, also serve locally-influenced breakfast buffets (say, crepes in France, or tropical fruits in Brazil). Sample rates: from $100 at the Ibis Praha Old Town Hotel in Prague; from $117 at the Ibis Antananarivo Ankorondrano in Madagascar; from $94 at the Ibis Buenos Aires Obelisco in Argentina. ibishotel.com
Properties: 919
Average size: Large
Typical location: Transit hubs

Mercure
Most of Mercure's 725 hotels (across 49 countries) are in Europe, with the remainder in Australia, South America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.The three- and four-star properties include both business-friendly city spots and resorts — the latter of which are more likely to incorporate vernacular design elements such as thatched-roof cottages at a Bali resort or a hammam at a Morocco hotel. All have on-site restaurants, and most offer packages with conveniences such as breakfast and Internet access. Sample rates: from $104 at the Mercure Montpellier Centre in France; from $63 at the Mercure Resort Sanur in Bali; from $66 at the Mercure Ouarzazate in Morocco. mercure.com
Properties: 725
Average size: Medium
Typical location: All

TRYP by Wyndham Hotels
A boutique brand from the Wyndham group, TRYP aims for the spot where form and function overlap, providing urban adventurers with 21st-century amenities (WiFi, fitness centers, flat-screen TVs), a streamlined aesthetic (neutral color palettes, hardwood floors), and legitimate social scenes (on-site bars and active lobbies designed for mingling). Spain, Germany, Portugal and Brazil have the most properties now, but there are one-offs in Europe, South America, Canada and the U.S. Sample rates: from $79 at the TRYP Valencia Azafata in Spain; from $99 at the TRYP San Jose Sabana Hotel in Costa Rica; from $90 at the TRYP Berlin in Germany. tryphotels.com
Properties: 91
Average size: Large
Typical location: City center

Room Mate Hotels
A spunky upstart based in Spain, Room Mate's outposts in Buenos Aires, Mexico, NYC and Miami cater to a nightlife-loving crowd: Most are located in hip, culture-centric neighborhoods, each one has live DJ-spun music, and hearty buffet breakfasts are served until noon daily. The décor is playfully avant-garde and picks up on motifs that reference some aspect of the destination. (In Mexico City, a pair of cartoonish white cacti stands in front of a colorful mural of ceramic fish scales, while the Granada hotel skews moodier and more elegant.) Bonus: The bathrooms are typically spacious, and Wi-Fi is always free. Sample rates: from $82 at the Room Mate Leo in Granada, Spain; from $79 at the Room Mate Valentina in Mexico City. room-matehotels.com
Properties: 14
Average size: Medium
Typical location: City center

Best by region:

Asia & The Pacific
Insider advice is especially helpful in Asia. While several countries have government-run hotel ratings systems, many are voluntary and self-assessed and, consequently, are unreliable. Plus, some countries — Japan, for one — don't use ratings systems at all. Australia is a bit easier: They recently revamped their popular ratings system, AAA Tourism, to focus on a combination of cleanliness, amenities and quality, rather than just a checklist of facilities.

APA Hotels & Resorts
Japanese hospitality meets no-nonsense frugality in this robust nationwide chain. APA is an acronym for "Always Pleasant Amenity," and depending on your location, that might refer to a traditional public bath (available at no cost to hotel guests), a free breakfast of bread, coffee, rice, and miso soup, or a choice between a standard room (of the floral-bedspread variety) or a Japanese room, with tatami-mat floors for lounging. Sample rates: from $93 at the APA Hotel Takasaki-Ekimae in Tokyo; from $93 for a single at the APA Hotel Nagasaki-Ekiminami in Nagasaki; from $124 at the APA Villa Hotel Yudoyabashi in Osaka. apahotel.com
Properties: 76
Average size: Large
Typical location: All

Centara Hotels & Resorts
With their fancy pool decks, on-site spas, and concierges, properties from the Centara brand (Thailand's largest) all feel like splurges, even if they're not. You'll find them in most of the country's major tourist destinations, from Chiang Mai to Krabi, along with the Maldives, Bali, Vietnam and the Philippines. The brand includes several sub-categories: The five-star Centara Grand and the Centara Boutique Collection are on the pricey side, so stick to the four-star Centara and three-star Centra properties for comparable quality at better rates. And watch for deals when you're booking — often, the online rates are much lower (up to 60 percent) than standard published prices. Sample rates: From $46 at the Centara Duangtawan Hotel Chiang Mai; from $81 at the Centara Villas Phuket; from $62 at the Centra Taum Seminyak Bali. centarahotelsresorts.com
Properties: 55
Average size: Medium/Large
Typical location: All

GreenTree Inns
Whether you're in Beijing or Nanjing, you can expect this fast-growing Chinese chain to deliver clean, pleasant rooms with free WiFi, TVs and basic amenities, all in locations that are convenient to universities, train stations and conference centers. Sample rates: From $34 at the Beijing Tuanjie Lake Spring Hotel; from $24 at the Chengdu People's Park Hotel; from $29 at the Shenzhen Huaqiangbei Express Hotel.998.com/eng
Properties: 300-plus
Average size: Large
Typical location: All

Lemon Tree Hotels
Travelers looking to set up a home base in one of India's larger cities can take good advantage of Lemon Tree's growing chain. The hotels were originally designed for business travelers — but you'd never know it at first glance. The rooms are cheerful (brightly hued bedspreads, colorful expressionist and abstract artwork) and well-equipped (LCD TVs, orthopedic mattresses, free bottled water), and nearly every hotel has a decent swimming pool. There are even a few affordable resort outposts — one in Goa, and one near Vembanad Lake. Solo female travelers can book into a "Lemon Tree Diva" room, which is on a women-only corridor and has extras like reflexology foot massagers. Sample rates: from $72 at the Lemon Tree Electronics City in Bangalore; from $138 at the Lemon Tree Amarante Beach Resort in Goa; from $94 at the Lemon Tree Hotel in Chennai. lemontreehotels.com
Properties: 15
Average size: Medium/large
Typical location: City center

Rydges
With the exception of the three five-star "Art Series" hotels (with slightly higher rates — and style quotients), this Australian-owned chain is known more for its reliable, middle-of-the-road rooms and much-touted signature Dream Beds — pillow-top numbers made from breathable latex — than for trendy flourishes. Founded in 1988, the brand has properties all over the continent as well as some in New Zealand, one in Dubai and one in London. Sample rates:from $191 at the Rydges World Square in Sydney; from $138 at the Rydges South Park in Adelaide; from $106 at the Rydges Hobart; from $170 at the Rydges South Bank in Brisbane. rydges.com
Properties: 40
Average size: Large
Typical location: All

Tune Hotels
At this Malaysian chain (with a few outposts in Bali, Thailand, the Philippines and London), you get what you pay for — literally. While prices are rock-bottom for the rooms (under $20 for singles in many cases), you'll rack up fees for things that come standard at many other hotels (TV and Wi-Fi cost roughly $7.50 for 24 hours, while air conditioning, shower gel, and towels run from $5-$15, depending on the location). Still, the bright rooms are more than mere crash pads, with 250-thread-count bedding, power showers, housekeeping and 24-hour security. Book early and you may even luck into one of the extremely-limited-quantity $1 a night deals. Sample rates:from $18 at the Tune Hotel in Downtown Penang; from $30 at the Tune Hotel in Downtown Kuala Lumpur; from $20 at the Tune Hotel Kita in Bali. tunehotels.com
Properties: 20
Average size: Large
Typical location: City center

Europe
While Great Britain has a fairly trustworthy hotel rating system, many other European countries use ratings that are far less predictable and intuitive. For example, French hotels earn stars based not on quality but the presence of certain features (air-conditioning and bathroom facilities, for example), while in Italy, a hotel can earn a single star just for changing the sheets on the beds once a week.

Dedeman Hotels & Resorts
Founded in Istanbul in 1966, Dedeman now has hotels and resorts all over Turkey, as well as in Bulgaria and Uzbekistan. Rooms are more comfortable than cutting-edge, but the properties have worthwhile bonuses such as Turkish baths, indoor/outdoor swimming pools and multiple options for on-site dining, drinking and even dancing. Sample rates: from $147 at the Dedeman Ankara in Turkey; from $88 at the Dedeman Silk Road in Tashkent, Uzbekistan; from $169 at the Dedeman Istanbul. dedeman.com
Properties: 16
Average size: Large
Typical location: City center

Husa Hotels
No one-trick pony, this Spanish chain's strength lies in its diverse roster of hotels, each defined by the type of experience the traveler might want. In Barcelona alone, you can choose between nearly two dozen very different Husa options — 12 branded "Urban" for their strategic city-center settings, and five in the higher-end "Luxury" level . Other lodging categories include "Holiday" (resorts like the beachfront Conil Park on the Atlantic Coast),"Well Being" (serenity-focused spots like Sant Bernat in the Sierra del Montseny, surrounded by woods and gardens), and "Mountain" (the Chalet Bassibé in the Valle de Aran, with a lobby fireplace and indoor-outdoor pools). At all hotels, however, you'll find well-priced rooms decorated with the kind of details that channel old-world glamour: leather, velvet and wood-paneling. Often, you'll find top-quality fitness centers, serious restaurants and spas. Sample rates: from $78 at the Husa Bonanova Park in Barcelona; from $67 at the Husa Conil Park in Conil; from $117 at the Sant Bernat in the Sierra del Montseny; from $112 at the Chalet Bassibé in Valle de Aran. husa.es
Properties: 101
Average size: Large
Typical location: All

Jurys Inn
Location is key at the Jurys Inn hotels, which are positioned in city centers all across England, Ireland and Scotland (plus one in Prague). They don't take many risks with the décor — most color palettes revolve around gray or brown — but the rooms are spacious and the hotels have on-site restaurants and consistent, professional service. Sample rates: from $78 at the Jurys Inn in Cork; from $87 at the Jurys Inn Prague; from $104 at the Jurys Inn Glasgow; from $98 at the Jurys Inn Liverpool. jurysinns.com
Properties: 32
Average size: Large
Typical location: City center

Median Hotels
This small French chain's strong suit is simple: solid, three-star rooms at reasonable prices in some of Europe's most expensive cities (Paris and Geneva). They're mainly in business suburbs or near convention centers and transportation hubs, and facilities typically include parking, WiFi and an on-site restaurant serving a buffet breakfast. (Depending on the hotel, they may also provide dinner and lunch service.) Reception is open 24 hours, and most rooms have minibars. Sample rates: from $103 at the Hotel Median Paris Châtillon; from $116 at the Hotel Median Geneve Aeroport. medianhotels.com
Properties: 5
Average size: Medium/large
Typical location: Airport/highway

Motel One
Boutique style at wallet-friendly prices is the hallmark of this German brand, which has more than 30 hotels in Germany, one each in Vienna and Scotland and dozens more in the pipeline (including places in Edinburgh, Brussels and Krakow). No matter which one you visit, you'll find the same design elements popping up in each: Mid-century-style egg chairs, damask-patterned wallpaper and lots of turquoise accents. It may not look as current in a decade, but for now, the interiors strike a nice balance between playfulness and polish. Free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs and monsoon showerheads round out the appeal. Rates start at $65 at each hotel. motel-one.com
Properties: 39
Average size: Large
Typical location: City centers

Omena Hotels
For fabulously affordable accommodations in a famously expensive region, check in to one of Omena's über-consistent Scandinavian locations. Rooms are nearly identical from one hotel to the next: All have a sleeping area with a double bed, a separate sitting area (with two armchairs that fold out into extra beds), an en-suite bath, and a TV, mini-fridge and microwave. One drawback: There's no staff on-site, so guests check themselves in with a security code from their online reservations, and contact a remote "reception desk" via phone with any questions. Rates start at $60 at all properties. omenahotels.com
Properties: 14
Average size: Medium/large
Typical ocation: City center

Premier Inn
This is the fastest-growing budget brand in the U.K., and it shows: With more than 600 hotels in cities, near airports, and along highways, there's pretty much always a Premier Inn nearby. With that kind of presence, they don't really have to deliver much else, but they've still improved upon the bare-bones motor lodge model. King-size platform beds are standard, bathrooms come with tubs and showers (not always a given in Europe), and most of the properties have their own restaurants and bars. Sample rates: from $52 at the Premier Inn Dublin Airport; from $95 at the Premier Inn Plymouth East in Plymouth, England. premiertravelinn.com
Properties: 600-plus
Average size: Large
Typical location: All

SORAT Hotels
This German chain's hotels are all over the map when it comes to décor: In Brandenburg you'll find leather sofas in the lobby and a restaurant that resembles a library, while the Nurnberg hotel has plaid-upholstered armchairs and framed drawings of sheep, and the IBB Hotel Erfurt is a restored medieval inn with exposed beams. What they all share, though, are reasonable rates, solid service and a not-too-big, not-too-small size that's perfect for folks who don't go for B&Bs or bland business hotels. Sample rates: from $68 at the SORAT Hotel Agneshof in Nurnberg; from $66 at the SORAT Hotel Ambassador in Berlin; from $79 at the IBB Hotel in Erfurt. sorat-hotels.com
Properties: 13
Average size: Medium
Typical location: City center

UNA Hotels
Enjoy affordability with style — and individuality — from this Italian brand. You can check into a converted 16th-century palazzo in Florence, a "2001: A Space Odyssey"-inspired hotel in central Bologna with white walls, primary-colored accents and space-age globe lamps, or a historic hotel in Sicily updated with a modern-Baroque décor. Sample rates: from $137 at the UNA Hotel Vittoria in Florence; from $152 at the UNA Hotel Venezia in Venice; from $144 at the UNA Hotel Modena; from $162 at the UNA Hotel Roma in Rome. unahotels.it
Properties: 26
Average size: Medium
Typical location: All

Mexico and South America
South American ratings systems tend to be fragmented (with different standards for different types of lodgings) or superficial, taking into account only facilities, not service or quality. In Mexico, however, you'll recognize the same AAA Diamond ratings you see in the U.S.

Casa Andina
Each of this homegrown Peruvian chain's hotels has its own style and charm — and reflects its unique location, whether it's in the Sacred Valley or on the banks of Lake Titicaca. The brand is split into Private Collection, Select and Classic hotels, with the latter being the most affordable. Choices include the rustic, village-style Casa Andina Classic in Colca, which has clay-roofed stone casitas and its own planetarium and observatory; and the Casa Andina Classic in Cusco Koricancha, set in two adjacent colonial manor houses. Sample rates: from $142 at the Cusco Koricancha in Cusco; from $120 at the Miraflores San Antonio in Lima; from $92 at the Puno Tikarani in Puno. casa-andina.com
Properties: 20
Average size: Medium
Typical location: City center/resort

One Hotels
There may not be much romance to Mexico's budget-friendly chain — hotels are typically located near airports or other transit hubs — but the rooms are bright and streamlined, with furnishings a step above Ikea, and man, do they pile on the perks. At most hotels, breakfast, WiFi and parking are all free, and snack bars and coin-operated laundry stations are readily available. Rates from $50. onehotels.com
Properties: 16
Average size: Large
Typical location: Airports/highways

Africa and the Middle East
Across the African continent, efforts are being made to standardize ratings. The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGSCA) revised its quality-oriented ratings system last year, resulting in lower ratings for many borderline properties; ratings will be reviewed annually. Malawi launched its first ratings system in 2010, and the East African Community (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) is currently working toward a unified ratings system. Abu Dhabi debuted a new five-star system in 2011, although a handful of super-luxe hotels in the region have declared themselves as 6- or 7-star properties.

City Lodge Family of Hotels
This South African brand's hotels are separated into four categories: one-star Road Lodge hotels, two-star Town Lodges, three-star City Lodges and four-star Courtyards. Not surprisingly, the Courtyard options are the most charming, and have studio and suite options with kitchenettes, which can help offset the higher nightly rates (a March price check at the Courtyard Cape Town revealed a promo rate of $139 per night). Still, most all hotels under the brand's umbrella have on-site restaurants and WiFi, and even the one-star spots offer 24-hour service, breakfast and, in some cases, swimming pools. Sample rates: from $146 at the Courtyard Cape Town; from $158 at the City Lodge Durban. citylodge.co.za
Properties: 52
Average size: Medium/large
Typical location: City centers

Protea Hotels
Africa's largest hotel group, Protea has properties in eight countries — Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa and Malawi — plus one outpost in London.They range from country inns and mountain retreats to seaside resorts and city-chic spots. The urban hotels tend to be edgier — a purple pool table here, neon-pink lighting there — while the out-of-town properties are more likely to feature native artwork or old-fashioned canopy beds and floral-upholstered furniture. Sample rates: from $131 at the PH Thuringerhof in Windhoek, Namibia; from $165 at the PH Cape Castle in Cape Town. proteahotels.com
Properties: 120
Average size: Medium
Typical location: Resort

Rotana Hotels
Beginning with the Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi in 1993, the Rotana group has grown to include dozens of properties in Egypt, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar and more; by the end of 2012, their roster should total more than 70 properties in a variety of price categories. The "young and fresh" Centro sub-brand is the most budget-friendly — and even those properties feel decidedly upscale, thanks to features like floor-to-ceiling windows, flat-screen TVs and marble-topped desks. On-site dining and amenities like full gyms and rooftop pools enhance the experience. Sample rates: from $116 at the Centro Barsha in Dubai; from $81 at the Centro Al Manhal in Abu Dhabi. rotana.com
Properties: 70
Average size: Large
Typical location: All

5 new hotel brands to watch

Eaton Hotels
A sub-brand of the luxury Langham hotels, Eaton Hotels are split into Eaton Smart and Eaton Luxe options, plus one Eaton House Apartments location in Hong Kong: Eaton Smart properties have on-site eateries and gyms or pools, while Eaton Luxe adds extras like 24-hour room service and complimentary Internet access — and an aesthetic that's straight from the pages of a Pottery Barn catalog. There are currently one Eaton Luxe (Shanghai) and two Eaton Smarts (Hong Kong and New Delhi Airport.) More are set to open in China through the next two years, along with one in Bali in 2014. Sample rates: from $107 at the Eaton Luxe in Shanghai; from $142 at the Eaton Smart in Hong Kong. eatonhotels.com
Properties: 4
Average size: Large
Typical location: All

dusitD2
Thailand's luxury Dusit brand has earned raves for its sleek boutique sub-brand dusitD2, which is both design-focused and more wallet-friendly than its exclusive sibling — and comes with resort-worthy perks such as on-site spas, spacious pool decks and concierge service. At present there are only two dusitD2 locations — one in central Chiang Mai, another near the beaches of Pattaya — with two more in the works (New Delhi and Pasadena, California.) Sample rate: from $130 in Chiang Mai. dusit.com/dusit-d2
Properties: 2
Average size: Medium/large
Typical location: Resort

CitizenM
Citizen M's first outpost, at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, revolutionized the concept of the transit hotel. Now, the budget brand has expanded to city centers (Amsterdam and Glasgow currently, with London and New York on the way). Their "affordable luxury" concept shows up in swanky lobbies outfitted with Eames loungers and 24-hour canteens, and in the guest rooms, where colored mood lighting, wake-up calls, in-room movies, the thermostat and even the window blinds can all be controlled from the same high-tech “mood pad” remote control. Sample rates: from $92 in Amsterdam City; from $94 in Glasgow. citizenm.com
Properties: 3
Average size: Large
Typical location: All

The Big Sleep Hotel
With their floral Orla Kiely wallpapers, pastel accents and clawfoot tubs, this mini-chain of hotels (one in Wales, two in England) might be better suited for girlfriend getaways than stag weekends — but some of the rooms do come in blue, and the prices for the family suites can't be beat (from $55 for a double plus bunk beds in Cardiff). All rooms have flat-screen TVs, tea/coffee makers, WiFi and broadband (for a fee), and rates include a buffet breakfast. Starting rate: from $46. thebigsleephotel.com
Properties: 3
Average size: Medium
Typical location: City center

YOTEL
Inspired by the mod — and modular — design of first-class airplane cabins, YOTEL's four branches (three at airports in London and Amsterdam, one on New York City's west side) feature supremely compact rooms (aka "cabins") with fold-down work desks, flat-panel TVs, and, in some cases, bunk beds. The WiFi is free, kitchenettes are in the hall, dining is on-site, and rates are by the hour. Sample rates: from $113 in London Gatwick for 24 hours; from $99 in Amsterdam Schiphol for 24 hours. yotel.com
Properties: 4
Average size: Medium
Typical location: Airport/highway

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Courtesy of Frenchy's Oasis Motel

Frenchy's Oasis Motel in Clearwater, Fla., sports a retro paint job. Most of the 15 units have kitchens and dinettes, and 12 come with balconies or patio areas.

Quiet, sand dune-sheltered shorelines, busy spring break towns, offbeat fishing villages, and sunsets like you won't see anywhere else in the state: Florida's Gulf Coast has them all. It also has plenty of soulless, high-rise, time-share condos and bland chain hotels. So we hit the road to dig up better options — homey, intimate hotels and B&Bs that reflect the particular character of their towns (and their owners). The result? This greatest-hits list of 10 unforgettable Florida-coast stays — all with rooms for $155 or less, even in high season.

Slideshow: See the hotels

Cape San Blas Inn
Set on a remote spit of land between St. Joseph Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, the seven-room Cape San Blas Inn feels like a true getaway. Maybe more away than some people would like; with 15 miles between the hotel and the nearest town, Port St. Joe, there's very little shopping or dining nearby, nor much entertainment beyond nature's offerings. But those are grand: Bobcats, bears, bald eagles and manatees can all be spotted in the area — perhaps even from the inn's hot tub, perched at the end of the private dock that juts into the bay.

A broad, white-sand beach is all of 500 feet in the opposite direction, and an even more spectacular one is just three miles up the road in St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, a 2,516-acre preserve whose large dunes (up to 40 feet) and crystal-clear water make it a fixture on nationwide top-10 beach lists. Guests are well equipped for exploring the area, with free access to three canoes, a kayak, beach chairs and bicycles—perfect for cruising along the cape's smooth bike paths and working off the inn's hearty breakfasts (homemade apple fritters, stuffed French toast, eggs benedict, and fresh-squeezed orange juice are all menu regulars).

Most of the guest rooms have private porches or patios, and all have mini-fridges and Sleep Number beds — best enjoyed in one of the upstairs rooms, which are notably quieter than the ground floor options. 4950 Cape San Blas Rd, Port St. Joe, capesanblasinn.com, free Wi-Fi, from $150, breakfast included.

Coombs House Inn
There's a postcard-perfect quality to the Coombs House Inn, which is spread across three pristinely restored Victorian buildings in the heart of Apalachicola. It's appeal isn't all that surprising when you consider that its owner, interior designer Lynn Wilson, has worked on big-name hotels all over the world (Ritz-Carlton, Park Hyatt, Taj), counting both Donald Trump and the King of Morocco among her clients.

With its sunny yellow paint, dark-green shutters, and crisp white trim, the inn has come a long way from the tumbledown relic Wilson first spotted on a visit to Apalachicola with her husband in the late 1970s. "When I saw it, I said, 'I'm going to fix it up; I'm going to show people that this little town is wonderful and spectacular and just needs some TLC,'" Wilson recalls. Fortunately, all the TLC that Wilson poured into renovating the historic property (it was built by an area lumber baron in 1905) and furnishing it with four-poster beds and antique oil paintings is more than matched by the efforts paid to pampering guests.

There's a daily tea-and-cookies service from 3pm-5pm, wine tastings on Fridays and Saturdays in the parlor, and each of the 23 rooms is stocked with robes, complimentary bottled water, and Starbucks coffee — and about a third of them even have whirlpool tubs. As for the town itself? It's finally having its moment in the sun, after years of being known only for its excellent local oysters: This year, Sports Illustrated magazine featured Apalachicola and the nearby St. George Island in its swimsuit issue, and the models and crew made their temporary home — where else? — at Coombs House Inn. 80 Sixth St., Apalachicola, coombshouseinn.com, free Wi-Fi, from $129 in high season, breakfast included.

Frenchy's Oasis Motel
Where the Jetsons might vacation, only without the robots. This Clearwater Beach motel opened in late 2010, but it feels straight out of the '60s with its wash of citrus colors and Mad Men-inspired design. The Mad Man behind it? Owner Michael "Frenchy" Preston, a native of Quebec and a longtime Clearwater restaurateur who, for years, owned property next door to the formerly run-down motel.

Attracted by the period design — it's a classic motor lodge with a courtyard pool — he decided to fix it up and make his first foray into lodging. Now, the façade glows in shades of lemon and orange, while the 15 guest rooms sport sunburst clocks, wave-shaped mirrors and old-school tourist postcards enlarged into canvas prints. Most of the units have kitchens and dinettes, and 12 come with private balconies or patio areas. All guests have access to the poolside barbecue grill, the DVD lending library in the lounge, and the no-coins-required on-site laundry room, plus one more priceless perk: discounts at any of Frenchy's four local restaurants. 423 East Shore Dr., Clearwater Beach, frenchysoasismotel.com, free Wi-Fi, from $129 in high season, breakfast not included.

Low-Key Hideaway Motel and RV
The sign posted above the pathway to Pat and Cindy Bonish's Hideaway Tiki Bar (part of their Low-Key Hideaway Motel and RV resort) says it all: "Welcome to the Institute of Low-Key Living." It's no joke — after nearly four years spent crisscrossing the U.S. in their RV, collecting ideas about how they'd run a place if they ever stopped traveling, the Bonishes have the art of unwinding down to a science.

The first element? Make it an adults-only escape. Number two: Keep it casual. When the couple took over operations of the property — one of their old haunts — a little over two years ago, they raised the comfort level (600-thread-count sheets) without going haute. The five shabby-chic rooms are decorated with hunks of driftwood and furniture from thrift shops and antique stores, and some beds have headboards fashioned from old doors; each room also has a kitchenette and private bath. The couple also kept the four RV spots (with full hookups) on-site — a nod to their own epic road trips.

Rule number three: Make the most of what you have. There's no beach on the property, but a half-mile kayak ride will get you to a private island; restaurants are a short ride away on the motel's free bikes; and the sunsets at the waterfront tiki bar are spectacular. So what if they don't serve food? You can order delivery from the local pizza joint right to your barstool. Low-key? Yes, but also delightfully unpretentious and decidedly Old-Florida. 12050 SR 24, Cedar Key, lowkeyhideaway.com, free Wi-Fi, from $65, breakfast not included.

Mango Street Inn
With years of experience running restaurants in both Virginia and Belize, Tree and Dan Andre were more than qualified to handle the "breakfast" part of the B&B they dreamed of opening one day in an old-fashioned Florida-coast town like Fort Myers Beach. They were less prepared to deal with the state of the property they bought on that town's tropical-sounding Mango Street in 2008.

"We didn't realize it was a crack house," Tree says. She can laugh about it now; after months of gutting and renovation, the couple's welcoming inn is the type of place where guests gather around a fire pit in the courtyard and drink wine at night or sit together under the pergola for Dan's Cajun-inflected breakfasts (say, shrimp jambalaya cakes with fried egg and chipotle tomato sauce on top; less-spicy options are also available).

The six suites — four one-bedrooms, two with two bedrooms — all have private bathrooms, full kitchens, and homey furniture the couple has amassed (or made) over the years: patchwork quilts, ceramic-tile-topped coffee tables, wooden animal carvings. Well-behaved pets are allowed, and may find friends in Cookie the dog and Thomas and Hector the cats. Said guest Jim Palmer of Minnesota: "Where else can you show up for breakfast barefoot, with your dog, and be served a gourmet meal?" The beach is a mere 199 steps away, and the inn provides a wagon for guests to haul beach chairs, umbrellas and coolers. 126 Mango St., Fort Myers Beach, mangostreetinn.com, free Wi-Fi, from $145 in high season, breakfast included.

Naples Courtyard Inn
Staying on Naples' busy Tamiami Trail has its advantages: easy access to restaurants, shops (the chi-chi waterfront Village on Venetian Bay shopping center), art galleries and even the Naples Zoo. The trade-off? Mostly cookie-cutter chain lodging that might as well be anywhere. Except, that is, for the Naples Courtyard Inn, a 76-room family-run spot with a distinct sense of community.

Nora LaPorta's in-laws bought the place six years ago and revamped just about everything, giving the rooms a crisp new look and adding botanical-themed artwork, granite vanities, mini-fridges, and microwaves. LaPorta acts as hotel manager and de facto social coordinator; don't be surprised if she swings by to let you know about an impromptu mixer in the thatched-roof chickee hut by the pool. Or just show up there in the afternoons, when guests gather for fresh iced tea and conversation after a day at the city's 10 miles of sandy beaches, just a 5-minute drive away. 2630 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, naplescourtyardinn.com, free Wi-Fi, from $99 in high season, breakfast included.

The Peninsula Inn & Spa
Leave it to a (former) professional jazz musician to cobble together a distinctive inn with just the right balance of polish and improvisation. Its refined, romantic features — the on-site spa, two restaurants and spacious veranda — make The Peninsula a favorite site for small weddings and family reunions. But there's also a funkier side to this landmark building, which Alexandra Kingzett and her husband Jim bought in 1999 when it was a boarded-up shell.

To start, it has a colorful history, having served as a hospital, a nursing home and another hotel at different points in the past. (The original extra-large elevator was designed to fit gurneys.) Some say there's even a resident ghost, Isabelle, a former inhabitant after whom one of the inn's restaurants is named.

The five suites and six guest rooms are themed around British colonial outposts —Bombay, Katmandu, Casablanca — and decorated with furniture hand-carved in Indonesia. And, of course, there's music: A blues bands plays in the courtyard Tuesday nights, Wednesdays bring a jazz-piano ensemble, and Alexandra herself has been known to put on occasional performances at the piano in the bar. You can even get in on the action yourself, at the open mic night held every other Thursday. 2937 Beach Blvd., Gulfport, innspa.net, free Wi-Fi, weekend rates from $119 in high season, breakfast included.

The Sun and Moon Inn
Time was, the most colorful thing you saw on a visit to Matlacha (pronounced matt-la-SHAY), a tiny island fishing community in the Pine Island Sound, was a particularly vibrant redfish. But over the last two decades, the island has quietly been remaking itself as a tucked-away arts enclave, with a string of galleries set in converted fishermen's cottages and a dozen or so brightly-painted waterfront restaurants — many of which accommodate arrival by kayak. (Tip for the sweet-toothed: Try a scoop of homemade coconut at Great Licks Ice Cream.)

Fishing is still Matlacha's primary draw, though, and there's no better home base than the Sun and Moon Inn, a five-room lodge on the Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve, where kayakers, boaters and jumping mullet keep up a steady flow of traffic. Curt Peer, who owns the inn with his sister, is happy to dole out fishing tips or lead guests on moonlit kayak trips, and rents out kayaks for $50 per day. Three of the rooms have balconies with views of the pool and hot tub (both open 24 hours), and all have private baths, mini-fridges and generous floor plans. In Peer's typical laid-back style, the continental breakfast is available throughout the day, and there's an Italian restaurant right next door and a barbecue grill for guests to cook up their catch. 3962 NW Pine Island Rd., Matlacha, sunandmoon.net, free Wi-fi, rates from $125 in high season, breakfast included.

Watergarden Inn at the Bay
With a slew of just-opened arts attractions — the glass-sheathed Dali Museum, the Morean Arts Center's Chihuly Collection — and a snazzy new pier on the way (projected completion date: 2015), The Sunshine City of St. Petersburg is experiencing something of a renaissance.

Appropriately enough, the century-old building that houses Watergarden Inn at the Bay emerged from a rebirth of its own this month (March 2012), thanks to the efforts of new owner Bill Witt, an architect from Seattle with a penchant for collecting interesting pieces and an eye for clean, welcoming spaces. The 14-room inn near the city's downtown waterfront mixes old-fashioned charm, modern design and a real Florida feel: An antique radio anchors the lobby, while the sunny sitting room pairs wicker armchairs and a cozy leather sofa with brightly colored end tables and a house guitar for the musically inclined. Witt also installed a brand new swimming pool on the half-acre property, to go with the existing deck, garden, and second-floor patio, and renovated the house next door to contain two 2-room suites and the owners' quarters.

All guest rooms have private baths, flat-screen TVs, and in-room Keurig coffee makers; many also have king-size featherbeds and double-size whirlpool baths. 126 4th Avenue Northeast, St. Petersburg, innatthebay.com, free Wi-Fi, rates from $155 in high season, breakfast included.

Wisteria Inn
Miles away (in spirit) from the Margaritaville madness of Panama City Beach — but still close enough to drop in for dinner if you'd like — Wisteria Inn offers a mellow, grown-up alternative to the spring break atmosphere you'll find farther down the beach. (Kids under 12 aren't allowed; pets are.) Owner Bronwen DuKate took over the motel in 2001, giving each of the 14 rooms its own color palette or theme: The South Beach room is all lime green and turquoise, with paintings of tropical fish, while the Serenghetti room incorporates animal-print bedding and carved wooden masks.

The rooms aren't huge — especially the cheapest ones in the back — but all have private baths, coffee makers, mini-fridges and tile floors. And there's more to see outside, anyway. Within the inn's walled tropical garden, you'll find a decked-out pool area, a palm-shaded koi pond and a hot tub; a quiet, clean stretch of beach is just across the street. Breakfast isn't part of the deal here, but complimentary mimosas (at noon) and wine (in the early evening) are. And since DuKate doubles as captain of a 45-foot yacht, C'est Si Bon, it couldn't be easier to arrange an excursion on the water; she routinely takes groups of guests (minimum of 4) out on the boat for $65 a person. 20404 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, wisteria-inn.com, free Wi-Fi, rates from $109 in high season, breakfast not included.

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Courtesy Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel

The Easter bunny gives a basket to a young guest at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel in Orlando, Fla.

Families looking for a hopping good time are in for a basketful of fun at these five hotels rolling out the grassy green carpet for the Easter Bunny this year. These unique Easter offerings are sure to please egg-seeking kids as well as picture-snapping parents.

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa – Huntington Beach, Calif.
In addition to traditional hunts on the hotel lawn, guests at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach can collect underwater eggs from the hotel pool. Egg-decorating, an egg-and-spoon race and a waterslide relay race add to the seaside fun. Easter room rates range from $203-$415. Non-guests can dine on an elaborate brunch featuring a live jazz band, raw bar, chocolate fountain and more ($72 for adults, $25 for kids, free for those 5 and under) – then join in the Easter activities for free.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin – Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
If you’re looking for an Easter activity that really shines, check out the glow-in-the-dark egg hunt hosted by a live DJ at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel. Children are given luminescent necklaces and bracelets to aid in their search for the glowing candy-stuffed eggs.  As though waking up at the “Happiest Place on Earth” wasn’t enough, children can receive a surprise delivery from the bunny himself. Parents arrange for the Easter Bunny to bring a basket filled with candy and a plush toy to the hotel room. Cost is $55 for the first basket and $40 for each additional basket. Easter room rates start at $239 per night.

The James Chicago – Chicago, Ill.
For a unique twist on the classic Easter activity, The James Chicago is encouraging families to explore the Windy City. The hotel provides bicycles to borrow and a map to several tourist attractions around Chicago so kids can receive an egg stamp in their “passport” for each place visited. Hotel guests 12 and younger who bring back a full passport receive a complimentary Easter dessert at the on-site David Burke’s Primehouse. Back in their room, families are treated to an Easter-themed turndown with hidden candies to find. Easter rates start at $359 per night in a loft suite featuring family-friendly movie screenings in a private media room.

Red Mountain Resort – St. George, Utah
This holistic active resort located amidst Southern Utah’s red rock cliffs and canyons is offering an Easter Geocache Fitness Activity for its guests (age 12+). Families will use a GPS unit to find camouflaged eggs. Instead of candy, the eggs are filled with exercises to be completed in order to win a prize (like a yoga mat or other exercise accessories). A last-minute deal for Easter weekend starts at $230 per person per night.

The Somerset on Grace Bay – Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos
Don a snorkel mask and flippers and dive into the Somerset’s first annual “Sea”ster egg hunt. During the first week in April, kids will paint egg-shaped rocks. On Easter weekend, these painted treasures will be scattered into the turquoise waters of Grace Bay where families can snorkel to collect as many painted "eggs" as possible. The winning family will receive a family portrait to commemorate the trip. Holiday rates start at $900 per night for a one-bedroom villa.

These Easter festivities are offered to hotel guests only and are included in room rates unless otherwise noted.

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Courtesy of Southern Ocean Lodge

Southern Ocean Lodge offers luxury accommodations on Kangaroo Island, Australia, Situated on the island's southwest coast, the lodge adjoins both the Flinders Chase and Cape Bouguer national parks.

If the best architecture aims at eternity, to paraphrase famed English architect Christopher Wren, then these new hotels are bound to be immortal. The 11 hotels on our list all opened within the last four years, and each is an example of awe-inspiring design in its own right. You can stay in a wave-like skyscraper in Chicago, a stack of cantilevered cubes in Portugal, or a hotel tucked into the wild cliffs of an Australian island. And, even better, it won't cost a fortune to spend a night in these architectural wonders. Seven of the 11 are under $200 a night.

Slideshow: The hotel world's most striking architecture

Bella Sky Comwell, Copenhagen, Denmark

The two structures that make up the Bella Sky each incline at a slightly different angle. Or as the architects sweetly put it, the towers are drawn to each other, "yet seem a little shy." In fact, the creative use of angles is employed both inside the property and out — geometric angles give the exterior a filigreed look, while inside the hotel there are rooms where there are no 90-degrees at all (there are more than 200 different room shapes in the 812-room hotel). The location, in the Copenhagen neighborhood of Orestad five miles from the city center, actually inspired the leaning-tower design. The buildings are so close to the airport that height restrictions dictate that they must not exceed 246 feet. (011-45/3247-3000, bellaskycomwell.dk, from $155 per night.)

Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Hotel, Abu Dhabi

Queensland architecture firm DBI Design won the World's Leading New Hotel Award for 2011 for this stunning $1 billion residential and retail center. The complex is made up of five towers on a beachside stretch on a peninsula in Abu Dhabi. Constructing the buildings that now dominate the modern skyline posed structural challenges. The towers all curve, meaning each floor slab is a different shape. The 382-room Jumeirah hotel takes up 66 stories of one of the towers. (888/645-5697, jumeirah.com, from $192 per night.)

Hotel Consolación, Teruel, Spain

Perched atop a ridge, this collection of 10 freestanding, wood-clad modernist cubes, or "Kube" suites, opened in 2009. Located in the rural mountain town of Teruel (a three-hour drive from both Barcelona and Valencia), the sleek cubes create a beautiful juxtaposition with the groves of olive and almond trees that surround them. Each suite has a sliding glass wall that opens onto a private terrace, and, inside, sparse interiors combine slate, copper-treated pine and metal sheeting. The hotel incorporates some classic elements as well: a converted 14th-century hermitage serves as a communal area for guests. (011-34-978/85-67-55, consolacion.com.es, from $185 per night.)

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, Australia

Architect Max Pritchard designed this lodge to blend into the dramatic surroundings of Kangaroo Island. Tucked back behind cliffs, the hotel opened in 2008 and consists of 21 suites cascading down a windswept slope, following the natural curve of the land, each with floor-to-ceiling glass walls and sweeping views of the Southern Ocean. Suites were constructed from lightweight materials — steel screw piles, timber framing, iron cladding — that could be carried in to create minimal disturbance to nature, and which also could handle the challenge of building on precarious soil conditions (several feet of sand atop solid limestone). Inside are environmentally sound sandblasted limestone floors and recycled spotted-gum walls. The off-the-grid location led to innovations such as sculptural containers for collecting rainwater. (931/924-5253, southernoceanlodge.com.au, from $1,000 per person, per night with a two-night minimum.) 

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

This trio of 55-story towers opened in 2010 and hold an incredible 2,561 hotel rooms, plus a museum, casino, convention center, waterfront promenade, shops and restaurants. Architect Moshe Safdie has said that his challenge "was to create a vital public place at the district-urban scale-in other words, to address the issue of megascale and invent an urban landscape that would work at the human scale." His way of dealing with that was to design the complex around two central axes to give a sense of orientation. The towers are connected at the top by the cantilevered, two-and-a-half-acre SkyPark, home to gardens, 250 trees, a public observatory and a 492-foot swimming pool — all perched high in the sky like a fantastical cruise ship forever suspended in midair. (011-65/6688-8868, marinabaysands.com, from $350 per night.)

Yas Viceroy Hotel, Abu Dhabi

This 499-room hotel was the first to be built straddling a Formula 1 racetrack (it opened in 2009 and was renovated in 2011 to become a Viceroy). The structure consists of a pair of 12-story towers joined by a sweeping, 700-foot curvilinear skin of glass and steel — actually 5,800 pivoting, diamond-shaped glass panels that reflect the sky by day and are illuminated up by an LED system at night. The architects' aim was to reflect artistry and geometries associated with ancient Islamic art and craft traditions, and from a distance the panels create the appearance of a spectacular veil. (888/622-4567, viceroyhotelsandresorts.com ; from about $210 per night.)

Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel, Stockholm

The pièce de résistance at this 414-room hotel of white polished stone and rough black stone is its attached conference center — a glass structure with an exterior made up of 13 miles of semi-transparent stainless steel rods. They reflect the sky and water, radically change the skyline, and are what architect Hans Forsmark describes as "a reminiscence of the Nordic Light." The interiors of the hotel, which opened in 2011, follow straight lines and geometric precision. (800/333-3333, radissonblu.com, from $155 per night.)

Axis Viana Hotel, Viana do Castelo, Portugal

The 88-room Axis Viana Hotel was a striking addition to the folkloric village of Viana do Castelo when it opened in 2008. The exterior is made up of reflective aluminum, black glass and green stone, and the cantilevered design changes the shape of the hotel depending upon your vantage point. The contrasting interior consists of white finishes and materials including wood and stone. It's all edged by a shimmering outdoor pool and surrounded by views of the Lima River and Mount St. Luzia. (011-351/258-802-000, axishoteis.com, from $100 per night.)

Hôtel Americano, New York

The 10-story Americano sits on the site of a former parking garage in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. Neighbors were likely pleased with the swap when the hotel opened in 2011. The building looks like a massive metal sculpture — perfect for the gallery-filled neighborhood — with floors connected by catwalks and wrapped with stainless-steel mesh. The industrial façade holds 56 rooms plus two restaurants, a lobby café and two basement bars; for urban escape, there is a roof deck with a pool, bar and peaceful garden terrace. (212/216-0000, hotel-americano.com, from $295 per night.)

Miura Hotel, Celadná, Czech Republic

Rising like a geometric spaceship in the Beskydy Mountains is this distinctive hotel made of concrete, sheet metal, violet glass, Corian and stone. Miura opened in 2011 and is divided into three parts, one of which seems to levitate above the ground, plus two side wings containing the 44 rooms. The arrangement means that all of the rooms have views of the surrounding mountains. The striking hotel also has an impressive art collection, with works by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and Czech sculptor David Černý. Known for his large-scale installations, Černý's works here include an almost 30-foot-tall stainless-steel man pushing against the exterior of the hotel. (011-420/558-761-100, www.miura.cz, from $126 per night.)

Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago

Architect Jeanne Gang literally made waves in a city full of iconic skyscrapers with her showstopper building. The 82-story glass structure's exterior has undulating concrete balconies resembling the swirls and ripples of nearby Lake Michigan. Such a unique design brought with it a unique construction challenge — each floor plate is a different shape, which means a different concrete pour was required for every story. To manage it, the concrete was poured into a specially designed flexible metal edge that was reused over and over again — an important detail for green architecture. Much of the building is designated for private residences, but the 334-room Radisson Blu Aqua opened on 18 floors in November 2011. (312/565-5258, radissonbluchicago.com, from $175 per night.) 

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Courtesy of The PalmyraAuction.com

A view of Palmyra's club house from the main resort pool.

Psst. Want to buy a luxury resort with 280-plus rooms overlooking a sandy beach in Montego Bay, Jamaica —  once valued at $150-million — for pennies on the dollar?

It’s called The Palmyra Resort and Spa and it’s going on the auction block on March 28. It needs a little work — one of its three towers is still a shell and the spa is only partially completed — but, according to John Cuticelli, CEO of Racebrook Marketing Concepts, which is handling the auction, the resort offers “the most compelling opportunity in the global hospitality market right now.”

It also offers a snapshot of what happens when developers conceive grand plans and then run smack into the realities of the Great Recession. Touted as one of the top 10 most exciting real estate developments in the world by Travel & Leisure in 2007, the half-built resort has been in receivership since July of last year.

“There are a substantial number of hotels that are currently lender-owned and there are a substantial number that are on their way to being lender-owned,” said Bruce Ford, senior vice president of sales at Lodging Econometrics, which tracks the commercial real estate industry. “But there are also plenty of buyers who are ready, willing and able to pick up those assets at a discount.”

Consider some of the recent deals:

• According to the South Florida Business Journal, the 340-room Gansevoort South Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla., was sold and renamed The Perry South Beach in early February, two years after the hotel was taken over by its lenders after the previous owner defaulted on an $89 million loan.
•  On February 22, MyDesert.com reported that the Two Bunch Palms Resort & Spa in Desert Hot Springs, Calif., — long a popular hideaway for Hollywood stars — was sold, almost two years after it went into receivership.
• United Capital Corp. recently purchased the 254-room Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch, N.J., a year after the previous owner filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to avoid foreclosure, according to the Atlanticville newspaper.

While the particulars vary by property, these and countless other hotels and resorts were victims of the same economic forces — easy credit, the belief that real estate values could only go up and the subsequent freeze on commercial lending — that wreaked havoc on the residential real estate market.

“Going back to 2007, everybody was getting all that easy money,” said Glenn Haussman, editor in chief of HotelInteractive.com. “Then, all of a sudden, the market went bust and all these payments started coming due. The banks would ‘extend and pretend,’ hoping they’d get their money back, but eventually they realized that wasn’t going to happen.”

The good news for travelers is that when new owners pick up properties at a good discount, they tend to spend money on renovations and other improvements.

“This is just what the doctor ordered to get these properties healthy again,” Haussman said. 

Presumably, that’s what will happen with The Palmyra once it’s auctioned off. According to Cuticelli, “Thousands of people have visited the auction website, a good percentage have asked for more information and a smaller percentage have registered to participate.” He declined to provide more details on minimum bids or an estimated sale price.

Of course, if you miss out on that deal, rest assured there will be others. In fact, just last month, it was announced that the posh Cap Juluca resort in Anguilla, British West Indies, where rooms average more than $900 a night, is to be sold at auction on May 2.

To get in on the action, all you need is a cashier’s check for $250,000 and the ability to bring the total deposit to 10 percent of your winning bid within 24 hours.

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Rob Lovitt is a longtime travel writer who still believes the journey is as important as the destination. Follow him at Twitter.