The 12 rooms of north-west Italy’s Nordelaia are housed inside a lovingly restored 800-year-old farmhouse in the mountainous region of Piedmont. Here, slow days are par for the course, with regular visits to the on-site hammam, steam room, sauna and hydrotherapy pool the most likely order of the day. Access to these facilities is included in the price of your room, as is a hearty daily à la carte breakfast.

From $489 per night

Views of Venice without the crowds are hard to come by but at Il Palazzo Experimental, a boutique property on the Canal della Giudecca ensconced in a grand Renaissance manor, you can have your cake and eat it, too. From the hotel’s rooftop terrace, there’s a spectacular view over the city. After a 20-minute stoll home from Piazza San Marco, past the Galleria dell’Accademia and Guggenheim museums, you’ll have it virtually to yourself. Breakfast of fresh fruit and eggs your way is included in the nightly rate.

From $302 per night

Opting for all-inclusive at northern Crete’s Stella Island Resort & Spa isn’t just smart for your stress levels – it’s easy on your bank balance. From delicious dinners to afternoon cocktails, morning yoga classes and beach towels, every little pleasure provided at Stella falls under the all-inclusive banner. Selecting the “pay now, worry never” option at this luxury resort will feel particularly sweet when you’re indulging in a poolside beverage under the bright Cretan sun.

From $502 per night, all inclusive

When the sun starts its descent in Santorini’s popular village of Oia, guests of Sophia Boutique Hotel, which is carved into the island’s cliffsides near the famous Skaros Rock lookout, will have uninterrupted views of the spectacle and, in some rooms, private hydromassage plunge pools to soak in while it happens. Breakfast is included in the booking price and can be served in your room, balcony or by the pool.

From $347 per night 

Ocean views from bed. Sinfully deep soaking tubs in your room. Underfloor heating and a pillow menu. A rooftop terrace that delivers the Galician coastline to you as you bask in a jacuzzi. Such is the indulgence of Noa Boutique Hotel, in Spain’s north-west, where luxury doesn’t cost a tonne to you or the earth thanks to its efforts in sustainability – there are no single-use plastics and the aforementioned heating is provided via geothermal energy.

From $161 per night

There’s a real sense of community at Frankfurt’s edgy yet hospitable Libertine Lindenberg, mere metres from the Main River. When you’re not spinning around town on one of the hotel’s in-house bicycles, you could be cooking a meal or watching a movie in the property’s underground theatre. The space doubles as a recording studio, if you’re musical – if not, you’re bound to bump into someone who is.

From $179 per night

The south of France is synonymous with glitz, glamour and a hefty price tag. Fortunately, the Hôtel Le Sud, a whitewashed wonder that’s an easy 20-minute drive south-east of Hollywood megastar magnet Cannes, won’t empty your pockets. Although the rooms are breezy and pleasant, it’s the outdoor spaces where you’ll want to concentrate your time: the pool is surrounded by shaded gardens and a bistro-like terrace, the place to perch while you enjoy a Med-style pizza, fresh from the adorable food truck parked in the garden.

From $122 per night

Somewhat of a secret when it comes to Europe’s natural wonders, Slovenia’s Julian Alps are just as stunning as those ones in Switzerland. It’s here that Boutique Hotel Majer’ca is nestled in a valley near the country’s largest body of water, Lake Bohinj. Depending on which type of room you book, you’ll delight in private indoor or outdoor saunas with accompanying terraces, as well as complimentary breakfast with goodies sourced from the local area.

From $115 per night

Some people pay a fortune for views as magical as the one that greets guests of The Hoxton in the Barcelona neighbourhood of El Poblenou. From the property’s rooftop terrace – complete with plunge pool, a happening bar and Mexican restaurant – the intricate spires of Sagrada Familia come gloriously into view. Downstairs, the hotel’s bodega is a welcome delight, too – you can find lo-fi wines and Spanish snacks (requisite tinned anchovies, barrels of Bonilla la Vista chips, et al) stocked at delightfully reasonable, corner store-adjacent prices.

From $272 per night

The mountainous country’s reputation for budget busting is legendary but here’s one stay that bucks the trend. Properties under the 25Hours brand are known for their friendly “Sure, why not?” hospitality. At the Zurich outpost overlooking the city’s main train station that translates to bicycle hire, sauna visits, in-room filter-coffee facilities and minibar goodies – all free of charge for guests.

From $329 per night

If you want to live the Soho House life on a “my friends are inside” budget, charming High Road House in the West London neighbourhood of Chiswick could be just the ticket. Considerably more affordable than other Soho House outposts, you’ll have access to the more wallet-friendly property – and extra perks such as 15 per cent off all Soho House room rates, 20 per cent off dining and free cinema screenings around the city – if you sign up us a Soho Friend (£100 annual fee) before you book.

From $308 per night

Reasonably priced accommodation in the French capital is rarely as appealing as Hotel Les Deux Gare, with its floral wallpaper and Art Deco-style décor. Along with adorably furnished rooms and its location a short stroll from two major railway stations for jaunts across borders, the hotel also boasts a sauna for guests’ use (free of charge) and a café serving natural wines until midnight.

From $189 per night 

Scandis know how to sauna. If you want to learn from the masters (without the exorbitant cost), book a stay at Hotel Skansen, on Sweden’s south-west coast. At the end of a pier that extends out into the Kattegat Sea, the hotel’s private cold bathhouse awaits its visitors, who might follow up a trip to the sauna with a leap into the ocean. Booking a spa package, which includes rooftop pool visits until 11pm, breakfast and a post-plunge warm apple cider, is the best way to experience this unique approach to wellness.

From around $232 per night for a spa package

The so-named “cosy spots” of Axel Guldsmeden in Copenhagen’s Vesterbro aren’t in short supply. We’re talking a bookable sauna and steam room, a rooftop hot tub and a leafy courtyard space, access to which is all included in the one-off $87 fee you pay at the commencement of your stay.

From $176 per night

Iceland is as famous for its pricey accommodation as it is for its pristine natural landscapes. Skip the former for the latter at Dalahyttur Lodges, where vistas of the imposing Kirkjufell mountain that starred in Game of Thrones and breakfast come standard with the rack rate. The lodge’s small, minimalist cabins know their drawcard is the outlook and have wide windows that lead to private balconies – ideal for curling up nearby during winter, or stepping out onto during summer for a glimpse at the midnight sun

From $320 per night

Understated luxury – at a more approachable price point – is yours at De Durgerdam, an 11-room/three-suite guesthouse that dates back to the mid-17th century. Its location alongside Lake IJmeer gives the property a welcome sense of tranquillity not often afforded to the Netherlands’ most populous city. Bracing dips in the lake are encouraged, with thongs and outdoor towels supplied in rooms, alongside complimentary local treats, decanters of sherry, and “sleep well” kits of herbal teas and pre-recorded guided meditation sessions. If you want to take the 15-minute journey into the heart of the city, a fleet of bikes awaits – or, enjoy dinner at the in-house restaurant instead, helmed by chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants.

From $451 per night

Wander the streets of Lisbon on a full stomach after a morning at the charming guesthouse of Hotel das Amoreiras, north-west of the city centre on Praça das Amoreiras. Breakfast, served until noon, is a hearty offering of locally sourced pastries, meats, fruit, cheeses, eggs and pour over coffee, all included in your room rate. If you time it right, that could be two less meals coming out of your back pocket.

From $334 per night

The hike-in, hike-out gem of Stubn, in the Chiemgau Alps, has all the scenery without the price tag (and breakfast is included, too). At 950 metres above sea level, the natural landscape is simply magnificent – pull up a chair at the onsite restaurant for a delectable three-course lunch ($63) to take it all in or do the same at breakfast for a more relaxed – and free – affair.

From $176 per night

How many hotels come with free use of a Mini Cooper? Yes, at West Berlin’s 25Hours, the tiny house car is yours if you need it but, given the size of this little city-esque hotel, you might not need it. The hotel (and its Jungle Sauna, which is free for guest use) faces the famous Berlin Zoo and is a celebration of the gritty side of Berlin, with abundant hammocks, brushed copper headboards and a rooftop bar – reached by a private lift for guests. But if you don’t fancy leaving your room, crack open the minibar instead: it’s included in the price.

From $220 per night