Yes, you could recline poolside for every waking moment of your holiday in Greece. But at this sun-drenched hotel on the island of Rhodes, it’s just one possible pastime. There’s a well-equipped gym, an indoor pool with mountain views, a full-service spa and regular yoga classes held in a purpose-built sala. Hotel staff can also book sailing adventures and hiking tours if you have the willpower to pull yourself away from a sunlounger.

Amarante’s Monverde Wine Experience Hotel puts you within toasting distance of both the hotspot city of Porto and the hilly wine region of the Douro Valley. Explore the immediate area first: set on the Quinta da Lixa vineyard, the property boasts views of its Avesso vines and ancient chestnut trees, best enjoyed during an onsite wine tour and tasting. Guests can also book into the spa where treatments use the estate’s unique wine-based products, purported to harness the molecular, anti-aging properties of the fruit grown on-site.

Staying at this cheerful West London hotel is a little like having your own pied-à-terre. There are no check-in and check-out times, there’s a mattress menu to ensure the bed is as comfy as your own and each room has a convenient kitchenette to help keep dining costs down. The decor feels personal, featuring pieces from local artists (spot the mirrors of Keiran Letts, who works with sustainable timber, in the bathrooms). The location is impressively central, too – the Thames and Kew Botanical Gardens are just a stroll away.

Iceland is notoriously tough on travel budgets but if you’re willing to look beyond Reykjavik, there are bargains to be found. This collection of wooden, windswept cottages is in the tiny fishing village of Arnarstapi on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, where lava caves, deep ravines and wild beaches abound. You’ll find these minimalist beauties at the foot of Mount Stapafell, a pillow lava mountain that soars over 500 metres tall, near the statue of Barour, the legendary half-man, half-giant who is believed to have once roamed the area.

Whitewashed limestone walls, a tumble of magenta bougainvillea and 19 rustic and relaxing rooms are the hallmarks of this Puglian villa in the town of Ostuni. Although the ambience is akin to some of the country’s most luxurious properties, it costs just a fraction of the price. The restaurant is a highlight (as you’d expect in this part of the world); the entirely vegetarian menu is sourced from farms and producers nearby. You can also book cooking classes and wine and olive oil tasting experiences to round out your Puglian immersion.

In the peak of the European summer, visitors are especially drawn to Croatia’s walled capital Dubrovnik. Check into Hotel Osmolis, a 20-minute drive away, where you can easily venture into the crowds to explore before staying static by the infinity pool that boasts uninterrupted views of the Adriatic perfumed by the scent of lemons, laurel and lavender. There’s also an on-site spa and fitness centre with a sauna and a second pool to help you wile away your hours.

A serene haven of Menorcan hospitality, this sumptuously decorated 21-room hotel in the centre of Mahon feels like you’re visiting the home of your most stylish friend (if they had pillow menus and Egyptian cotton-dressed beds, that is). There are antiques and vintage fabrics on almost every surface, and chef Pau Sintes creates gastronomic magic at the restaurant, Cristine’s Kitchen. The terrace and garden are a pretty addition, providing an oasis for a drink and a dip in the outdoor pool.

The smallest room option in this brightly decorated Roman bolthole might be called ‘The Shoebox’, but rest assured you won’t be disappointed. The spaces are light-filled, feature retro bathrooms straight from a scene in a mid-century Italian movie and, in the Biggy category, look out onto the city’s terracotta roofs. Visit the nearby Villa Borghese a piedi and don’t forget to stop into the on-site restaurant, Elio, which rocks a great cacio e pepe (for a reasonable 16 euro).

Staying amongst the charming bistros, vintage stores and atmospheric theatres of the Grands Boulevards neighbourhood of Paris doesn’t have to take a chunk of your change. Accented by old-school telephones and vintage chairs, this reasonably-priced property feels properly Parisian, with the added Francophile points of Diptyque amenities and a lobby bar serving prex-fixes (fixed price) lunches to help you keep track of your euros. Kids under two can also bunk here free of charge.

Miss Clara’s position on Sveavägen Boulevard, a glamorous main vein of Stockholm lined with upmarket boutiques, means many sights (namely the historic precinct of Gamla Stan) less than two kilometres away. Inside, the walnut-hued herringbone flooring, complimentary sauna access and Byredo bathroom products all add to its should-cost-more vibe. The on-site pizzeria is also pleasingly reasonable, with delicious wood-fired kids pizza for just 100kr (AUD$14).

Artistic and epicurean, Nice is the jewel of the French Riviera. This delightful hotel has its own (affordable) sparkle, with a location barely 150 metres away from the famed beach, a well-priced buffet breakfast and a relaxed honesty bar for those spontaneous coupes of Champagne. If you prefer shopping to swimming, it’s close enough to some of the city’s best retail therapy, from the independent boutiques of the Avenue Jean Médecin to the luxury salons of Le Carré d’Or.

Leave the kids at home – this luxurious Spanish farmhouse is for grownups only. Located in the middle of a national park in Almería in the Andalusian region of Spain, the tranquil residence is all about the outlook, which captures seven kilometres of rocky Mediterranean coast and a skyline of volcanic mountains. Borrow snorkelling gear to get a glimpse of marine life right off the beach or grab a mountain bike to explore the region’s many cycling trails, both free of charge.

Situated right in the bustle of Palermo, L’Olivella might be the prettiest place to park your suitcase in the Sicilian capital. Originally an old silver factory, this 100-year-old villa has been reimagined as a storybook BnB, notable for its grand furnishings including four-poster beds, organza curtains and tiled flooring. The proverbial cherry on top? The fresh regional breakfast including pastries, cheeses and preserves is also included.

Graz, Austria’s second-largest city is an aesthete’s paradise, named as a UNESCO City of Design in 2011. The Wiesler, which is filled with eclectic art (it even has a designated ‘Banksy’ room), is right at its heart, with the alien form of the Kunsthaus gallery and the Schloss Eggenberg castle a short walk away. Despite the property’s reasonable rates, famous guests have included Mick Jagger, The Dalai Lama and Jennifer Lawrence.

In the heart of Ribeiro, the most vibrant region of Porto, this grand 16th century former goods trading store sits on a UNESCO-protected square. Rooms here each have their own character, swathed in sea blues, sand and faded jewel tones that echo the colours of the town’s famous tiles. The property’s Restaurant Casario serves exceptional Portuguese cuisine in an elegant degustation matched with Douro wines.

With the Greek islands being so popular, the finest prize in the sapphire blue Mediterranean is an isle undiscovered by the crowds. One of those is Kastellorizo and there you’ll find this inviting former mansion that’s been transformed into a colour-splashed waterfront hotel. The decor’s primary colours shine against the blue outside and even the sea-view rooms are available for a reasonable price. Breakfast is served daily (for an additional 20 euro) on the terrace overlooking the quaint harbour.

In Amsterdam’s bustling city centre, this energetic little stay is right beside the Bloemgracht Canal, surrounded by cafes, bars and galleries. The rooms, decorated in shades of coffee and stroopwafel, have tons of luxe touches, from high-quality linen to Argan-infused toiletries. They’ll even throw in a generous continental breakfast for less than 15 euros (when booked ahead).

Both stylish and centrally located, Dublin’s The Alex is a brilliant little boutique hotel. Rooms and suites are all fitted with king-sized, Irish-made mattresses – exactly what you need to sleep off the jetlag – and the terrace for the indoor-outdoor eateries (there are two) makes for relaxed cocktails, dinner or brunch among the flowers. There’s no on-site gym but the hotel allows guests to use the one at their sister property two minutes' walk away, accessible 24 hours a day.

It doesn’t get more remote than the Faroe Islands, an atmospheric archipelago in the Atlantic between Norway and Iceland. The serene Hotel Foroyar sits in a quiet valley and is just 15 minutes on foot from the capital of Tórshavn for mornings spent admiring the colourful facades of the city’s grass-roofed buildings. If you’d rather stay put, we recommend booking a meal at the onsite Ruts Restaurant, which serves simple, seasonal Faroe produce with incredible glimpses of the fjord.

Designed as a co-project between an architect and a seasoned hospitality professional, Hotel Pilar in Antwerp bills itself as an ‘energetic hotel’. Each room looks to the Museum of Fine Arts, with even the smallest space inclusive of a king-sized bed and a rainwater shower. The ground floor Foodbar, with its green views, is a lively spot for a morning coffee and a pain perdue, while the building’s fire escape has been cleverly designed as an art gallery where each piece is available for sale.

Take a dilapidated workshop, bring in a bunch of artists, designers and craftspeople and get them all to work. The result is Edgar Et Achille, a character-filled 45-room stay and restaurant in a part of Paris known as Little Egypt. The lodgings are split across two buildings and the ground floor restaurant overlooks the leafy Place d’Alexandrie. With the Strasbourg Saint-Denis Metro station nearby (and the hip Le Marais quarter just a few blocks away), this property proves you don’t have to spend a fortune to see the best of Paris.

The first Design Hotel in Scotland, this modern-meets-historic stay in Edinburgh’s Old Town gives guests a bonny welcome with its warm minimalist interiors. The entry-level ‘Cozy’ room is surprisingly spacious given its name and features a queen or king bed, a complimentary mini bar, Dyson supersonic hairdryer and a rainfall shower. The Nor’ Loft rooftop bar and restaurant serves up city views alongside a fantastic Champagne list and share plates but for a closer look at the sights, Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile are a short walk away.

This edgy, 16-room boutique hotel inside a former textile mill in the happening Northern Quarter district of Manchester is a big time box-ticker. Plush and comfortable bed? Check. Fast wifi, daily complimentary prosecco and snacks? Another (big) tick. Its other drawcard is the location – you can easily follow the staff’s local dining recommendations when hunger strikes.

The Mama Shelter brand was launched in Paris in 2008, spearheading the ‘hip urban refuge’ trend that can now be found all over the world. The Prague outpost is just outside of the tourist trail but close enough that the sights are accessible whenever you like. There are 238 rooms across 10 floors, filled with colourful art and free movies, plus many have views across the Czech capital’s rooftops. The best outlook, however, is from the sunny terrace bar, a sociable place to grab an afternoon spritz or a late-night pizz

The friendly and hip Copenhagen neighbourhood of Vesterbro is where you’ll find this well-appointed hotel, a five-minute walk from the city’s main train station. Rooms at the family-run, Green Key certified property are colourful and design-led but it’s the little things that make a big impact, such as the complimentary bar credit, friendly staff and extensive breakfast buffet.

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