Luxe for less: Great-value destinations for a 5-star city break

Prague

Once a city associated with boozy stag dos and general drunken debauchery, Prague has tidied up its act, and is now famous for its fine dining, cocktail bars and endless opportunities for a culture fix.

The best bit? It’s ridiculously cheap. The city is jam-packed with competitively priced hotels and restaurants, plus there’s heaps of brilliant things to do and see on a budget – from churches and castles to parks and museums.

Stay at the Michelangelo Grand Hotel and Prague’s value for money increases. This five-star pad has 91 deluxe rooms, each with king size beds and all the posh trimmings such as luxurious toiletries and a Nespresso coffee machine. Located just metres from Wenceslas Square and with an excellently rated breakfast included, you can fuel up for a day of sightseeing without having to spend an extra penny.

Your deal: Three nights at the five-star Michelangelo Grand Hotel in Prague from £209pp with breakfast included. Flights departing London Stansted on 11 January 2025.

Madrid

When it comes to the fun factor, Spain is hard to beat. You don’t need to splash the cash in chic cocktail bars or splurge on fine dining here – in Madrid, you’ll have far more fun exploring the El Rastro flea market or toasting the city in its tascas (taverns).

The winter months see an impressive line up of events, too. Join in the merriment of Christmas markets in December, toast in the Chinese New Year in January and marvel at Carnival parades from the end of February.

You’ll be in the heart of the action at Hotel Villa Real. This charming building deserves five stars for its location alone, overlooking the Art Triangle formed by the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofía National Art Museum. Although, with its own art and archaeology collection, you don’t have to leave the hotel to see fabulous artwork. Factor in chic New York-style rooms and a rooftop bar, and you needn’t leave at all!

Your deal: Three nights at the five-star Hotel Villa Real in Madrid from £279pp on a room-only basis. Flights departing London Stansted on 12 January 2025.

Athens

Athens is a top pick for a quick getaway – especially between September and April when the weather is cooler (exploring the Acropolis in 32C is never fun). You’ll also make some serious savings as prices drop dramatically during this time.

Once you’ve hit up the city’s top museums – the Acropolis Museum and National Archaeological Museum are musts – take some time to explore Athens’s neighbourhoods. Plaka is popular thanks to its lively bars and delicious souvlaki street food stands.

Stay at the St. George Lycabettus Lifestyle Hotel, though, and chances are you won’t need to spend much on dining out – the generous breakfast buffet will keep you fed and fuelled well into the day. With a rooftop pool, a spa and gallery and breathtaking panoramas over the Acropolis, this glamorous hotel gives you plenty of five-star flair for your money.

Your deal: Three nights at the five-star St. George Lycabettus Lifestyle Hotel in Athens from £263pp with breakfast included. Flights departing London Gatwick on 11 January 2025.

Munich

Munich is all about beer. Fiction. Yes, the beer is delicious (and cheap), but there’s much more to this Bavarian city than its breweries.

Head to Marienplatz, the city’s central square, to check out the Glockenspiel – a mechanical clock adorned with 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures – or visit the innovative Kunsthalle Munich. This 13,000-square-foot gallery is packed with legendary exhibitions, and it’s housed in a beautiful café-filled complex designed by famous architects Herzog & de Meuron.

Some of the city’s best value comes from its luxury hotels. Stay at the five-star Hotel München Palace and you’ll get complimentary amenities including high-end toiletries and a free mini bar. Complete with a rooftop terrace and courtyard garden, there’s no shortage of lovely spaces to rest and relax. Bike rental is also included in the price, so you can save on public transport costs, too.

Your deal: Two nights at the five-star Hotel München Palace in Munich from £339pp on a room-only basis. Flights departing London Gatwick on 8 January 2025.

Barcelona

Barcelona might well be one of Spain’s most popular cities, but that doesn’t mean a holiday here has to come with a price tag. Stay out of the tourist centre in neighbourhoods like Gracia, fill up on cheap tapas and make use of the city’s fast and cost efficient metro, and you can easily keep your budget in check.

Some of Barcelona’s greatest landmarks are also free to see. Admire the exterior of Gaudi’s signature masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, or head to the Gothic Quarter to see the La Seu Cathedral and Plaça Reial.

The five-star Torre Melina Gran Meliá is the cherry on top of the cake. Tranquil and elegant, the hotel is an urban oasis on the outskirts of the city centre. Its 269,000-square-foot gardens give Barcelona’s parks a run for their money, plus there’s a spa with an indoor pool (perfect for winter visits) to unwind after busy days sightseeing. You won’t need to overspend on breakfast or city shuttles either, as both are included with your room.

Your deal: Three nights at the five-star Torre Melina Gran Meliá in Barcelona from £309pp with breakfast included. Flights departing Birmingham on 12 January 2025.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a city with a wonderful sense of space – a place where exploring beyond its wide, canal-lined streets reaps huge rewards. Do so and you’ll stumble upon gems such as the MOCO Museum, where there’s a permanent collection of Banksy masterpieces.

Love a bargain? Amsterdam has some of the world’s best flea markets (hit up the IJ-Hallen in the hip NDSM area, just across the water from Amsterdam’s Centraal Station) and street food (try a caramel-drenched stroopwafel).

For a luxury stay right on the canalside, look no further than the Hilton Amsterdam. Expect skyline views, super comfy beds and complimentary refreshments, while a rave-reviewed breakfast and access to the fitness centre are brilliant extra perks. Located just 1km (0.6 miles) from the Museumplein, you’re within walking distance of two of the city’s most famous attractions: the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. The hotel’s bike rentals make reaching further afield quick and easy.

Your deal: Three nights at the five-star Hilton Amsterdam in Amsterdam from £399pp with breakfast included. Flights departing London Luton on 11 January 2025.

New York

Let’s face it – there’s never a bad time to visit New York. The Big Apple’s parks burst into colour in both autumn and spring, and the city transforms into a winter wonderland during November and December, which is also a great time to bag some pre-Christmas bargains.

Travel between January and mid-February and you can take advantage of so-called “dead week”, where hotels, restaurants and attractions across the city offer huge discounts.

The mind-bogglingly wide range of hotels and attractions in New York make it easy to customise trips according to your budget, and there are a load of ways to save cash. Opt to explore NYC on foot, for example, and you’ll discover a new side to the city.

With premium comfort and contemporary style, five-star Royalton Park Avenue is perfect for luxury on a budget. This all-glass highrise ticks all the boxes – think a prime location in central Manhattan, lavish rooms with lofty ceilings and Juliet balconies, and a heated rooftop pool, all at a price that won’t make your eyes water.

Your deal: Five nights at the five-star Royalton Park Avenue in New York from £664pp on a room-only basis. Flights departing London Heathrow on 14 January 2025.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas hotels often offer brilliant value, largely because the powers that be hope that once they get you through the doors you’ll pour money into their casinos. The good news? There’s many an opportunity for free fun here. Make sure you check out the fountains outside the Bellagio, where over 1,000 fountains shoot 140m (460ft) jets of water into the air in time to music, and head over to the Cosmopolitan to check out the amazing digital art exhibition in its lobby.

Book yourself into the ARIA Resort & Casino and you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck. The colossal resort is a five-star hotel, casino, pool complex, spa and entertainment venue all rolled into one, just metres away from the famous Strip.

With a tantalising variety of dining options and rooms ranging from Deluxe King to Penthouse Sky Suites, the budget is yours to set. Don’t miss a visit to the ARIA Fine Art Collection – walking tours are complimentary.

Your deal: Five nights at the five-star ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas from £819pp on a room-only basis. Flights departing London Heathrow on 11 January 2025.

Dubai

Dubai is a go-to for a winter sun fix, and in recent years there’s been a shift here. Yes, you’ll still find hotels boasting about their seven-star ratings (which, by the way, don’t officially exist), but the destination’s offerings are now much more diverse.

Some of the best new spots include the fantastic Time Out food market at Souk Al Bahar (don’t miss the nitro ice cream at Scoopi) and The Pointe, a recently developed retail and dining area just across the water from Atlantis, the Palm. For a truly memorable experience, head over to Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest diving pool.

Just as you’d expect from a five-star hotel in Dubai, the Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Al Mamzar pulls out all the luxury stops. When you’re not admiring the skyline view from your designer room, take a dip in the rooftop pool or enjoy a sweet treat during Chocolate Hour. Free private parking and a daily shuttle service to Mamzar Beach helps keep the costs down, and you can opt for an apartment with a kitchenette if you’d prefer to save on eating out.

Your deal: Five nights at the Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Al Mamzar in Dubai from £631pp with breakfast included. Flights departing London Heathrow on 20 January 2025.

*All prices correct as of 29 November 2024. Please note prices can fluctuate daily and may appear differently on provider site for this reason. Deals are subject to the partners' T&Cs.