PHOTO: Royal Bath Theatre in Warsaw (Courtesy James Ruggia)
Luxury?
Affordable?
The two words don't seem to go together.
But you'd be surprised by the prices at some top-notch luxury destinations throughout the world, whether you're dreaming of a five-star hotel or salivating for an exquisite restaurant.
The most recent Hotels.com Price Index (HPI), covering the first half of 2014, highlighted the most affordable destinations in the world when it comes to the prices paid per night for five-star hotels by U.S. travelers.
Some of the destinations on this list will surprise you, considering they are premier tourist hotspots.
Whether you want to relax amidst rolling hills and vineyards or want to experience an entertainment-filled, high-octane environment, there's something for everyone.
So stop thinking of luxurious destinations as unreachable dream worlds. They are right in front of you, beckoning you to discover all of their wonder.
Note: This chart reflects the actual prices paid per night by travelers from the U.S. in U.S. dollars during the first half of 2014, based on bookings made through the Hotels.com website.
5. Delhi, India ($179)
Delhi, the capital of India, has just about everything.
As one of the world's most bustling cities, it's a center for commerce, entertainment, fashion and the arts, just to name a few strengths.
As one of the oldest existing cities in the world, history buffs will have a ball here, as will architects. There are some fascinating old buildings throughout the city, such as religious site Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the monument and gardens of Swaminarayan Akshardham and Humayun's Tomb and the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayunwas, built in the 1500s.
Of course, there's more than history here.
For the nature lovers, check out the Lodi Gardens, where families and lovebirds tend to hang out. It's located right in the heart of the city, but has been described as an oasis because of its serenity.
Speaking of serenity, the National Gandhi Museum is also here, which was a 2014 Travelers' Choice winner on TripAdvisor. If you want to know more about Gandhi (and possibly find some peace along the way), this is the place for you.
In terms of food, India obviously has some delicious cuisine, as well. Indian Accent is a mainstay and award-winner. You'll also want to check out Dakshin, The Pavilion, West View-The Grill Room and Dum Pukht. You can also take authentic cooking classes at Farheen, which has only become more popular as more and more travelers have sought local experiences.
4. Mumbai, India ($176)
The city of Mumbai adds to India's reputation of being both luxurious and wallet-friendly.
India's largest city is not only the commercial capital of the country, but it also is known for its thriving film and television industries ("Slumdog Millionaire" was filmed here), as well as its eclecticism. Also, as a premier port city, the destination is well known throughout the cruise industry.
In terms of attractions, there are plenty. You'll find Shree Siddhivinayak here, one of the most revered temples in India (shout out to temples, which are awesome). The Bandra-Worli Sea Link bridge is a stunning architectural achievement and a great site for photographers and sightseers. There's also the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum, the former home of the peaceful legend. And for families, KidZania Mumbai is the place to let little Billy run wild, an indoor theme park/miniature city that encourages children to role-play professions and real-world activities. It's not only fun, it's also a great educational experience.
You'll find a smorgasbord of delicious, authentic and relatively inexpensive food here, too. Check out Shree Thaker Bhonjanalay, Peshawri and Ramashraya Hindu Vishranti Griha Restaurant. Grand Hyatt Mumbai also has a great Indian restaurant called Soma (not a bad property to stay at, either).
3. Cairo, Egypt ($175)
There is indeed some safety concerns circulating around Cairo these days, but it's also important to note that Cairo offers a lot of positive things, too.
TravelPulse's own David Cogswell wrote a great article entitled "Egypt on the Ground Versus Egypt on the Screen" back in March, detailing the distance between real Egypt and the Egypt that we see on the news. It not only spoke to the perception of Egypt generally being an unsafe place, it also was a glimpse into the good people of Egypt, and how welcoming and thoughtful they can be.
If you look deeper into Cairo, there's a lot to like. Nearby works of art like the Giza Pyramids and Saqqara Pyramid Complex have been well documented, as has the fascinating Egyptian Museum.
The Al-Tannoura dance performance, which takes place at Wekalet El Ghoury, is hailed by many to be one of the better spectacles in the world. That's not to mention the ancient mosques and impressive parks like Al-Azhar Park.
There's also great diversity in Cairo's restaurants, from the Shogun Japanese Restaurant to Sabaya (a fusion of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Lebanese and Egyptian cuisine) to the Turkish Osmanly Restaurant.
Of course, there are some well-known names when it comes to luxury hotels, including Kempinski Nile Hotel Cairo, Four Season Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah (a product of French luxury company Accor), Ramses Hilton and Fairmont Cairo, Nile City.
Get out and truly experience destinations. You may be surprised by what you find.
2. Pisa, Italy ($172)
First of all, Pisa is located within the Tuscany region of Italy, which is simply beautiful.
It also has that thing called the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which would be considered an architectural disaster if it wasn't so darn quirky and awesome. Instead, the historic tower is considered somewhat of a masterpiece, perfect for the oddballs of the world.
But there is so much more to like about Pisa.
The world-famous Piazza dei Miracoli not only includes the Leaning Tower of Pisa, it also includes the Duomo di Pisa, Battistero and a couple of fantastic museums in Museo del Opera del Duomo and Museo delle Sinopie (which feature bronze griffins and murals created during the WWII era).
Of course, you can't talk about Italy without talking about the food. Pisa has several exquisite restaurants and gastropubs for visitors to choose from, including L'Ostellino, Gusto Giusto and La Curva.
WARNING: You can't help but keep eating here. You will gain weight. It's guaranteed. You will also gain happiness. That's guaranteed, too.
1. Warsaw, Poland ($130)
Poland's largest city, Warsaw is not only a prime tourist destination nowadays, it also has an inspiring story.
Destroyed by the Nazis during WWII, Warsaw has risen from the rubble to become Poland's central urban and commercial center. Almost all of its buildings now are from the postwar era, and the few that remain are mainly in restored districts like Stare Miasto and Nowe Miasto.
Palaces and castles, grand parks like Lazienki Park, museums of culture and science, fascinating exhibits, quaint cobblestoned markets and interactive mazes that test your skills (RoomEscape is a must-see)-it's all here.
You'll also find some great restaurants here featuring a variety of cuisine, such as Restauracja Polska Rozana, Stary Dom Restaurant, Dom Polski, Krowarzywa Veganburger and Casa Italia.
And as far as hotels, well, there is an abundance of luxurious properties that will amaze you with their prices. InterContinental Hotel Warsaw, Hotel Bristol, Polonia Palace Hotel, Regent Warsaw Hotel and the Westin Warsaw are just a few spectacular choices.
Warsaw boasts a whopping 13 hotels and boutiques that were named 2014 Travelers' Choice winners on TripAdvisor.
Honorable Mention: Bangkok, Thailand ($186); Budapest, Hungary ($199); Brussels, Belgium ($205); Beijing, China ($209); Istanbul, Turkey ($210)
Istanbul (No. 18), Bangkok (No. 21), Beijing (No. 30) and Brussels (No. 50) were also ranked among the 50 most popular international cities for Americans in the first half of 2014. The average five-star price in Bangkok has dropped 16 percent since the first half of 2013.
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