Over $200 in Change: The Cheapest Places to Stay in 5-Star Hotels

A new Hotels.com report examined which cities offer the cheapest luxury hotel stays. Nha Trang in Vietnam ranked first, with a price of $94 per night. In second place was Zaragoza in Spain, where a night in a 5-star hotel costs $160.

Hotels.com's 2026 Hotel Prices Index ranked the most attractive destinations for travelers looking for a luxury stay on a budget. The index found that the cheapest destination in the world for a 5-star hotel stay is Nha Trang, Vietnam, with an average price of $94 per night.

The 10 cheapest destinations for a stay in a 5-star hotel: Nha Trang, Vietnam ($94) Zaragoza, Spain ($160) Wroclaw, Poland ($160) Tirana, Albania ($174) Riga, Latvia ($174) Zagreb, Croatia ($174) Sofia, Bulgaria ($178) Heraklion, Crete ($187) Tallinn, Estonia ($187) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic ($140)

Zaragoza, Spain. Second overall, and first in Europe | Photo: AlexeMarcel, shutterstock

How much does it cost to stay in the most luxurious hotel in the cheapest country? As part of the report, a survey was also conducted among 11,000 people from 10 countries, asking what they define as luxury. At the top of the list of requirements were a jacuzzi with a view (44 percent) and a penthouse suite (41 percent). When asked what makes a hotel luxurious, the participants answered quality food (31 percent), a room with a view (30 percent), and high-level room service (28 percent).