Our Inspectors hand-select the most outstanding hotels in the world for the MICHELIN Key distinction — and it’s natural that the most expensive tend to draw the most eyes. Places like Amangiri or Cheval Blanc Paris are well worth their nightly rates in the thousands, but among the One- and Two-Key hotels in particular are gems between $150 and $250 per night, full of the kind of outsize character and experiences that define a Key at any price.
The hotels below, in cities and countryside across the three continents where Key selections have so far been revealed, tend to inspire trips on their own. To us, they’re worth planning around — and they’re definitely worth your attention.
On Oct. 8, 2025, Inspectors will update and reveal more Key selections in every corner of the world. Bookmark this page. On that date, we’ll include more of the most outstandingly affordable Key hotels in the world.
Browse by location:
Excellence in design and dining at Europe’s most affordable escapes.
Le Clair de la Plume, Grignan, France: Just over the border from Provence and surrounded by a medieval castle and fields of lavender, the 16-room hotel offers spa treatments, two pools, easy access to the historic small town, and a One-MICHELIN-Star restaurant. As if the scenery and gastronomy weren’t enough, there’s also the price: Barring the odd week in July, this hotel typically sits around $200 per night.
La Barchessa di Villa Pisani, Vicenza, Italy: With an estate that includes a Palladian villa designed by Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio himself, the 15-room hotel combines a modern art collection, a creative restaurant and a dreamy outdoor pool. With rates around $170 all year long, it’s a bargain for lovers of architecture and within easy reach of must-see cities like Verona and Venice, both about an hour’s drive away.
Dexamenes Seaside Hotel, on the grounds of a converted winery in Greece.
Dexamenes Seaside Hotel, Peloponnese, Greece: Some rooms are set inside actual former wine tanks. Perched just off the shoreline of the Ionian Sea, the handful of rooms come with dramatic views in a region dotted with ancient sites. Outside the peak July and August weeks (the hotel operates seasonally, from April to mid-October), nightly rates often fall in the $160–$200 range.
Can Mascort Eco Hotel, Costa Brava, Spain: In a region known for beach resorts, the 15-room hotel in a centuries-old butter-yellow townhouse is decorated by historic frescoes and vaulted ceilings, with low-impact practices that complement the nearby beaches and on-site Roman bath-inspired caldarium. Rates typically range between $170 and $250 year-round, for what may be the most approachable hotel on one of Spain’s most remarkable coastlines.
Widmann’s Löwen, Königsbronn, Germany: Set amid a UNESCO-protected mountain range, the family-run, alpine-chic Widmann’s Löwen is worth a trip for the restaurant alone — if not the hiking and bike trails. The One-Star and Green-Star Ursprung restaurant presents the mountains on a plate, showcasing hyperlocal producers in a minimalist setting. Basic rooms start at about $150 per night, while the high-design chalets are more of a splurge.
Unexpected value in city and countryside escapes across the United States and Mexico.
Esmé Miami Beach, Miami, USA: Esmé offers something uniquely intimate and soulful: a village of buildings, tucked away from the heavy tourism of Ocean Drive. It’s a Mediterranean-inspired retro reverie of palm-lined courtyards, hip rooms, restaurants, and a saltwater rooftop pool. Rooms start at $70 per night in the off-season and seldom top $250, well under the sky-high Miami standard.
The Hornibrook Mansion Empress of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA: If Little Rock wasn’t on your radar, it should be now. A stately Victorian mansion with Gothic Queen Anne flourishes, this bed-and-breakfast in the history-rich capital of Arkansas drips with period romance, perfect for a few days of living like an empress. It’s one of the few Two-Key properties in the region with rooms running between $200 and $250 per night.
The Empress of Little Rock, your Victorian introduction to this underrated city in Arkansas.
Las Casas B+B Hotel, Cuernavaca, Mexico: With a year-round mild climate, locals know Cuernavaca as a favorite day trip about an hour’s drive from Mexico City. The 11-room hotel, hidden down a charming alley in the historic center, makes a good case for staying the night, with a backyard pool surrounded by greenery, black and white interiors and a nightly rate almost always under $200.
Hotel Peter and Paul, New Orleans, USA: This former 19th-century church is one of the city’s most atmospheric stays, providing homey and ecstatically designed NOLA sophistication in a town where the hard partying can sometimes overshadow such nuance. Set in the quieter Faubourg Marigny district, rooms typically range from $180–$230 outside of winter and major events such as Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest.
Inn at Thorn Hill, New Hampshire: A mountain hideaway with wood-burning fireplaces, soaking tubs, woodsy views, a spa, restaurant, and award-winning cocktails. Find midweek dates between $180 and $230 per night, but note that foliage and ski weekend rates can jump higher. For a Two-Key property that’s worth planning a romantic weekend around, this is an outstanding value in most months and a beautiful destination in any season.
Extraordinary experiences at the best affordable Key hotels in Japan and Thailand.
Nasu Mukunone, Tochigi, Japan: About a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Tokyo, Nasu is a district in Tochigi, a region known for some of the country’s best nature, hiking, hot springs and mountain views. Make a twin room at Nasu Mukunone your base — with rates often in the low $100s per night — for access to a charming escape complete with a see-it-to-believe-it water garden, an architect-designed oasis of interconnecting ponds through the forest.
The Okura Prestige, Bangkok, Thailand: A 41-story tower in the heart of Bangkok’s business district, the Two-Key Okura Prestige’s infinity-edge pool with glittering skyline views is reason enough to book. Then, there’s the hotel’s clean-luxury aesthetic and attentive service. Standard rooms frequently fall in the $200–$250 range, making this Two-Key hotel less expensive than plenty of midtier business hotels in many European capitals.
Tamarind Village, a city escape with a countryside feel in the heart of Chiang Mai.
Tamarind Village, Chiang Mai, Thailand: This is a hotel that feels like a countryside boutique, except that it’s nestled in the historic heart of northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai. From the lushly landscaped hotel, guests visit markets and temples, take guided tours of the city and enjoy excursions to small surrounding villages. Rates typically run between $200 and $250 at this tranquil base in the country’s second-largest city.
The Sarojin, Khao Lak, Thailand: Located on the mainland, about an hour’s drive from Phuket International Airport, Khao Lak might not have the same international recognition as some spots in Thailand, but neither is it burdened by the same year-round crowds or high prices. Stay at this 56-room hotel during the May to October low season for rates around $200 — a steal for this stunning, Two-Key beachfront gem.
ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort, Hachimantai, Japan: Perched in Japan’s scenic Appi Highlands, at the largest ski resort in the country’s northeastern Tohoku region, this 38-room luxury retreat has a little bit of everything: art-filled interiors, mountain views, restaurant, spa and even a hot spring bath. In spring and summer, the area becomes a paradise for outdoor adventure — and prices fall to around $250 or less, significant value for a property of this caliber.
Hero Image: The eclectic, bohemian and romantic design at Hotel Peter and Paul in New Orleans.
Written by
The MICHELIN Guide
AloJapan.com