Belmond, formerly known as Orient-Express Hotels, is one of the world’s leading luxury hotel brands and operates luxury hotels, train services, and river cruises around the world. Belmond has hotels across North America, South America, the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, and Europe.
Their cheaper hotels can largely be found in South America, and many are very individual and boutique or iconic beachfront palaces. Beyond South America and the depths of Asia, you will find the more expensive Belmond hotels, such as the Belmond Cipriani in Venice, which we love, which costs over $1000 USD per night but is worth every penny. The Belmond Hotel Caruso is also based in Italy on the stunning Amalfi Coast. Suspended in a heavenly realm, somewhere between the sea and the sky, set into the cliff edge over the Mediterranean, the Belmond Hotel Caruso is not cheap either, but my is it good!
If you are based in the UK, the thoroughly British Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, Oxford, can be found in the English countryside. It isn’t cheap. Neither is the wonderful Belmond Hotel Splendido in Portofino, but at all these properties, you get what you pay for.
Belmond has even more boutique properties in Europe, which also include Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea, Taormina, Sicilia, Italy, Belmond Villa San Michele, Florence, Italy, Belmond Cadogan Hotel, London, Belmond Castello di Casole, Tuscany, Belmond La Residencia and Majorca, Isles Baleares, Spain. Still, there is a lack of Belmond hotels in North America, with Belmond Charleston Place, South Carolina, and Belmond El Encanto, Santa Barbara, California, United States, being the only two Belmond hotels in the United States.
There are not yet any Belmond hotels in the other major cities in America, although I would expect their brand to perhaps launch hotels in cities like New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, at some time in the future. In the meantime, one of the closest Belmond hotels to America is the famous Belmond Cap Juluca. British West Indies, Anguilla in the Caribbean, and Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Belmond also offers Safaris in Africa and has a property in Cape Town.
If you are looking for a bargain and a nice discount, we suggest you pick one of the cheapest Belmond hotels in the world, and we suggest you stay outside the main season. We love the Belmond Cipriani Venice. While this property never comes in cheap, as there is never a “bad” time to visit Venice, it is much more expensive in the hot summer months, so early spring or early autumn are great times to bag the best cheap deal. The weather might not be as warm as in mid-summer, but you are not forgoing any of the Belmond luxuries, and you can pick up some super rooms at incredibly discounted rates simply by choosing the time of your stay carefully.
For the sake of this article, we have compared all the prices in USD, but our concierge benefits can be applied to bookings made from anywhere in the world.
Whether you are looking for family pools, a spa, a beachside resort, or a convenient city location for business or a short break, here are some of the cheapest Belmond hotels in the world. The pricing is based on a 3-night stay in mid-October (15-18th) 2019, which is outside the summer season in most locations. Pricing may vary according to your date of travel.
1. Belmond Grand Hotel Europe, St Petersburg, Russia
The Belmond Grand Hotel Europe is the cheapest Belmond hotel in the world for stay dates in October 2019, according to our research. Rooms here come in at an amazingly cheap $157 USD per room night. This is not a discounted rate. This is just their standard rate per room per night.
St. Petersberg is a fantastic city to visit. It was the capital of the Empire of the Tzars for two centuries and remains the cultural capital of Eastern Europe. It boasts grand boulevards, historic squares, and iconic public art commemorating rulers, artists, poets, famous military victories, and heroic resistance.
There are numerous public buildings, theatres, and museums. Still, the jewel in the crown is undoubtedly the Hermitage Museum, Russia’s national gallery housed in the former Summer Palace of Catherine the Great. We visited in late February and enjoyed peaceful, almost private access to this monumental collection, which is on the scale of the Louvre or the Smithsonian.
The Grand Hotel Europe opened in 1875, one of the first luxury hotels in the world, hosting Rasputin, Romanov, and Tchaikovsky in their prime. It has been at the beating heart of this cultural superpower ever since.
Service standards are impeccable, as you would expect from a property whose sister hotels include the Cipriani in Venice, the Copacabana Palace in Rio, and a personal favorite of ours, Le Manoir au Quat’ Saisons near London. Belmond’s trademark attention to detail is evident throughout, from the pillow menu of seven choices to delicately perfumed Bulgari toiletries and the most divine homemade chocolates. You will love the gym, the Carita Spa, and of course, the sumptuous buffet breakfast.
All categories of accommodation are spacious and comfortable, and enjoy twice-daily room service. The hotel team prides itself on anticipating guests’ needs where possible, and at times, they do seem to have a sixth sense. A dedicated Butler service for the first-floor historic suites takes this to another level, unpacking suitcases, pressing garments without charge, and magically appearing to provide thoughtful advice on tailored activities and excursions. In this hotel, nothing is too much trouble.
The signature restaurant L’Europe is the oldest haute cuisine restaurant in Russia, an Art Nouveau masterpiece that has been the hub of the St. Petersberg social scene for generations. Under its spectacular stained glass window featuring the Greek god Apollo, the patron of travelers, L’Europe has hosted banquets for Igor Stravinsky, Queen Elizabeth II of England, and President Bill Clinton, yet retains the air of informality that inspired Sir Elton John to take to the stage and play an impromptu concert.
The hotel also offers St. Petersberg’s only dedicated Caviar restaurant under the watchful eye of Alexander Dimitriev, Maitre D, and vodka sommelier. Maintaining no less than thirty-five vodkas, as well as their home-infused liqueurs, Dimitriev and his team also boast a partnership with champagne house Dom Perignon. Their signature dish is “Egg in Egg,” blending hen egg with sturgeons roe to create a truffle-flavored scrambled egg that is topped with Oscietra caviar.
Music is in the DNA of the Grand Hotel Europe, which is situated adjacent to the Arts Square and opposite the building of the Noble Assembly, home of the Philharmonic. Mindful that rehearsal space is always in short supply, the hotel’s Grande suites contain historic pianos enabling artists to prepare in their rooms. Distinguished guests included Strauss, Shostakovic, Stravinsky, and a veritable who’s who of classical music.
This musical legacy has tangible benefits for today’s guests. The concierge has privileged access to late tickets, including seats in the hotel’s own box at the Mariinksy Theatre. On Friday evenings, the L’Europe restaurant hosts a famous Tchaikovsky night.
Not surprisingly, the hotel is the established first choice for A-list celebrities visiting the town. The Lobby bar, with its stunning art nouveau interior, is open 24 hours for cocktails, drinks, and food. Don’t be surprised if you run into Richard Gere, Michael Douglas, or Leonardo DiCaprio.
In summary, Russia’s first-ever five-star hotel remains as relevant today as it ever was. St. Petersberg should be on every luxury traveler’s radar. It is a complete bargain and is one of the cheapest Belmond hotels in the world.
2. Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao, Laos
Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao, Laos is also one of the cheapest Belmond hotels in the world and is located in Asia. The reason that this hotel is comparatively cheap is in part because the land and labor prices in Laos are cheaper than most other places in the world, so it remains profitable to run a hotel of this caliber with these room rates. In fact, this hotel maintains pretty cheap room rates throughout the year, so you can afford a nice long stay at this beautiful Belmond resort hotel.
La Residence Phou Vao is located 4 km east of Luang Prabang International Airport and only 2 km from the old town of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is beautifully-preserved, featuring traditional Laotian architecture and European colonial buildings, set at the remote and peaceful confluence of the Mekong and Nam Kam rivers.
The hotel is built on Phou Vao Hill, the hill of the kites, which gives it panoramic views looking out over the countryside. The rooms are furnished simply and elegantly. The shimmering rosewood of the furniture contrasts beautifully with the rich, natural cotton fabrics. The large bathrooms have roomy freeform marble baths along with all the luxuries you would expect. A hairdryer, satellite television, mini-bar, personal safe, air conditioning, and international direct dial telephone, as well as beautiful fresh flowers for your arrival and bottled drinking water, replenished daily.
Phou Savanh Restaurant offers a choice of indoor and outdoor seating and serves traditional Laotian cuisine alongside European dishes with local influences. Doc Champa Bar, the hotel’s cocktail bar, offers a comfortable indoor lounge and outdoor seating with fabulous views over the swimming pool and beyond, the perfect place to enjoy an aperitif with the sunset.
The Mekong Spa at La Residence Phou Vao is built in traditional local materials and is decorated in a contemporary style with Laotian accents using wooden furniture and elegant wall paneling made of handwoven local silk. The custom-designed spa treatments are based on traditional Laotian herbal remedies aimed at healing and nurturing and use only pure botanical ingredients from local organic gardens and farms.
Lush gardens fringe the hotel’s stunning infinity-edge swimming pool, which stops dramatically on the cliff edge, offering uninterrupted views of the sacred mountains and the beautifully verdant valley below, with glimmering gold pagodas and shrines scattered across the hillsides.
3. Belmond La Résidence d’Angkor Siem Reap, Cambodia
In a similar part of the world as the Belmond above, this Asian based Cambodian Belmond, the Belmond La Résidence d’Angkor comes in at a matching price of $190 USD per room per night, a daily rate with no discount applied, this is just an incredibly cheap rate for a luxury Belmond hotel.
This intimate hotel, La Résidence d’Angkor, sits by a tree-shaded river at the heart of Siem Reap. From here, it is easy to get to Angkor Wat and the great Tonle Sap lake. The town’s colorful craft markets and lively cafe and bar quarter are also a short stroll away. Indulge in Royal Khmer cuisine or international dishes created by the Executive Chefs, or find peace in Kong Kea Spa, where the expert staff embraces ancient Cambodian healing arts.
The hotel itself sits in a tropical garden that encloses a swimming pool and lotus ponds. After a day spent exploring Cambodia’s breathtaking temples, Belmond La Résidence d’Angkor, which underwent a six-month renovation in 2016, is the perfect home-from-home in this fascinating country.
4. Belmond Governor’s Residence, Yangon, Myanmar
Also, in Asia, in the conflicted country of Myanmar, this Belmond hotel is conveniently located just 19km from Mingaladon Airport (RGN) 12 mi/19 km. The price of this luxury hotel is also cheap at just $232 USD per night.
Belmond Governor’s Residence, Yangon, Myanmar is in a colonial-style mansion dating from the 1920’s. This beautiful hotel is located in Yangon’s leafy Embassy Quarter, close to the Shwedagon Pagoda and other major landmarks.
Its extensive lush gardens are shaded by ancient trees. Within the gardens, you will find lotus ponds and a fan-shaped swimming pool, all lit by beautiful lanterns at night. Enjoy Burmese and International cuisine in the hotel restaurant, relax in the library, or enjoy a cocktail in the Kipling Bar. Step back in time as you laze on colonial-style armchairs beneath the ceiling fans, where the novels of W. Somerset Maugham come to life.
And when you’re ready to explore the world outside your door, visit the Botahtaung and Sule Pagodas or the sacred Shwedagon Pagoda, or the immaculately maintained Han Thar Wa De War Cemetery.
5. Belmond Napasai, Koh Samui, Thailand
The holiday island of Koh Samui in Thailand is a magical and cheap place to spend your vacation. Considering how luxurious this resort is, Belmond Napasai, Koh Samui is a deliciously cheap deal at just $247 USD per room per night.
Napasai is a blissful retreat in a cashew nut grove, beside a fabulous beach and lagoon, on Koh Samui, an island just off Thailand’s south-east coast. The resort is easily accessible yet so peaceful and relaxing it could be a world away.
Days roll lazily by while water buffalo graze in the grounds, guests enjoy spa treatments outside by the ocean, romantic tables are set by the water’s edge, and cool towels are brought to sunbathers beneath the trees. For a more invigorating outing, choose from snorkeling and scuba tours, jungle adventures, and boating trips.
6. Belmond Casa de Sierra Nevada, Guanajuato, Mexico
San Miguel de Allende sits at an altitude of 6,435 feet above sea level. Located in Central Mexico, it is easily reached from Mexico City, 171 miles away, or the nearby León Airport, which is 1 hour and 30 minutes from the hotel, or Queretaro Airport, just 1 hour from the hotel.
Situated close to the cathedral and main city square, the boutique hotel of Belmond Casa de Sierra Nevada is a mixture of 16th to 18th-century Spanish colonial buildings with 37 deluxe rooms and suites, distributed among four mansions and the Casa del Parque, a few minutes walk away.
Each of the rooms and suites has its own individual décor and is characterized by the furnishings, art and antiques, exquisite fabrics, and richly colored Talavera-tiled bathrooms that add a touch of charm. Many rooms have working fireplaces (some have two), others boast private terraces with outstanding views of San Miguel, and some have both a fireplace and a terrace.
The Casa de Sierra Nevada’s restaurant Andanza is at the top of hotel dining establishments in Mexico, and the culinary choices on offer are as exceptional as the hotel itself. Andanza also offers a bar where the boleros of a local trio provide the perfect backdrop to indulge in a refreshing cocktail or aperitif before dinner. The Blue Bar extends onto the patio, where you can sip your drink of choice whilst soaking up the atmosphere of the town passing by.
On any given day, you can visit ranches, thermal baths, golf courses, and numerous historic sites. Those with a green thumb can stroll through Juarez Park, the Orchid Garden, or the Jardín Botánico, home to hundreds of species of succulents and cacti. For the culinary aficionado, no trip would be complete without a stop at the market to buy chilis, cacti, and fresh queso, followed by a cooking class with a local chef.
Oh, and yes, this is also one of the cheapest Belmond hotels coming in at just $275 USD per room per night.
7. Belmond Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, Peru
Belmond Hotel Monasterio is also one of the cheapest Belmond hotels in the world and is located in South America. Rooms here come in at an amazingly cheap $295 USD per room night in October. This is not a discounted rate. This is just their standard rate per room per night. Once again, the land and labor prices in Peru are cheaper than much of the rest of the world, so it remains profitable to run a hotel of this caliber with these room rates.
Belmond Hotel Monasterio is a 1592 monastery converted into a luxury hotel in Cuzco. Guests can learn about Spanish and Inca cultures during their stay as well as enjoying an Andean massage based on a ritual developed by Andes natives; an aromatherapy treatment is administered using Kantu, the sacred flower of the Inca.
The Lobby Bar offers a wide selection of pre-dinner cocktails before you dine on Peruvian and international dishes at El Tupay restaurant. Take time to meditate on your sacred destination in your Spanish colonial–style bedroom, where religious art and local décor adorn the walls.
From here, you may want to transfer to Machu Picchu by train to Aguas Calientes, which takes around three and a half hours. Trains are run by PeruRail, or you could take the taxi ride to Ollantaytambo, then by train to Aguas Calientes. Allow three and a half to four hours for the bus-train trip. Special hikes can be arranged by the hotel to trek along the Inca Trail which lasts four to six days.
8. Belmond Miraflores Park, Lima, Peru
Still cheap at $358 USD, for this level of luxury, Belmond Miraflores Park offers breathtaking views and modern facilities at Belmond Miraflores Park, ideal to experience Lima’s sights. Explore museums brimming with Inca treasures, then visit Zest Spa for relaxation and even a massage next to the pool. Work out in the gym, or book a room with Executive Lounge access, or just go for a swim in the infinity pool. For dining, the Tragaluz restaurant is innovative, or just enjoy a cocktail at the Belo Bar. Breakfast is in The Observatory overlooking the ocean. Bliss!
9. Belmond Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
“At the Copa Copacabana, The hottest spot north of Havana”… I wonder if it is possible to stay at this hotel and not have a jiggle to the catchy 1970s tune?
Situated on the promenade facing the magnificent Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, this art deco icon has 239 rooms, including 101 suites, a half Olympic size swimming pool with a sunbathing area, a tennis court, and the best spa in town. Three restaurants at the Hotel offer elegant surroundings, exemplary service, and gourmet cuisine. Known as one of the best restaurants in Rio, Cipriani offers exceptional Northern Italian cuisine.
Belmond Copacabana Palace is the best hotel in town and yet room rates remain remarkably cheap at just $361 USD per room per night. Stay there, and dance the nights away. Her name was Lola. She was a showgirl…..
10. Belmond Reid’s Palace, Madeira, Portugal
Belmond Reid’s Palace is also one of the cheapest Belmond hotels in the world and one of the cheapest Belmond hotels in Europe. It is located on the Portuguese island of Madeira. Rooms here come in at an amazingly cheap $388 USD per room night in October. This is such a great time of year to visit Madeira. Its southerly location, towards the equator and below Europe, means that Madeira holds onto the last of the summer warmth long after the rest of Europe has cooled down. This $388 USD should get you days of balmy sunshine, and this isn’t even a discounted rate or deal. This is just their standard rate per room per night.
Belmond Reid’s Palace Palace opened its doors in 1891 by a Scots man Mr. William Reid. From the very beginning, Belmond Reid’s Palace became a milestone within the international luxury travel industry and an appealing destination for the savviest of travelers. Today after more than 120 years, this unique hotel continues to welcome and pamper the most discerning luxury travelers.
This living piece of history sprawls over 10 acres of sub-tropical gardens with more than 500 hundred different types of rare plants and flowers. Rooms and suites face the sea and gardens, offering gorgeous and unique views. All rooms have balconies, where a simple morning coffee or just a breath of fresh air to start your day is turned into an unforgettable moment.
Dining experiences start early in The Garden Room for breakfast or at the Pool Restaurant for lunch. An extensive buffet offering a large variety of local organic food is offered. For dinner, the recently opened William Restaurant, led by Executive Chef Luis Pestana and supervised by the Michelin star chef Joachim Koerper, offers a creative approach to modern European food, creating incredible food. The elegant Dining room is the Lady of Belmond Reid’s restaurant, with drooping Murano Glass chandeliers complementing its Edwardian decoration. Afternoon Tea has always been an iconic event at Belmond Reid’s Palace, dating back to when the hotel first opened. Welcoming around 90 guests every day, the majority of which are customers who don’t stay at the Hotel. Finally, Villa Cipriani is Belmond Reid’s informal Italian restaurant, perched on a clifftop, where Belmond Reid’s homemade pasta can be savored, to views over Ocean.
There are 3 pools, 2 of which are heated, plus 1 tidal pool, 2 tennis courts, snooker, dancing classes, and a wonderful spa with 5 treatment rooms, all with balconies overlooking the ocean. Younger guests are welcome at Belmond Reid’s Palace, making this a great choice for families. Upon arrival, in their rooms, the little slippers and robe will make them feel just like Mummy and Daddy. They have their own private area with a pool and a wendy house, made to look like a traditional house from the island.
Is There A Belmond Loyalty Scheme?
How about a loyalty scheme? Interestingly, although there is no guest loyalty scheme at Belmond, the Belmond Bellini Club is a travel agent loyalty scheme. The Bellini Club. This gives guests loyalty style benefits such as room upgrades, free breakfasts, offers, discounts and credit to spend in the bar, restaurant, or spa. Crucially, you can benefit from all these extras whilst still booking the same rates as on the hotel’s website direct.
Our Luxury Travel Concierge travel agency is a member of the official Belmond Bellini Club. The good news is that because we are a Bellini Club preferred partner, our travel agency can share all our exclusive free benefits if you book with us.
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