Best international hotel chains

Most of us are familiar with the big UK hotel chains - a large bed for a good price at Premier Inn, for example. 

But have you heard of Paradores: state-run hotels in historic palaces, monasteries and castles? Despite the grandeur, a stay is better value than you might expect.

Or for an absolute bargain in France, consider Logis. The 75-year-old organisation offers everything from functional city B&Bs to independent family-run châteaux - with a sprinkling of guest houses in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Spain as well. It is one of three chains to earn our Great Value badge.

Whatever you’re looking for, our survey of more than 2,000 guests shows it’s worth choosing brands that are less familiar to UK travellers over big, household names. Ibis may be popular, but its middling performance questions whether it should be. Meanwhile, four Hilton hotel brands found themselves languishing in the bottom half of our table. 

High-end brands such as Relais & Châteaux have also been rated, so you can decide if a secluded stay in the vineyards of Napa Valley is worth the money.

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International hotel chains - best and worst rated

Which? Recommended Providers and Great Value international hotel chains

Iberostar (Africa, Americas and Europe) 85%

Avg price per night £141

It's a rags to riches story that saw a family of artisan shoemakers from Majorca become billionaire hotel tycoons. Today, Iberostar has more than 100 four- and five-star properties in Europe, Africa and the Americas - with locations as far afield as Aruba and Brazil. 

Some are chic city hotels, but beachfront all-inclusive resorts are its mainstay - with activities like yoga and paddle boarding, plus cocktails by the pool, thrown in with the price. At its heart, it's still a family business (despite entering an alliance with IHG, the InterContinental Hotels Group, in 2022) - proving a hit with guests. 

Hard to fault and well worth the money was the consensus, earning it the joint highest customer score (with Paradores and RUI) and an impressive haul of four and five star ratings. As one satisfied customer put it: ‘The hotel excelled in every area. Customer service first class.’ The brand has also eliminated single-use plastic at its properties and planted 19,000 mangrove trees to help protect ocean life.

Verdict For luxury all-inclusive stays in beachfront locations, you can't go wrong.

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Taking a break closer to home? These are the UK’s best and worst hotel chains

RIU (worldwide) 85%

Avg price per night £226

All three brands that share the top spot in our survey are Spanish owned. RIU - another family business which hails from Majorca - has almost 100 properties (mostly all-inclusives) in popular city and beach locations worldwide. 

Its food and drink was awarded the full five stars, with high-quality buffets and speciality restaurants offering everything from steak to sushi. ‘Fresh food served with changing menus every day and a choice of restaurants. Truly special,' one guest enthused. Locations - which include a private island in the Maldives and a brackish water lagoon filled with exotic birdlife in Gran Canaria - also received top marks. 

And while a double room will set you back more than £220 a night, on average, it’s money well spent according to guests: RIU was the only brand to clinch five stars for value for money. You can also enjoy discounts or perks, such as free airport transfers, by signing up to the RIU Class loyalty scheme.

Verdict A luxury stay that’s worth the splurge, particularly if you're a foodie.

Book a room with RUI

Paradores (Spain, Portugal and Morocco) 85%

Avg price per night £115

For a cultural break in Spain, you should choose Parador. These state-run hotels are located in some of the country's grandest and most historic buildings. Some are pricey - like Granada’s medieval palace turned convent (complete with Moorish tilework and baths) - while others are surprisingly affordable. 

You can stay at La Palma’s traditional dry stone mansion with a pool and lush tropical gardens for under £100 a night. It’s bargains like this which have earned the brand our Great Value badge, on top of Which? Recommended Provider status. You may not find all the mod cons in the older buildings, but the scenic locations (rated five stars) more than make up for it. 

One guest told us: 'The hotel was a converted convent. It was a magnificent building, and the rooms were very spacious with marvellous views… Altogether a memorable stay.’ The free-to-join Amigos loyalty scheme will get you a 5% discount on bookings and a welcome drink on arrival - with additional savings for over-55s.

Verdict Whether you overnight in a restored castle, monastery or palace, these unique boltholes will deliver the wow factor.

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Relais & Châteaux (worldwide) 84%

Avg price per night £397

A french brand with almost 600 properties in the likes of Burgundy and the French Riviera, but also as far afield as Argentina and Zanzibar. All are independent and most are family-run, with a focus on fine dining; many with their own kitchen gardens and vineyards. 

The Baumanière Hôtel & Spa in Provence has a hammam, a sensory pool and a three Michelin-starred restaurant - producing its own honey, organic vegetables and olive oil on site. In fact Relais & Châteaux properties have a whopping 340 Michelin stars between them - no surprise then that guests awarded the brand the full five stars for its food and drink. 

It garnered the same high score for its locations and the quality of its bedrooms too. As one guest put it: 'Very expensive but the level of service is exceptional. As are the fixtures and fittings.’

Verdict Dine like royalty in plush surroundings, Relais & Châteaux is expensive but worth it for a special occasion stay.

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Pestana (worldwide) 83%

Avg price per night £211

The Pestana Group is Portugal’s biggest hotel chain, owning several brands - one, CR7, a collaboration with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. Another, Pousada, was originally government-owned with many of its properties set in beautiful historic buildings. 

For example, Pousada de Lisboa used to be the Ministry of Interior and presides over Lisbon’s main square. Inside there’s a sauna, indoor pool and steak restaurant plus a stained glass staircase and opulent ballroom. The rest are country houses, such as Pousada Caniçada, a converted hunting lodge with panoramic views and a pool in Peneda-Gerês National Park in northern Portugal. 

You’ll find most of its properties in popular parts of Portugal (guests rated its locations five stars), with a smattering further afield in the likes of the US, Brazil and Cape Verde. Get a 10% discount by signing up to Pestana’s guest club. 

Verdict For heritage hotels in Portugal, Pestana will deliver every time.

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The Leading Hotels of the World (worldwide) 83%

Avg price per night £578

There’s luxury and then there’s The Leading Hotels of the World. This brand has carefully curated more than 400 of the most exclusive five-star hotels in 80 countries - from Sardinia to the Seychelles. Each one - whether it's a resort or a safari camp - is independent with its own distinctive take on decadence. 

You’ll need to ride the mountain railway to its alpine hideaway in Switzerland, suspended 1,800 metres above sea level. Or you can bed down in a luxury zulu-style lodge on a private game reserve in South Africa. 

Nightly rates are absolutely eye-watering, but the high-end brand still managed to clinch four out of five stars in every category - including value for money. You can secure extra perks, like a complimentary upgrade or free breakfast, by signing up to its Leaders Club program. 

Verdict A great option, if you have deep pockets and are hankering after a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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What can you expect from a five-star stay? Hotel star ratings - in the UK and Europe - explained

Logis (Europe and Canada) 81%

Avg price per night £108

Logis is a 75-year-old French chain, but its properties - which range from budget hotels (among the cheapest in our survey) to top-of-the-range châteaux - are all independently owned. 

Mainly in France - they are often family run and in excellent locations (rated five stars). Several of you told us you are loyal to Logis when driving across the continent because of its ‘homely’, ‘local’ feel. 

'We have stayed at this hotel several times because it is conveniently located in a picturesque old town, but near the motorway. Excellent restaurant, and the building has character,’ one guest told us. 

Verdict If you’re tired of homogenous, bland hotel chains, Logis is a charming, wallet-friendly alternative. 

Book a room with Logis

Meliá Hotels (worldwide) 80%

Avg price per night £147

Another Spanish-owned hotel group, Meliá now owns more than 400 hotels in 40 countries throughout Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Caribbean. 

There are ten brands under the Meliá name: from luxury offerings, like Gran Meliá, to the more understated SOL geared towards families. Many are all-inclusive resorts where you can upgrade to The Level for access to the best rooms and adult-only public spaces (think rooftop terraces and infinity pools). 

Elsewhere, the focus is on experiences: for example, a traditional tile-making workshop in Mallorca. Expect comfy beds in great locations (both categories were rated five stars). One guest described an ‘overall feeling of quality and luxury - from excellent customer service to attention to detail’. ‘We felt very cared for,’ they added. You can collect points to cash in for discounts and extra perks with Meliá’s free-to-join loyalty scheme.

Verdict Specialising in fly-and-flop holidays worldwide, Meliá is a great choice if you want to choose your level of luxury. 

Book a room with Meliá Hotels