Boutique On a Budget

San Francisco The Hotel des Arts, near Union Square, took a fanciful approach to its décor and commissioned local artists to paint the walls and furniture of select rooms. Spending the night in a one-of-a-kind room (with a private bath) costs $79 to $99.

Atlanta, Chicago, Houston The Hotel Indigo chain sets itself apart with hardwood floors, spa-style showers, free wi-fi and Starbucks coffee in the lobby. One caveat: guests had better like the color blue. Rooms start at $100.

Sydney and Auckland Base Backpackers, with locations all over Australia and New Zealand, offers hostels with hotel-like amenities, including saunas and spas. Private rooms start at $58.

London easyHotel's bijou orange rooms with shower "pods" and flat-screen TVs start at $45. Created by the folks who launched easyJet, this new chain has already set up in Switzerland and has plans to dot the rest of Europe.

New York City It's no wonder this city, with average overnight stays priced at $222, never sleeps. But at Times Square's Hotel QT, guests enjoy Egyptian-cotton sheets, a pool with an underwater sound system and rooms that start at $125.