There's more to a travel bargain than price. In the case of city hotels, the best are a balance of style, value, and location. In 15 cities across the world, our editors prove the point with stellar finds. At a time when the buck is on a roller-coaster, these are very sure bets...

This picturesque city is more than Canada's gateway to Asia. Just ask the throngs who congregate here in the warmer months: adventure types who use Vancouver as a base to explore British Columbia's largely undeveloped outdoors, and the seasonal cruise crowds. In high season (May through September), hotels book up quickly, especially near the cruise terminal, at Canada Place. You're likely to have better luck in other sections of town, such as Robson Street, a bustling drag that is lined with shops and restaurants and where you'll find three of the city's best hotel deals. The colors at the two-tower Pacific Palisades would be more fitting in South Beach?orange and yellow pastel wallpaper, lime-green bedcovers?than in West End Vancouver. It's a fun place with a lap pool, a hot tub, a small gym, and minibars with yo-yos and paddleballs in addition to nibbles. Zin, the adjoining restaurant, is dark and sexy and serves a global mix of tapas-style plates (800-663-1815; pacificpalisadeshotel.com; doubles from $205; w). Art is the defining theme at the Listel Vancouver, which exhibits pieces from the nearby Buschlen Mowatt gallery. The comfortable interior is done in browns and creams (800-663-5491; listel-vancouver.com; doubles from $125; w). Book a room on the fifteenth floor or higher at the Blue Horizon Hotel, which caters largely to European tours. Upper floors have panoramic views of Coal Harbour to the north or English Bay to the west (800-663-1333; bluehorizonhotel.com; doubles from $90; w). Across from the Four Seasons?and about half the price?the 76-year-old Crowne Plaza Hotel Georgia has Georgian Revival-style architecture, dark-wood paneling, and chandeliers everywhere. Request a room with a view of the neoclassical Vancouver Art Gallery (800-663-1111; hotelgeorgia.bc.ca; doubles from $200; w).

Sources: The booking site 1stvancouverhotels.com lists 27 properties (including some of those mentioned above) that vary in price and quality, and it generally undercuts the rack rates a little. A definitive list of hotels is available at tourismvancouver.com, although the prices tend to be on the high side. The Lonely Planet guide Vancouver details a thorough selection, broken down by location and budget ($16).

WHERE TO FIND MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
For an update on the prices we give below, visit the Web sites.

CHICAGO
Rooms start at $149;
metromix.com

BARCELONA
Rooms start at $100;
bcn.es/english/ihome.htm