Brunei Hotels

A startling mixture of uber modernity and uptight Muslim conventions, Brunei surprises most visitors. Featuring a startlingly laid-back vibe, the oil rich emirate is riding the waves of ‘black gold’ and Bruneians are a happy lot because of it – education and healthcare are free, income taxes are non-existent and houses and cars are subsidized.

Lying on a slim coastal plain on Borneo Island, Brunei’s landscape is a mixture of forest, swamps and beaches; accommodation options in the sultanate are limited due to the fact that the nation’s tourism scene is hardly developed. Luxury ventures can be found in abundance and you’re in for a treat as some of them are truly magnificent. Stay a night at the opulent Empire Hotel Country Club & Resort – the fanciful establishment has gold-plated power points and camel-shaped lamps made from Baccarat crystals capped with pure gold accruements! There are a few mid-range hotels available but budget deals are starkly limited – the only one in the Bandar Seri Begawan city centre is the two-star Jubilee Hotel.