Ubud (Indonesia) is the other half of Bali's tourism duopoly. Its focus remains on the remarkable Balinese culture in its myriad forms.
Alila Ubud, www.alilahotels.com/ubud. Currently there are no hostels in Ubud.
Valencia (Spain) is a vibrant city with baroque-fronted houses and streets buzzing with life.
Hostal El Cid, CalleCerrajeros 13. Tel: 963 92 23 23. S/D w/out bath € 12/24. D/w/bath €32.

Hotel Alkazar, Cale Mosén Femades 11. Tel: 963 51 55 51. S/D w/bath €48/52. Pleasant and comfortable.

Valletta (Malta) is renowned for its architectural excellence.
Pinto Guesthouse, Scared heart Ave. Tel: 21313897. Email: info@pintohotel.com. S/D/T Lm9/14/15 (hi season). Lm6/8/11 (low season). Spacious room most with bath.
Imperial Hotel, Rudolph St, Sliema. Tel: 21344093. Email: imperial@waldonet.net.mt. S/D Lm17/27 (hi season). Lm11/15 (low season). Has pool and courtyard garden.
Asti Guesthouse, 18 St Ursula St. Tel: 21239506. Room Lm5.50 all year round. Basic but good value.
Veliko Tárnovo (Bulgaria) is one of the most picturesque towns not to be missed.
Hotel Trapezitsa, ul Stefan Stambolov. Tel: 22 061. S/D 15/30lv. With bath 20/40lv. Clean and good value.
Hotel Comfort, ul P Tipografov 5. Tel: 23 525. Dorm bed 22lv. S/D w/bath 33/44lv. Appealing with great view.
Venice (Italy), is a beautiful city best discovered by foot.
Ostello Santa Fosca, Cannaregio 2372. Tel: 041 71 57 75. Email: cpu@iuav.unive.it. Dorm bed €18. S/D w/out bath €21.
Foreteria Valdese, Castello 5170. Tel: 041 528 67 97. Dorm bed €20. D/w/out bath €54. With bath €70.
HI Ostello di Venezia, Fondamenta delle Zitelle 86. Tel: 041 523 82 11. Open to HI members, but you can buy a card there. Dorm bed €16.
Vilnius (Lithuania) under UNESCO's World Heritage Listings seduces visitors with its skyline of church spires and underlying oddness.
Filaretai Hostel, Filaterugatvé 17. Tel: 215 4627. Email: filaretai@post.omnitel.net. Dorm bed 24Lt. D/T 32/28Lt. Nice place.
Hotel Gintaras, www.hotelgintaras.lt
Youth Tourist Centre near Filaretai Hostel has fairly nice rooms starting at 20Lt. Tel: 261 1547
Visegrád (Hungary), poetic Danube town with a mighty Citadel.
Haus Honti, Fö ttca 66. Tel: 398 160. S/D 9,000/10,000Ft. Spacious modern room.
Wroclaw (Poland) was almost destroyed after WWII. However, the old market square and many churches have been restored.
Hotel Tumski Youth Hostel, www.hotel-tumski.com.pl
Bursa Nauczycielska, ul Kotlarska 42. Tel: 344 37 81. S/D 55/90zl. Ideally located. Clean and well-kept.
Hotel Savoy, Plac Kosciuszki 19. Tel: 372 53 79. Very good value.
Yogyakarta (Indonesia) also known as Jogja, is the cultural center of Java and it's less than an hour drive to Borobudur Temple. It is the largest Buddhist temple in the world.
Rumah Palagan, www.rumahpalaganjogja.com It's a very nice hotel. Double room is Rp350,000 (USD35) including breakast. Click here.
MSA Green Garden B and B, www.msa-greengarden-bb.hostel.com
Sriwedari Hotel, www.sriwedarijogja.com
Zagreb (Croatia) has charming avenues and a wealth of outdoor cafes when weather gets warmer.
Ravnice Youth Hostel, Ravnice 38d. Tel: 2332325. Email: ravnice-youth-hostel@zg.hinet.hr. Dorm bed 99KN. Fairly new and well-run. S/D 350/459KN.
Hotel Central, Branimirova 3. email: info@hotel-central.hr www.hotel-central.hr If you are desperate for a room like I did (and willing to spend a little bit more), this is the place to stay. Single room is 547KN (USD 115). Suprisingly, hostels in Zagreb are not too many, so do book in advance. Click here.
Hotel Ilica, Ilica 102. Tel: 37 77 522. Email: info@hotel-ilica.hr