Ku'Damm 101, Berlin

Berlin is always right up there when it comes to good (chic) cheap city break hotel options, and Ku’Damm 101 is a case in point. It’s not right in the heart of the nightlife (as the name suggests, it’s on the Kurfurstendamm) – but in some ways that can be a good thing, putting just a little bit of breathing space between you and the whirlwind of East Berlin. There’s even a small wellbeing centre for nursing sore heads the next day...

Prices in July start from £58 per night

Hotel Abalu, Madrid

The interiors at Hotel Abalu are glam-fabulous – a wonderfully over-the-top vision of colour and rococo swirls courtesy of Spanish fashion designer Luis Delgado. Location-wise, it’s in Triball (Madrid’s new hip barrio de jour), and surrounded by the mainstays of the city’s nightlife scene, Chueca and Malasaña, so it’s perfectly situated for a weekend of partying.

Prices in July start from £71 per night

Lux 11, Berlin

While not quite as cheap as Ku’Damm 101, you still get a fair bit of stylish bang for your buck at Lux 11. The rooms are apartment-style and come with a small kitchen (so perfect for a long weekend away with a friend, in other words) and the decor is sleek, pared down and minimalist. With an Aveda spa and an excellent restaurant and bar on-site, and some of the city’s best shopping on the doorstep, it’s a good bet if you’re looking for an indulgent break of pampering and retail therapy.

Prices in July start from £96 per night

Hotel V Frederiksplein, Amsterdam

Amsterdam is not, on the whole, awash with stylish, cheap city break hotels. But Hotel V Frederiksplein manages to balance striking design (think basket-weave and pony-skin wallpaper and cool graphic prints and stencils on the walls) with an inviting, homely vibe and pretty reasonable rates. Throw in a location within an easy saunter of most of what the city’s got to offer, and it’s well worth the price tag.

Prices in July start from £113 per night

Riad Dar Sara, Marrakech

A beautiful, bijou riad in the heart of the Marrakech medina, pound for pound, Riad Dar Sara is definitely one of the best value places to stay in the ELLE escapes collection. And at the end of a hard – and very hot – day’s hitting the souks, you can retreat to the roof terrace to catch the last rays of sun, before cooling off in the small swimming pool in the courtyard. Perfect.

Prices in July start from £42 per night (plus they’re offering ELLE escapes users 10% off throughout the summer)

Haven't found quite what you were after in our pick of cheap city break hotels in Europe? Check out some more of our favourite budget boutique hotels.