Shiraz, Iran

Overlooking leafy Azadi Park, the Homa was built in the 1970s by the Intercontinental Group, but after the revolution was taken over by a local luxury chain, who recently gave the property a major overhaul. It’s now the largest and most efficient hotel in the city and although offering few surprises, covers all the basics well. Its rooms are spacious, fresh and pleasantly furnished in neutral tones; those on the upper storeys enjoy sweeping views across the city’s fringes to the nearby mountains. Facilities include a coffee shop and large pool.