If you are planning an inexpensive but comfortable regional getaway, keep in mind this trio of award-winning hotels to stay with.

The Asia Hotel Hue in Vietnam, the Patong Merlin Hotel in Thailand, and The Salisbury in Hong Kong are the "Top 3 Affordable Hotels in Asia" this year, recognised recently at the HotelClub Awards Asia 2008 held in Hong Kong.

The nine-storey, 60 rooms, family-owned and run Asia Hotel Hue also won a "Top 3 Service Hotels" honour, proving that quality hospitality need not come at a hefty price tag.

HotelClub, one of the world's largest online accommodation providers, handed out a total of 29 hotel awards across 13 categories last Friday in Happy Valley - selected following a global survey involving 70,000 consumers from 120 countries.

Taking the highest honour was the iconic 80-year-old Peninsula in Hong Kong, which was named "Most Favourite Hotel in Asia".

The other top 5 hotels in Asia were the Lebua at State Tower, Thailand, Lanson Place Hotel Hong Kong, In One City Inn Taichung, Taiwan, Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Philippines, and The Peninsula Bangkok, Thailand

Singapore garnered two awards with InterContinental Singapore taking a "Top 3 Business Hotels" honour, and Rasa Sentosa Resort earning a "Top 3 Family Hotels" award.

Harris Resort Batam, Indonesia and Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort, Malaysia were the other two properties to take home the "Top 3 Family Hotels" award.

The HotelClub survey was based on feedback gathered from more than 120,000 votes for more than 7,100 hotels and resorts in Asia. The winners came from a subsequent shortlist of 300 finalists.

Consumers were asked to nominate the hotels using a free text survey and rank the hotels based on the following ten different criteria: ambience, service, business facilities, family friendliness, cleanliness, restaurant facilities, bars and entertainment, rooms, location and value for money.

The awards ceremony was presented by HotelClub along with Insight Guides and WAYN.com (Where AreYou Now?), the world's largest travel & lifestyle focused social networking community website.

Top photo: (from left to right): The Asia Hotel Hue in Vietnam, The Salisbury in Hong Kong, and the Patong Merlin Hotel in Thailand.