It may be a small town, but the Grand Hotel in Alkmaar, The Netherlands, is breathtaking. A bunch of us stayed here for a wedding- one room even had a sauna!

http://www.grandhotelalkmaar.nl/Grand_Hotel_Alkmaar/nl/kamers.html

hmmm, seem to have a strange conception of $250, since when I looked at the Seville hotel, the first photo, rooms started at 330 euros. I didn't look at the others, since I figured there might be some sort of conversion calculation error going on.

Also recommendable is the Domstern in Cologne, the superior room has Designers Guild wallpaper, and it is a thing of beauty - and prices start at approx. 150$ a night, including breakfast.

Apparently, everyone has a much more acomodating budget than I do! I guess that's fine if you can afford those $250 a night rooms--I'd rather stay in a hostel for 10 days at $25 a night or so--and get my design fix by staying longer and going more often.

I think one would need to be a bit nuts to pay more than $100 per night for any room, unless the plan is to stay there all day and enjoy the awesome design. o_O Anyway, normals hotel rooms in Europe are well more affordable and you can spend the hundreds of dollars on sightseeing, shopping, good food etc.

Agreeing with Wvlinz and Okashi. I couldn't afford to go to Europe at $250 a night! And wouldn't want to, either. I'd rather, like Wvlinz, stay longer and go more often. Or go to Europe, and then use the money I didn't spend on an overpriced hotel and visit someplace else that I'd like to see.

Is everyone who comments on AT poor? Every post seems to have negative comments unless it's a room pulled together on a shoestring budget or in this case, I guess traveling on the cheap. Just sayin..........

You think you have to be poor to consider $250/night too much? How about just middle class? How about traveling with children? Sheesh....

I just spent a few days in Paris with my sister. We stayed at Hotel Banville. It's beautiful. Not located in a tourist area. Three metro stops are within walking distance. The hotel quotes their prices around 300 euro, bt we booked for half that on a travel website. All the rooms are designed differently. We will definitely be back there! Check it out if you're headed to the city of lights!

I'm sorry but this post seems quite detached from reality.
I live in Portugal and I assure you you'll find lots of great hotels here for less than 250$. Lots of them. In recent years new hotels have been popping up, and good quality too. Not all may be worth mentioning in a design site, but nice to stay in. In more expensive places like paris or london it may be necessary to pick and choose but still possible.
Anyway, of the thousands of hotels available in Europe why would you endorse just these ones?

Hotel De Las Letras in Madrid: beautifully designed, nice staff, great breakfast, awesome location and affordable:)

http://www.hoteldelasletras.com/

$250 a night; I darn well better not fall asleep! Yeah, maybe poor or maybe just practical. I wonder if Europeans realize just how few Americans ever get to Europe (not that we wouldn't want to). There are elements in some of these rooms that look good, but wow, #5 sure looks like dumpster diving! I'll offer $50/night on that one.

I can recommend Miniloft Apartments in Berlin. Beautiful minimalist design and really friendly, helpful owners. http://www.miniloft.com/

I've never spent over $150 a nite for a personal hotel room ANYWHERE.

I just came back from Stockholm, Helsinki and St Petersberg and 14 night lodging cost me $1600. That included an Art Deco hotel in Helsinki's Design District and a private room in Stockholm's Old City. all were we'l located.

I went to these cities because of the excellence of their architecture and design., which are free. I need a hotel room to sleep and shower.

I can afford $250 - but WHY??

Make that private room in a hostel in Stockholm...

Hmm. Yeah I'm not "poor" but, as someone who was antsy after my first real job in my mid 20s, I decided to head to Europe by myself for 5 weeks. I did 9 countries, and stayed in my own room, with my own private bathroom and no bed bugs or weird anything in sight. Most of them included a really lovely breakfast, and were centrally located wherever I was. Never spent more than $85 a night. Although I did splurge in Epernay on a $125 a night room. Even when I go back when I have some more money in my wallet- I don't plan on staying in any place this expensive. Unless I'm going somewhere where there is no culture or anything to do [say, in town for a really exciting conference of some sort], a little bit of planning and some fun research- you can find someplace unique, lovely, and maybe even a little design minded for a lot less [and if you're finicky like myself, you don't have to stay in a hostel either].

[Also, I liked the RoomMate hotels in Spain. They were a little flashy for my taste, but clean, and had some fun little amenities. They were on the pricer side for my particular trip but, nice.]

www.andelscracow.com
www.blowuphall5050.com
www.leregina.com
www.lalala.lu
www.stary.hotel.com.pl/stary_en/ROOMS___SUITESwww.hotelstbruno.pl/front/view/18