Jaisalmer

Like a mirage in the desert, this contemporary, elegant fort rises out of the sand, luring you to its ramparts—once inside, the interior is equally impressive. — Fodor's

This 280-year-old royal haveli, set around three courtyards – one with a tinkling fountain – is a fascinating hotel with a highly regarded restaurant, Saffron. — Lonely Planet

Twenty-one 1,400-square-foot canvas guest rooms rest on smooth Jaisalmer stone foundations and have spacious covered verandas (five have private plunge pools). — Travel + Leisure

Italian-designed and super slick, this is Jaisalmer’s most sophisticated hotel and it is beautiful throughout, with a desert-meets-contemporary-boutique vibe. — Lonely Planet

Two kilometres west of Hanuman Circle, this grandiose modern hotel with large if unimaginative gardens is a good bet for families. — Lonely Planet

Two kilometres east of town, off the Pokaran road, this large, modern, but traditional-style, place was built according to the ancient Indian design principles of vaastu, which is similar to feng shui. — Lonely Planet

The location of this ancient, characterful hotel, built into the walls of the fort, could not be better: the views are great, and with their rainwater harvesting system they are admirably eco-friendly. — Fodor's

Hotel Pleasant Haveli is a two-story budget guesthouse located right in the heart of Jaisalmer's touristy center, less than 10 minutes on foot from the Rajashtani city's namesake fort. — Oyster

If you want to stay in a real Rajasthani palace without having to pay a king's ransom, then look no further than the Mandir Palace. — Concierge

A pleasantly low-key spot south of the fort, Gorakh Haveli is a modern place built with traditional sandstone and some attractive carving. — Lonely Planet

This comfortable, small hotel is on the edge of town, with a great view of the fort from afar, and has exceptionally warm staff. — Fodor's

A basic but well-run and welcoming hotel, at the end of a quiet street. It’s operated by the same friendly family that run Hotel Renuka. — Lonely Planet

This cozy haveli hotel, inside the 11th-century fort, is run like a homestay by the family who owns it, and makes for a special stay. — Fodor's

There's a nice restaurant on the roof where they have live music every night at six. — Travel + Leisure

This is a well-run, good-value hotel, though the rooms tend to be on the small side and characterless. It’s near Gandhi Chowk. — Lonely Planet

A solid budget choice with clean spacious rooms, trustworthy management, fort views from the rooftop cafe, and free wi-fi throughout. — Lonely Planet

This busy hotel feels like a mini budget resort, with a wide range of clean rooms, satellite TV, a decent multicuisine rooftop restaurant...and a pool. — Lonely Planet

Spread over three floors, Renuka has squeaky-clean rooms – the best have balconies, bathrooms and air-conditioning. — Lonely Planet