Guides.

In Bali your base matters more than in any city — the traffic makes hopping around miserable, so the area you sleep in decides your whole trip. Here's each one's character, who it suits, and where to stay.

For a first visit, base central and on the MRT — Marina Bay for the icons, or Chinatown and Bugis for character and value. Here's each area's trade-off, plus Orchard and a Sentosa splurge.

For a first visit, base around Taipei Main Station or Zhongshan — central, on the MRT, one ride from everything and straight in from the airport. Here's each district's trade-off, and how to pick.

It comes down to one choice — Hong Kong Island or Kowloon. Here's how to pick, the two bases everyone forgets, and the "harbour view" trap that costs you.

For a first visit, base around Jongno/Insadong or Myeongdong — central, on the metro, walkable to the palaces and the markets. Here's each district's trade-off, and how to pick.

For a first visit, base on the BTS or MRT — Sukhumvit or Siam put you on the train and near everything. Here's each area's trade-off, and why sleeping by a station matters more than sleeping by a sight.

For a first visit, base in the Golden Triangle — Bukit Bintang or KLCC — central, walkable and linked by a covered skywalk. Here's each area's trade-off, plus the old city, the transport hub and a local pick.

Downtown or Kyoto Station is the real choice — plus the atmospheric districts and their catches, why a ryokan night is worth it, and the "stay near the views" trap.

Namba or Umeda is the real question — plus the two bases everyone forgets to consider, and the one mistake that costs you an hour a day.

Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza or Asakusa? The real trade-offs of each base — and why the right answer depends on your plan, not the district.