419 Best Hotels in Florida, USA

Chic, understated European style combines with Gulf-front views at this intimate inn in the heart of Rosemary Beach. Rooms are a bit snug, but the restaurants, shops, and activities within walking distance make up for it. Breakfast is served in the owners' The Summer Kitchen Cafe (continental included or a discount for a full cooked breakfast). Although kids are allowed, the inn isn't particularly family friendly.

Connected by a covered sky bridge to the Orange County Convention Center, this 24-story resort with a half-dozen on-site restaurants attracts business customers but doesn't ignore families. The large pool, full-service spa, and easy access to Universal, SeaWorld, Aquatica, and all the I-Drive entertainment complexes give families plenty to do.

Close to the convention center, this 14-story hotel caters to its corporate clientele, but leisure travelers also like the prime location and long list of amenities, including a heated swimming pool, fitness center, babysitting services, and a vibrant nightclub that opens onto the pool.

You’ll be hard pressed to leave the grounds of this high-rise beachfront property, where amenities include two pools—one for adults and one for children—lots of hammocks, a surf simulator, a play area, fire pits that are perfect for making s'mores, and a poolside tiki bar. Rooms aren't overly fancy, but they have mini-refrigerators and microwaves so you can heat up simple meals when you want to eat in. The on-site RumFish Grill is a popular seafood restaurant with a gigantic aquarium stocked with local sea life (in the off hours, you can suit up for a tank swim for $25).

Situated about a half hour north of Downtown Tampa, Saddlebrook is one of west Florida's top resorts, largely because it has so many things in one spot—36 holes of championship golf; the Saddlebrook Golf Academy; 45 clay, grass, and artificial-surface tennis courts; a Harry Hopman tennis program; a full-service spa; a fitness center; and a kids' club. Varied accommodations include one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites, making it a good place for families.

This resort sits over mineral springs—which feed its pools and water coolers—and has been drawing visitors since 1927, though accommodations are continuously being upgraded, so expect to find high-end mattresses and luxurious linens, as well as the latest treatments and therapies in the 50,000-square-foot spa. Request a treatment room overlooking Tampa Bay and plan to spend a little downtime in the tranquillity garden. 

This supersleek, all-white, all-suites hotel in the middle of the action looks and feels like an edgy art gallery, filled with brilliant contemporary works, the perfect complement to the posh, gargantuan, 500-square-foot crash pads. With all the mind-bending hipness, you might expect South Beach pretentiousness, but there's none here. In fact, the service is excellent. All suites have some kind of kitchen component, with at least a microwave and mini-refrigerator, sometimes a full refrigerator and stove. What else? How about huge flat-screen TVs and whirlpool baths? As you might expect of such an arty place, hallways are lined with noted artists' quotes, and public restrooms feature avant-garde video installations. The 500-square-foot terrace overlooking the ocean is great for spa parties.

A marina with deepwater slips—and a prime location at the mouth to the Atlantic Ocean on the Intracoastal Waterway across from Peanut Island—lures boaters and anglers here to these rather basic rooms, studios, and efficiencies. Each of the 30 rooms is named after an island in the Bahamas or a game fish, and all open onto the resort's landscaped grounds. Five are directly on the water, including a two-bedroom condo. Rooms have peaked ceilings, carpeting, flat-screen TVs, and stall showers; all have air-conditioning and ceiling fans. From the seawall, you'll see fish through the clear inlet water.

Accommodations here include high-rise condo units and low-rise townhouse villas; some are directly on the beach, and others are just a short walk (or golf-cart ride) away. Convenient to the properties are the Dunes Putting Course, a basketball court, and winding paths. There is a tunnel underneath the highway for those who might want to walk or bike to the bayside amenities.

Although Sandestin’s lakes make its four golf courses challenging, they also provide serene natural settings for its villa communities, where properties come in a variety of sizes and configurations. Many are even right on a course—perfect those who plan to spend a lot of time teeing off. Choose from villas in communities that include Baypine Cottages, The Bungalos, Crystal Cove, Crystal Lake, Laurel Grove, Magnolia Bay, Prestwick Place, Turnberry Villas, and Villa Lago.

Deep local ties set this expansive resort apart from the area's other luxurious accommodations—it was built on the site formerly occupied by the Clearwater Beach Hotel, and its coastal-chic spaces exude history. All rooms have a water view (of the Gulf or the Intracoastal Waterway), and there are amenities to spare. The spa is a destination unto itself, and on-site restaurants include Caretta on the Gulf, known for its cooking classes, weekend brunches, creative locavore cuisine, and impressive wine pairings. Camp Ridley is a good option for kids if it's raining or if they get bored with swimming and beachcombing.

This resort with 1,000 feet of beachfront on the quieter end of Panama City Beach has something for everyone and enough amenities and activities to keep you busy for days without ever leaving the property. Accommodations range from studios for two to beach houses that can sleep 16 people. There are multiple indoor and outdoor pools, some heated, as well as sizeable water slides and lazy rivers. It's a kid's dream, with on-site mini golf, a games arcade, and a playground. In summer, special activities include games, karaoke, sunset s'mores, and foam parties. 

Golf is at the heart of this luxurious resort, but there's no lack of opportunity for other recreation or for sheer indulgent relaxation, if that's what you're after. Besides offering access to the renowned Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, which hosts THE PLAYERS Championship each year, the resort has trails for jogging or biking, as well as an acclaimed 18-hole miniature golf course that appeals to the whole family. There are plenty of other activities for the kids, too. Or, you can simply laze about in the highly regarded spa or by one of the many swimming pools. It's not an oceanfront resort, but that's just a technicality: the exclusive oceanfront Cabana Beach Club is a three-minute drive or shuttle ride away. The elegant hotel tower is home to several casual restaurants and lounges, including Alice & Pete's Pub and the upscale Vernon's First Coast Kitchen & Bar featuring farm-to-table cuisine.

Built in the 1950s, this charming little motel-type lodge is conveniently located one block from South Beach on a quiet stretch of the causeway that goes to the mainland. The inn has pretty pastel paint, vintage artwork, and white wicker furniture. The plumbing and fixtures are mostly of the earlier era, and bathrooms are small, but you quickly look past them because all the studios and one bedrooms are spacious and have their own full kitchens and the nightly price is just right. In addition to being steps away from one of the widest and most beautiful beaches in the area, the hotel has a heated pool and a rooftop tiki sundeck and is a 2-mile bike ride from the Ocean Drive business district.

This historic Mediterranean-revival inn has lovely Old Florida original touches like cypress ceilings and pine floors. It's run by Jonnie Wall Flewelling, an Indiantown native whose family has owned the property for decades. Hunters, fishers, and birders are fans of this spot for its location, but it's got enough Southern charm to attract everyone—and the restaurant serves the finest fried-green tomatoes around. Carpeted rooms are done in country ruffles, and there are rocking chairs on the porch and a sitting area on the second floor. Indiantown memorabilia decorates the lobby, and there's good local art throughout, including a mural depicting the Seminole tribe's history.

Operated by the U.S. Armed Forces Recreation Center, this resort is open only to active-duty and retired personnel from the armed forces, reserves, and National Guard; their families; and others connected with the military. The resort offers standard rooms, family suites for up to eight adults, 23 ADA rooms, and a Wounded Warrior Suite.

The famed Morris Lapidus–designed Shelborne hotel is a retro-chic art deco treasure with stylish yet functional rooms and plenty of oh-so–South Beach amenities, including the beach's most oversized poolside cabanas (which also happen to be air-conditioned), a slick pool deck, a private beach club, and a location that offers direct access to downy sands, art deco, and superlative shopping. The lobby has been refurbished to its original mid-century modern splendor, thanks to Meg Sharpe Interiors. Sputnik lamps light the way as you walk on classic terrazzo flooring and explore various settings. Some areas are the epitome of Mad Men style, others made modern and whimsical by the addition of animal prints and chrome accents. The rooms tend to be on the small side, but the incredible location makes up for it (and translates to minimal lingering). Outside, original diving board towers are a reminder of a bygone era. The pool deck retains its charm, though modernized with chaise lounges, sun umbrellas, and a fully stocked bar.

Rooms at this modern, nine-story resort, which is set amid 10 well-manicured acres along a lovely, private stretch of beach, have excellent views of the Gulf or the nearby Sand Key Park. Most rooms also have balconies or patios. It's one of the region's top convention hotels, but its many amenities—pools, a fitness center, tennis courts—make it ideal for leisure travelers, too.

A small world all its own, this adults-only maze of accommodations and four swimming pools makes you feel deliciously sequestered from Key West's crasser side but keeps you close enough to get there on foot. The "basic" rooms are in an old cigar factory, and each has its own unique decor (and street noise). There's also a restored shotgun house, cottages, and a town house. An over-the-top continental breakfast is served on the brick-paved courtyard.

The modern rooms inside this Philippe Starck--designed, Alice in Wonderland reminiscent luxury escape may feature mirrors over the bed, but the real jawdropper is the rooftop pool deck with lovely city views and cabanas. An extra bonus: the rooftop bar is available only to those staying on the property. Fi'lia is the hotel's resident Italian restaurant, with woodfire pizzas and large pasta dishes. The Lounge is a safari-theme hideaway with great cocktails and bites featuring an outdoor terrace with views of the city streets below.

Housed in a restored 1939 art deco building, SLS South Beach exudes beachfront sophistication over a commingling of Latin and Asian inspiration in its common areas, plus dining outposts The Bazaar South Beach, Katsuya South Beach, and Hyde Beach Miami—an 8,000-square-foot masterpiece of pool, beach, and cabanas attracting glitterati daily. Rooms exude a design that's remarkably Philippe Starck. Think predominantly white-on-white panache, with sexy chandeliers and even sexier (or kinkier) ceiling mirrors, and sketchbook-style wall drapings. Starck also designed the two pools, which feature a 10-foot-tall, silver rubber ducky as their focal point. Cabanas are available for rental, or you can lounge on a daybed with a cocktail.

This hotel offers a bit of style in a central location—amid the Downtown action but within a reasonable distance of the beaches—for a great price. The staff is friendly, the rooms and lobby have a hip, retro-modern feel to them, and the patio has a cool, throwback fountain to congregate around before heading Downtown to dine or shop.

Sonesta Fort Lauderdale merges trendiness with affordability in its 13-story U-shaped tower overlooking the ocean. It's easy to relax at the laid-back, sophisticated hotel, which boasts ocean views for every room. The refreshing decor in white and neutral has a bright pop of color, evoking a fun, youthful vibe throughout the property. The on-site restaurant, Steelpan, serves Caribbean-American cuisine creating an island feel that's further backed by the everlasting ocean breeze. There is a daily resort fee that covers the basics like beach chairs, towels, and bottled water; the fee includes two free welcome drinks to be redeemed at either the lobby or pool bar.

Operated by the same company as the ultra-high-end Santa Maria Suites, this motel-style property is a good-value option in pricey Key West. Though some rooms have been updated with dark-wood furnishings, others still have older, white-wicker pieces. All, however, have 32-inch flat-screen TVs, and those with kitchenettes are spacious, with high ceilings and dining-sitting areas. Key West's famous South Beach and the Southernmost Point are just a few minutes' walk, and you'll find three pools on-site to keep you cool. If you're a light sleeper, the roosters may be a bother, but that's just part of Key West's charms. A modest resort fee gets you a simple breakfast and a voucher for a beach chair and umbrella at nearby South Beach.

During Prohibition, Raul Vasquez made this place popular by smuggling in rum from Cuba; today, its reputation is for having reasonably priced rooms within walking distance of the beach. Of course, the booze is legal now, and there's a bar in the lobby offering 350 brands of rum. Accommodations have kitchenettes that include a refrigerator, microwave, kitchen sink—everything you need. Pastel-painted walls are accented by bursts of color in rugs, pillows, and seat cushions. The rooms are basic, but some have nice touches like claw-foot tubs. Room 1A has a balcony that's good for people-watching.

This hotel, a relative newcomer, is a block from the Atlantic and 2 miles from Fernandina Beach's historic district. It features a resort-style pool deck with fire pits and a full-service bar. Amenities include free, hot breakfast; free Wi-fi; pet-friendly rooms; and the on-site Tides Pool Bar and Grill, which serves small plates and cocktails. 

This late-18th-century inn in the Historic District, a guesthouse since 1845, offers main-house rooms and suites, a room in the former carriage house, and a five-room cottage—all with a serene vibe and a delicious Southern breakfast buffet included. If the walls of the oldest inn in the Oldest City could talk, they would tell tales of buried doubloons and Confederate spies. Furnishings are a mix of antiques and just plain old; the food is fresh and well prepared (there's a chef on property). A stay includes thoughtful extras like free admission to the Anastasia Athletic Club; use of bicycles; complimentary admission to the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum; and an evening social with enough snacks, desserts, and house-blend coffees, teas, and hot chocolates to pass for dinner.

You can't be any closer to the St. George Street bustle than this inn nestled in the City Gate Plaza. A continental breakfast of assorted cheeses, fresh-baked breads, and pastries is included. For a splurge, book a Castillo Suite—a romantic two-story suite with a spiral staircase and wraparound balcony with views of Castillo de San Marcos, Matanzas Bay, and St. George Street.

An extension of André Balazs's trendy and hip—yet budget-conscious—brand, this shabby-chic boutique hotel is a mile from South Beach on an island just over the Venetian Causeway and has among South Florida's most renowned spas, trendiest bars, and hottest pool scenes. The message: we'll do what we please, and the cool kids will follow. The scene attracts trendy 30- and 40-year-olds interested in showing off at the pool and then indulging in the hotel's many "do-it-yourself" spa activities, including mud bathing, scrubbing with sea salts, soaking in hot or arctic-cold waters, and yoga. An 8-foot, 103-degree cascade into a Roman hot tub is typical of the handful of adult pleasures on the pool deck. You can also go kayaking around the island. On the hotel facade you'll see the monumental signage of a bygone occupant, the Lido Spa Hotel, and the much smaller sign of its current occupant, hung, with a wink, upside down. Rooms are small and simple, though they have thoughtful touches like a picnic basket and embroidered fabric covers for the small flat-screen TVs. First-floor rooms have outdoor soaking tubs but very limited privacy, so few take that plunge. The waterfront, alfresco Lido Bayside Grill makes for great people-watching.

Inside two grand Victorian homes—surrounded by gardens in historic downtown and within walking distance of restaurants and entertainment venues—nicely appointed guest rooms have gleaming hardwood floors, antique furnishings, and modern conveniences like free Wi-Fi. There's also plenty of Southern hospitality, as well as amenities such as an eco-friendly salt pool, business services, and detached cottages with full kitchens.