5218 Best Hotels in USA

A large room at this spiffed-up downtown St. Helena inn is named for author Ambrose Bierce (The Devil's Dictionary), who lived in the main Victorian structure in the early 1900s, but sensitive hospitality and modern amenities are what make a stay worth writing home about. The main home, built in 1872, contains four rooms, a cottage house nearby holds three, and there's a large loft studio with a kitchen. Some rooms are painted in soft gray tones, others in rich yellow pastels. The decor acknowledges the period but with contemporary flair, and the owner and staff aim to please.

A massive pool complex with a 15-foot waterfall, two winding waterslides, and a sandy waterfront are part of the allure of this sprawling resort, but it may be the 72 holes of golf, including the challenging Copperhead course, that are the real draw. Bald eagles and herons are sometimes seen on the grounds, which are beautifully maintained. Guest suites are in 24 two- and three-story lodges tucked among the trees between golf courses. Some of the roomy suites have balconies or patios. Innisbrook has enough restaurants and lounges to make it self-contained, though there are other dining options in the area.

Marble bathrooms with separate soaking tubs and glass showers, 300-thread-count Egyptian-cotton linens, plush bathrobes and slippers, and twice-daily housekeeping are some of the highlights of the chic, recently updated rooms in this hotel, the flagship for the Atlanta-based chain. The Americano is the on-site restaurant, led by James Beard Award–winner Scott Conant, and features an Italian steak house concept.

A luxury hotel overlooking Country Club Plaza, this property has a marble and mahogany lobby and marble baths and crystal fixtures in the guest rooms. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kansas City Art Institute, and the Crown Center are just 10 minutes away.

The circular redbrick drive of this towering 1926 architectural landmark leads to an opulent, mirrored, marble-floor lobby that's the gateway to luxurious rooms aglow with gold, cream, and yellow tones. Rooms on the upper floors have views of either the Golden Gate Bridge or the downtown cityscape; bathrooms throughout are lined with multicolor Italian marble. The rooftop lounge, the Top of the Mark, serves a lovely array of classic cocktails in the evening, but the real star is the breathtaking, nearly 360-degree city view that can also be enjoyed during an elaborate Sunday brunch.  The hotel oozes with history. Stroll around and learn about the rich past of San Francisco's Big Four railroad barons, including Mark Hopkins (Central Pacific Railroad).

In the center of the city's growing theater district near the river, this classy-yet-hip hotel brings downtown indoors. The lobby restaurant and bar are popular with theater-goers fresh from a show at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, which is just across the street. The InterContinental also boasts an art gallery and nightclub. Rooms are tastefully decorated with simple furniture and flat-panel TVs. You won't find this combination of luxury and location at a better price.

The modern rose-granite structure overlooking St. Charles Avenue has large, well-lighted guest rooms, with contemporary, New Orleans--inspired furnishings. Breakfast at Pete's Pub features made-to-order omelet and waffle stations, while Trenasse, the hotel's restaurant from chef Jim Richard, serves up expertly executed south Louisiana coastal cuisine. Lafayette Square park is right next door.

The arctic-blue glass exterior and Zen-like lobby may mimic an airport concourse, but it's merely a prelude to generally expansive, nicely thought-out guest rooms supplied with all the ultramodern tech conveniences sophisticated travelers expect and striking floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel lies within shouting distance of the Moscone Center, so its business is geared toward the convention and corporate crowd, which sometimes results in lower weekend rates. Bar 888 specializes in craft cocktails, and Luce Restaurant, one of the grandest dining settings in the city, has earned recognition for its inventive modern cuisine and inspired wine list. 

Spectacular bay views, upscale amenities, assiduous service, and a superb location next to the aquarium propelled this luxury hotel to immediate stardom. Its spacious rooms, in several Craftsman-style buildings on both sides of Cannery Row, have marble, natural wood, and glass elements that create a feeling of warmth and serenity. All rooms have baths with soaking tubs and walk-in showers, and many have fireplaces and balconies. Unusual artworks abound in the public spaces.

A lovely Victorian houses this classy getaway with individually appointed rooms and an excellent restaurant. Some rooms look out onto the Adirondacks and some overlook the Interlaken's lush gardens. Interior schemes offset old-fashioned fabrics. Rooms are handsome, with four-poster and sleigh beds, down comforters, and Frette linens and towels. A few rooms have private balconies, and third-floor rooms have sloping ceilings. The smallest, least expensive rooms are simple but still attractive.

Contemporary style pairs with luxe comforts in guest rooms attractively decorated with modern New Orleans flair. In this locally owned hotel, the lobby aims to wow, with 23-foot-high ceilings, ornate pilasters, marble floors, and artwork by New Orleans artists. Fine linens enhance the guest rooms, all with iHome docking stations, black-and-white photographs of jazz greats, and ceiling fans; bathrooms, which have either glass-enclosed showers or oversize bathtubs, are sleek and contemporary, stocked with Aveda bath products. The excellent cocktail bar, Loa, the domain of local celeb bar chef Abigail Gullo, is a favorite of locals, with a cool and shadowy vibe.

Built in 1902 by Buffalo Bill and named for his daughter, this striking downtown property retains both its frontier charm and rough edges, with period furniture and pull-chain commodes in many rooms, a large restaurant open all day, and an elaborate cherrywood bar said to have been a gift from Queen Victoria to Buffalo Bill. For those looking for modern amenities and trappings, this probably isn't it. But if you want true history, and the chance to bump into a ghost or two, choose one of the 15 rooms in the original hotel (named after local legends) rather than in the annex, which has standard contemporary rooms. On summer evenings the Cody Gunslingers Shootout takes place in front of the Irma Hotel.

Inside a 100-year-old former warehouse just south of downtown Milwaukee, the Iron Horse Hotel breathes new life into this historic building with its unique design and welcoming approach. Motorcycle gear-shifts form the lobby chandeliers, and 1920s drafting chairs are lined up at the Branded bar. The hotel's breakfast room, The Library, provides cozy leather sofas, a book collection and long tables with industrial lamps that accompany breakfasts-to-order. Wait staff, although enthusiastic, is still finding its groove. In each loft-style room, Cream City brick walls were preserved and modern amenities, such as murals and tiled walk-in showers with rain showerheads, were added.

Comprising four handsomely restored suites in a former boardinghouse for rail workers and four offbeat vintage caboose all filled with engaging railroad memorabilia, this distinctive inn is especially fun for fans of vintage trains, but the individually decorated accommodations are quite comfy, too. Adjacent Iron Horse Park, which is bisected by a span of the 250-mile Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, is a wonderful spot for hiking.

On the banks of the Fraser River, this condo-style hotel now owned by Winter Park Resort is ski-in ski-out, but it's removed from the resort's base village. Simple wood and stone details fill studios for couples and the one- and two-bedroom apartments for families. Most apartments have full kitchens and balconies with views of a grove of aspen.

Once the home of James Dean (he lived here for two years in the 1950s), the Iroquois is a historic hotel dating from 1899. Today, guests enjoy stately accommodations and bits of decadence, like heated bath floors, Frette robes, and complimentary shoeshine service. It's a pleasant surprise to discover such a friendly, inviting, well-designed property in Midtown at competitive rates. Inside, don't miss Lantern's Keep, the charming cocktail bar that is easily one of Manhattan's best.

On a residential street three blocks from Harvard Square, this four-story gray clapboard guesthouse is a bargain. It has two small porches, hardwood floors, and Oriental carpets, making it homier than a hotel, and there's a real sense of conviviality among guests, mostly Europeans and visiting parents or professors. The inn maintains a giving library, which means you can take home that book you didn't quite finish. The small, superclean rooms are refurbished with bright new paint, flat-screen TVs, and original art. The limited off-street parking is a real coup in car-clogged Cambridge. So is the green and guilt-free solar thermal water-heating system. As a nice added touch, the hotel will mail postcards anywhere free of charge.

Lilacs, pink roses, and beautiful perennial gardens add a floral flourish this 1857 Greek Revival farmhouse located on a quiet residential road near the bay. Innkeepers Mark and Amy Scamman set the scene for a romantic getaway with guest rooms sporting country antiques, beamed ceilings, four-poster beds, and fluffy duvets. In the attached carriage house, some guest rooms have small balconies overlooking a wooded lawn with gardens, grape arbors, and berry bushes.

New owners, who live on-site, are refreshing the look of this circa 1848 Victorian, but it still has that 'olde inn' appeal, with graceful lines, high ceilings, and stained glass. Despite intricate wall coverings and canopy beds, the spacious rooms are uncluttered and welcoming, merging vintage charm and a lighter modern touch. The two suites in the adjacent carriage house, outfitted with king beds, have a simpler, cottage style.

A private garden with brick walkways, tropical plants, and a canopy of palms sets this convivial guesthouse apart from the pack. The vintage-1880s property has wraparound verandas, pine floors, and charm to spare. Arch House, a former carriage house, has a dramatic entry that opens into a lush courtyard. Although all suites front busy Eaton Street, only Suites 5 and 6 face it. A reconstructed cigar factory has become the poolside Cigar House, with spacious rooms, porches, decks, and plantation-style teak and wicker furnishings. The private tropical garden wraps around a spacious pool area. Children are welcome—a rarity in Old Town guesthouses.

Geared specifically toward gay men, this hotel features a health club, a video lounge, a café and bar, and rooms in historic digs. Clothing is optional everywhere but in the gym.

Choose from your own cottage on the beach, or take your pick from six different styles of modernized hotel rooms at Sanibel's most established inn—built in 1895 as the home of Will and Harriet Matthews, whose love of entertaining turned this place into the sought-after resort that it is today. Value-enthusiasts will be happy here because there's no resort fee and most everything is included, like tennis, shuffleboard, a heated pool, free Wi-Fi, and beach chairs. If you want to spend some of your hard-earned money for dinner, do try the restaurant, Traditions on the Beach. It's worth it. The Matthews Lodge contains the Gulfview Luxury Suites—another splurge worth considering.

With clean rooms and an inviting, well-kept prime downtown Bar Harbor location, this small family-owned and -operated motel is affordable done right and a convenient base for exploring the Acadia area; each room has outdoor and indoor sitting areas and one free parking space, and there’s complimentary coffee, a water bottle filling station, and a microwave in the lobby.

At this family-friendly beachside resort, activity revolves around a 194,000-gallon pool (allegedly the area's largest) with a spectacular swim-through waterfall and a bar in the Grotto's rock wall. There's even a mermaid named Misty. There are several on-site dining options.

Like the rest of historic Pass-a-Grille, this converted, 1950s-vintage property is totally friendly and totally Old Florida, with one- and two-bedroom cottages that make it great for a family beach vacation. It's within easy walking distance of the beach, and its nicely landscaped grounds feature huge live oaks and sea grapes, teak deck chairs, and a weathered fishing pier. Grills are available if you want to barbecue. Continental breakfast is served only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and there's a four-night minimum stay during holidays.

Here you get to choose between a self-sufficient town home on the bay side or an oceanfront resort with on-site restaurants and oodles of other amenities. Either way, the interiors are bright and casual. The Islander Bayside's two-bedroom town homes have a gourmet kitchens, flat-screen TVs, washer-dryers, and all the comforts of home. A bayfront pool is ideal after a day of fishing, and if your boat is under 24 feet, you can dock it in the marina outside your door. On the ocean side, the villas and the resort rooms feature sophisticated furnishings, plantation shutters, full-size refrigerators, and microwaves.

It's hard to beat the low prices or the spirited and welcoming personality of this funky and truly tiny 1950s motel in North Bend whose five rooms have pop culture themes like "That '70s Room" and the "Star Trek: Enterprise Room." For a small fee, the staff will set up an authentically old-school Atari 2600 or a vintage record player in your room, and they also offer free cruiser bikes to use and can arrange mountain-bike tours and other local activities. 

On a steep hillside and surrounded by trees, this lodgepole-pine B&B is a real retreat. Ninety-five steps lead to a front door tucked away in a cool forest. Decks abound, rooms are full of wood furniture and warm Southwestern colors, and an inviting common area has a two-story old-fashioned adobe fireplace.

William Clark (of Lewis and Clark) cooked his dinner in the hot springs near the site of this spacious log lodge decorated with elk antlers, a stuffed mountain lion, and other critters. Accommodations are in cabins, many with fireplaces, and there's also tent and RV camping. The Olympic-size outdoor pool is filled with artesian hot water that averages 103°F year-round. The dining room specializes in surf and turf.

The spotless pioneer period antiques and the wealth of well-chosen amenities (fireplaces, saunas, whirlpool tubs, double steam showers) at this eight-room 1861-vintage inn—with four additional luxury cottages—evoke the Wild West with an urbane, sophisticated aesthetic. Complimentary full breakfast is served in the elegant restaurant, which also serves lunch and dinner to both guests and nonguests.