1951 Best Hotels in USA

Families and active travelers love the convenience and action of this high-rise hotel, often referred to as "the Banyan," just a block from Waikiki Beach, the aquarium, the zoo, and bustling Kalakaua Avenue. The lobby is decorated in warm tropical woods with plenty of seating to enjoy the trade winds. All the suites here are privately owned (some units are dated), and many have fully equipped kitchens, as well as lanai that offer Diamond Head or ocean views. The recreation deck also has fantastic Pacific vistas, as well as outdoor grills; a heated swimming pool; two hot tubs; a playground; a mini putting green; and volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts. There is also a koi pond and a mini waterfall. 

Built to resemble a Chinese lantern, this circular, 14-story hotel is a Waikiki landmark, with a charming interior design that brings the Pacific inside, beginning at check-in with breezes that flow through an open-air lobby. Honeymooners, snowbirds, and old-timers love this little hotel, where the front-desk staff takes the time to get to know you. Although rooms are small, with tiny bathrooms that have only (tiny) showers, they're done in bright, aqua-and-yellow color schemes, they utilize every bit of space well, and they all have a lanai with a view that guests return for again and again. Not that you'll be in your room much: Waikiki Beach and the famed Duke statue are right down the front stairs and across the street. The popular and casual Eggs 'n Things eatery is in the lobby, and an ABC Store is steps away. 

Taking cues from the tech industry, this hotel aims to be "innovation-inspired." The crisp, attractive rooms include upscale touches like Jonathan Adler toiletries, colorful ombre blinds, and wallpaper meant to look like a birds-eye view of the Space Needle. From upper floor rooms the view looks out at the Space Needle or the city skyline; occupants of the lower floors can catch that view from the rooftop bar.

Built in 1902 by Lee Guthrie, a gambler and owner of one of the town's most profitable gold-rush saloons, the white-clapboard two-story inn—about two blocks from downtown Skagway—is furnished with original Skagway antiques and handcrafted quilts. Every guest room has a private bathroom. 

Business travelers, conference attendees, and a host of visiting relatives in town for UT graduations and other special events frequent this well-appointed campus-area hotel. Plush standard rooms feature courtyard, city, or UT Tower views, and presidential suites have large balconies with commanding views of the Capitol. There's a heated outdoor pool and 24-hour fitness center, plus on-site dining at the four-star Carillon Grill, a casual sports bar, and a breakfast café. A courtyard art gallery showcases rotating exhibits of artwork by UT faculty and alumni.

Business travelers and visiting celebrities favor this downtown property. The spacious, individually decorated suites have Greek overtones, and the lobby bar bustles with activity.

Immense and coolly contemporary, the building seems to go on forever as you gaze upward from the lobby and take in the curvy John Portman–designed atrium, which hails 52 stories high. Guest rooms open onto the atrium. Fresh flowers fill the major suites: one has a baby grand piano and another comes with a pool table. You don't even have to walk outside to reach the Peachtree Center MARTA station, which is connected via an indoor walkway.

The spacious rooms in this contemporary all-suites boutique hotel look either south over the ocean and down along the Hampton Beach shoreline or north over pristine Hampton Salt Marsh Conservation Area, and all have good-size balconies from which to soak up the views. With kitchenettes and large sitting areas, these are a popular choice with families or those planning longer visits.

Deemed one of the oldest continuously-running B&Bs in Boerne, this charming 1912 white cottage offers two rooms in the main house and a separate Garden House. Each room is decorated with old-fashioned Western and Texan style. Guests are served coffee, juice, and light snacks for their stay and receive breakfast coupons to the Bear Moon Bakery, Boerne's hot spot for fresh-baked pastries. Rooms are spacious and comfortable; the country decor is slightly overwhelming.

Just off the Riverwalk, the Marriott is the city's largest full-service hotel with all the creature comforts you'd expect from an upscale hotel chain. There's a huge conference center, so it's no surprise business travelers make up a large share of the hotel's clientele. The recently renovated rooms, decorated in neutral hues, are comfy and modern. Several rooms, in particular the corner suites, offer magnificent river views. Many of Augusta's prime attractions are only a short walk away.

A stay at this lakeside B&B about 4½ miles northwest of Juneau's airport provides a glimpse into local living—you can explore small, quiet Auke Lake by paddleboat, canoe, or kayak; enjoy it from the shoreside hot tub; or walk the 3-mile trail that circles it. The owners can provide personal recommendations for investigations farther afield. Room choices include four themed suites and one standard room; all have a private bath and refrigerator.

This elegant 14-story hotel, near the tangled intersection of I–35 and US 290, earns high marks for value but can feel removed from the city, despite being only 3 miles from downtown. The property has a resort air, with a huge marbled lobby; full-service restaurant (albeit overpriced); indoor-outdoor heated pool; large exercise room, whirlpool, and sauna; and modest spa. Rooms are decorated with classic restraint, which some might find stuffy. Upper floors have views of the downtown skyline. A city bus stop is within walking distance, and a free shuttle services the airport.

This historic setting offers five unique cabins, each featuring the original fachwerk log-cabin and limestone architecture used by the first Fredericksburg settlers. Maria's Cabin features 18-inch-thick walls, original paint on the ceiling, wood floors, and wavy glass in the windows, all dating from the pioneer days. You're in the heart of the town here, but once you enter the compound, you'll likely feel like you're approaching a cabin in the woods. Get directions and reservations through Gästehaus Schmidt.

Modeled after a village in early California's Mexican period—with a facade that replicates eight different casitas, including several famous historical homes in Mexico—Avila La Fonda surrounds you with rich jewel tones, fountains, and upscale comfort. Inside, stained-glass windows and tiled murals celebrate Mexican art and life in Avila Beach. Guests can choose from two types of rooms: a spa room with a huge tub near the king bed, or a great room with a gourmet kitchen and a queen bed.

Families, honeymooners, and business travelers all find respite at this two-story oceanfront hotel, where some of the stylish nautical-theme suites have fireplaces and ocean views and all have private patios and balconies. Swim in the outdoor heated pool, play checkers on a life-size board, or practice putting on the on-site green—this place is about full-on beachside R&R.

This intimate hotel embraces Craftsman style in its wood-and-stone architecture and in custom furnishings such as faux-Tiffany lampshades. Rooms are decked out with fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, and down bedding. Most rooms have hot tubs, some on private creek-side balconies.

Expect a hospitable ambience, a wonderful breakfast, and afternoon wine service at this 1889 mansion built for a Cotton Exchange tycoon. It has multiple fireplaces, verandas with overhead fans and wicker furnishings, and a mural in the dining room that brings history to the table. Enjoy the lush, subtropical gardens that surround the pool. If you don't get enough to whet your whistle at the evening social, you have 24-hour access to a wine and beverage refrigerator. The Forsyth Park neighborhood, near Gaston Street, offers quiet surroundings adored by the residents—and guests. If you're looking for a self-catering option, check out the Villas.

The dock points the way to beautiful sunsets at this adults-only boutique hotel, which has been transformed from a run-down mom-and-pop place into a waterfront gem. As the innkeepers have backgrounds in the image business, the property offers great visuals, from marble floors and granite countertops to yellow-leather sofas and ice-blue bathroom tiles. Kayaks, paddleboards, barbecue grills, and a movie library are available for guest use, and two chickee huts on the beach are equipped with comfortable seating.

The ultramodern, nearly minimalistic redo of this classic, circa-1903 Queen Anne mansion—an adults-only property—offers a break from the sensory overload of Key West's other abundant Victorian guesthouses. The boutique hotel, 3½ blocks from Duval Street, combines original trim, high ceilings, and shiny wood floors with sleek furnishings, including a curved frosted-glass-and-chrome check-in desk and leather loungers. Some of the spacious, serene rooms have private verandas, flat-screen TVs, and remote-controlled fans and lights.

It's fitting that this healthful haven is set on Miracle Hill—in 2021, using the bones of an old hotel, it was resurrected and revitalized as an adults-only boutique property with individually decorated rooms and suites, a full-service spa, a juice-cleanse program, a café, a 100-foot mineral-water pool (the longest in Southern California), saunas and jetted hot tubs, a cold chamber, a Himalayan salt room, and thatch-shaded soaking tubs that are continuously refilled with fresh mineral water. Landscaped with native plants, this 1-acre oasis also features glorious valley and mountain views, a bucket shower, and a reflexology walk. Expansion plans are in the works to incorporate 5 more acres that will accommodate event space and additional holistic huts and treatment rooms.

This iconic riverboat-shaped landmark, once the Yankee Clipper, is chic yet functional, and the unobstructed ocean views and beach access set it apart from neighboring properties. The Beach Tower sits directly on the beach and the Main Tower is the only building to offer balconies on the property. The one-of-a-kind mermaid show in the Wreck Bar is worth checking out.

Sumptuous guest rooms with modern amenities draw guests to this grand 1887 Victorian house that retains many of its original design features without feeling stuffy. Each room has its own traditional style and might include a stained glass window, hand-painted French tiles, an electric fireplace, or a whirlpool bath. Afternoon snacks are laid out in the comfy parlor, and wicker furniture awaits on the long porch overlooking the garden and town. A full breakfast is served at a long dining room table.

Though it's in the middle of Santa Cruz, this inn has lush gardens, a running stream, and tall trees that make you feel as if you're in a secluded wood. All rooms have fireplaces (a few are electric) and featherbeds; most have private patios. Complimentary wine, cheese, and freshly baked cookies are available in the afternoon.

At this inn with beautiful views of Badlands National Park, you can awaken to a panoramic sunrise over Vampire Peak and the rest of the rugged landscape, 1½ miles from the park's visitor center and just outside the park boundary. This is one of the few lodging options with modern-looking, upgraded rooms in the heart of the Badlands.

This nicely situated resort has identical rooms in both its marina building and its tower building; however, the latter offers superior views. Rooms tend to be on the small side, starting at 250 square feet, but the boating crowd is comfortable with close quarters. Note that the hotel fills up quickly for annual international boating events. Most year-round snorkeling and boat outfitters are found directly on the marina, and the water taxi makes regular stops here.

Tucked into the 1,000-acre Ridges Wildlife Sanctuary, this resort sits within prime real estate along Lake Michigan. It's also the quieter side of the Door County peninsula. Each one- or two-bedroom suite boasts a fireplace and full kitchen. The state rooms feature a kitchenette and patio or deck in each. One perk at this property is the gorgeous nightly sunset over the harbor. Guests have access to a fitness center, indoor and heated outdoor pools, and bicycle rentals.

This 1812 farmstead just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Gettysburg offers 10 carefully restored rooms among three 19th-century homes. Many of the antique-filled rooms have fireplaces; those on the carriage house's ground floor have their own patios. The included three-course breakfast is served in the airy great room or on the terrace overlooking the broad lawns. The property was used as a field hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg.

One of Baltimore's largest hotels, the Baltimore Harbor divides its rooms between two towers and also houses the largest ballroom in the city, which makes it especially popular with conventioneers. Rooms, decorated in light colors, have a contemporary flair and marble-floor bathrooms. Amenities include Wi-Fi, free breakfast, and 40-inch HDTVs.

This comfy, casual motel offers views of Old Town Bandon and the mouth of Coquille River from every room, each with a small balcony from which to take in the scenery and the town's famous Fourth of July fireworks. The inn's bathrooms and furnishings have top-quality linens, refrigerators and microwaves, free long-distance calling throughout North America, and a number of other handy perks and features, including complimentary breakfast.