5218 Best Hotels in USA

Though these brightly updated accommodations a few miles west of Mount Rainier National Park are of the standard motel-room variety, crackling flames from the massive stone fireplace lend warmth and cheer to the great room. Some rooms have a balcony and all have microwaves and refrigerators.

A good choice downtown for business travelers—and not bad for leisure ones, either—the Marriott, conveniently located near the Old Oakland and Uptown neighborhoods, provides comprehensive services and amenities including a fitness center, pool, and second-floor restaurant. Rooms are large, and the ones on the upper floors have views of downtown and beyond.

This 1930s art-deco motel lures families, dog lovers, surfers, and locals wanting to escape the hustle of the city and retreat to these quiet, spacious, wood-paneled rooms in the Outer Sunset neighborhood. The retro exterior hugs two landscaped courtyards, one with a Monterey pine and the other with a wooden play structure. Interiors are simple, though many units offer kitchens with sitting areas. The enclosed hot tub, free parking and Wi-Fi, and proximity to Muni and the San Francisco Zoo up the ante.

Built in 1876, this rustic inn and restaurant—a sister property to Manka's Inverness Lodge—retains all its 19th-century architectural charm with the added flair of Margaret Gradé's eccentric details. Each room is uniquely decorated with hand-picked bed frames, vintage wardrobes, and other original furnishings, some straight from a Parisian flea market. The main attraction of The Olema is the top-notch cooking served at the on-site restaurant Sir and Star. Using ingredients sourced within a 15-mile radius (many from the farm across the street), the kitchen kicks out creative local dishes Wednesday–Sunday evenings.

Just 2 miles from Yellowstone's East Entrance, these cabins in a pine forest are a good base for destinations both inside and outside the park. Buffalo Bill's original getaway in the high country, this is now a National Historic Landmark. The cabins, some of which stand alone and some of which are grouped together, have two or three beds, and there is a reunion lodge that sleeps up to 22 people. A trailhead for an extensive cross-country-ski-trail network is at Pahaska, as are a gas station and a place for horseback rides.

For travelers wanting to do some fishing, this reservoir and campground is a quick and easy drive just north of Santa Rosa. Aside from fishing, waterskiing and boating are permitted, and there are numerous hiking trails. Weather in spring and fall is almost ideal at about 70°F, although summer tends to be at least 90°F. Beautiful, glossy black cormorants can be spotted on the shores and provide a real treat for bird-watchers. Reservations are allowed but are not generally necessary, even in spring.

This busy campground among tall pines is on the lake, so mosquitoes can be pesky. Groceries, sports rentals, and restaurants are about 4 mi away. Reservations are recommended.

Guest rooms at the ever-bustling Sheraton are roomy and streamlined, with unfussy furniture and nice workstations that appeal primarily to the business traveler. An ongoing, $80 million remodel has spruced up the lobby, which has been opened up dramatically yet still retains a cheerful vibe, with an oversized fireplace and cozy sitting area. The beer-oriented Yard House ($$) offers a staggeringly varied menu of pub grub and upscale comfort foods and there's also a coffee shop with wine and beer for takeout in the lobby. Both the fitness center and heated outdoor pool are inviting.

Perched on a private little slip of land at the head of Lake Chelan, two spacious two-bedroom timber cabins enjoy water and mountain views from wraparound cedar decks, while a large room has a deck over the Stehekin River. Guests share a huge lawn, a waterside hot tub, and nightly bonfire cheer. Hiking, swimming, and relaxing are the top activities; you can also set out on a free bike or canoe, or rent a kayak.

With views of Lake Union, free parking, and family-friendly services, this property offers great value for guests looking to explore more of Seattle than just Downtown. Rooms are simply and adequately furnished. The hotel is on the southeast corner of the lake, and dining options within easy walking distance are a bit better here than on the west side. Breakfast is complimentary, and free wine and cheese await guests on Tuesday evenings. There is also a complimentary shuttle service to Downtown sights. Book early for summer, as weekends fill up quickly.

There may be no better vantage point in town from which to view Sedona's red rock canyons and sunsets than the private patios and balconies at Sky Ranch Lodge, near the top of Airport Mesa. Some rooms have stone fireplaces and some have kitchenettes; all have refrigerators and microwaves. Local wines and craft beers are served at their garden bar. Paths on the grounds wind around fountains and, in summer, through colorful flower gardens.

At the highest point on Skyline Drive (3,680 feet, milepost 41.7), with views across the Shenandoah Valley, this facility has lodging that ranges from rustic cabins and motel-style rooms to suites. This resort is one of three different properties within the park: Big Meadows Lodge (milepost 51.0), originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, is in a spectacular setting surrounding by grassy meadows full of deer and wildlife. Lewis Cabins (milepost 57.5) is the real deal—very rustic cabins for an authentic outdoor adventure. Since these three properties in the park are in sought-after locations, you'll need to book up to a year in advance. There's no air-conditioning, but days above 80°F are rare at this altitude.

Views of the Colorado River are sure to wow guests at this all-suites hotel that shares a large pool area and hot tub with the neighboring sister property, the similarly excellent (and usually a bit more affordable) Fairfield by Marriott. Accommodations are furnished in sleek, contemporary style with comfortable beds, well-designed desks, comfy sofas, and nicely designed bathrooms. The lobby and common areas are also colorful, modern, and welcoming, and there's a wide variety of amenities, including a nice fitness center.

At this quiet inn tucked behind the main street in West Sedona, the romantic rooms are exquisitely decorated in an upscale Western motif, complete with genuine cowboy artifacts. Most rooms have individual decks with hot tubs and telescopes for stargazing, and hosts Sam and Irith provide gracious hospitality and expert guidance on area activities.

This spacious stone-and-wood lodge in Custer State Park affords fantastic views of pristine Sylvan Lake and Harney Peak, the highest point in the U.S. east of the Rockies. The rooms in the lodge are large and modern, and there are rustic cabins, some with fireplaces, scattered along the cliff and in the forest. The Lakota Dining Room has an exceptional view of the lake; its lovely veranda is the perfect place to sip tea and enjoy an evening cocktail. On the menu are buffalo and rainbow trout. You can canoe, fish, and swim in the lake, and numerous hiking trails make this a great choice for active families.

Tucked away on the edge of the John Muir Wilderness Area, where cross-country ski trails loop through the woods, this 1924 lodge looks like something out of a snow globe. Rooms in the charming main lodge have spartan furnishings, and, in old-fashioned style, some share a bathroom. For more privacy, opt for one of the cabins, which range from rustic to downright cushy; many have fireplaces, full kitchens, or wood-burning stoves. In warm months, fishing, canoeing, hiking, and mountain biking are right outside. The small, romantic Lakefront Restaurant serves outstanding seasonal, locally sourced dinners in a candlelit dining room. Reservations are essential.

This is the kind of down-to-earth B&B where you sit around after breakfast and share tips for hiking Point Reyes or linger around the living room and its stone fireplace and library. The Craftsman-style home is decorated in an unfussy modern country manner; some rooms have dormer ceilings with skylights, and all have fluffy bedding. The owners take pride in their breakfast spread, and afternoon refreshments are nice extras.

Retreat to this quiet and artful oasis steps from UCLA, where you can find a cabana-lined pool and sleek lounge, two on-site restaurants with regional cuisine, and a spa that serves brownies and champagne post-massage. This all-suites hotel aims to bring the outdoors in, with mirrors depicting gown-wearing models submerged in the sea, photos of L.A. traffic, and fog-hued interiors. All suites are sizable, and bigger suites include offices and sitting areas. The fern and palm tree-hugged pool area is the place to be on Sunday in summer, when free pool parties lure the young and beautiful locals to line up for free yoga, followed by fruity cocktails.

This stylish midsize business- and family-friendly hotel is ideally located on the edge of downtown, and the spacious rooms have been updated with comfortable beds and the latest in high-tech perks to complement the brass and mahogany furnishings and roomy marble bathrooms. All rooms contain wet bars and private terraces with exceptional city views. The restaurant, Gattara ($$), sends out Italian cuisine for all three meals daily—including pizzas from the wood-fired oven—and features a reasonably priced and well-chosen wine list (not surprisingly, Italian-heavy), as well.

This sleek, luxurious high-rise with oversized rooms opens right onto the 16th Street Mall and all the downtown action. Rooms are done in grays and taupes, with white duvets, piles of cushy pillows, and contemporary prints on the walls. The fourth-floor pool has one of the best views of the Rockies in all of downtown. The hotel buys blocks of tickets for weekend shows at the Denver Performing Arts Complex for guests' exclusive use. There are several dining options on-site: the upscale Mexican eatery Blue Agave Grill ($$$); the casual lunch and dinner spot Corner Bakery Cafe ($); a quick-serve coffee kiosk in the lobby; the sleek V's Lounge for late-night cocktails; and for a la carte breakfast, the snazzy Augusta ($$).

A palm-lined entrance and sparkling fountain welcome you to this bay-front airport hotel that caters mainly to business travelers and conventioneers. Uncluttered, soundproof accommodations have cream-colored walls, simple furnishings, and decent-sized work desks. About a hundred rooms have bay views, and all bathrooms are outfitted with double showerheads. An atrium with skylights encloses the pool and hot tub area, and the fitness center has circuit, free-weight, and yoga equipment. The Grill & Vine restaurant serves straightforward dishes like Black Angus New York strip steak and salmon with a miso-mustard glaze. The 24-hour business center has public computers, copiers, printers, a fax machine, and, for a fee, high-speed Internet access. The hotel provides complimentary dog beds for pets.

On the banks of the Kern River, this 8-acre property has units that are motel-style or in duplex bungalows; all have fireplaces, king-size beds, Wi-Fi access, large-screen TVs, and traditional pine and oak furnishings. Most have private balconies, and some have full kitchens, extra twin or double beds, and whirlpool tubs.

Built in the late 1920s and originally filled with luxury apartments, this Gold Coast boutique hotel has hosted the likes of Katharine Hepburn and Mick Jagger. It offers spacious, updated rooms in a stellar location close to Magnificent Mile shopping, Rush Street nightlife, and the Oak Street beach; high-quality linens and lots of dark wood reinforce the elite feel. Two restaurants are on-site: Fornetto Mei serves Italian dishes that include standout pizza, while Mei's Corner is a casual, street-level Asian restaurant with authentic food and decent prices for the area.