1951 Best Hotels in USA

Scenes and characters from favorite Disney movies dot the grounds of this large, value-priced, family resort—101 Dalmatians of all sizes scamper along railings, Mickey, in his Sorcerer's Apprentice robes commands the waters at the Fantasia pool, and a larger-than-life Woody cavorts with his Toy Story pals.

Music rules in this colorful, value-priced, family-centric resort that resembles a Florida beach hotel of the 1950s. Each section of the resort rocks to a different genre of popular music—country, jazz, rock and roll, calypso, and show tunes.

Stay here if you want the All-American, sports-mad, Disney-with-your-kids experience, or if you're a couple to whom all that pitter-pattering of little feet is a reasonable trade-off for a good deal on a room, albeit a small one.

This colorful, three-story resort is a kid's version of paradise as each of its four wings features images from Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, or The Little Mermaid, and linens and carpeting match the theme. Suites sleep up to six and have a separate bedroom and two baths.

Giant jukeboxes, 65-foot-tall bowling pins, an oversize Big Wheel and Rubik's Cube, and other pop-culture memorabilia dot the grounds of this value resort. Guest rooms have recently been renovated, and a big food court serves reasonably priced fare.

Considered an even more family-friendly choice than its neighbor (the French Quarter resort), this lodging on the man-made Sassagoula River immerses you in a Creole setting—from the white-column mansions of Magnolia Bend to Alligator Bayou’s backwoods cottages. Highlights include Boatwrights Dining Hall, which features hearty portions of southern Louisiana cooking. Some rooms have extra pull-down bunks and river views, others are princess-themed. The six pools, waterslide, and waterfall are sure hits with all kids. Nightly campfires are pleasant, and, for a fee, there's fishing at Ol' Man Fishing Hole and carriage rides. A free water taxi ferries guests to other Disney resorts on the river and to Disney Springs, and a free shuttle is available to all Disney parks and the airport.

A Tuscan-theme Wyndham owners' club and boutique hotel may hardly be a traditional San Francisco arrangement, but it's the setup for one of the prime Union Square places to stay for luxury without grande-dame prices or pomp and circumstance. Nonresident hotel guests enjoy all the perks of residents, including access to the lounge with its stunning views and to the excellent fitness center with plenty of workout equipment and saunas.

A convenient location—a 10-minute walk from the Hawaii Convention Center or the beach—a professional staff, pleasant public spaces, and a 24-hour business center and small gym draw a global clientele to this reliable chain hotel. The intimacy of the property, the staff's attention to detail, the lovely pool, and the signature DoubleTree chocolate-chip cookies upon arrival resonate with leisure travelers. All the rooms in the 19-story high-rise have private lanai, but they overlook the city and busy Ala Moana Boulevard across from Fort DeRussy. It's not exactly oozing that Hawaiiana feel, but the location, dependability, and service make it a solid choice.

The name is a mouthful, but it's an accurate description for this hotel, which caters to business-trippers and pleasure seekers alike and is so close to Universal that some of the tower rooms offer roller-coaster and Hogwarts views.

The Cherry Creek shopping district is 4 miles away, and the major museums and the zoo are a five-minute drive from this bustling hotel, which provides coveted mountain views from many of its rooms. The rooms sport a plush feel while retaining a business-traveler environment. There's a small but serviceable fitness center, and the indoor pool is great for families traveling with kids. In the morning, breakfast—both buffet and à la carte—is available for purchase in the Eggcetera full-service dining room off the lobby, while the on-site Flagstone's serves burgers and Southwestern comfort food for lunch and dinner.

With clean but basic guest rooms, this hotel is a convenient stay near Tufts Medical Center. You won't find anything fancy here, and the average room price reflects that. There is a restaurant on the premises and a small fitness center.

The hotel of choice for parents visiting children attending local colleges has spacious rooms clustered in three mission-style buildings that surround a flower-decked central courtyard. The best rooms have landscaped terraces or inviting balconies where you can enjoy an afternoon cocktail overlooking the pool and garden. Decor and appointments are simple, and the grounds are clean and well maintained. Extra bonuses include the market, gym, pool, business center, piano bar, and free breakfast for club members.

In this large high-rise quite close to Interstate 10 and near the business district, traditional furnishings outfit the standard accommodations, and the riverside rooms overlook Bayou Vermilion.

Many of the open, airy rooms offer views of the French Quarter, Canal Street, and the Mississippi River. Amenities include an outdoor pool, fitness center, and free Wi-Fi.

This reliable chain property has an ideal location steps from Percival Landing Park and the Budd Inlet waterfront, and it's just a couple of blocks from several excellent restaurants and the Olympia Farmers Market. The polished rooms are decorated in neutral tones, and the suites have splashy bonuses like corner jetted tubs and chaise lounges. The lobby is a comfy spot with antler chandeliers and a gas fireplace. Perks include complimentary bottled water and fresh-baked cookies, and there's a full-service bar and restaurant.

Near the Fashion Valley shopping mall and adjacent to the Hazard Center—which has a seven-screen movie theater, four major restaurants, and more than 20 shops—the DoubleTree is also convenient to Route 163 and I–8 and there's a San Diego Trolley station within walking distance. Guest rooms feature plush-top bedding, 37-inch TVs, and large desks with ergonomic chairs. Public areas are modern yet comfortable, well suited to this hotel's large business clientele. A small café in the lobby, which brews Starbucks coffee, is a convenient spot to pick up snacks or small meals. Other hotel amenities include heated indoor and outdoor pools and a fitness center.

A good choice for business travelers looking for reliable lodgings and anyone seeking a pet-friendly hotel, the Double Tree has 19 stories of clean and spacious rooms and suites. It’s in the heart of the downtown business and entertainment district, is close to the Old Market and Henry Doorly Zoo, and only 10 minutes from Eppley Airfield.

A sprawling, 1970s-era hotel and conference center, the Doubletree sits directly across the street from Randolph Park, Tucson's best municipal golf course and tennis facilities, and Reid Park, which houses the city zoo, a lake with paddleboats, and numerous play areas. A pleasant jogging/walking trail encircles both parks. The hotel property is well tended though generic-looking.

At the confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers within the historic district, this comfortable hotel—with marina facilities—has rooms and suites with terrific views of the city and waterfront. Rooms offer plenty of space and a restful color scheme, and those on the fifth floor have a balcony overlooking the river. A fitness center, business center, Confluence restaurant, and an outdoor pool along the waterfront round out the amenities.

This seven-story lodging, in an East Syracuse business district, is geared for the business traveler. Rooms are contemporary, with large desks and ergonomic work chairs, cordless phones, and pillow-top mattresses.

One of the best-managed hotels in the city, the all-suites DoubleTree has a staff that anticipates your every need. Business travelers, sports teams, and families frequent the downtown high-rise. The Capitol—visible from many of the rooms, spectacularly so from upper-story balconies—is only a short walk away. Most of the classically decorated suites have one bedroom and a large, separate living area (with fold-out couch); some have two bedrooms, two baths, and three TVs. Each has a small kitchen with a full-size refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher. The on-site 15th Street Café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

A hidden gem in the Downtown district, the Clifton exudes cool, retro energy and delivers with spacious, attractive rooms that won't bust your budget.

Guests have been flocking to this hotel in the middle of town since 1902. Through the neat, clean, and professional lobby and past two levels of office and retail space, the inn's guest rooms, on the third floor, are individually decorated with dark woods and traditional furnishings. Some rooms have whirlpool tubs and fireplaces. A free continental breakfast is included.

A slightly kitschy spa, relaxing heated mineral pools, and the health-oriented House of Better restaurant are among the pluses of this playfully retro mid-century-style resort. Natural wood and soft browns and whites predominate in the guest rooms, whose bright-orange and aqua-blue accents supply vintage verve. Accommodations range from smallish standard rooms to suites, a bungalow, a cottage, and a Victorian residence. On-site hot springs warm the resort's mud baths, part of a regimen that can also include a steam bath, a mineral-water soak, and a massage.

Built in 1920, the grande dame of Chicago hotels stands tall where Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive intersect in the city's swanky Gold Coast. The Drake's stately look was inspired by an Italian Renaissance palace, and the sounds of a fountain and harpist beckon at the Palm Court, a traditional setting for afternoon tea, which is especially nice during the winter holidays.

Live out your Hollywood dreams in---where else?---Dream Hollywood, whose modern suites and floor-to-ceiling windows afford great views of the town. The airy lobby has a coffee bar and grab-n-go breakfast to jumpstart the day. There are some excellent examples of contemporary travel aids including two robot butlers aptly named Geoffrey and Alfred. Seek respite from the chaos by sipping cocktails at the rooftop pool; the lobby art gallery features a changing display from up-and-coming artists.

This Midtown hotel specializes in style more than comfort, but for the price it's still quite livable, despite some over-the-top design features and the noise from scenesters headed to the rooftop bar. The dreamscape starts in the lobby, which contains an enormous two-story cylindrical neon-lighted aquarium. Rooms have stark white walls, modern furniture, and psychedelic patterned headboards. Stay here if you love modern touches like plasma TVs, texting with the multilingual staff, and a velvet-rope bar with views at PHD Terrace. You can also get sociable with games at Fishbowl, and dine on rustic Italian fare at Serafina. There's a second Dream Hotel in the Meatpacking District.

This trendy boutique hotel, which is right in the center of the South Beach action, merges two refurbished, archetypal, 1939 art deco buildings into a single project of eclectic modernism, with whimsically decorated interiors that are at once trippy and cool. Designer Michael Czysz dressed rooms with colored bed lighting, bold chandeliers, and glass closets. And true to the boutique style, rooms are on the small side and often cater to a younger crowd searching for fast times in the Magic City. The see-through bathroom walls are a bit of a style overfunction and create some difficulty when sharing a room with friends or even your significant other. But once you get past that, Dream is idyllic for adventures in hedonism: tanning on the beach (with quick access), making new friends (over sun-kissed libations on the roof), and late-night debauchery (crawling distance to most nightlife). Expect lots of fun on the rooftop by day or night; there's both a petite swimming pool and the 1970s-inspired pool lounge HIGHBAR, which kicks into gear at nightfall. The hotel also provides beach chairs on its very own designated section of beach just south of 11th Street.

Within walking distance of downtown Craig, the Dreamcatcher has three rooms with outside entrances and private baths. Guests can enjoy morning breakfast and coffee on the back patio, which overlooks Port Bagial; whale sightings are not unusual.