1951 Best Hotels in USA

There's nothing thematic about the guest room decor, but guests at this hotel can secure advance dinner reservations and attend magic shows at the Magic Castle, a private club in a 1908 mansion next door for magicians and their admirers. (The club requires jacket and tie for men; kids are allowed only during brunch on weekends. Advance reservations a must.) This former apartment building faces busy Franklin Avenue and is a quick walk to the Metro Red Line stop at Hollywood & Highland. Larger rooms have full kitchens with eating areas. The decent-size heated pool is always open, and the patio has lots of greenery. Continental breakfast (often with a magician performing), 24-hour snacks and soda, and laundry service are complimentary.

If you're looking for upscale digs on low-key Anna Maria Island, you'll find them at this small, amenity-laden complex. Half the units here have two bedrooms, the others have three, and all have full kitchens with granite countertops as well as the latest appliances. The complex wraps around a large courtyard with a pool and a hot tub. All rooms have a balcony; all are also just steps from the beach. Beach Bistro is just across the parking lot. And though the shopping and dining on Pine Avenue isn't exactly a quick walk (it's a couple of miles north), a free beach trolley will get you where you need to go. Vacancies are scarce during high season, so book early.

A stay at this comfortable, reasonably priced inn, said to be the oldest hotel in the Napa Valley, places you within walking distance of Yountville's fine restaurants. Rooms at this Four Sisters Inns property are in three buildings: the main house, built as the Magnolia Hotel in 1873; the Bakery Building, thought to have housed the Magnolia's bakery for a time; and the Carriage House. These structures all share a French country style but vary dramatically in size and amenities. The most spacious rooms, in the Bakery Building and Carriage House, with private entrances, decks, and fireplaces, provide great value for their price. The five smallest ones, four Petite Queens (10x12 feet with no televisions) and the even smaller but ever-so-darling Garrett Queen (9x9 feet but with a TV), represent Yountville's best lodging bargains.

Built in the 19th century, this quiet bed-and-breakfast features 11 rooms with early Acadian antiques. Don't miss out on breakfast, which is a three-course Cajun affair. The owner, Ravi, is a kind and informative inn keeper.

Redolent of southern hospitality and historic elegance, this 1890s Victorian mansion is filled with antiques, local art, and many extra comforts. Rooms have high ceilings and large, luxurious baths; some have private balconies and sitting rooms. Homemade breakfast may include specialty egg dishes and praline French toast. Fresh-baked brownies and tea are served throughout the day; a complimentary fruit and cheese board is served in the charming front parlor on Friday and Saturday evening.

At this appealing modern, tech-forward boutique option a short stroll from the Philadelphia Art Museum, the cool industrial vibe (think concrete floors, exposed brick) is warmed up by plant-draped common areas, colorful art, and thoughtful design choices and finishes throughout. Most rooms aren't large, but they use space efficiently and have good-size bathrooms with smart mirrors; bedside lighting is controlled by smartphone (or a walk to a light switch). In season, there's seating outside the building, and the comfortable seating in the lobby and lots of tables by the coffee station create attractive spaces for relaxing or working year-round. The leafy streets of Fairmount and restaurants are a short walk from the hotel. A concierge screen is helpful, but someone is at the front desk to assist. The hotel has a fitness room, and public parking lots are nearby. 

Everything at this charming boutique hotel says homey—from the quiet, side-street location to the roaring fireplace in the lobby and the complimentary round-the-clock coffee service. Guest rooms are contemporary yet cozy, and plush bathrobes hang in the bathrooms. Great for a stay off the beaten path, yet still within walking distance of Wrigley Field and the many shops, bars, and clubs of the Northalsted neighborhood. 

A lush courtyard with a fountain anchors this delightful, historic inn built as twin town houses in 1862. Historic rooms that were part of the original homes feature 14-foot ceilings, antique reproductions, and original hardwood floors. Courtyard rooms added in the 1960s have hardwood floors, antiques, and antique reproductions. No matter which you choose, the feel is mid-19th century but with modern amenities like a pool, cable TV, and wireless Internet access. Tunnels under one house were used as hiding places by Confederate troops. 

If you want to be within walking distance of the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge, this is the place, and, in summer, the proximity to the gondola means you can hike and mountain bike to your heart's delight. Accommodations, which vary in size, include more than 14 room types, from standard hotel rooms to condo units. The inn, ski lodge, and other summit facilities are likely to be razed and rebuilt within five years, bringing more of a 21st-century ski resort feel to what's been a quaint 1950s-born resort. Meanwhile, the inn has done a respectable job with continual refurbishing.

Primarily a draw for business travelers, this hotel between Seaport Village and the convention center also works well for leisure and family travelers. All rooms have water views, modern furnishings, and windows that open to the coastal breeze. Two pools, several sports courts for basketball, tennis, and volleyball, a spa, a 24-hour market, and seven restaurants and bars mean you don't have to leave the hotel. But, if you do leave, the trolley station is one block away, and the Gaslamp's clubs and restaurants are within walking distance. Sally's Fish House & Bar offers locally sourced seafood and has a picture-perfect patio on the waterfront while The Landing is a great spot to sip a craft cocktail.  Be sure to catch at least one sunset from the Top of the Hyatt bar on the 40th floor.

Seclusion, quiet, and relaxation are assured at this cedar lodge in the rain forest, where five lodge rooms and two suites in the adjacent cottage have cedar paneling, handmade quilts, driftwood headboards, and oak furnishings; the large Sacagawea room even has a fireplace. The cathedral-size great room has a towering stone fireplace, a tall bookcase, and multiple couches. Two small, rustic cabins are available May through October.

Among the remarkable appointments in this 1898 Bavarian Tudor-style building are its wood-beam ceilings, graceful arches, and antique beds—along with 20 stained-glass windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The vast Spofford Suite, the original master bedroom of the estate, has windows on three sides, a king-size four-poster bed, and a cheery wood-burning fireplace; some rooms have whirlpool tubs.

On Swiftcurrent Lake in the park's northeastern section, this is the most isolated of the grand hotels, and—especially if you are able to book a lake-view balcony room—among the most scenic. The rooms, partially renovated in recent years, are small and sparsely decorated, but the location and views are unbeatable. On chilly mornings, guests gather around the lobby's large fireplace. There are several wonderful hikes in this area, including ranger-guided ones to Grinnell Glacier and Iceberg Lake. You can combine the hikes with a scenic boat tour to substantially decrease the hiking distance.

For a taste of Southern history, spend a night at this country inn dating to 1850. Once a plantation house, it's on 56 acres 6 miles north of Lexington. Individually decorated rooms have period antiques and modern amenities; most have gas log fireplaces as well. On the property miles of scenic walking trails and a fishing pond. Several marquee names have slept here, from Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Gere to Bill Clinton and Lady Bird Johnson.

Chicago area native Catherine L. Simon runs her stately, historic bed and breakfast near downtown Saugatuck with the greatest of care. Expect prompt and doting service and little extras like fresh-baked goodies available in the evening, local jams for muffins, or wine glasses and an opener for that bottle of wine you purchased at Fenn Valley Vineyards. Furnished with carefully chosen period pieces—like four-poster wood beds—the Greek-Revival style building, built in the 1860s, features a sunny glass-enclosed porch for breakfast. Sit by the wood-burning fireplace in the main lounge or cozy up to your own in one of the larger rooms. In the summer, a small pool is open on the deck.

Popular with anglers and rafters, this lodge offers two types of accommodations: standard rooms in the original lodge building and two-bedroom apartments in a newer building. You can play the 1920s piano or sit on the porch swing of the native-rock lodge and look out on Vermilion Cliffs and the desert. Zane Grey and Gary Cooper are among well-known past guests.

At this 12-story, beachfront class act, one of the island's first condo-style hotels, all the well-equipped one- and two-bedroom suites face the water and look down onto the crescent-shaped pool. Bathrooms have marble floors, walls, and vanities, plus separate tubs and showers. Full kitchens have high-end GE appliances. The Sale e Pepe restaurant wins raves for its Southern Italian cuisine and luxe dining room, which spills out onto a beachfront terrace. Don't miss the ringing of the bell celebration at sunset, a tradition you won't soon forget.

This tropical getaway, inspired by the lyrics of Jimmy Buffett, gives you the relaxed, fun Margaritaville experience with the amenities of a top-notch hotel. Directly on the Gulf, the hotel offers both Gulf and bay views from oversized guest rooms.

Just across from the protected waters of the marina and a short jaunt to Venice, this hotel has across-the-board appeal for families, business travelers, couples, and more. Families like the heated pool and hot tub and proximity to the Venice boardwalk, while business types appreciate the three floors of meeting space. While it's a chain hotel, this Marriott still strives for unique touches. Sinder, the hotel's popular indoor-outdoor restaurant and lounge, hosts frequent themed events like taco nights or Sunday Fundays. Sleek rooms have a mix of contemporary furniture and pillow-top mattresses. Sliding glass doors lead to balconies; open them for salty sea breezes. Enjoy electronic bike use to the nearby beach. Ask for upper-floor rooms facing the marina for the best views.

The Maritime's white-ceramic tower, the former HQ for the National Maritime Union, was the first luxury hotel to be opened in the Chelsea gallery district, and the property still feels a bit nautical, with small rooms that resemble modern ship cabins. Burnished teak paneling, sea-blue drapes and bed accents, and 5-foot \"portholes\" that face the Hudson River skyline all add to the vibe.

On a slight bluff across from Skansie Brothers Park and the harbor, this intimate property has individually decorated and themed rooms with unfussy, contemporary furnishings and gas fireplaces, and nearly every one overlooks the water; several have decks. Rooms are named for historic boats—The Genius, The Victory, The Skansonia, and so on. Units along the back of the hill afford privacy and quiet; street-side rooms have the better views.

Behind a cheery 1910 Beaux-Arts facade and with smartly designed public spaces, the Marker delivers a comfortable experience amid the theater district hubbub, plus one of the area's better restaurant/bars with the Italian-themed Tratto. Some guests find standard rooms too small, but they're cleverly laid out. The hotel's amenity fee includes morning coffee and tea and late-afternoon wine, plus access to a 24-hour fitness center.

Built in 1900 and once home to Jack Kerouac, this stylish boutique property has a residential feel, including a comfortable lobby—with a coffee bar, tufted couches, and shelves lined with books—that attracts guests and locals looking for a quiet place to work. Rooms are tight on space, without extras like work desks, but are elegant, with decadent throw blankets, intricate crown molding, and big wall-mounted flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms are equally small but attractive. There's room to spread out in the lobby, bar, and Margaux, a bistro with a bright solarium in the back.

Fans of historic boutique hotels will love this reasonably priced 1918 brick property at the foot of Queen Anne Hill. Formerly an apartment building, the MarQueen has spacious guest rooms, all with kitchens/kitchenettes and seating areas. Patrons of the opera, ballet, and theater will enjoy being just blocks from Seattle Center and Belltown. On-site spa and salon services offer a relaxing break for worn-out guests, while the speakeasy-themed Tin Lizzie Lounge downstairs is a great spot to meet fellow travelers. Note that while the historic building gives the place character, it also means it's not sealed off from street noise and that some of the rooms show their age.

The city's tallest hotel and one of a handful directly on the Inner Harbor, this 32-story Marriott has a neoclassical interior that uses multihued marble, rich jewel-toned walls, and photographs of Baltimore architectural landmarks. Although it's at the eastern end of the Inner Harbor, all downtown attractions are within walking distance. Most rooms offer unobstructed views of the city and harbor; ask for one that faces west toward downtown for a splendid panorama of the waterfront and skyscrapers.

On the site of a vast 1860s complex of warehouses, factories, mills, and a Confederate arsenal, this hotel is a key component of the Columbus Convention and Trade Center just across the street. The rooms and public areas are modern—the lobby has huge skylights that allow natural light to pour in onto the marble floors and the original brickwork of its cotton-mill origins. Rooms are simple but tasteful, and many overlook the Riverwalk Park. With a terrific location between Broadway's Victorian district and the Riverwalk, and a Houlihan's restaurant, the Marriott was a key-player of the city's downtown revival and still a great choice.

With a 77-slip marina, a full water-sports program, a golf course, two pools, tons of tennis courts, and children's activities, this self-contained resort is excellent for families, most of whom prefer to stay in the tower directly on the ocean. Nevertheless, the main building on the Intracoastal Waterway (or Indian River, as it is called here) has a lovely, spacious pool courtyard and shuttle transport to the beach. The rooms have quality fixtures like granite vanities, plush bedding, and soothing beach-accented decor. Wet bars are in all guest rooms, and the rooms in the beachside Sandpiper building have kitchenettes. The staff here are genuinely friendly and interested in making you feel at home—so much so that they'll organize children's activities even if yours are the only kids on the property. At the resort's golf-centric Ocean Club, you'll find 18 holes, a warm-up aqua range, and a putting green for members and hotel guests only. The only thing this hotel doesn't have is a wide range of eating options (there's an outdoor café at each pool, and there's just one indoor sit-down restaurant), but it gives you more of an excuse to try the great local cuisine.

The glassed-in parlor and many guest rooms at this 1899 Mediterranean-style villa have stunning ocean views. Thoughtful details such as robes and rocking chairs create an ambience of luxury and comfort. The inn is furnished with exquisite antiques, and the owner's collection of classic race cars is on display in the patio area. Lavish breakfasts—and winemaker dinners of up to 12 courses—are served on lace-clad tables set with china, crystal, and silver.

Colorful and funky rooms, with argyle-print chairs and outlines of chandeliers painted on the walls, are the choice for visitors frequenting the Seattle Center for opera or the ballet. The tiled pineapple on the floor of the lively, open lobby is a symbol of hospitality—don't miss the free pineapple-shaped treats and coffee served every afternoon. Among the room amenities are Keurig coffee machines and television and music streaming.

An architectural rarity in the South, this Italianate Victorian mansion was built in 1859 by a grandnephew of James Madison, and generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee were early guests. Now Mayhurst is a cozy and comfortable B&B surrounded by 37 acres of woods with hiking trails. Its rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, marble fireplaces, and antique furnishings; some have whirlpool baths. Included with the room rate is a sumptuous three-course breakfast, evening wine and cheese, and soft drinks and snacks.