1951 Best Hotels in USA

Originally built for banker Louis A. Graves, this beautiful Victorian is a cozy and intimate B&B that looks like a regular house from the outside. Grab a book from the library and read while relaxing on the couch by the fireplace in the winter, or enjoy the summer breeze on the porch with a nice cup of coffee in the morning. The bedrooms are filled with classic, old-school charm with vintage pieces and colorful wallpaper giving each room unique character.

Not all motels have to be about 1950s kitsch, and rooms in this one have chunky, country-style furniture and accessories that work well with highly polished wood floors, floral drapes, crisp white window sheers, and lacy white bed linens. Formerly known as the Enclave Inn, this one-story motel and its tree-filled grounds are just minutes from the Hampton Jitney bus stop and a few miles from area beaches.

Within walking distance of the Country Club Plaza and the Nelson-Atkins Museum, this urban inn has rooms named for and decorated in honor of some of the big names of local history, such as William Rockhill Nelson and Satchel Paige, and also has a separate carriage house suite. Guest room features can include a two-person Jacuzzi, private deck/balcony, and fireplace. The property is well known for its Saturday morning outdoor breakfast barbeques.

Operated by the same company as the ultra-high-end Santa Maria Suites, this motel-style property is a good-value option in pricey Key West. Though some rooms have been updated with dark-wood furnishings, others still have older, white-wicker pieces. All, however, have 32-inch flat-screen TVs, and those with kitchenettes are spacious, with high ceilings and dining-sitting areas. Key West's famous South Beach and the Southernmost Point are just a few minutes' walk, and you'll find three pools on-site to keep you cool. If you're a light sleeper, the roosters may be a bother, but that's just part of Key West's charms. A modest resort fee gets you a simple breakfast and a voucher for a beach chair and umbrella at nearby South Beach.

On 42 rolling acres right by the Thames River and a stone's throw from Mohegan Sun, this Georgian-style inn is best known for its spa, which offers the full range of skin-care regimens, body treatments, and fitness classes. Guest accommodations are large with elegantly refined furnishings; bathrooms include plush robes and spa amenities. Ascot's is on-site for pub drinks and fare, and a comfortable atmosphere.

Rooms at this Victorian hotel are individually decorated and named for great authors. The decor varies considerably from room to room. The Agatha Christie room is decked out with fern-print wallpaper that has a sort of psychedelic effect; the Isabel Allende room has cactus murals on the walls and a desert-hue theme. Some rooms are small and cramped, whereas others are quite capacious. Many have hand-painted murals or faux finishes on the walls or ceilings. Gardens surround the inn, which stays open all year. During the Chautauqua Institution season, the minimum required stay is a week.

At the heart of the St. Marys historic district, this pink, three-story Victorian inn, built in 1872, is a perfect base for touring the town and Cumberland Island. Rooms have expansive shared balconies that overlook the main street of the village. Decor is Victorian-floral cozy, with skirted four-poster beds (in some rooms) and Oriental rugs covering the hardwood floors; some rooms have antique claw-foot bathtubs. The inn is recently under new ownership and some changes and renovations are underway.

This boutique hotel on Cannery Row has beach access and a rooftop garden that overlooks the water. Designed in traditional American style, the spacious rooms (completely renovated in 2023) have sitting areas, hardwood floors, fireplaces, and down comforters. Oceanside rooms have window seats, and some rooms have balconies above Cannery Row. An afternoon wine-and-cheese hour takes place in the light-filled lobby, which has a soaring four-story ceiling.

This sprawling five-story hotel, a San Fernando Valley landmark just a short jaunt over the Hollywood Hills, has an updated contemporary look highlighted by the Olympic-size pool and summer patio with an outdoor bar. Slip into sleek booths in the coffee shop for a great affordable breakfast. The adjacent event center is famed for its Hollywood connections.

The rooms in this large, restored 1832 Colonial-style home and an attached carriage house are beautifully furnished with antiques. Some rooms have fireplaces and Jacuzzis; one has a small balcony overlooking the gardens that are tucked behind the inn. Just across the road, you can sink your toes into the sand on Lincolnville Beach. Or simply settle into the rockers on the front porch and watch the moon going down over the bay.

Among the newish properties in the West End, this conveniently located all-suite hotel with an indoor pool and hot tub has a lot going for it. Rooms are 25% larger than most hotel rooms, and a partial wall divides the sleeping area from the sitting area, where a sofa, armchair, and desk provide a good work-and-relaxation space. A nook houses a compact sink, refrigerator, microwave, and cabinets. 

Logan's most upscale hotel offers bright and modern all-suite accommodations that are nicely outfitted for families and for longer stays, each with separate sitting areas, refrigerators and microwaves, high-end pull-out sleeper sofas, and flat-screen TVs. The top units have gas fireplaces and whirlpool tubs, too. Other amenities include an indoor pool and fitness room, and a 24-hour self-serve market stocked with snacks and light groceries. Business travelers have convenient access to the connected Riverwoods Conference Center as well as business services and quiet meeting areas within the hotel.

The red clapboard inn, built in 1851, is across the road from Owasco Lake. Guest rooms all have wood floors and Victorian antiques; some have claw-foot tubs. According to local legend, Harriet Tubman hid runaway slaves in the woods behind the inn. Guests may use the inn's dock. The restaurant, open for dinner Thursday through Saturday and brunch on Sunday, serves Continental and American fare. A five-bedroom guesthouse is also available.

Since 1892, this refined seaside resort has welcomed guests, including members of the Kennedy family, to its own sea-lapped point at the eastern side of the outer harbor. All of the rooms and suites—housed in the main inn, lodges, cottages, and town houses—are decorated in a serene coastal style. Many have excellent ocean views and balconies or porches; some have gas fireplaces. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the casual Salty Stag, which also has a bar and a deck. The more elegant, dinner-only Whiteclover has lovely water and sunset views. Activities include tennis, kayaking, paddleboarding, yoga, fishing from the dock, shuffleboard, table tennis, arcade games, and hiking trails amid 40 acres of old-growth forest. One swimming pool juts out over the water; another sits at the edge of the woods. A spa is also set amid trees. Other perks include complimentary bicycles and 45-minute harbor tours aboard the inn's motor launch.

On a wonderfully quiet road, this inn, built in 1918, has guest rooms that combine modern comforts and antique fixtures. Owners Gay and Roger Squire are rightly proud of their three-course breakfasts, served in a richly paneled dining room.

This late-18th-century inn in the Historic District, a guesthouse since 1845, offers main-house rooms and suites, a room in the former carriage house, and a five-room cottage—all with a serene vibe and a delicious Southern breakfast buffet included. If the walls of the oldest inn in the Oldest City could talk, they would tell tales of buried doubloons and Confederate spies. Furnishings are a mix of antiques and just plain old; the food is fresh and well prepared (there's a chef on property). A stay includes thoughtful extras like free admission to the Anastasia Athletic Club; use of bicycles; complimentary admission to the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum; and an evening social with enough snacks, desserts, and house-blend coffees, teas, and hot chocolates to pass for dinner.

You can't be any closer to the St. George Street bustle than this inn nestled in the City Gate Plaza. A continental breakfast of assorted cheeses, fresh-baked breads, and pastries is included. For a splurge, book a Castillo Suite—a romantic two-story suite with a spiral staircase and wraparound balcony with views of Castillo de San Marcos, Matanzas Bay, and St. George Street.

This sophisticated and chic boutique hotel offers the ideal accommodations for business and leisure travelers, with ample-sized studios and suites. The location is an intersection of Dupont Circle, West End, and Georgetown, making all three neighborhoods easily accessible by foot or public transportation. Showcasing flavors from the Mediterranean, St. Greg Kitchen & Bar serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch. The stunning bar area is a great place to enjoy an end-of-day refreshment and a selection of small plates, pasta, flatbreads, and salads.

Business travelers in particular appreciate the 16-floor hotel's up-to-date facilities and convenience to trains and airport shuttles. Furnishings are modern and comfortable, and there's a full-service spa, a well-appointed fitness center, and an indoor-outdoor pool.

Built in 1955 as the headquarters of Standard Oil, the building was completely revamped under the sharp eye of owner André Balazs to become a sleek, cutting-edge hotel with spacious guest rooms. The indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge in a stunning setting has a happening social scene, but be prepared for some attitude at the door. For a less exclusive scene, the Garden Bar on the roof has games and great beer. The Paddle Room lounge is a haven for people-watching.

In the low-rise East Village, this giant, 21-story glass-and-steel building soars above everything around, providing gorgeous views through floor-to-ceiling windows. The vibe is chic but casual, and there are several easygoing dining options on-site. There's no gym in the hotel, but access to Crunch Bowery is provided.

Railroad baron Leland Stanford's mansion once stood at the top-tier location where the Stanford Court is today, and the warm tones and handsome leather chairs are reminiscent of a grander time. Reopened in 2022 after nearly two years of renovation, the hotel marries classic style with modern accessories and attention to technological detail, from the strength of the Wi-Fi signal to the laptops, iPads, and Bluetooth speakers available on loan. Interior rooms are smaller and quieter, while larger exterior rooms provide splendid views but come with a bit of cable-car din (earplugs available). The lobby and hallways display a striking collection of local art, including the beloved sculpture of penguins by Beniamino "Benny" Bufano outside the lobby entrance. Blackout shades, a modern fitness center with Pelotons, day use of regular and e-bikes, and the Mixing Room bar and lounge are among the amenities.

A charming bastion of historic hospitality sits just off UT campus, amid the otherwise lackluster surroundings of student apartments and frat houses. The B&B operates two guesthouses on neighboring lots, but we recommend the original two-story Victorian house with wraparound porches. All rooms, furnished with antiques and vintage elements, have the same amenities and private bathrooms; most with tubs. Breakfasts, served either buffet-style or made-to-order, are delicious and the staff doubles as a knowledge resource for restaurant recommendations or directions to nearby attractions, like Pease Park or the Capitol. Downtown is a short drive away.

The guest rooms in this all-suites hotel are infused with modern comfort and are especially geared toward longer stays, each with a good-size, fully stocked kitchen, desk, and pull-out couch. The spacious lounge has tons of light and high ceilings, and it's right next to the area where a hot, complimentary breakfast is served every morning. The pool and hot tub area is large and sparkling clean, as is the workout room. There are four tiers of rates, with nightly prices going down the longer you stay.

This small property, part of a small brand of hotels, has a fresh, contemporary style with lots and lots of yellow accents along with complimentary Wi-Fi, plush pillow-top beds, and marble bathrooms with walk-in glass showers. The on-site gastropub, the Trophy Room, serves dinner daily and brunch on the weekends. In the afternoon, the hotel puts out pineapple-infused water, coffee, and sweet treats. The inn sits on one of the South End's prettiest streets, and is easy walking distance from shops, restaurants, and Back Bay T Station. As far as South End lodging goes, this may be your best hotel bet, despite slightly cramped quarters. Try to snag a sun-lighted corner room with a number ending in 08.

This historic property, built in 1895 by D.H. Burnham & Co. as one of the first skyscrapers, retains ornate original details including Carrara marble and wrought-iron-trimmed elevators. Rooms have historic charm (read: they're on the small side) but are comfortable, especially for the business traveler. There's also a great restaurant, Atwood, on-site that serves modern American food.

Locally known as the “Stephen F.,” this 1924 hotel relies on its landmark location on Congress Avenue, next door to the equally historic Paramount Theatre, to maintain its downtown appeal. But the "four star" standards of its glory days have reportedly been left in the past. Rooms are bland and in strong need of updating. It's still convenient for downtown theatergoers, and the hotel bar's popular terrace overlooks Congress Avenue and the Capitol.