411 Best Hotels in New York, USA

The sprawling, family-owned resort has a private beach and a marina. Rooms have views of the lake, the pool, or the courtyard; some have private balconies or patios. Suites have sitting areas with sleeper sofas. Traditional dark-wood furniture is used throughout. The main dining room ($$–$$$) serves mostly Continental fare: steak au poivre, lobster ravioli, roast rack of lamb, scampi, and chateaubriand. From mid-May through October, the Terrace Room hosts dinner theater.

This lovely Georgian revival–style brick hotel sits amid the 2,200 acres of Saratoga Spa State Park. Tall windows look out onto front and rear gardens, and the interior is decorated in a gracious, traditional style. The Sunday brunch buffet of hot and cold entrées is a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

Elegant, cozy, and charming, this boutique accommodation from Thompson Hotels (a Hyatt affiliate) offers good value and chic design, including beds with custom leather headboards and Sferra linens. The rooms are small, but come with custom-made wooden desks and tables. The Gold Street location, though slightly hard to find, is a short walk from downtown's central banks and businesses as well as a few blocks from The Seaport and City Hall.

Within Letchworth State Park, this country inn overlooks the park's tallest waterfall. Park founder William Pryor Letchworth had used the mansion as a retreat; it became an inn in 1914. Interiors are Victorian in style. Smaller standard rooms have one double or two twin beds, but the suites, with queen beds, are spacious. The Cherry Suite has a whirlpool tub, a private porch, and chevron-patterned hardwood floors. Also available are contemporary lodge rooms and three houses.

A former fur trapper's trading post–turned–Dutch mansion provides a swish backdrop for a room and a meal on the Mohawk River. Standard rooms have two queen beds; junior suites have a king-size sleigh bed, a desk, and a seating area. The decor throughout is a harmonious blend of patterned fabrics and wallpapers in elegant palettes. Candlelit tables set with fine china and table linens fill the pre-colonial dining room, which has two decorative fireplaces and hand-hewn beams. A cavelike, stone-walled pub downstairs offers lighter fare.

The former Best Western Golden Arrow is under new management, and sits right in the heart of Lake Placid, on Main Street. Beautiful views of Mirror Lake are available from the lobby and some rooms, which have balconies. But what really sets the property apart is the owners' decision to go as green as possible. Expect recycled and ecofriendly gifts to greet you on arrival (perhaps a pine-tree seed in a terra-cotta pot filled with earth, for example). Have a seat at Charlie's, the resort restaurant, for a view of the green roof. The roof, finished in summer 2008, is an insulating blanket of plants grown on a flat section of the property's roof. Some of the herbs grown there might go into dishes served at Charlie's. Kids' programs are available.

A sleek, modern boutique hotel, the Gotham has a lot going for it, from good-size rooms to nice amenities, but a clincher is that every room has outdoor space. There are no more than four rooms per floor, allowing families and larger parties to take over entire floors if desired. Upper floors have only two rooms per floor, both with terrific east- and westward views. Rooms are large—around 300 square feet—and include king-size beds, and gorgeous tiled bathrooms with rain showerheads and Molton Brown bath amenities. The location's past was a family-owned bookstore, so you'll come across some vintage books and its aptly named steak-house restaurant, The Reading Room. Parking is with an affiliated garage across the street. 

Pass through the center of Red Hook and you can't help but notice this stately blue Victorian mansion. The owners are antiques collectors, so the house has the feel of a museum, especially in the common rooms. All but one of the bedrooms are corner rooms.

Conveniently located near Grand Central, this large, historic hotel (originally built as the Commodore in 1919) is now a sleek and modern central hub with a fresh-looking lobby that has low-slung leather furniture and two towering Jaume Plensa sculptures. Rooms are a minimum of 250 square feet, with pops of color on the walls, tons of electrical outlets, and an efficient settee-table setup that's ideal for an in-room drink or a few hours of work. The convenient 24-hour Market on the ground floor has coffee, snacks, hot meals, liquor, and fresh fruit. New York Central restaurant has a slick design and a market-driven, seasonal menu. A bar overlooking 42nd Street attracts a large after-work crowd for beer and sports on a row of flat-screen TVs.

Within walking distance of the beach and the village, this large Victorian house right off Main Street may not be luxurious, but it's a convenient option if you're traveling without a car. If you're looking for a clean place to rest your head after a day at the beach, this is a nice, affordable choice, and families will appreciate the babysitting and childcare services. Breakfast is served in a main dining area, and use of outdoor grills and the Ping-Pong table is encouraged. The hotel is affiliated with the Eastside Tennis Academy, and packages are available.

The lodging is in a suburban spot 3 miles from downtown. Motel rooms are simple, with no-frills furnishings. Rooms in the separate lodge building have wood-covered walls and vaulted ceilings. A cottage and a carriage house contain several rooms and suites. Picnic tables and Adirondack chairs, sprawled across the lawn, offer a respite after hikes at Buttermilk Falls State Park, 1 mi away.

This hotel more than ably demonstrates how an inspired touch can really transform a 1950s motel into a sleek, minimalist lodging—and it's not just down to the cool, modern color scheme. Rooms are spacious, with light-wood platform beds, graphic rugs, and metal accents, and bathrooms are large and right up to date. a block from the waterfront. Cuvee is the on-site farm-to-table restaurant and bar, open in high season for dinner Thursday–Sunday and brunch Friday–Sunday. There's an outdoor pool.

A step up from the Comfort Inn across the street, this fairly new hotel (built in 2006), has a large breakfast and lobby area and updated rooms in neutrals with cherrywood headboards, the Hampton's signature striped wallpaper, and large bathrooms with granite countertops, slate floors, and some Jacuzzi tubs. Some have views of trees and a cemetery. The hotel is entirely no-smoking.

Like many others in its chain, this Hampton Inn offers clean, modern and spacious rooms and breakfast until 10 am. You can enjoy it with a free newspaper.

Stay at this five-story hotel in a 1920 building just off Chippewa Street for spacious, updated rooms and suites with views up busy Delaware Avenue. Rooms have traditional decor with fluffy white duvets; some have whirlpool tubs (some in the bedroom rather than the bathroom) or gas fireplaces.

Some rooms have views of the harbor at this hotel with a range of accommodations. In addition to standard rooms there are larger minisuites, with roll-away beds, that can sleep up to five people. Minisuites have refrigerators, microwaves, and in-room hot tubs.

Attracting a high-end clientele, including city dwellers seeking a luxury North Fork getaway, most rooms at this three-story, gray-and-white inn have balconies, some with harbor views. All rooms have high-speed Internet access and flat-screen TVs. Interiors are contemporary and bright, with cherrywood furniture, leather armchairs, and light-color carpeting. Down comforters and Frette linens outfit the beds. For a really big splurge, you might consider the Terrace Suite; at 800 square feet, it's double the size of the regular rooms, and it has a 1,000-square-foot deck.

This two-story motel is steps from the dunes and the beach, just across the two-lane Old Montauk Highway. The bright, clean, one- and two-room suites have full kitchens and ocean views. You can walk the seaside path to town and restaurants or splash around in the heated pool.

Near Gosman's Dock and Montauk Harbor, this boutique hotel brings a little bit of chic to Montauk without going over the top. Rooms are bright and airy, with comfortable beds, white bed linens, and splashes of color from Aztec-style rugs. You can lounge around the outdoor pool by day and cozy up to the firepit at night. Several apartment-style efficiencies with kitchenettes can accommodate the entire family. Custom Sole' cruiser bikes provide perfect transportation to nearby beaches.

This camp, dating from 1880, is where you check in if you want to check out for a while. Forget phones, computers, and TVs—the emphasis here is on the great outdoors, and the rustic accommodations reflect that. Early-morning views from this property are of mist-covered Blue Mountain Lake and surrounding Adirondack Mountains. You might take a kayak or canoe out on the lake, hit some balls on the tennis court, try to hook a fish, or snuggle up with a book in a cozy nook. Kids will love the Ping-Pong tables, pool table, and beach access.

This clapboard inn overlooking Town Pond surrounds you with comfort and charm, and guests here are treated like family. Less than ¼ mile from the beach, the inn is also within walking distance of shops, a movie theater, and restaurants. The complimentary breakfast includes items like waffles, frittata, eggs any style, smoked salmon, and homemade sausage. Guests can relax at the cozy on-site bar.

The 7-acre waterfront property that once was the Hilton has now become the newly renovated High Peaks. The property has accommodations in two buildings, one on Main Street in the center of town and another on the water. The entire property has been redone, so everything is new, including the lobby, the rooms, and three new restaurants—the casual Dancing Bears; the fine-dining venue Reflections; and PRs, a warm, elegant bar with a double fireplace. The breakfast plan, which includes a morning nosh at the Dancing Bears, costs extra. Rooms throughout the updated property are attractive, with tasteful wooden furniture and furnishings. Rooms in waterfront buildings have either a balcony or a patio for views of the lake. Complimentary rowboats and paddleboats are offered to guests for use at the resort's access to Mirror Lake.

This artsy luxury hotel just south of Central Park once welcomed artists like Marc Chagall and Georgia O'Keeffe, and it still has an emphasis on contemporary art. As a contemporary Hilton property, today's guest rooms are modern and spacious, done in cool gray tones with rainfall showers and in-room espresso machines. Instead of a concierge, there's an attaché desk, where experts in fashion, art, theater, and dining provide tailored advice and make reservations. While many hotels bury their fitness centers in the basement, the Quin's is on the second floor, overlooking the bustle of 57th Street through the bright two-story lobby.

The large 1848 colonial-revival house sits on 300 private acres of woods and meadows across the street from Skaneateles Lake. Interiors are plush but not fussy, with a leather sofa, silk and velvet drapes, Oriental rugs, and a hallway mural. Two bedrooms have fireplaces; most have four-poster beds. Lake views are especially nice from the front and side porches.

The decor is contemporary and spaces updated at this better-than-average, two-story Holiday Inn a half mile from the Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel. Rooms have desks and high-speed Internet access; some suites have dining areas, kitchenettes, and whirlpool tubs. There's round-the-clock shuttle service to casino (provided by casino).

The large, six-story riverfront hotel is adjacent to a golf course and a marina. All rooms have balconies or patios, which are larger in the east-facing river-view rooms. All rooms will be completely renovated, with new furnishings and flat-screen TVs, by the end of 2009. The hotel has a pubby lounge, an arcade room, massage treatments, and a larger-than-average fitness room. Grand Lady cruises leave from the hotel's back door.

The two-story hotel is set back 200 feet from the road, on a hill. Rooms, graced with wood furniture and soft earth-tone colors, are attractive and spacious. High-speed Internet access is available. Kids will love the kiddie pool, game room with oversize chessboard, indoor pool, and miniature golf course. Adults might dig the shuffleboard setup and basketball courts.

With a design aesthetic and food offerings inspired by the neighborhood's multifaceted heritage, this thoroughly modern hotel from Hyatt's Joie de Vivre group takes full advantage of its downtown location. Street-art-style paintings; a year-round rooftop bar (the Crown); and a permanent exhibition curated by the nearby Museum of Chinese in America make this a standout in an area of town that tends to lack in quality accommodations.