For a good dose of Southern warmth and charm, look no further than Magnolia Creek Lodge in Alabama's southeastern corner. Common areas are comfy – think slouchy leather couches, stone fireplaces and dark wood – and the rooms range from deluxe king suites to simple single cabins. The best place to be at sunset is sat on a rocking chair on the porch.
You'll experience some of Alaska's most epic landscapes here, as this family-run property sits right on the boundary of Denali National Park. Expect rustic comfort, with lots of wood and simple but cosy rooms offering killer views of the surrounding wilderness. You can dine at the laid-back food-truck court and fill up on supplies for your adventures at the general store.
Cast out in the Sonoran Desert, in the scrub-covered Bradshaw Mountains, Castle Hot Springs Resort dates back to 1896 and was built to take advantage of the region's natural springs. It's hosted a who's-who of America's elite, including President Theodore Roosevelt – but was ultimately closed due to a series of fires. In recent years, though, it's been returned to its former glory, with rustic-chic bungalows and cabins scattered about the grounds, alfresco spa treatments and a farm-focused restaurant offering a five-course tasting menu.
This small, boutique property has just nine suites and it does a fabulous job of marrying the historic and the modern. It dates right back to 1892, making it the oldest building on Bathhouse Row (a string of 19th-century bathhouses), and hot-spring waters are still fed right into the hotel. There's also a top-notch restaurant that brings the outdoors in with a living wall and a giant skylight.
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You'll feel as though you've been whisked off to St Tropez at this swish Palm Springs hotel. It's inspired by the French Riviera in the 1960s and the whole place oozes retro glamour, with its striped loungers, airy coastal-themed rooms and serene gardens dotted with bistro tables. Hang out poolside, drinking in views of palms and the San Jacinto Mountains, before striking out to explore the desert city of Palm Springs.
An AAA Four Diamond hotel, The Lodge at Flying Horse is an exercise in laid-back luxury. At first glance, it looks like a Tuscan villa, with the rugged Rocky Mountains rising in the background. And when it comes to swish amenities, it doesn't skimp either. There are two 18-hole golf courses, multiple swimming pools and a modern spa, plus rooms with stirring views (of the golf course or the peaks).
You'll find yourself moments from the shore at this friendly, family-owned inn in Fairfield, which sits right on the Long Island Sound. Just 14 rooms fill the charming property, some with balconies offering sweeping coastal views – there are also little living areas and kitchenettes, so you can be totally self-sufficient. Best of all, you're within a few hours of the bright lights and big-city buzz of New York, in case you fancy a change of pace.
Designated a Historic Hotel of America, this fine property is a stone's throw from Downton Wilmington – though you'll likely struggle to tear yourself away. The hotel is tucked within a string of faithfully resorted 1799 buildings, with rooms decked out in period furniture, and it's set within beautiful, flower-filled grounds. Formerly a blacksmith shop, the on-site restaurant, Krazy Kat's serves a modern, seafood-heavy menu that's whipped up from local produce.
Located right on famous Ocean Drive, this South Beach hotel is effortlessly chic. It's got a distinctly Southern feel about it, with an elegant porch and columned entryway, and it stands out among its Art Deco neighbours. But it's not all about aesthetics. Having been in business since 1942, the Betsy knows a thing or two about hospitality: expect attentive service, plush rooms (some with ocean views) and lovely additions like a guest library and the chance to try sunrise yoga.
Imagine a classic Southern hotel, and you might dream up something like this one. This historic mansion on Savannah's pretty, Spanish-moss-hung Abercorn Street dates back to 1873 and was converted into a hotel in the 1990s. Just 17 rooms fill the property, each one faithful to the hotel's historic character – think boldly patterned wallpaper and antique four-poster beds. Check out the range of packages which combine a stay at the hotel with historic and foodie activities around town.
This idyll on the island of Maui puts you right on the beach. The little resort is quintessentially Hawaiian with a pool area studded with swaying palms, sweeping ocean views and the chance to try activities like surfing. Its Beachfront Studios, just moments from the sand, are the top-drawer rooms, and you can also pass the time with shuffleboard and barbecues (there are poolside grills), or curl up in the library if the heavens open.
Modern by name and modern by nature, this hip Boise hotel is sleek and stylish, with an ultra minimalist design lifted with splashes of colour and cool black and white photos. Rooms are fuss-free, with pillowy beds, and there's a contemporary bar and restaurant serving classic cocktails plus a changing, seasonal food menu with global influences. You'll be right in Boise's cool, up-and-coming Linen District, with its popular gallery and eating spots.
It might have "bed and breakfast" in the name, but this sleek property in the Windy City seems much more like a boutique hotel. The common areas are chic and thoughtfully designed, and the rooms follow suit with funky art, stand-alone tubs and plush beds. It's also located in Chicago's West Loop, a super cool area home to lively night spots, hip restaurants and independent stores.
A stylish boutique hotel in Martinsville (a 30-minute drive from busy Bloomington), Brickhouse Loft is comfortable and design-forward, yet fuss-free. The rooms are mostly single suites, with a little living area, marble-clad bathrooms and amenities like a smart TV. Check-in is contactless and you'll be an easy hop from Main Street, with its independent shops and restaurants.
A hotel with a whole lot of history, Black Hawk is one of the longest continually operating hotels in the country. It dates back to the 19th century and today rooms still exude a period charm (think chintzy patterned couches and wood-framed beds). Still, though, the property has a modern ethos, with a hip on-site café, a cool Prohibition-inspired bar and a pet-friendly policy.
Offering a glorious rural escape a stone's throw from the Missouri border, Cedar Crest Lodge is loved for its 100 acres of gorgeous grounds and its luxurious themed guest rooms. Choose between the French Quarter Room, with its metal accents and satiny bed linens, or the Tuscan Manor Suite, with its dark wood and exposed beams. You'll find many ingredients from the garden on your plate at the on-site restaurant too.
A Greek Revival mansion rising from lush, forested grounds, Ashford Acres Inn is at once mighty impressive and incredibly quaint. Unsurprisingly, it's a popular wedding venue, but regular guests get special treatment too, with suites filled with thoughtful touches (think fireplaces and objets d'art) and the option to order flowers or Champagne. Breakfast is included in the price of your room, so enjoy maple syrup-drenched pancakes and coffee in the morning.
Entering this hotel on NOLA's Charles Street, in the historic French Quarter, feels like stepping into a bygone era. It's owned by passionate collectors Rodney and Frances Smith, whose regular trips to Europe mean that the place is filled with one-of-a-kind antiques and artworks. That goes for the rooms too, which range from comfy queen-bed singles to grand suites. Be sure to feast on their signature homemade buttermilk biscuits for breakfast and swing by Honor Bar for a sundowner.
Maine has a beguiling coastline and this inn has a prime location overlooking West Penobscot Bay. Dining is a highlight here: the hotel is home to AAA Four Diamond restaurant Natalie's, which focuses on modern New England food with plenty of European influences. Beyond the food, there's a luxurious spa, rooms with harbour and bay vistas, and a range of bookable foodie experiences, boat trips and sightseeing tours.
A luxurious home from home in Baltimore, The Ivy Hotel is in one of the city's most sought-after neighbourhoods: Mount Vernon, known for sumptuous 19th-century mansions once owned by the city's wealthy industrialists. The Ivy fills one of those very mansions – a striking red-brick building with conical turrets and a gabled roof. Its interiors are dreamy too, with just 17 rooms and suites kitted out with luxuries such as four-poster beds, period artworks and heated bathroom floors.
A stay at this luxurious, 5-star resort, which dates back to the Roaring Twenties, means you're perfectly placed to explore the sights and sounds of popular Cape Cod. It's lost none of its splendour over the years and it's now also home to a top-rated 18-hole golf course with sweeping views of the bay to boot. Choose between a lavish suite or a cosy cottage, and make use of amenities like poolside cabanas. There's a Children's Center for the little ones too.
Hotel Royal Oak is uber contemporary, doing away with some more traditional services in favour of text message check-ins and Bluetooth keys. You can expect plenty of creature comforts though – a hot breakfast, super speedy Wi-Fi and deals on local attractions. Rooms are chic, with statement pieces like retro stools and busts, and there's usually live music on Saturday nights.
This hotel has a long history. It was established back in 1875 and prides itself on being family-owned the entire time. Bob Dylan grew up not too far from here, and it's said that this is the hotel referenced in his song "Blind Willie McTell". Modern guests will enjoy the stories of times gone by, as well as sumptuous rooms and suites decorated in period styles, plus cocktails at the Scarlet Kitchen & Bar (pictured). Don't miss sweet treats whipped up by pastry chef Amy Zerwas either.
This place tips itself as Jackson's "only designer boutique hotel" and it's filled with rooms featuring bold, decorative headboards, patterned throws and statement cabinets and artworks. You'll get far-reaching views of the Downtown area from the rooftop bar and there's a gym right next door. The restaurant menu is a thoroughly delicious Southern affair – expect shrimp and grits, crab cakes and grilled Mississippi tilapia.
There's a cool, moody vibe throughout the entirety of this design-focused hotel in Kansas City. It's owned by a local couple who poured a lot of love into reshaping the former Art Institute Building into a gorgeous boutique hotel. Continuing the creative theme, the property's collection of fine art is scattered throughout, while there are also pretty gardens to relax in. Rooms are sleek and modern, and range from standard queen rooms to swanky two-bedroom suites.
This lavish property is a level up from a classic hotel, offering a series of lodges and glamping options across 37,000 acres of Montana's wilderness, on a working cattle ranch. It's set out along the Blackfoot River and guests can strap in for all sorts of outdoor adventures, from rafting and climbing to horse-back riding – the Saddle Club (pictured) is the largest private equestrian centre in the state. If you'd prefer to slow the pace, there's a spa (housed in a string of tents), while the on-site 's’moreologists' will help you make the perfect, oozing s'mores.
Opened in 2019, the Kindler Hotel brings a big dose of modernity to Nebraska's historic capital. It tips itself as the first of its kind in the city and is named for Ken Kindler, a local artist who specialised in copper work, and whose creations can be seen in the hotel lobby. There's a sumptuous lounge for artisan cocktails and a top-notch gym. You'll be in easy reach of all the attractions downtown too.
This relaxing retreat makes the most of some of Nevada's rugged countryside. It's just outside one of America's most underrated national parks – Great Basin – a land of stalactite-filled caverns, mountains and epic dark skies. There's plenty to keep you in the resort itself too. Rooms are simple but comfy, and there's an outdoor pool with views of the surrounding, scrub-covered bluffs.
New England is filled with quaint hotels and inns, and this charming spot in Portsmouth is among them. Although the original part of the inn was built back in 1801, the property was carefully renovated in 2017 – so the historic and the modern meet beautifully here. The handful of guest rooms have contemporary comforts like Matouk bed linens and the peaceful gardens are a lovely place to while away a few hours.
"Modern style and historic bones" – that's the sell at this ultra-vogue hotel in New Jersey's Montclair, a small town located a short drive from New York City. The design is impeccable throughout, with carefully selected objets d'art, deep tones and areas of exposed brick. The place was originally a private residence, built back in 1902, but now its 31 distinctive rooms welcome discerning travellers and their pets. The George is dog-friendly and will give your pup the VIP treatment.
This hotel describes itself as "a sanctuary for the cultural traveller" and also claims to be the only Native American-owned hotel in downtown Santa Fe. It's a pretty special place, with sun-baked walls reminiscent of an adobe pueblo, and the chance to experience indigenous art and music throughout. There's also a serene pool area, an indulgent spa and Amaya, a fine restaurant inspired by the traditions of Pueblo and northern New Mexican people.
The Big Apple teems with stellar hotel options, many of which are independently owned and operated – but there's something extra special about The Mark, with its Upper East Side zip code and views over Central Park. This is classic New York City luxury, with Ladurée macarons left by your bedside and on-site shoe-shiners to keep you looking sharp. There are also plenty of amenities for four-legged friends (including a doggy dining menu), and the rooms and suites are every bit as sophisticated as you'd expect (with neutral tones and carefully appointed artworks and trinkets).
You're a stone's throw from buzzy Charlotte's city centre at this historic mansion (built in 1915), but you'll feel as though you're worlds away. It oozes a genteel Southern vibe, with its landscaped grounds, columned, white-washed façade and pretty porch area. That Southern charm extends to the hospitality too. You'll be thoroughly looked after here, as you make the most of the individually decorated rooms, cosy library and 4.5 acres of gardens.
This North Dakota city is on the up, and the resurgence is helped along by cool boutique hotels like this one. Hotel Donaldson originally opened in the 19th century, but fell into disrepair over the years until it was revamped and reopened in the early 2000s. Now it's a cool, artist-led space with bold artworks in rooms and common areas, and a restaurant (temporarily closed) that champions local ingredients.
A true home-from-home, this family-owned inn is as quaint as can be, with gardens bright with perennials and a range of accommodations – there's the option of cosy rooms and suites, or entire on-site houses and apartments. The main inn dates back to the mid-1800s, and the historic character is captured in the design (think patterned rugs and big, chintzy armchairs). Guests rave about the hearty cooked breakfasts too.
The Campbell Hotel is nearly 100 years old, originally opened in 1927. Throughout the years, the property, which sits on historic Route 66, fell into disrepair and underwent extensive renovations before reopening just over a decade ago. Now, it has a contemporary edge with a lively lounge bar and a modern spa, plus rooms filled with black and white photos, four-poster beds and comfy soft furnishings.
It's all about location when it comes to this opulent inn and spa in Oregon's Willamette Valley. You'll find yourself in the heart of the state's wine country, with bucolic views in all directions. The hotel itself is no slump either. Guests can indulge in relaxing treatments at the spa, elevated dining options and, of course, a fabulous selection of local wines. The glittering pool (pictured) is a highlight too.
One of the region's most historic hotels, Morris House dates right back to 1787, when it was a private residence for multiple generations of the Morris family. Now, it's an elegant boutique hotel within kissing distance of some of Philly's best historic attractions – like the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall. Rooms run the gamut from standard digs to giant suites. There's a 24-hour concierge service too.
Few New England hotels can rival this one when it comes to location: The Chanler looks over the Atlantic from a bluff on Newport's famous Cliff Walk, a route studded with sumptuous Gilded Age mansions. The hotel is small but perfectly formed, with 20 neat rooms tucked away inside a 19th-century mansion – each room is designed to evoke a particular era, from dark wood and a curtained bed in the English Tudor suite to intricate moulding and gilded details in the Renaissance chamber.
If you're looking for an escape in South Dakota's Black Hills, the gateway city of Sturgis might be it – and the down-to-earth Hotel Sturgis is an ideal base. You'll be right on Main Street and each of the 22 rooms have thoughtful amenities like a microwave. Some also have balconies looking over the city. The building itself actually dates back to 1892 and was originally known as Benevolent Hall.
The city of Charleston is as charming as they come and this historic inn/boutique hotel fits in perfectly. It's oh-so-sophisticated with an adults-only policy and a series of plush, mid-century-modern rooms fitted into a three-storey house thought to date back to the 1860s. For foodies, the free European-style breakfast, daily wine and cheese pairings and nightly chocolate truffles are an extra bonus too.
Music City has plenty of first-rate lodgings, but this one in cool East Nashville is particularly unique. It's housed in a converted church that's over a century old, all stained glass and soaring ceilings. The design-led space has eye-popping splashes of colour throughout. The hotel is tech-forward too: there's no concierge or check-in staff – instead guests access their room with a special code. Best of all, a portion of your reservation fee will go to a local homeless shelter.
As cool and quirky as the Texan capital itself, Heywood Hotel is situated in up-and-coming East Austin, with its cult restaurants, boutiques and bars. You'll be presented with locally brewed craft beer upon check-in, and you'll bed down in a room (there are only seven) with jazzy local artworks and bold pops of colour. The courtyard is a lovely place to relax on an evening too.
As its name suggests, this Park City bolthole began life as a schoolhouse – the 1889 building has since been lovingly restored and filled with a sophisticated boutique hotel. There's a wonderful mix of old-world and modern here, with carefully chosen European antiques sharing space with colourful contemporary paintings. You can also make the most of a heated spa and a cosy ski lounge, perfect if you've spent an afternoon on Park City's world-famous slopes.
The clue's in the name: this gorgeous lodge was founded by the von Trapp family (yes, that von Trapp family) and has been owned and operated by them for decades. The rustic, Alpine-style lodge has 96 guest rooms and sprawling, trail-crossed grounds for outdoor activities. Look out for the Wiener schnitzel on the dinner menu and make time to hang out in the beer hall too.
While the hotel itself sits in Virginia, the cool city of Bristol actually seeps into Tennessee too, and the property harnesses the spirit of both. The small city is also known as the 'Birthplace of Country Music' and you can expect live music on the rooftop, Tennessee whiskey behind the bar and some of Virginia's finest local produce on the plates at Vivian's Table, the hotel restaurant. The smart building dates back to 1925 and restoration efforts have protected original elements including the stucco exterior.
You might not have heard of Ilwaco, but this teensy city on the Washington coast has a thriving arts community and easy access to Cape Disappointment State Park (which, incidentally, is unlikely to disappoint at all, with its rugged shores and lighthouses). Friendly At The Helm Hotel is the perfect place to stay and since it's adult-only, you're guaranteed some peace and quiet. The rooms pay homage to their waterfront location, sharing names with fishing vessels, and you can relax at the down-to-earth pub with a pint.
Close to pretty Charles Town and Harpers Ferry, this West Virginia inn is heavy on the luxuries. There's the Gatehouse Spa, which offers indulgent treatments from couples' massages to 24-carat gold facials, plus a restaurant serving refined, seasonal dishes from a chef who's worked at Michelin-starred spots. There are inclusive packages geared towards couples, foodies or lovers of the outdoors, and the rooms are fittingly classic and elegant.
This Mayville hotel was established in 1896 and has happily stood the test of time. New owners took over the hotel in 2020, and they've seen to it that it's been restored while maintaining much of its historic character. When it comes to decor, wood runs throughout and the walls are now hung with art from Midwestern artists. The Beaumont bar is a favourite spot, whipping up classic cocktails and hosting live music at weekends.
Originally opened in 1902, this Cody hotel was built by infamous hunter and entertainer William Frederick Cody, or 'Buffalo Bill'. He named his beloved hotel for his daughter Irma and still today it evokes the spirit of the Old West, with Cody's original suites faithfully resorted and open to the public. The restaurant is a destination too: come by for comforting prime ribs (the house speciality), steaks and burgers, and make the most of the lunch buffet.