Splash out with a stay at your state's best luxe hotel
Where to live the luxe life
With incredible attention to detail, the lavishness and opulence of some hotels know no limits, making these luxurious spots destinations in their own right. Whether your idea of sophistication is a Venetian-inspired palace or a chic and minimalist modern masterpiece, you're sure to find a glamorous place to rest your head near you. Just remember to double-check state travel advisories before you head out.
The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa/Facebook
Alabama: The Battle House Renaissance Hotel & Spa, Mobile
A hotel since 1852, the Battle House Renaissance Hotel reopened in 2007 after a huge restoration project, returning the hotel to its previous splendour. All rooms are furnished with plush beds and thoughtful touches throughout while select rooms even feature a cosy fireplace. The hotel's impressive lobby has a dome skylight that dates back to 1908, while the rest of the ceiling and walls are covered in elaborate plasterwork and portraits of Louis XIV of France, George III of the UK and George Washington among others.
Embassy Suites Anchorage/booking.com
Alaska: Embassy Suites, Anchorage
This recently renovated Anchorage hotel is as glamorous as it gets in adventurous and outdoorsy Alaska. Benefiting from a central location in Anchorage's Midtown near most of the top attractions, the hotel interior features lots of wood, leather and stone elements, fitting into its surroundings well. Several of the rooms offer gorgeous mountain views in the distance, while guests are greeted by a unique whale fin fountain on arrival.
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Royal Palms Resort & Spa-in the Unbound Collection by Hyatt/booking.com
Arizona: Royal Palms Resort and Spa, Phoenix
An opulent resort tucked away in lush gardens, the Royal Palms Resort and Spa is ideally located between Scottsdale and Phoenix. With spectacular Camelback Mountain views, this former private residence is now a 119-room hotel, offering a choice of suites, casitas and villas as well as a fine dining restaurant and world-class spa. The rooms feature wood-beam ceilings and many have soaking tubs as well as terraces or private patios.
The Capital Hotel/Facebook
Arkansas: Capital Hotel, Little Rock
With its elaborately decorated Victorian façade and ground-level bay windows, it's impossible to miss the Capital Hotel when in Little Rock. Opened in 1876, the hotel has benefited from a £18.6 million ($24 million) renovation project funded by local banking billionaire Warren Stephens that has given the hotel a new lease of life. It's now home to restaurant One Eleven run by the James Beard Award-winning chef Joël Antunes, attracting foodies from around the state and beyond.
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills/booking.com
California: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills
The ultimate in West Coast glamour, the hotel's modern Art Deco style fits in seamlessly with the bright lights and big city feel of Beverly Hills. Some of the walls at the hotel are lined with black and gold Noir Saint Laurent marble while huge, ornate chandeliers swing from the ceilings. Hotel guests simply need to drop their personal concierge a text to arrange a drive around town and a shopping spree on Rodeo Drive in a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center Hotel/booking.com
Colorado: Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center Hotel, Denver
Housed in the former Colorado National Bank, the hotel has kept the bank's most distinctive architectural features, including the exterior and interior pillars that have been restored. The rooms are thoughtfully decorated with gold accents nodding to the building's past. There's even a smartphone self-guided tour to learn more about its history and guests have the chance to store their valuables in safe deposit boxes once used by pioneers to stash their gold.
Delamar Greenwich Harbor/Facebook
Connecticut: Delamar Greenwich Harbor, Greenwich
The place to go if you want to be seen in Fairfield County, if not all of Connecticut, Delamar Greenwich Harbor is a luxury hotel situated right on the banks of the harbour from which it takes its name. The hotel features a gourmet French restaurant L'escale and many of the 82 European-style rooms have balconies overlooking the water. A popular weekend break destination for New York City locals, the hotel also has a spa and offers its guests seasonal weekend cruises.
Delaware: Hotel du Pont, Wilmington
Offering understated luxury in a historic and opulent setting Hotel du Pont is Delaware's most sought-after place to rest your head. From classic king rooms to luxury suites, guests can relax in tranquil surroundings while the hotel's signature restaurant Le Cavalier has recently opened after a significant update. Occupying an entire street block in downtown Wilmington, the landmark building, finished in 1913, was one of the first high-rises in the city.
Faena Miami Beach/Facebook
Florida: Faena Hotel, Miami Beach
Channelling the opulence Miami Beach was once famous for, Faena is a dazzling throwback to the glamour of the 1950s. Designed by film director Baz Luhrmann and his wife, the costume designer Catherine Martin, this lavish hotel is a vision with animal print, gold and red accents throughout. The over-the-top interiors with neo-romantic murals and a woolly mammoth skeleton dipped in gold aren't just found in the public areas either. Suites are furnished with red velvet sofas and the bathrooms feature oversized soaking tubs, with oceanfront rooms offering the most stunning sunrise views.
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Hamilton-Turner Inn/Facebook
Georgia: Hamilton-Turner Inn, Savannah
The essence of Southern hospitality is captured in every aspect of the stunning Hamilton-Turner Inn boutique hotel in historic Savannah. A gorgeous mansion built in 1873, it was owned by businessman Samuel Pugh Hamilton. Today, the small hotel has 17 antique-filled luxury rooms and is located on Lafayette Square right in the heart of Savannah's historic district. The hotel prides itself on providing unparalleled hospitality in luxurious surroundings.
Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa/booking.com
Hawaii: Moana Surfrider, Waikiki
Also known as the First Lady of Waikiki, the Moana Surfrider is one of Hawaii's most famous hotels. The guests at the 110-year-old hotel are welcomed by its sparkling white exterior and the white-columned lobby, grand staircase and cage lanterns. Although the unassuming rooms don't have as much of the old-world glamour as the common areas do, it's simply one of the state's most iconic hotels that has, for the most part, retained its luxurious charm throughout the decades.
The Grove Hotel - Boise/Facebook
Idaho: The Grove Hotel, Boise
Located in a striking high-rise in the heart of Boise, The Grove Hotel has recently been renovated to a high standard, showcasing the hotel's historic details and including updated high-end amenities. An ideal escape from the buzz of downtown Boise, the rooms are decorated in neutral tones with accent walls and large cosy beds. One of the hotel's best features is its Trillium Restaurant. Serving modern Pacific Northwest-inspired dishes with ingredients sourced from local farmers and producers, it's one of the best in Boise.
Illinois: Palmer House, Chicago
This opulent Chicago landmark was built as a gift from business magnate Potter Palmer to his bride Bertha Honoré to mark their wedding in 1871. The original building burned down 13 days later during the Great Chicago Fire, but Palmer rebuilt it and reopened the hotel in 1873. Today, it's Chicago's most charming spot and it's worth stopping by the elegant lobby adorned by ceiling frescoes and gold Tiffany chandeliers even if you're not staying the night.
Le Meridien Indianapolis/booking.com
Indiana: Le Meridien, Indianapolis
Located in a historic building in downtown Indianapolis, Le Meridien's modern renovation channels a 1920's Art Deco vibe and combines it with contemporary furnishings. The 99 guest rooms all feature large windows, platform beds and comfortable bathrooms with luxury toiletries. The hotel also houses the Spoke & Steele restaurant that serves innovative main courses for dinner and indulgent breakfasts to start the day right.
Hotel Julien Dubuque/Facebook
Iowa: Hotel Julien Dubuque, Dubuque
The history of Hotel Julien Dubuque can be traced as far back as 1839, when the first lodging house opened on this site. The current hotel building was completed in 1915 and allegedly served as a hiding place for the notorious mobster Al Capone when things got complicated in Chicago. The hotel has retained its historic charm which it has combined with modern and luxurious amenities.
Kansas: Cyrus Hotel, Topeka
Topeka's first boutique hotel, Cyrus Hotel is situated right in the heart of the city that's often called the prairie capital. The 109 guest rooms are located in a modern tower extension, while the bar and the on-site restaurant remain part of two historic Topeka buildings. A perfect blend of the old and the new, the hotel offers an upscale boutique experience. The best room in the house? The Astra Suite, with separate living and sleeping areas, as well as views over the Kansas State Capitol, is as glamorous as it gets.
The Brown Hotel/booking.com
Kentucky: The Brown Hotel, Louisville
This old world-style hotel, with chandeliers and plush interiors, was once the place to see and be seen during the Kentucky Derby and it inspired a boom in theatres, offices and restaurants in Louisville. The grand hotel has 293 rooms and suites as well as two restaurants, a lobby bar and the Rooftop Garden bar. From hand-woven throws to granite bathrooms, there's attention to detail in everything, making it a truly first-class place to stay.
The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans/booking.com
Louisiana: The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans
At The Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans' French Quarter you can live like royalty. Once a prestigious department store, much of the glamour of the early 1900s Beaux-Arts building has been retained, including its sparkling white brickwork and period touches throughout. The rooms mix period and contemporary furnishings with fleur-des-lis motifs and all the modern amenities you'd expect.
Portland Harbor Hotel/booking.com
Maine: Portland Harbor Hotel, Portland
A reflection of its location, the nautical-themed Portland Harbor Hotel is glamorous in a very understated way. The classy interiors feature shades of blue and brushed gold details. You'll find the rooms decorated in a similar style to the common areas with tropical orange accents in throws, cushions and statement chairs. There's also an excellent on-site restaurant Blue Fin that serves – you guessed it – seafood dishes with ingredients sourced from the North Atlantic.
Lord Baltimore Hotel/booking.com
Maryland: Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore
A Baltimore destination since 1928, the Lord Baltimore Hotel features perfectly preserved and restored 1920s interiors with a magnificent gilded Art Deco lobby, vaulted fresco ceiling and Murano glass chandeliers. Figures such as Martin Luther King Jr have stayed the night and the murals in the Calvert Ballroom are one of a kind. The 440 rooms feature a modern grey colour palette that's paired with dark wood furniture. Request a room on the south side in one of the top three floors and you'll be able to enjoy harbour views too.
The Eliot Hotel, Boston/Facebook
Massachusetts: The Eliot Hotel, Boston
This boutique hotel, originally built in 1925, oozes style and old-world elegance. The marble-clad lobby is grand in its appearance and has retained its original check-in desk. All rooms have marbled bathrooms, unfussy but luxurious furnishings in calming colours and plenty of abstract and Impressionist artwork hanging on the walls. One of the hotel's highlights is its James Beard award-winning restaurant Uni, led by chef Ken Oringer. The restaurant blends New England cooking with influences from all over Asia in creative twists like Wagyu beef dumplings with Cheddar dashi.
Michigan: Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island
Visiting the Grand Hotel feels like stepping back in time – cars are banned from Mackinac Island so horse-drawn carriages or bicycles are the preferred mode of transport. The hotel itself, opened in 1887, claims to have the world's longest front porch, measuring 660 feet (201m), where guests and non-guests mingle from May to October. The rooms and suites are all individually decorated with bright colours, floral motifs and wild patterns. It's an all-out, no limits kind of retro glamour here.
Graduate Minneapolis/booking.com
Minnesota: Graduate Minneapolis, Minneapolis
Not a classically glamorous hotel but rather a contemporary take on luxury, the Graduate in Minneapolis is probably the coolest place to stay in Minnesota. Its sophisticated style is effortless with patterned soft furnishings, accent pieces and one-of-a-kind interiors. Don't be fooled by its university links and ice hockey player throws in the rooms though, it's most definitely a sophisticated place to stay.
Chancellor's House/Facebook
Mississippi: Chancellor's House Hotel, Oxford
Sophisticated and timeless, this boutique hotel, opened in 2016, is grand and glamorous without being stuffy. The perfect dose of Southern charm, Chancellor's House is defined by attention to even the smallest detail. The lobby is decorated with stunning retro chandeliers and fresh flowers while the library's dark wood bookshelves are filled with biographies and award-winning novels.
Hilton President Kansas City/booking.com
Missouri: Hotel President, Kansas City
Opened in 1926 during a construction boom in Kansas City, the Hotel President has managed to retain its 1930s charm and glamour thanks to many of the original features, which have been restored. The grand lobby will instantly transport you back in time while the rooms are all elegantly appointed in relaxing shades of grey and blue with Art Deco-inspired accent pieces throughout.
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Kalispell, MT - Glacier Lodge/booking.com
Montana: Country Inn & Suites Radisson, Kalispell
With the sort of western glamour that only Montana could pull off, the Country Inn & Suites in Kalispell channels the Wild West charm that's so pertinent in Big Sky Country. With a cowboy theme running throughout the hotel, the guests are welcomed into the two-level lobby by heavy, dark wood and leather furniture, high wood-beamed ceiling and a large stone fireplace. The western chic continues in the guest rooms with large dark-wooden headboards and wall art showcasing Montana's most stunning natural wonders.
Nebraska: Magnolia Hotel, Omaha
It may be part of a small chain but Magnolia Hotel in Omaha is still a seriously classy joint with plenty of character. Built in 1923, the hotel is modelled on the Bargello Palace in Florence, Italy, and has a stunning interior courtyard which earned the building a slot on the National Register of Historic Places. If you can manage to drag yourself away from its charms, you’ll find plenty to do in the historic Old Market neighbourhood just steps from the hotel.
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas/Facebook
Nevada: The Venetian, Las Vegas
This suite-only hotel is home to the world-renowned Canyon Ranch Spa featuring a salt grotto, wave room, Finnish sauna and hydro spa. The 8,000-square-foot, four-bedroom Chairman Suite boasts its own gym, sauna and a private pool on your balcony, making for the ultimate Vegas experience. The lavish interiors of The Venetian are almost indescribable as are the convincing replicas of Venice's most famous attractions, like Doge's Palace and the Rialto Bridge that are part of the hotel.
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Wentworth by the Sea Hotel & Spa/Facebook
New Hampshire: Wentworth by the Sea, New Castle
Looking over the Atlantic Wentworth by the Sea opened in 1874. The 161-room hotel has been restored and rebranded as a Marriott Hotel & Spa but its history can still be felt within its walls and the three original Victorian towers. Inside the rooms guests will find plush bedding and marble bathrooms with bathrobes while the two restaurants offer something for everyone.
EnVue, Autograph Collection/Facebook
New Jersey: EnVue, Weehawken
A sleek and modern hotel, EnVue's best feature is definitely its location. Book one of the riverside rooms and you'll be treated to a panorama of midtown Manhattan unfolding in front of you as you enjoy your chic quarters. The whole hotel keeps to a monochrome colour palette and the minimalist decor with a few accent pieces makes it feel ultra-luxe.
The Inn of Five Graces/booking.com
New Mexico: The Inn of Five Graces, Santa Fe
Recognised as one of the best hotels in the world, The Five Graces is situated right in the heart of Santa Fe's historic district. The traditional adobe-style hotel is furnished with an eclectic mix of East Indian and Tibetan furnishings, providing guests with opulent surroundings. All rooms and suites have traditional kiva fireplaces with some featuring private balconies or secluded patios while the ultra-luxe private two-bedroom Luminaria Villa is a chance to live like royalty.
The St. Regis New York/Facebook
New York: The St. Regis New York, New York City
Built in 1904 by John Jacob Astor IV, the hotel is bound to impress guests with its opulent interiors, featuring marble, lavish crystal chandeliers and pretty, decorative murals. The extravagant Presidential Suite has large windows looking out onto both Central Park and Fifth Avenue and a butler is on hand to arrange a spin in the hotel's Bentley Mulsanne if you want to soak up the city's twinkling lights.
The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte/Facebook
North Carolina: The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte
Located in downtown Charlotte, staying at the Ritz-Carlton is like entering a different world. Rolls-Royces and Range Rovers line the driveway, the spa features a pink Himalayan salt lounge and the upscale restaurant serves exceptional dishes made from ingredients grown in the hotel's rooftop garden or sourced from local farms. The hotel's most exclusive accommodation, The Ritz-Carlton Suite has stunning city and garden views, a personal fitness room and separate living and dining areas.
Hotel Donaldson - HoDo/Facebook
North Dakota: Hotel Donaldson, Fargo
Throughout its history, Hotel Donaldson has been a beacon of change in the city. After a fire ravaged most of Fargo, the hotel was one of the first buildings to reopen in 1893. Then, after decades of disrepair, the restoration of it revitalised the then-neglected Downtown. The opening of the hotel sparked the area's revival and now the 17-room boutique hotel, with each room designed by a local artist, is a destination in itself.
Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection/booking.com
Ohio: Hotel LeVeque, Columbus
Thanks to a sparkling £21 million ($27m) renovation, the former glory of the LeVeque Tower has been restored thanks to its centrepiece – the elegant Hotel LeVeque, decked out in 1920s splendour. With a Great Gatsby feel, the 149-room boutique hotel in Downtown Columbus also has six suites all offering stunning Scioto River Mile views and all rooms are made to feel extremely luxurious, from marble-clad bathrooms to the finest linens.
Oklahoma: Colcord Hotel, Oklahoma City
For a truly exquisite stay, nothing comes close to the Colcord Hotel in Oklahoma City. To live like royalty, you'll want to book the Presidential Suite. Featuring a separate sleeping area with a king-sized bed, living and dining areas as well as high ceilings with windows facing the stunning Myriad Botanical Gardens, the surroundings couldn't be any more glamorous. There are two upscale restaurants on site and the historic hotel building is ideally located for exploring Oklahoma City.
Embassy Suites Portland - Downtown/booking.com
Oregon: Embassy Suites, Portland
Built in 1912, the hotel successfully blends its historic architecture and opulent design with modern amenities. Most of the rooms are suites (as the hotel's name suggests) and thanks to the modern decor and thoughtful design, they have a boutique feel. If staying at the Embassy Suites, you shouldn't miss out on an opportunity to go for a restorative swim at the elegant indoor pool that's dotted with large pillars.
The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia/booking.com
Pennsylvania: The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
Housed in the former Girard Bank, the dramatic architecture of The Ritz-Carlton is the absolute pinnacle of luxury. The marble walls and columns are complemented by a neutral colour scheme that matches the natural swirls of the stone. All the materials used inside ooze old-world glam – think bronze elevators, gilt chandeliers and wrought-iron railings. The rooms, although housed in an adjacent tower, have a very similar feel with leather headboards and palettes of silver and grey.
Rhode Island: The Vanderbilt, Newport
Get the celebrity treatment at one of Rhode Island's most luxurious hotels. Located in a historic 1909 mansion, The Vanderbilt is the retreat to stay at in Newport, offering a spa, two beautiful pools and stunning views of Newport Harbor. All suites are decorated in calming white, beige and grey tones with signature coral accents throughout.
Hotel Bennett Charleston/booking.com
South Carolina: Hotel Bennett, Charleston
Newly built but traditional, it would be easy to assume that the Hotel Bennett has been occupying the corner of King Street and Marion Square in the heart of Charleston for decades. From spacious and beautifully furnished rooms to a swooping staircase and marbled bathrooms, every space in the hotel is designed to be glamorous and utterly luxurious. It's difficult to pick its best feature, however, the blush pink Camellias Champagne bar is simply exquisite.
Hotel Alex Johnson Rapid City, Curio Collection by Hilton/booking.com
South Dakota: Hotel Alex Johnson, Rapid City
Arguably the state's coolest accommodation, Hotel Alex Johnson is just 30 minutes' drive from Mount Rushmore National Monument, making it a top spot for many road trippers. With a stunning rooftop bar, plenty of character and an Irish pub on site, its rooms and suites are much in demand. The building's unique Germanic Tudor architecture reflects the state's German immigrant heritage while also incorporating indigenous art from the area.
Tennessee: Blackberry Farm, Walland
Located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, this small but perfectly formed resort has an impressive offering. As well as 68 guest rooms there's an on-site creamery, bakery, charcuterie and even a beekeeper. With 4,200 acres of rolling hills surrounding the property to explore by horseback or carriage ride, and an extensive whisky collection to sample, it's no wonder this hotel and its understated luxury continues to be a firm favourite.
Texas: Driskill Hotel, Austin
While The Driskill's façade is Roman, the rooms Victorian and the hand-laid marble floors feel Italian, this hotel is Texan through and through. Adorned with stuffed cattle heads, a nod to the hotel's original owner cattle baron Jesse Driskill, this hotel dating from 1886 remains Austin's go-to spot. The Driskill has an extensive art collection and has also hosted numerous governors' inauguration balls. The rooms are just as opulent as the rest of the hotel too, with decor that harks back to a bygone era of glamour in Texas.
The Grand America Hotel/Facebook
Utah: The Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City
Built in 2002 for the Winter Olympic Games held in Salt Lake City, The Grand America Hotel feels like it's from a different era entirely. You'd be forgiven for mistaking its lavish, neoclassical-inspired interiors for a chateau in Europe. The only AAA Five Diamond hotel in Salt Lake City, it's a one-of-a-kind place to stay that offers luxurious accommodation for surprisingly affordable rates. The hotel is also home to one of Salt Lake City's most iconic restaurants, the Garden Café.
Vermont: Twin Farms, Barnard
Once home to the Nobel Prize-winning novelist Sinclair Lewis, Twin Farms today is an all-inclusive countryside retreat tucked away in the trees on 300 forested acres. City dwellers can recharge their batteries at one of the 10 cottages at this 5-star Relais & Châteaux property, enjoy the daily changing tasting menu in the 18th-century farmhouse that has been transformed into a candle-lit restaurant or make the most of the surrounding wilderness and enjoy a personalised Champagne picnic experience in the meadows.
The Inn at Little Washington/Facebook
Virginia: The Inn at Little Washington, Washington
A luxury country inn with a Michelin-starred restaurant on site, a stay at The Inn at Little Washington is a truly exceptional experience. Nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountain, about an hour's drive from Washington DC, the inn's rooms and suites are named after America's culinary pioneers and are all about transporting its guests to a carefree world. Located in a village that hasn't really changed much since George Washington surveyed it in 1749, a stay here is all about relaxing and enjoying exceptional food.
PostHotel Leavenworth/booking.com
Washington: Posthotel, Leavenworth
An adults-only retreat in the quaint Bavarian-inspired town Leavenworth, the Posthotel feels like it's set a world away in a lush mansion in the Alps. With a focus on wellness, guests can enjoy various steam rooms and saunas, plunge pools, a saltwater pool as well as heated marble loungers. Both the common areas and guest rooms – all of which come with terraces – have been designed to offer a luxurious, yet relaxing environment.
West Virginia: The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs
Often called the America's resort, The Greenbrier has been welcoming guests since 1778. A popular destination for luxury travellers looking to take to the natural hot springs, the historic hotel hasn't lost its appeal. Located in a mountain setting in southern West Virginia, the accommodation ranges from guest rooms to suites and five-bedroomed homes on the estate for private events. You won't want to miss the afternoon tea here – complimentary tea, sweet treats and cookies are served at 4.15pm precisely as it has been for more than 200 years.
The Pfister Hotel/Facebook
Wisconsin: The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee
Built in 1893 by businessman Guido Pfister, The Pfister is a Victorian masterpiece. Famous for its grand lobby and painted ceiling, inside the 23-storey tower (added in the 1960s) is a modern cocktail lounge offering scenic Lake Michigan views. The rooms feature more modern colour palettes with large dark wood beds and cosy club chairs. The hotel is also one of Milwaukee's Four Diamonds hotels and a member of the prestigious Preferred Hotels & Resorts group.
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Wyoming: Amangani, Jackson
Located in America's historic western frontier, this luxury hotel oozes more modern glamour. Located just a short drive away from the mountain resort of Jackson Hole, guests can marvel at the stunning surrounding scenery from the comfort of their own private balconies. With high-quality furnishings, luxurious linens and high ceilings, the glamorous hotel focuses on understated luxury and you can definitely count on being treated like royalty during your stay.
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