Doubling as a contemporary art museum, this "very hip hotel" in a refurbished warehouse has exposed brickwork and original timber trusses coupled with "urban, sleek, clean lines." Rooms have 500-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, and rubber ducks in the baths. At Proof on Main, try country ham fritters or Kentucky bison and choose from 50 bourbons. The artwork is "cutting-edge, stimulating, thought-provoking—a metaphor for the hotel itself."

(90 rooms)

Founded in 1936 by Montana's first female doctor, the 320 Ranch, located five miles north of Yellowstone, draws a steady stream of outdoorsy types in Subarus, bandanna'd Labradors and Clif Bars in tow, eager to explore the surrounding forest and canyons. The 53 one- to three-bedroom log cabins, fitted with antique stoves and patchwork quilts, are pretty rustic, but they're a big step up from a Therm-a-Rest in the woods—and rates start at just $150 in high season. The two secluded A-frame chalets are popular with newlyweds. Guests who are here to fish the Gallatin River—there's a full-service Scott-endorsed fly shop on-site—should angle for a riverfront cabin. It's not uncommon to wake up to see ranchers herding dozens of horses to pasture. Summer's temperate weather is perfect for horseback riding, mountain biking, and rafting, while winter brings sleigh rides and snowmobiling on the grounds. There's also skiing, snowboarding, and dog sledding nearby. The Steak House restaurant and saloon caters to famished adventurers with belly-filling dishes like tender elk piccata and crème brûlée topped with local blackberries. Book at least six months in advance, especially for summer stays.

Thomas O'Brien of Aero Studios, based right here in Soho, designed this hotel to be the last word in urban sophistication. What he came up with are deadpan neutral color palettes—all browns and grays with clean-lined furniture—with suede headboards and velour pillows adding a dash of sensuality. Rooms can be small, and most have showers only; ask for one of the few rooms with a tub when booking. Of course, you could go ahead and request the duplex-penthouse Thompson Loft for soaring ceilings, a four-poster bed, a stone fireplace, and two private roofdecks for panoramic views. In summer, the semiprivate rooftop bar A60 presents the same glorious prospect. In the lobby, there's the showy, romantic Thombar and a very good Thai restaurant, Kittichai, which draws a glamorous crowd.

Owing to a location in mostly residential Murray Hill, Manhattan's first Kimpton hotel is too far north to share in downtown's cachet and too far south to be in the thick of Midtown's bustle. It's best suited to travelers looking to be close to—but not amid—the action. In 2003, the 205 guest rooms profited from an overhaul by Jeffrey Bilhuber, whose celebrity clients have included David Bowie and (gasp) Anna Wintour. The results: streamlined blond wood furnishings, woven wallpaper, and silky cream and celadon fabrics. Plasma TVs, L'Occitane products, and irons round out the in-room extras, though you'll probably have to do-si-do around your partner to get around an open ironing board in the small rooms. There's Wi-Fi throughout, and two laptops are available for guests' use in the dimly lit, minimalist lobby, with its modular leather sofas. Silverleaf, the on-site tavern, is a good place for a martini (or a light meal: grilled salmon, crab cakes), but strolling four blocks north, to tip a few at Grand Central's Campbell Apartment, is an equally excellent idea.

A great find and your only real option for staying in the West Village. These nine rooms split between two Hudson Street brownstones are full of romantic touches—some have four-poster beds with canopies, hand-painted armoires, and exposed brick walls. What they don't have is an elevator, so be prepared to climb (four of the rooms are located two flights up). This is partly why the Ambassador room is so popular—besides being the largest, and being equipped with a kitchenette, it's also on the ground floor. The Garden Room, another favorite, is one flight down, on the same level as a small, private garden and a gurgling fountain. When selecting your room, bear in mind there's an architectural quirk: Rooms fronting sometimes noisy Eighth Avenue have en-suite bathrooms; those facing the back have a bathroom that's private but located across the hall. (The courtyard-facing Ambassador is the exception to this rule.)

The Ace Hotel is ground zero for Portland's hipsters: You'll find turntables and vinyl in the rooms, art by local artists painted right on the walls, old army lockers propping up desks, and myriad other vintage accents throughout. The public spaces are almost dauntingly cool: The dark-wood lobby is full of tech types in small glasses working on their Macs, and the business center is lined with design mags and literary publications like The Believer. But before you rush to book your room, it's worth remembering that the Ace considers itself a budget hotel. Although long on style, it can be short on creature comforts. The 79 rooms have plain (but comfy) blankets by famous local wool company Pendleton, clip-on utility lamps for reading lights, shower stalls and sinks often located right in the room itself, and seriously basic toiletries. If you're dying to see what all the fuss is about, spring for one of the deluxe rooms, which have more conventional bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, and are considerably more spacious. And if sleep is important to you, ask for a quiet room off the street. Additional bonuses: Stumptown Coffee Roasters in the adjoining lobby serves the city's best coffee. Clyde Common, one of Portland's most buzzy new bars and restaurants, is right downstairs, and Powell's City of Books is just a block away.

Carved out of a former flophouse in Belltown, the 28 ultrahip rooms at the Ace exemplify high design on a small budget. Platform beds are covered with vintage French army blankets, institutional stainless-steel sinks are bolted to the wall, and wall-size photomurals depict Pacific Northwest nature scenes. On the nightstand, you'll find condoms, a copy of the Kama Sutra, and a camouflage-covered bible. Our favorite rooms are numbers 129 and 130, with bamboo-filled planters on small decks and a sexy, glass-enclosed shower at the head of the bed.

Rather than the usual Rat Pack retro or duffer chic, this hip oasis is a slightly rugged desert escape. The Sahara-circa-1950s decor features walls covered in tent canvas (and matching bedspreads), steamer trunks (which store extra pillows), striped Berberesque robes, magazine racks stuffed with vintage National Geographics, and a clock/MP3 player that appears to be World War II surplus. Bathrooms could be bigger, and the water takes a while to get hot, but that just adds to the illusion of being far, far away. The grounds of this onetime Howard Johnson motor lodge have been transformed into a garden of mature palms and olive trees, with outdoor fireplaces. The King's Highway restaurant, a former Denny's, now serves Middle Eastern cuisine with a California edge. Despite its petite size, the spa offers an awesome array of treatments, while the sprawling pool is framed by royal palms, rocky outcrops, and snowcapped peaks. David Hockney, eat your heart out.

A less muscular but hardly less grand take on Renaissance revival than the Mansion on Turtle Creek, the 428-room Adolphus has been in continuous operation at its downtown location since beer baron Adolphus Busch built it back in 1912 (it was the city's tallest building at the time). The public spaces offer an elegant old-world atmosphere, replete with crystal chandeliers and Flemish tapestries; the charming afternoon tea served in the wood-paneled lobby living room features live piano and scones with Devonshire cream. Some of the suites are totally out of (1980s Wall Street–;style) control, with zebra rugs and pool tables. The hotel bar is old and cozy, so if you can stomach the forced formality of the place as a whole, it's a well-located downtown choice. The French Room restaurant, with Italianate murals covering its 18-foot vaults, is the most formally elegant of the city's top restaurants; it will please the grandparent set.

Assuming its recession-ready prices hold steady (we've seen rates as low as $150), this outpost of the five-hotel Affinia chain located a block off North Michigan Avenue is one of the best values in town. True, the spartan reception area feels understaffed, and the Marcus Samuelsson C-House restaurant demonstrates that celebrity chefs can oversee too many kitchens. But the $25-million renovation completed in June 2008 clearly shows in the guest rooms, which are done up in a vaguely Deco style with a silver and gold palette and padded leather headboards. While standard rooms are a respectable 390 square feet, it's worth "splurging" for one of the 715-square-foot junior suites ($199). The bathrooms are small, but the hotel aims to compensate with flat-screen TVs and an inventive range of free amenities, including a stay-fit Experience Kit (complete with yoga mat and workout bands) and a pillow menu (try the "sound pillow," threaded with thin white-noise speakers). There's also a fitness room, which comes in handy after indulging in the "Sweet Treats" dessert and candy room-service menu. Bargain-hunters may find the Affinia's dogged attempt to show guests a playful time to be a bit much, but you have to credit the hotel's creative ambition. —Raphael Kadushin

This seven-room B&B is housed in a gold rush–era, Victorian-style house on the edge of Juneau's downtown. The building has been beautifully restored and tastefully decorated with Alaskana. The key word here is tastefully: Too many of the state's B&Bs don't stop until there's an igloo model or an ivory carving on every surface, but here, the period details—pedestal sinks, exposed brick or elegant wallpaper, Mission-style furniture—are done right. It's also one of the few hotels in Juneau with character—most are bland and chainlike. Many of the huge rooms have fireplaces and sitting areas, and the top-floor suite (the nicest room in Juneau, in our opinion), has a tub big enough to float a porpoise. The inn's proximity to the state capitol building (it's also within walking distance of everything else downtown) means that the rooms fill up, especially in winter when the legislature is in session. Reserve as far in advance as possible, and if it's booked, try the nearby Silverbow.—Edward Readicker-Henderson

This gay-oriented 17-room B&B is the most stylish on the island and is perfect for those allergic to antiques. The rooms are spread over three buildings; most have king-size beds and are decorated with black armchairs and white linens, an effect that comes off as modern but not stark. The complex has a pool and a hot tub plus clothing-optional sunbathing on two private decks (the hotel is strictly 21-plus). Guests usually include as many lesbians as gay men, a rarity in Key West, which gives the place a more inclusive vibe: Mingling is mandatory at the poolside happy hour every afternoon. Try the made-to-order frozen piña coladas.

Back on the map after an extensive 2007 refurbishment, this cozy boutique charmer offers 121 tryst-worthy rooms in a well-positioned location downtown. As at other Kimpton properties, the decor is eclectic—rococo accents offset stainless steel four-poster beds—but tied together nicely with bold fabrics and classic pieces like leather wing chairs. There aren't any cookie-cutter layouts here, thanks to the quirky arrangement of the historic buildings—specialty suites may include fireplaces, a wall or two of exposed brick, or separate media rooms. Original works selected by Seattle Art Museum curators add to the distinctive feel; Frette linens, in-room spa treatments, and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout are just a few of the other amenities.

This hotel is "an anomaly in an otherwise tiny, sleepy town." Its decor is inspired by the Mississippi Delta earth, foliage, and sky. Staff are "proud of their hotel and offer Southern hospitality." The "outstanding spa" supplies a riverside remineralizing treatment.

(50 rooms)

Since Alaska's premier groomed slopes and the most intimidating mogul fields in North America are right outside, skiers flock to the Alyeska Resort in winter; summer brings the mountain bikers. Alyeska's location in Girdwood, about 20 minutes south of Anchorage by car, means that you could drive down for the day, but then you'd miss out on some of the best views and nicest rooms in Alaska. Most of the 304 rooms have glacier views, and the decor (plush bedding, Alaskan artwork, cherrywood furniture) is a step up from what you'll find in most Alaska hotels. All rooms are nonsmoking and have a ventilated ski-boot locker; those on the higher floors are the biggest, with the best views and the priciest rates. After a hard day on the mountain, hang out in the pool or hot tub, or head for the Alyeska Spa for an incredibly soft and healing glacial mud facial, then reboard the tram for dinner at the swank Seven Glaciers restaurant.—Edward Readicker-Henderson

Don't be put off by pretension at this River North hipster hotel. The often black-clad staff is eager to please, from the "experience designer" who checks you in (and can score you seats at the area's hottest restaurants) to the "maestro" (a.k.a. general manager), who sometimes presides over happy hour with free top-shelf drinks. All 215 rooms have fluffy pillowtop mattresses, Aveda toiletries, multihead showers, Egyptian-cotton sheets, flat-screen TVs, as well as marble or granite bathrooms. There are lots of freebies too: buffet-style continental breakfast, access to a CD library, high-speed Internet (both wired and Wi-Fi), and local phone calls.

Amanresorts, which specializes in the über-luxe and superdiscreet, built its three-story, 40-suite lodge on the edge of a butte overlooking the Snake River Valley. The property is several miles out of town and has an inspiring view of the Grand Tetons. The designers knew it too, and kept artwork and bright decor to a minimum; in both the guest rooms and the public spaces, walls of redwood and sandstone, high ceilings, and huge windows capitalize on rather than compete with the landscape outside. Because of the Amangani's intimate size and a staff-to-guest ratio of more than two to one, personalized service is the standard. The executive chef meets each guest to inquire about individual tastes (and the dining room never closes), and if that Hollywood director's lady friend is sitting in the hot tub and the wind picks up, it takes only seconds for a spa attendant to offer a beanie to keep her ears from getting cold.

If this 47-room newcomer on the edge of SoFi (south of Fifth Street) is self-conscious about its conspicuous lack of glitz and flash, it doesn't show. The low-key property includes the two original 1930s Angler's Hotel wings plus two brand-new structures. The petite pool area feels like a secret—and with only a handful of plush loungers, this is an unlikely locale for any raucous parties. The slim rooms have all the necessary boutique accessories: a massive flat-screen TV, cheeky minibar offerings (eye mask, condoms, Apple headphones), a contemporary palette of taupe and tan, plus some unexpected perks, like clever inset shelving flanking the beds and a balcony off most suites. The ever-helpful staff take care of everything from providing MapQuest instructions to troubleshooting computer misfires. On the ground floor, Maison d'Azur, already a favorite of homesick Europeans desperate for elegant brasserie fare, is perfect for cozying up over cocktails and steak tartare, while prime outdoor tables are buzzy late into the night.

This budget boutique hotel just one block from Waikiki Beach makes up in convenience (and price) what it lacks in luxury. High-speed Internet connections in every room, Wi-Fi in the common areas, and buffet breakfasts of fruit, yogurt, and pastries are all complimentary here. The 93 rooms, decorated according to feng shui principles with vintage Polynesian rattan and bamboo furnishings, have just enough modern accents to pass for stylish—although they are starting to look a little worse for wear. Each has a balcony and a fully equipped kitchenette. The outdoor saltwater pool area—which also includes a hot tub, cabanas, a man-made waterfall, and a spa—is pretty kitschy, but it's also pretty fun. A young, trendy crowd tends to stay here (many of them Japanese tourists), which makes for a friendly, uninhibited vibe.

Built as a gentlemen's club in 1916 for Gold Rush adventurers, this building near downtown's Pioneer Square found new life last summer when it reopened as a 120-room hotel. It keeps one foot firmly in the past, however: The reception area has black-and-white portraits of former club members and a glass case with black top hats of varying sizes, while the lobby is a throwback to the club days with its royal blue-velvet ceiling-to-floor draperies, wood paneling, crown molding with engraved crests, fireplace, and 1920s music. Such attention to detail, paired with equally attentive staff, makes the hotel warm and welcoming. Guest rooms have vintage decor—dark-wood moldings, original windows, high ceilings, custom wallpaper, and sepia-hued Eskimo prints—yet meet Seattle's tech-savvy requirements. Ingredients sourced from local farms make their way to the table as Pacific Northwest specialties at the hotel's Juno restaurant.

The granddaddy of local resorts, the 39-acre Arizona Biltmore has been here since 1929 and was designed by Albert Chase McArthur, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright's. Located just north of the bustling intersection of 24th Street and Camelback Road, near Biltmore Fashion Park, the Biltmore is like an architecturally inspiring version of a Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons—big, elegant, and consistent. The hotel attracts an older clientele with taste, partly because of its design heritage and partly for its location at the end of a residential road lined with $10 million–plus estates. It's quiet and rather proper, with painstakingly manicured grounds. The squat, angular buildings, created from concrete blocks that mimic the color of the desert, are certainly Wright-like. And despite their age, the 739 guest rooms are quite comfortable, with Mission-style furniture and Southwestern motifs. In 2009, the Biltmore renovated one wing and dubbed it Ocatilla, a hotel-within-a-hotel with upgraded linens, flat-screen TVs, and a private lounge serving drinks and meals; rooms here cost about $50 to $75 more per night. Eight pools traverse the property, which abuts two 18-hole PGA championship courses. Hotel guests get preferred tee times.

"A quiet oasis of color," pink adobe casitas with cobalt shutters are set amid mazelike gardens, oleander hedges, bougainvillea, and cactuses. The formal Main Dining Room serves American cuisine with Southwestern touches and has ladder-back chairs from the 1920s. "Staff do more than is asked of them."

(95 rooms)

The ski-in, ski-out Arrabelle hotel is the keystone of Vail's long-awaited (and much needed) renewal project, Vail Square. Opened in December 2007 in the Lionshead area, this tiny "village" is modeled on quaint Mitteleuropa towns like Innsbruck or Prague. Many of the 36 guest rooms have fireplaces and mountain views, along with the expected high-tech luxuries—free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and Bose MP3 players. The Arrabelle is joined by shops, restaurants, and two- to five-bedroom residences (which can also be rented)—all surrounding a plaza that transforms into an ice rink in winter. It's undeniably charming (deposed royalty would feel right at home given the plush details: 1,000-thread-count sheets, heated marble floors in the baths), and for skiers it's fabulously convenient. The Arrabelle's brasserie/restaurant, Centre V, has a slope-side terrace that literally butts up against the Eagle Bahn Gondola (where you'll also find the Arrabelle's Ski Valet ready to take charge of your skis and boots after your last run so you can head directly to the hotel's spa). Bringing the kids? Check out the Arrabelle's "Ski Nanny" service.

The first of the major new chain hotels set to pop up along the waterfront, the Atlantic is a quirky four-star hotel. The odd-shaped building looks like a lemon-yellow wedding cake, its floors stepped back to provide the maximum number of oceanview balconies and prevent casting a shadow on the beach—sadly, it doesn't help the hotel's own pool, which is sunless from 2 pm or so every day. All 115 rooms in tropical decor here are large and fully equipped: kitchenettes have granite countertops, two-burner stoves, and small fridges; there are marble floors as well as glassed-in showers in every bathroom. Trina, the high-end Mediterranean restaurant is worth a visit.

One of the best-known and best-loved hotels in Napa Valley, Auberge du Soleil has turned its 33-acre hillside property into an outdoor sculpture gallery amid acres of olive groves. If that sounds over-the-top romantic, trust that the design was meant to be exactly that. Every light is on a dimmer; fireplaces burn wood, not gas; and half a dozen strategically placed votive candles let you set the mood come nightfall. The property celebrated its 20th birthday in 2005 with a total renovation, including a restyled pool deck bracketed by high-backed sofas that are ideal for lounging in the California sun. The 52 rooms in both a main house and cottages are inspired by the Côte d'Azur, with terra-cotta and orange accents, tiled floors, limestone countertops, and matelassé bedcovers. Two spacious maisons feature outdoor hot tubs on private patios and steam showers for two. Every room has a full wet bar, complete with top-shelf liquor and homemade mixers; bathrooms are stocked with everything from shaving supplies to Dr. Hauschka bath oils and an "intimacy kit." Regional ingredients—grapes, herbs, flowers, olive oil, and mud—are used in the signature treatments of the guests-only spa (some, such as lemon verbena, come from the hotel's herb garden).

The motto of this family-owned, 1950s-style motel says it all: "So close, yet so far out." Long favored by cost-conscious artists and musicians, it's charming and hip without feeling pretentious. Each of the rooms mixes colorful murals and funky antiques, but be forewarned that the shabby-chic look leans more toward the shabby. And true to its retro vibe, the motel lacks highfalutin amenities like televisions and internet access (thankfully you can get free Wi-Fi in much of the city to make up for it). Still, with room rates hovering at $100, it's one of the best values in the city. It's also located at a crossroads of hipster hangouts: across the river from downtown, down the block from the eclectic South Congress shopping district, and kitty-corner from the legendary Continental Club, where favorite son Stevie Ray Vaughan frequently played.

The first and least flashy of the Viceroy Hotel Group's hotels, the 84-room Avalon has a classic main building that epitomized the California Dream of the '50s and '60s. Marilyn Monroe once lived here briefly, and the sun-splashed terraces and balconies overlooked a shimmering pool where beautiful young things lounged in bikinis. These days, the Avalon also includes two newer buildings, and the property's style is a hip homage to mid-century-modern style. Plush beds and modern amenities like CD and DVD players mix with original and reproduction pieces from that era's best-known designers (George Nelson, Noguchi, Eames). The young and fabulous can still be found here around the hourglass-shaped pool—these days, dining and sipping cocktails at the Blue on Blue restaurant.

Given its location a half block east of North Michigan Avenue, where $300 is the low-end norm for a room, the Avenue is notable for its easy-on-the-wallet rates, which can start at $199 for a double on weekend nights. All 350 rooms have flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, the smallest are a respectable 300 square feet, and those on the top floors have stellar Gold Coast views. The squat furniture, mud-brown palette, and small bathrooms leave much to be desired, and while the signature zebra-print chairs don't suit our taste, they're a lively signal of environmental awareness. (The hotel has adopted a Grevy's zebra, an endangered species, at the Lincoln Park Zoo.) The best bet for a business traveler is an iMac- and color printer–equipped Tech Room; parents can opt for a Kid-Friendly Room, which includes rainbow-colored quilts and a Wii game system. Light sleepers should be aware that hallway noise can be problematic—not all guest room doors fit their door frames properly—and some AC units rumble like a moped. However, things improve outside the rooms: There's a cocktail and tapas lounge on the 40th floor, a rooftop pool, and an Elephant & Castle outpost that serves shepherd's pie and fish and chips. Overall, the Avenue doesn't quite deliver a polished designer experience, but with savings like this, what did you expect?

The Avia is the hip new outsider that's subtly stirring things up among the grandes dames and drag queens who have long dominated Savannah's hotel scene. But that's not to say it doesn't have a colorful backstory: The hotel occupies the site of the old Savannah Daily News building, and its design pays homage to the region's heritage without going over the top. The restaurant's chandeliers could have been plucked from a nearby Victorian mansion, while the wicker furniture on the second-floor pool deck seems inspired by the palmetto baskets of the local Gullah people. Otherwise, the lines are clean and lean, with just the occasional splash of bright color. All the mod-cons are present (plasma-screen TVs, iPod docks, walk-in rain showers), and nouvelle Georgia cuisine is the forte at the low-key Kitchen & Wine Bar restaurant, with dishes like Sea Island crabmeat tacos and Vidalia onion soup that's thick enough to cut with a knife. All of this washed down with locally brewed Sweetwater pale ale, which the hotel encourages guests to take out onto the streets in good Savannah fashion for a moonlight stroll around the square and the nearby riverfront.

Being green has never felt as good as it does at Bardessono, whose main assets are its stumbling distance from more Michelin stars than any Paris pied-à-terre, paired with the atmosphere of an agrarian retreat. After check-in, done via a staffer's hip-slung electronic tablet, it's a short walk to the hotel's four courtyards, where stone walkways curve alongside meandering streams. Each of the 62 rooms comes with a patio and a two-person tub; a few also have outdoor showers. A rooftop lap pool with cabanas overlooks the hotel's own grapevines. The modernist architecture makes use of salvaged cypress wood, weathered steel, and reclaimed tufa stone, while the lobby ceiling is constructed of redwood wine barrel staves. Sustainability is key in the restaurant, as well, where simple preparations rely on locally sourced meat and fish and produce from the hotel's own gardens. The only sign of opulence having lost out to eco-friendliness is in the stiff recycled-material couches, which rustle like packing peanuts when you sit down.

The best place to slumber on Mount Desert Island is in a sleeping bag under the stars at an oceanfront campsite in Acadia National Park. If pitching a tent ain't your thing, though, or you're traveling in the black-fly season of late May and early June, book a room at the Bar Harbor Inn. Yes, the ho-hum decor and five-o'clock-shadow sheets should be tossed into the ocean. But the views are stunning, the service excellent, and the location—downtown, and a short drive from Acadia—ideal. The Bar Harbor Inn splits 153 rooms among three buildings: the Main Inn (best for convenience), the Oceanfront Lodge (best for balconies), and the Newport Building (best for a budget). A new, lighthouse-shaped spa and fitness center and a heated pool sit in the middle, while the inn's own pier hosts cruises on the Margaret Todd, a four-masted schooner. Don't miss sitting under a yellow umbrella at the outdoor Terrace Grille, cracking open a lobster.

Closed seasonally (December through March).

Visitors who'd prefer nocturnal solitude over the late-night rowdiness of downtown Austin should consider this tranquil resort on 4,000 acres of gorgeous Texas Hill Country about 20 minutes from downtown Austin. It's a golfer's paradise, where renowned coach Chuck Cook can fix your swing in the morning and let you test out the results in the afternoon on one of the four top-flight courses, including two Tom Fazio designs. There's also a full-service spa, 11 lighted tennis courts, and separate indoor and outdoor pools. Most of the 303 rooms are spacious, if unremarkable-looking, with views of the surrounding rolling hills; the 18 Texas-size suites are worth the upgrade for the plush leather armchairs and private balconies overlooking one of the courses. The Ben Crenshaw suite, at 1,800 square feet, including a dining room, 42-inch plasma TV, and whirlpool tub, is the granddaddy of the bunch. Skip the overpriced, overrated restaurant, however.

In a city that thrives on change, we have to wonder if Bellagio will ever go out of style. Built by Steve Wynn in 1998, the 3,933-room resort still stands as the pinnacle of luxury at the center of the Strip. It attracts new money, old money, wannabe money, and everyone in between. Room rates aren't cheap, but the service and amenities make it worth every penny. Couples who fight over bathroom privileges should book a suite: They have two separate bathrooms, one with a steam shower and the other with a Jacuzzi tub. First-time visitors, ask for a room facing the iconic dancing fountains out front; the view of these is actually better from lower floors. The resort also has two amazing restaurants, Picasso and Le Cirque. The property expanded in 2004 with a new tower geared toward the wellness set with expansive bathrooms, easy access to the newly modernized spa, and a casino-free walk to guest rooms from the lobby. For some reason, the line at the concierge desk is one of the longest in Vegas, so call hotel information from your room with any questions.

Gourmands and oenophiles tend to choose this place, an extension of the eponymous winery. Here, it's all about the grape: Each of the 57 rooms has a "wine grotto," with several complimentary bottles, and the first order of business at check-in is wine tasting, not credit-card swiping. The rooms occupy nine two-story stucco buildings that sit around a central croquet lawn and flowering gardens. The white-walled interiors are a bit stark, but lines are crisp and the fabrics soft (beds are dressed in Italian linens), and there are plush sofas by the fireplaces. Alas, bathroom lighting relies too heavily on fluorescents, but the oversize soaking tubs compensate, as do the signature handmade tangerine and lavender soaps. Upstairs rooms have more privacy, with vaulted wooden ceilings and decks; downstairs rooms have patios. All face either the croquet lawn or the vineyards and forested hills surrounding the lodge. The pluses here include a top-notch spa, the excellent Marinus restaurant, and frequent culinary- and wine-education events, especially during lavender and tomato seasons.

When the Bethel Inn opened in 1913, it was cool to arrive in a Model T; today the top forms of transportation are a pair of Rossignol skis or Merrell boots. The inn sprawls across 200 acres in hilly western Maine, near Sunday River ski resort and the White Mountain National Forest. In the winter, 20-something miles of cross-country trails wriggle through the grounds; come summer and fall, those who aren't hiking or biking in the mountains are golfing at the 18-hole championship course or canoeing on the lake. The Bethel Inn has 150 serviceable rooms, found in the main colonial complex (which also has a pool, health club, and spa) and in rows of town houses with one- to three-bedroom suites. Veal Schnitzel, prime rib, and char-grilled sirloin are mainstays at the more formal Main Dining Room, while the Millbrook Tavern & Grille serves pub grub and has an outside terrace. Depending on how much time you stay within resort boundaries, the Bethel Inn may mean a Dirty Dancing–style vacation, or simply a great place to hang up your dirty boots at the end of a day in the mountains.

The legendary "Pink Palace" opened in 1912, and the city of Beverly Hills literally grew around it. Today, the landmark Spanish Colonial building, still painted a garish Pepto-Bismol pink, sits on 12 acres of landscaped grounds filled with palms, banana plants, azaleas, and bougainvillea. Discreetly dotted about are the bungalows where stars like Elizabeth Taylor have from time to time taken up residence (she honeymooned with six of her husbands here). Phones are no longer carried by staffers to the booths of the Polo Lounge—sadly, cell phones have replaced that glamorous practice. Still, the chaise-surrounded pool, where Hollywood hopefuls once paid to have themselves paged in hopes of being noticed, still looks like the place where a young Marlene Dietrich used to lounge. (She would have liked the modern-day private treatment cabanas of the La Prairie spa.) Another sign of the times? The hotel's time-honored tearoom has recently been revamped into the swank Bar Nineteen 12, a stylish watering hole filled with beautiful people and young industry types. The 204 rooms, which differ in size and shape, are all furnished in plush, classic style, many with four-poster beds and marble-and-granite bathrooms with TVs. The 21 bungalows have fireplaces, separate living rooms, and dining rooms; some have pianos or treadmills. The one to book, though, is Bungalow 5, with its own private lap pool.

This historic landmark at the foot of Rodeo Drive has recently reverted to its original name (for the past 21 years, it was known as the "Regent Beverly Wilshire"). It was given a massive transformation a couple of years back, adding a spa with blue glass sinks and dramatic light effects (even the steam room has electric "stars" on the ceiling), six poolside cabanas with plasma TVs and iPods, and two stunning see-and-be-seen spots—CUT, a Wolfgang Puck steak restaurant designed by Richard Meier (where celebs like Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn, and Brangelina have dropped in—though probably not at the same time), and Sidebar, the lounge across the entry-way. Facing Wilshire Boulevard, with a few outdoor tables on the sidewalk, is Blvd, the chic-casual dining restaurant with a 180-foot-long onyx bar. The 395 luxurious hotel rooms have butterscotch-colored leather headboards on the beds, and dark-wood furniture.

Bishop Lamy, the first bishop of Santa Fe, acquired this land in the lee of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in 1851. After a spell as the vacation retreat of the Pulitzer family, the property expanded to 450 acres and in 1918 evolved into New Mexico's first resort. After various renovations, including the inevitable addition of a spa (called SháNah, the Navajo word for "vitality"), the 111-room lodge is worthy once again. It's some distance from downtown (three miles), but there's enough room out here for horseback riding, tennis courts, a pretty pool surrounded by cottonwoods, and hiking in the Santa Fe National Forest. Rooms are Southwestern all the way, with the compulsory ocher-olive-terra-cotta palette, adobe walls, exposed beams, and kiva fires (though some burn gas rather than wood). Invest in a deluxe room or above; these have outdoor spaces, whereas some regular rooms are claustrophobically viewless.

"Attention to rustic details" is a hallmark of this Smoky Mountain retreat. Guests can choose art- and antiques-filled rooms with feather beds, or opt for a cottage with a fireplace and a porch. "Fantastic farm-fresh food" like Laurel Creek squab is served at The Barn. A creamery, bakery, and charcuterie are on the premises. By day guests fish for rainbow trout or unwind at the spa set in a nineteenth-century farmhouse.

(59 rooms)

After a $128 million restoration (and a decade of legal wrangling), the historic Blackstone has emerged as the swankest hotel in Chicago's revitalized South Loop, convenient to Millennium Park, the Art Institute, and the theater district. Behind the redbrick, white stucco, and green copper Beaux Arts exterior are 332 updated rooms whose masculine red, black, and beige decor features Eames chairs and original works by contemporary Windy City artists. In place of the usual tourist bedside reading, the culturally attuned management provides books by local authors, including social histories of the Chicago blues and witty biographies of Chicago firehouse dogs. The lively in-house restaurant, Mercat a la Planxa, dishes up exquisitely presented (and reasonably priced) Catalan grills, tapas plates, and wine flights, conceived by Chicago-born chef José Garces.

The Scottish Tudor replica "at first appears stuffy, but then you meet the staff and feel so welcomed." In the antiques-filled rooms, "no detail is left undone," hence fabric-lined dresser drawers. The formal main dining room blends American and European flavors. In December, the property turns into "a winter wonderland" with an ice rink and a giant Christmas tree.

(24 rooms)

Bracketed between the Atlantic and the Intracoastal Waterway, this hotel is part of a 1,600-acre private resort. "Very generously sized rooms" have flat-screen TVs and French doors that open onto balconies. Sea Island Grill serves "fabulous hamburgers"; Lettered Olive offers contemporary dishes. The island "is great for walking and riding bikes without fear of traffic."

(93 rooms)

After staying at this upscale five-bedroom B&B that caters to fishing enthusiasts, you'll hopefully get to tell a tale about the big fish you caught instead of the one that got away. On the northern tip of a barrier island, this 1914-built home has a covered porch, a Knot Room filled with old fishing gear and charts, a private pier, and the feeling of living within an old-style Florida fishing village. There's deepwater fishing for grouper, tarpon, or shark just off-shore, and you can catch redfish, snook, ladyfish, trout, snapper, and more right from the pier. Breakfast is the only meal served here, but you can take a golf cart to lunch or dinner.

This resort north of Phoenix "blends in with the landscape" of 12-million-year-old granite formations. The mix of modern and traditional Southwestern decor is "done very well"; casitas have high wood-beamed ceilings and hot tubs. Eat oven-roasted guinea hen while taking in the waterfall view at the Latilla restaurant. The 33,000-square-foot spa offers Native American–inspired treatments.

220 rooms

The flophouses and drug dens of Bowery past have long been supplanted by boutiques and bars, but the new occupants still pay homage to the neighborhood's rakish past. Take the Bowery Hotel, which opened in 2007. Bathrooms with marble slabs and brass fixtures feel old-money New York, but in some, tubs-for-two sit next to exhibitionist floor-to-ceiling windows. The lobby bar's worn leather club chairs and salvaged church pews hold a rotating cast of models and media types under the influence of two-too-many vodka gimlets. But if the Bowery Hotel is a scene, it's a relatively unassuming one. Italian restaurant Gemma has all of the culinary chops of its downtown peers with none of the pretension (prices are reasonable and reservations a breeze for hotel guests). The decadent neo-boudoir style of the common spaces carved sandstone fireplaces, velvet-covered stools, fringed lampshades is offset by the more modern edge of the 135 rooms, with floor-to-ceiling factory windows and pillowy white-on-white beds. You won't get coddled at the Bowery eye-candy doormen are often too busy flirting to actually open the doors, and there is nary a spa, gym, or pool to be found but you will find a good-looking crowd and a comfortably lush place to lay your head when you're ready to escape it.

This longtime Provincetown fixture was starting to look worn when new owners—who also bought the Crowne Pointe Inn across the street—took over in 2008 and shined it up like new. Comprised of nine buildings surrounding a private courtyard with a pool, the Brass Key has a pleasantly compoundlike feel that makes it an unlikely oasis in P-town's densely populated downtown. Its almost entirely gay clientele includes many regulars who have returned for years, elevating the guests' average age. So, in the hope of luring a younger crowd—not too young, though; no children are allowed—the owners have brought in new furnishings and replaced the bathrooms in nearly half of the 43 units (so far). Also in the works are two new suites. The rooms are masculine and tastefully decorated with reproduction furniture, but guests spend less time in the rooms than around the pool and in the many public spaces, including a high deck in a turret that's popular at sunset, and a living room–like lobby with comfortable couches and a piano.

Set around two large courtyards filled with lush greenery and leafy palm trees, this hotel is where heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post crashed while prepping her manse Mar-a-Lago for the season. The hotel was designed in 1926 by Rosario Candela (the architect behind some of Manhattan's swankest Fifth Avenue apartment buildings) and got a face-lift in late 2007 that redesigned the still very British-colonial rooms with mahogany and Hauteville Doré limestone. The Brazilian Court continues to attract society types who prefer the privacy of the 80-room inn versus the Breakers, which is almost seven times the size. (The Brazilian Court also skips the Breakers's beachfront location, family-friendly fun, tennis courts, and golf course.) What the hotel lacks in activities it makes up for in big-name amenities: The salon is Frédéric Fekkai and the restaurant is Café Boulud, which provides room service until 11 pm.

Aah, the Breakers—one of the most famous, most exclusive, and yes, priciest places to stay in America (it's even snagged a spot on the National Register of Historic Places). Since its opening in 1896, the 550-room Breakers has played host to generations of great families—and those willing to pay big bucks to mix with the great families—during the social season. This 140-acre oceanfront Italian Renaissance–style property has extraordinary views, exceptional service, and amenities galore: Book in here for two 18-hole championship golf courses, three fitness centers, a beach club with fancy cabanas and water sports, five swimming pools, ten tennis courts, a 20,000-square-foot spa, and eight restaurants, most notably gourmet French spot L'Escalier. Lifelong visitors might remember the Breakers' rooms during the less-than-glorious 1990s, when they were, frankly, a little dingy and careworn. The owners have spent $250 million since then, updating the rooms and ensuring guests have access to high-speed Internet while they lounge on the gilt-and-floral furniture.

Rooms in yellows contrast with dark wood furniture at this Italian Renaissance resort. "You're 90 miles from Denver, but it feels like an oasis." Guests can get pedicures on a terrace or watch black swans glide around the property's lake. The Golden Bee is a pub with nineteenth-century panels shipped from England.

(700 rooms)

Close to the Seventh Avenue showrooms and just across the street from Bryant Park, where New York fashion shows are held, this modern hotel is popular with the style crowd—book very, very far in advance for September and February stays. As designed by British architect David Chipperfield, the rooms are lean and sharp with blond wood furniture and Tibetan rugs. Thankfully, a bedside sound machine helps block the rumble of midtown's streets. Expect to spot models and model wannabes everywhere, from the hip L.A. restaurant transplant Koi, located in the lobby, to the basement Cellar Bar.

Like Elton John, who performs regularly in the hotel's major concert venue, Caesars Palace has been around forever—and seems forever new. The resort casino turned 40 in 2006 but has never stood still. It has expanded the Forum Shops, opened the Roman bath–inspired QUA Spa, launched the celeb-studded Pure nightclub, and debuted the new Augustus Tower guest rooms—designed in a soothing mustard and white palette with clean lines, granite countertops, and modern amenities such as 42-inch flat-screen TVs. The redesign makes nary a reference to Caesar, which is refreshing, because the rest of the hotel is covered in columns, toga-clad cocktail waitresses, and other Roman kitsch. The resort is huge, so pack your walking shoes. And be specific when booking: It has almost 3,400 rooms in all, and some older ones still look dated with flowered bedspreads. These rooms are being renovated to match the modern look of the newer rooms—and go for around $100 a night less—but reserve one only if you plan to spend very little time in it.

From the folks who brought you Auberge du Soleil comes the Calistoga Ranch. Set amid tall pines and gnarled oaks in a narrow canyon southeast of downtown Calistoga in Napa Valley, the 46 private guest lodges have open layouts, private patios, indoor/outdoor showers, fireplaces, and large, well-placed windows that overlook dense woodlands. Because it's zoned as a trailer park, though, the property had to fit the existing footprint: Rooms are close together, small, and built on blocks—and though they're adorned with copper trim and cedar shingles, they still look like side-by-side storage boxes from the outside. To compensate and provide extra floor space, designers connected each suite's interior rooms with big outdoor decks under the canopy of oaks. On the grounds are walking trails, bocce courts, and an outdoor pool; the guests-only dining room overlooks Lake Lommel. The Bathhouse Spa gets its water from local hot springs, and all the treatments use indigenous ingredients such as bay laurel and eucalyptus. Some decry this property as garish and showy, and service isn't as tight as it should be at this price, but Calistoga Ranch still makes a great hideaway for a romantic retreat.

Refined Campton Place, which was purchased in spring of 2007 by the Taj hotel group, has only 110 rooms, which means that service is personal as well as polished. Staying here is as soothing as a cup of hot chocolate. Rooms are decorated in sand and cinnamon hues, with old-fashioned leather-topped writing desks and pear-wood paneling. Because the insulated glass windows block out urban noise, you may feel as if you're enjoying a weekend at a country house. The attached Campton Place Restaurant gets rave reviews for its Cal-Med cuisine executed with French-style precision and highlighting local produce (the full menu is also available for room service). The guests, mostly high-flying executives and couples on romantic getaways, tend to keep to themselves.

This alcohol-free health resort has classes "geared to every fitness level and interest," from preventative medicine to workshops on watercolors. The main marble and brick building is a replica of Louis XIV's Petit Trianon. Rooms have residential-style furnishings. Meals, designed by nutritionists, have "portion control and more flavor than typical healthy meals."

(126 rooms)

In a prime Mountain Village spot steps from the gondola into Telluride town, this 100-room stone-and-stucco resort feels pleasingly intimate despite its large scale. The polished staff—which includes a personal assistant stationed in the cozy Living Room (stocked around the clock with coffee and snacks)—are as courteous as they are good-looking, from waitstaff who remember special requests from the day before to ski valets who wipe down and warm up your gear. The guest rooms, coated in neutral tones that lend it a somewhat generic mountain lodge-style, are nonetheless bright and generously proportioned, with extra drawer space under an obscenely restful bed, a sofa and an armchair with a tufted leather ottomon, complimentary soft drinks, a soaking tub, and a powerful shower with a seating area. The Onyx restaurant, which overlooks the new ice rink, serves waist-widening breakfasts and a more formal meat-and-potatoes menu at night, while Suede Bar is a low-key après-ski choice. Flexible check-out times, a small but inviting indoor pool with bench seating (retractable glass doors open in good weather), and a spa with a relaxation lounge complete with a fireplace round out the amenities.

This handsome former sea captain's estate turned B&B—near Chatham's classic retail district and a short drive from the beach—is impeccably maintained by the enthusiastic young couple who bought the place in 2006. The 16 rooms are divided among four buildings: the Greek Revival–style main house, built in 1839, with beamed ceilings and walnut plank floors; a historic cottage relocated from Nantucket; a carriage house; and a converted stable. The best room is the Lydia Harding Suite, which takes up the entire second floor of the stable and has two fireplaces, a whirlpool, and a balcony. Several other rooms have whirlpools, too, and all are bright and tastefully decorated in colonial style. The friendly staff—composed almost entirely of hospitality and tourism students recruited from England—serves breakfast and afternoon tea in the airy dining room, which has patio tables overlooking the quiet lawn and garden. Subtle modern amenities, including Wi-Fi, a fitness center, and a heated pool, don't detract from the old-world charm.

Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of rum—the Captain Lord Mansion sits like a giant ship in downtown Kennebunkport, with a salty crew that tends to its 20,000 square feet. During the War of 1812, shipbuilder Nathaniel Lord commissioned this three-story Federal home; in 1978, innkeepers Bev and Rick Litchfield transformed the mansion into a B&B, naming its 20 elaborate rooms, all with down comforters and gas fireplaces, after ships built by the Lord family. But this is hardly a place of grog and gruel. Cook Sue Bouley makes mushroom, red pepper, and onion soufflés to start the day, along with sticky buns and fresh fruit over organic yogurt; bunks are filled with fine linens and ornate antiques. The best is the Merchant Captain's Suite, whose heated-floor bathroom has a ten-jet hydro-massage shower and hot tub you might never leave were it not for the lure of Gooch's Beach and a glimpse at the Bush compound nearby. (The inn will lend you a bike, gratis; water, juice, and soda are also complimentary.) The froufrou furnishings may be a bit over-the-top for some, but you can't beat the views from the cupola and widow's walk that top the mansion.

The most pedigreed of the Upper East Side hotels, this grande dame opened originally as a residential hotel in 1930, with composer Richard Rodgers as its first occupant. Over the years, every president and practically every celebrity and world leader has checked in behind its white-glove wall of discretion (so leakproof that only many years later did word come out about JFK's trysts with Marilyn Monroe here). Café Carlyle, longtime home to the late Bobby Short, still draws a stellar lineup of cabaret talent (including Woody Allen and his band on the Mondays he's in town), while Bemelmans Bar, one of Manhattan's swankiest boîtes, is enlivened by Loston Harris, a suave, talented pianist and singer. The 122 rooms, however, are a mixed bag: As designed by late society decorators Mark Hampton and Dorothy Draper in Empire and Louis XVI fashion, they're a little stiff and old fashioned, but renovations are underway (the hotel was taken over by the Rosewood group in 2000). The 59 additional suites are not to be sniffed at, with their grand pianos and even grander views of Central Park. Even if playing Chopsticks is the extent of your skill, opt for one of these.

If you prefer Wallpaper over Town & Country, and Minis over Bentleys, you'll love the modernist-meets-farmhouse aesthetic of the Carneros Inn, located in one of Napa Valley's least-developed areas. The inn was designed to reflect its agrarian surroundings, with 86 tin-roofed cottages grouped around flower-filled courtyards and rocking-chair front porches surrounded by orderly rows of grapevines, bucolic fields, and rolling hills. Interiors are idyllic in a very different way, with iconic Eames and Le Corbusier loungers, heated slate floors in the bathrooms, indoor-outdoor showers, and wood-burning fireplaces. Unlike most wine country retreats, kids are welcome here and even have their own pool. The inn's Euro-Cal dining room, Farm, has plush velvet booths, dark-wood floors, and high ceilings that give it the look of a converted dairy barn. Guests gather at the fire pits outside to sip wine at day's end. There's also the more casual Boonfly Cafe, as well as an on-site spa that puts local ingredients to good use—try the mustard-seed massage or the soothing goat butter wrap.

Originally built in 1920 by railway magnate Henry Flagler, Casa Marina reopened in December 2007 after a $43 million makeover and is now part of Hilton's Waldorf-Astoria Collection. The renovation was a stunning feat, restoring the place to its Golden Era glamour. (Sadly, the coffered wooden ceiling in the lobby is a reproduction: Ferocious termites chomped through the original.) The 311 rooms are now airy and loftlike, with dark woods, crisp white sheets, and ceramic tile floors. Rooms in the original building are the best, for their idiosyncratic layout and 15 rooms with large balconies. The nickel-and-diming on the small print (in addition to a $20 resort fee tacked on each day, Internet access costs $12) is irritating, but there are also unexpected free flourishes, like in-room Nespresso makers, hallway tables piled with copies of The New York Times, and pool attendants doling out gratis ice pops.

The Reach is Casa Marina's sister hotel, though it's on an entirely separate lot five minutes' walk away along the backstreets (1435 Simonton St.; 305-296-5000; www.reachresort.com). There's little difference between them in amenities or price: The Casa complex is a little more grand, though the 150 rooms at the Reach are more colorful, with bright accents like throw pillows in red and yellow. The clientele at both is Key West's most jet-set (expect to hear Italian, French, and German), though the pools at Casa Marina make it more popular with families.

The former courthouse sits on a street with "horse-drawn carriages and gas lamps—it's so welcoming." Inside, the "very Spanish" theme is evident in the tapestries and Moorish arches. Rooms with iron beds use colors to mirror the town's waterfront presence. At the "sexy 95 Cordova," try the ginger and black pepper sea scallops, served on Moroccan tile tabletops.

(138 rooms)

Live to golf? You won't get closer to the game than at this grand 1927 Mediterranean-style villa: It sits right on the first fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links. The hotel's 24 rooms are in newer, two-story buildings with hidden doorways and soundproof walls, so you won't have to hear fellow enthusiasts shouting "Fore!" Casa Palmero is the most luxurious of Pebble Beach's three lodging options; it's more chic and sophisticated than the Lodge at Pebble Beach (where the bars are crowded with noisy golfers at the end of the day), and more intimate than the sprawling Inn at Spanish Bay. Here, downstairs rooms have private gardens with Jacuzzi pools; upstairs rooms have oversized window seats as big as twin beds. All have wood-burning fireplaces. The furnishings are predictably fancy/stuffy—lots of rich fabrics, plush carpets, and linens from England—but the bathrooms are supermodern, with rainfall showerheads in marble stalls and heated slate floors. The property has a 25-room spa offering facials and massages, and evening cocktails are served fireside every night in the main villa's salon. For a spot of privacy, you can also take drinks in the billiard room or wood-paneled library.

This place is more famous for its beautiful—and overrated—restaurant. The five suites in the Mediterranean villa, on the other hand, are less widely known but altogether a better bet—provided you can snag one. Casa Tua now operates as a private club (Boris Becker and Elle Macpherson are among the founding set), and members get first dibs, so you must reserve as far in advance as possible. It's worth it. The owners, Michele and Leticia Grendene, have lavished extraordinary attention on the rooms, creating deluxe cocoons with overstuffed white sofas, four-poster beds, and lovely, unexpected details—Loro Piana cashmere throws, 200-year-old Chinese chests, '50s Italian chairs. Before you arrive, you fill out a personal amenity list so that your choice of Santa Maria de Novella toiletries is waiting in your glistening, white bathroom (you can buy them and plenty of other things around the house). You also choose grade of sheet, type of flower, scent of candle…it is, after all, "your house."

The Catalina is a rock 'n' roll mod fantasy: There's red shag carpeting everywhere, curvy white furniture, and thumping music in the lobbies and out by the pool. The all-white rooms are large and well equipped, with enveloping beds, stereos, gleaming bathrooms, and a chaise; for a few extra square feet—at a slightly higher price—book a room in the hotel's second building (the onetime Maxine Hotel). Best bonus at this hotel? Private nooks in the common areas, where you can steal away with a cocktail or a book. There are art books to browse in the main lobby's mezzanine, and a semi-private garden with squishy chairs and sofas. The only downside is the service, which is enthusiastic but a bit amateurish.

Originally the Scripps family's summer estate, this property was sold and converted into a hotel in 1958. The new owners opted for colonial Hawaiian–style architecture that's still in place today. Mahogany woods and South Pacific–inspired furniture outfit the 315 rooms. Yes, the theme can get a little stilted, especially when it comes to the luau nights, the lei-making table, and the the canoe hanging in the fake waterfall–equipped lobby. But hokey or not, the activities and the relaxed and welcoming vibe keep the Catamaran on the short list for families. The location is great too: a narrow spit of land between the Pacific Ocean and Mission Bay, good for swimming, kayaking, and sailing. The beach and boardwalk are just across the street, and Belmont Park and SeaWorld are also nearby.

This waterfront charmer with just 115 rooms—practically a B&B by Orlando's bloated standards—is a successful evocation of the Old Florida vibe, down to the verandahs furnished with leather couches and gently swatting ceiling fans. In the rooms, wooden four-poster beds and faux barn wood bathroom ceilings evoke an antique sensation, even if the property opened only in 1999. Service is a priority, and check-in is conducted, in the old style, at private desks. One could wish for slightly larger rooms, deeper bathtubs, or better parking facilities, but there's no faulting the tranquil lakeside location, a respite from the usual din of Orlando hotels. The in-house restaurant might encourage an insular stay despite the fact that Disney's campus is just two miles west, but just outside, guests can ply the Disney-built lakeside quay, which is lined with cafés, boutiques, and wooden rocking chairs.

With more than 200 works of modern art on display and just 60 rooms, Chambers is either a hotel acting as an art gallery or vice versa—you decide. Whatever the verdict, it's shockingly trendy, remarkably austere, and yet pleasingly comfortable. The arctic-cool tone of the place is established behind the front desk, where a Damien Hirst skinned bull's head floats starkly in a tank of formaldehyde, and continues as you travel down a dim corridor to your room, past a video art installation showing the work of William Wegman and others on dozens of monitors. The service, though less than efficient, is delivered with unfailing Midwestern goodwill; rooms are spartan but have pampering touches such as heated bathroom floors and beds as soft as ermine. The excellent Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant and the blue-flamed fire in the lobby offer warmth and sustenance in the coolest venue of one of the country's coldest climes. The Rooftop Bar is included among the 2007 Hot List Nights.

A far more overt attempt than the subtler City Club to bring downtown style to midtown, this 77-room hotel owes its soul to art, with 500 contemporary works exhibited throughout the hotel. In keeping with the theme, rooms are designed as open-plan artists' lofts—rich artists, presumably, to be able to afford such a prime location just off Fifth Avenue. The showiest is a duplex suite with a 750-square-foot terrace. Furnishings are contemporary but not stridently so. Red rugs on polished wood floors and gold or purple velvet seating warm the spaces.

A favorite of power brokers, politicians, and movie stars, this stylish 440-room hotel is best enjoyed on an expense account. Orient Express hotels does it up right here, from the Italian marble lobby with its spiral staircase and 12-foot crystal chandelier to the attentive staff. Big, inviting rooms are appointed with period furnishings, balconies, and marble bathrooms. For first-class treatment and stunning views, request a "club level" room. An infinity pool with retractable roof, spa, and swank restaurant round out the deluxe possibilities. What's more, the hotel is just a credit card swipe from the city's hottest restaurants, attractions, and shops; in fact Gucci's on the ground floor.

This rustic Relais & Châteaux property in the center of Edgartown is the best hotel on Martha's Vineyard—and one of the most expensive. (Rooms start at $295 and top out at $950 per night.) A no-kids and no–cell phone policy and a doting but discreet staff make this equestrian-themed oasis with manicured gardens and intimate nooks our first choice for romantic getaways or special occasions. (Book way in advance.) Owners Gerret and Paula Conover decorated the five 18th- and 19th-century houses so beautifully that the inn inspired its own coffee-table book: Behind the Times on Purpose. While each of the 25 rooms is distinctive, all are appointed in comfortable English country style with antiques, old paintings, objets d'art, and large bathrooms. For extreme privacy, ask for the three-room carriage house; if you want to lounge on your own private terrace, snag room 21.

At this hotel south of Yosemite, guests encounter "one-of-a-kind heaven." All rooms are individually furnished and "superbly comfortable while elegant," with fresh flowers, wood-burning fireplaces, and wrought iron Parisian balconies. "Staff read your wishes from your eyes." The dinner-only Erna's Elderberry House offers French cuisine with California ingredients.

(12 rooms)

Jean Harlow carried on an affair with Clark Gable while honeymooning here with her husband, Harold Rosson—that's just one of many rendezvous the Chateau has supposedly played host to. Built in the late '20s in the style of a Loire Valley mansion, it was falling into disrepair by the time John Belushi overdosed and died there in 1982. In the early '90s, though, haute hotelier André Balazs took over, and it's been a hot spot ever since. Although it sits at the eastern end of the Sunset Strip, it's set so high up from the road and surrounded by such dense vegetation that it feels like a secret oasis. You never know who you'll spy sitting in the garden or lounging in a chair amid the Gothic arches of the colonnade. The 50 rooms and suites, four cottages, and nine bungalows are all unique. Suites in the main building have dressing rooms, kitchens, and dining areas; a few have working fireplaces. The decor is a mix of eras: Stickley coffee tables and Deco headboards share space with wicker chairs and Oriental rugs. The infamous Room 64, the two-bedroom penthouse in the main building, has a 1,500-square-foot terrace, where Colin Farrell was once caught making out with Britney Spears by the paparazzi. Over-the-top amenities include chauffeur-driven cars, personal trainers, 24-hour shoeshine service, and Frette baby linens.

The grandest of the classic Cape Cod hotels, and by far the best, the Chatham Bars was built in 1914 by a Boston stockbroker. In 2006, another Boston mogul, Richard Cohen (formerly Mr. Paula Zahn), bought it for $166 million and spent another $30 million on renovations and an expansion. With 18 room types to choose from—there are 40 rooms in the main inn, and an additional 176 in the surrounding cottages—making a reservation can feel like choosing a college. Rooms in the main inn, Cranberry Cottage, and Privet Cottage were renovated in 2009. Each room has a Bose Wave radio, plasma TV, espresso machine, and a new bed enveloped in Frette linens; the best one of all is the two-bedroom, 1,500-square-foot Presidential Suite, with a deck overlooking the ocean. For privacy and direct access to the quarter-mile hotel beach, book a room in one of the cottages along the water; ocean-facing rooms in the main house have the best views. Avoid the rooms in the Beach House—they're above a restaurant and bar that can get noisy. The Chatham Bars is a ten-minute walk from Chatham's quaint downtown and 20 minutes from picturesque Chatham Light—but with a private beach, poolside minibar-equipped cabanas, a wide veranda overlooking Pleasant Bay, a 52-foot Viking yacht for deep-sea fishing, and on-site spa treatments, you'll find plenty to do right here. There are also children's programs during the summer—including etiquette classes!—and an adjacent nine-hole public golf course. (Many of these services cost extra, on top of the $9 daily resort fee.) The dining options, all overseen by chef Anthony Cole, are equally diverse: seafood-centric formal dining, comfort food in the tavern, tapas-style snacks from the Veranda, or a clambake and a drink on the beach at the Beach House Grill. At peak season, a staff of 460 employees is on hand to make sure your stay is flawless—they'll hover but not intrude.

The Veranda and Beach House Grill close in the winter, but the inn stays open year-round.

During the gold rush, it wasn't uncommon for a hopeful miner to spend 18 hours a day in a dark shaft, shivering. But about 60 miles north of Fairbanks, there was a cure: Chena Hot Springs. Now a popular getaway for locals and travelers looking to experience the boonies without the inconvenience of a two-seater airplane and a tent, Chena is a classic gold rush–style lodge in the middle of nowhere. (Directions from Fairbanks are basically to drive toward the Arctic Circle and turn right.) Befitting the location, the 80 rooms are simple—similar to a budget motel down south. In summer, you can opt to sleep in one of the Mongolian-style yurts (bring your own sleeping bag). The real draw here are the tubs outside, which fill with mineralized hot water that's considered great for rheumatism, psoriasis, and generally lazing about. Unlike a lot of Alaskan resorts, Chena is open year-round, and winter is the best time to come: There are fewer day-trippers (passes are $10 per day); the contrast between the hot water and cold landscape is marvelous; and night after night, the aurora borealis lights up the sky.—Edward Readicker-Henderson

This is a British expat favorite—note the Union Jack fluttering above the entrance—with 52 rooms decorated to make these guests feel right at home. Flouncy bedspreads, heavy drapes, and antique-style desks seem borrowed directly from a chintzy English country house, though the huge TVs are flat-screens. There's a smallish pool with striped awnings and metal furniture that give a whiff of vintage Agatha Christie (the beach is three blocks away). The after-hours spots are worth stopping in even if you aren't staying at the hotel: The cigar menu at the Churchill Room is intense (pair a $25 Savinelli with a $175 shot of Louis XIII Remy Martin) and the Leopard Lounge is one of the few buzzy spots for an evening drink on the Island. That, and the hotel's quirky/quaint details—dishes of jelly beans everywhere, satisfyingly hefty old-fashioned room keys instead of electronic cards—lend the Chesterfield a sense of whimsy sorely missing from other Palm Beach hotels.

Jill Abbyad opened this bed-and-breakfast more than two decades ago with her husband, Charles, after fleeing a corporate job in San Francisco. The couple live upstairs with their two teenage children, which gives this place an inimitable homeyness—but not at the expense of privacy. Each of the five rooms, arrayed around two quiet courtyards, has its own entrance; numbers 2 and 3 have original heart pine floors and (nonworking) fireplaces from 1876. All are cozy and cottagelike without coming off as overly precious. During breakfast (fresh French bread, cheeses, fruit, and pastries), Jill, always knowledgeable and animated, will help you plan your day, matching your particular interests with her favorite spots and outings. She can also put together a self-drive Katrina tour for interested guests. The residential Uptown location makes for a peaceful retreat: It's at the edge of the Garden District and within close walking distance of stately, mansion-lined St. Charles Avenue. Parking and WiFi are included in the room rate.

The Cliffside's big draw is its right-on-the-sand location, just west of Jetties Beach a mile from town: You can walk out of your room or suite (there are 26 total) and a minute later be in the water. A private club since 1949, the Cliffside owns its stretch of shore and has a healthy respect for its history. The beach pavilion and a set of wooden changing rooms have been there since 1904, and some of the interiors (especially in the 10 Gold Coast rooms and the beach cottage) have a vintage feel, with patchwork quilts and antique wood or wicker furniture. There's a 3,000-square-foot exercise room, hydrotherapy spa, and a guests-only bar and café. The outdoor pool complex is great for lap-swimming, but otherwise superfluous, since the waves beckon just outside. Although certain rooms are designated adults-only, the hotel is very family-friendly; you'll see more than a few tykes making sand castles or napping under the trademark yellow, blue, or green beach umbrellas.

Open mid-May through mid-October.

The Mediterranean Revival hotel has a terra-cotta roof, towered stairways, and interiors with Turkish kilims. The spa is "like being in a botanical garden." Enjoy a specialty margarita at the River Bar, followed by regional cuisine such as barbecued stuffed quail. Rooms with global antiques are "so peaceful."

(175 rooms)

This 90-room hotel is a youngster by Palm Beach terms—it was only built in 1947—but it echoes its neighbors' hushed, moneyed elegance (the Florida-shaped swimming pool's a waggish touch). Like most of the hotels on the Island, the Colony is only a couple blocks from the beach and just a block from Worth Avenue. A five-year, $13 million makeover upgraded the admittedly still pocket-size rooms with breezy yellow decor inspired by the British West Indies. But if you are staying at the Colony, you are here for the legendary suites. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor crashed in the penthouse during their itinerant post-abdication exile, and last year the hotel finally honored the renegade royals by renaming the 1,900-square-foot, two-bedroom penthouse in their honor. (Look for the framed check His Royal Highness used to pay the $1,000 bill back in 1961—now, rates start at $2,000 a night.) Across the road from the main building is the Colony's most exclusive enclave. The circa-1928 Casa Manana has been turned into seven stand-alone villas, available in season for monthly rentals from $20,000 to $30,000. That monthly charge is a hint at the clientele here: largely longtime regulars who hole up in Palm Beach for a chunk of the chilly northern winter. Their dominance helps give the hotel a pleasant, homey vibe. Nightlife here also fits with the laid-back atmosphere, with a steak house that doubles as a piano bar and the Royal Room Cabaret.

Following a $16 million renovation—courtesy of Cher's interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard—the Spanish-style Colony Palms is redeeming itself after stints as a brothel and a mobster-owned speakeasy back in the 1930s. The 56 rooms in this Moroccan-chic boutique are small but lovingly appointed with high-tech goodies (flat-screen TVs, Wi–Fi, iPod docking stations), seven-foot tall Turkish tapestry headboards, and swank touches such as Dean & Deluca nibbles in the mini-bar. The tropical-inspired restaurant bar, The Purple Palm, is a comfortable place to sip cocktails by the pool or take in the purple mountain vistas, all of which makes this casually cool retreat feel worlds away—somewhere between Casablanca and Ibiza—from its convenient downtown Palm Springs setting.

Hyper-stylish and bathed in natural light and textures, most rooms in the 26-story high-rise have floor-to-ceiling windows lasciviously exposed (should you opt not to use the blackout curtains) to neighboring offices and condos. The vibe is simultaneously spare and plush, with industrial-cement ceilings, ribbed wallpaper, indecently comfortable beds, and metallic velour textiles. All rooms have spa-inspired bathrooms and the latest gadgetry, including fully stocked wine chillers. The spa, booked solid on weekends, offers a greatest hits menu of moderately priced massages, facials, and wraps. The Dana has a choice location between North Michigan Avenue and the River North dining and gallery district, but reserve a table if you want to go to its duplex steak and sushi restaurant, Ajasteak, a new neighborhood hot spot. The rooftop Vertigo Sky Lounge has a glassed-in bar and an outdoor fire pit where the city's remaining smokers can light up with impunity.

West Dover is home to Mount Snow, the Vermont ski mountain closest to the tristate area (i.e., metropolitan New York City). Urban escapees looking to be doted on, whatever the season, would do well with the Deerhill. That's because one of the owners, Michael Allen, is a former chef who fuels guests with the likes of white wine–braised artichokes, pan-fried veal tenderloin, and lemon-ricotta tarts. He and partner Stan Gresens have been running this cheery inn since 2002, and the top-notch food (including out-of-this-world homemade breads) keeps guests coming back. The 14 rooms are winners, too: Each has its own character, ranging from the Rose Garden, with an antique brass bed and flowered spread, to the canopied Apple Blossom and the two-room Garden Suite. Many have private balconies that face the mountains or the pool and gardens. In the summer, there's nothing better than sitting in the fresh air, reading one of the many books or magazines that are strewn about the place.

By far the most interesting Disney-run hotel—and the best choice for guests who aren't enamored of the company's mythology—the 1,307-room property, several miles from the western frontier of the Disney campus, overlooks savannahs stocked with real African game. Giraffes, zebras, ostrich, and other animals roam carefree, and most rooms have a furnished balcony peering over the cud-chewing action (a fraction face the parking lot or animal-free gardens). The buzzy lobby mimics a luxury safari lodge and hosts regular wildlife talks and movie screenings beneath its 100-foot vaulted atrium. Away from the animals, in a secluded grove by the property's three restaurants (one counter-service, two by reservation), there's a pool with a water slide. Rooms are accented with carved woods and mock-Afro fabrics, but are standard in every other way. And if you actually want to do anything—from having dinner (with a reservation) to storing luggage—be prepared to wait in line.

The ne plus ultra of Walt Disney World hotels, the lakeside Grand Floridian cribs directly from the palatial Victorian look of San Diego's Hotel del Coronado, down to the faux-cage elevator in the five-story lobby. You can't pick a more dreamily convenient Disney hotel—it's a single monorail stop away from the Magic Kingdom, and four from Epcot. There are tennis courts, boat rentals, seven places to eat (two at the gourmet end), two pools, a spa, and a well-used wedding pavilion. The service is less than solicitous, but the sense of elitism is as well stage-managed as you'd expect (cue the small orchestra in the lobby). Rooms are fairly standard and have the usual dark and tiny Disney bathrooms, but are somewhat embellished by flat-screen TVs and iPod-playing clock-radios. Since they're spread around six buildings, you'll likely have to walk outside to reach yours. Only the few "Lagoon View" rooms stand a chance of having a view of the Magic Kingdom (availability is first-come, first-serve upon check-in), but the park's nightly fireworks are visible to all from the resort's ferry dock.

We'll be shocked if the Donovan makes it through the Obama administration without cropping up in some political sex scandal or other. Opened in March 2008 by the same group behind the Hollywood Roosevelt and New York's 60 Thompson, it has a racy, after-hours vibe, thanks to dim mirrored hallways and a loungelike lobby. The Thomas Circle location is sure to invite misbehavior as well—it's within walking distance of the new string of high-end clubs along K Street (Lima, Lotus) and the hipster hangouts lining 14th and U. The hotel's rooftop pool is certain to become a stop along that circuit. The 193 spacious rooms have brand-conscious adornments—Kiehl's body products, Sferra linens, Kiki de Montparnasse intimacy kits—and a mod '60s vibe. A chocolate leather headboard wraps up the wall and across the ceiling; aubergine curtains cover floor-to-ceiling windows. An opaque white shower stall spirals out from the bathroom, casting a glow into the bedroom and revealing suggestive shadows of whoever's inside. The standard rooms are among the biggest in D.C., though upgrading will give you access to deep soak tubs for two. It all adds up to a refreshing dose of grown-up sophistication among Washington, D.C.'s crop of boutique hotels, many of which cross the line between class and kitsch.

Named for the cattle baron who built it in 1886, this grand four-story mansion is an old-world sanctuary set smack in the heart of boisterous Sixth Street. The historic ambience—LBJ once holed up here awaiting election results—is established by the soaring stained-glass dome in the lobby. A 2008 renovation combined the new with the old in the 189 guest rooms: a Victorian-style settee is upholstered with modern graphic fabric, nailhead-trimmed leather furniture is a nod to Texas ranches. The bar is decked out in comfy leather chairs, low lighting, warm wood, and—of course—cowhide; and you're likely to see quite a few locals rubbing elbows with out-of-towners. Other modern touches include high-speed Internet, a fitness center, and a spa, making it a civilized base for sampling the vitality of the surrounding neighborhood. From one of the balconies overlooking Sixth, you'll spot several restaurants, but you won't find one in the neighborhood better than the Driskill Grill.

The only public space at this quietly hip newcomer is the sleek, narrow lobby, whose lounge is far too small for entourages, let alone paparazzi. With one bold red parenthesis of a banquette and a few dashes of cushioned benches, it is just big enough for a few people to meet before dinner at adjoining 'BeCa, which has an Italian-leaning menu notable not only for its quality but also for its ample portions and reasonable prices (a dish of gnocchi, $14). Compact as a yacht, the hotel anchors the workaday corner of Church and Duane streets, surrounded by TriBeCa's evolving mix of superb restaurants and old take-out joints, cutting-edge shops and discount clothing stores. Light floods the 45 guest rooms, which tend to be small but quiet. Done in cheerful green chartreuse with blond wood, they display quality details, from faux-stone bath tiles to generous white Mama Bear bedding. The darkly elegant hallways, with glowing silver panels inset in mauve walls, epitomize this fine new property, which clearly—and wisely—values privacy over flash-in-the-pan popularity.

This one-of-a-kind metal-clad property is Seattle's only waterfront hotel. Not only waterfront—the entire building is actually perched on piers in Elliott Bay, so when you're looking out your bedroom window, you feel as if you're on a boat. (The Beatles stayed here in 1964 during their first American tour and fished from the window of room 272—now a deluxe suite.) The 223-room hotel has a woodsy Northwest theme: red-and-green plaid carpets, antler chandeliers and chairs, birch-bark wallpaper, and a teddy bear on every bed. Be sure to ask for one of the newly renovated waterside rooms—they're a bit more expensive, but they have larger bathrooms and sliding doors that open to incredible sunset views.

The 27 rooms may be tiny, but what they lack in space they make up for in style, price, and prime location on Sonoma's historic town plaza. Each room has a steel four-poster bed, Miró-esque paintings, and a small wrought-iron balcony. The bathrooms are also small, and nothing special, but they're spotless. The hotel's common spaces are more spacious: a popular restaurant that serves contemporary Californian dishes, a swimming pool flanked by lounge chairs, a lush courtyard with intertwining grapevines and a 150-year-old fig tree, an on-site café bakery, and a lobby with hip decor that would be equally at home in a W hotel. If you require more space for lounging than a bed and a single chair, you'll feel cramped (opt for one of the hotel's four suite-like bungalows). But if you spend your days out and about, you'll appreciate economizing on your room and having the extra money to spend buying wine. Book early: The hotel's bargain prices are no secret.

In Back Bay, convenient to Fenway, Symphony Hall, Newbury Street, and especially the Harvard Club, which is next door, the neo-Georgian Eliot is named after Harvard President (1869–1909) Charles Eliot, even though he didn't live to see the building finished. Still belonging to the family that bought it during the Depression, the place goes for traditional comfort with either taupe toile and frills or raw brown silk accented by leopard prints, and framed prints in its suites—yes, suites—there are 79 of them, plus only 16 rooms. The hotel is distinguished by its world-class restaurant, Clio, and its sashimi bar, Uni, plus its uncommon kid-friendliness: Under-18s share your room free, in a crib if required, and there's babysitting on demand (for a fee).

This Nantucket Shingle-style lodge with Atlantic views and a perfect location score is "the quintessential beach getaway," replete with sweeping rooflines and broad porches. Antiques-filled rooms score perfectly for walls with jewel tones that contrast with mahogany floors. The rocking chairs on the porch are "a great place to sit and enjoy the sight of the ocean."

(25 rooms)

When this 36-room lodge opened in 2003, it gave Taos the destination resort it sorely lacked. The stand-alone suites and many secluded, landscaped acres made it feel at once open and intimate. In fall 2007, however, the room count was more than doubled, to 84. The good news is that the staff is as well trained and gracious as ever, and the additions are set away from the original suites. The bad news is the new "Rocky Mountain" rooms are in a mundane two-story building, intended to accommodate conferences and wedding groups. Stick with the original rooms, which have more character and charm than the additions. The least-expensive casitas are sweet (some have patios), but the top-of-the-line Global Suites are worth the premium: Set among terraced waterfalls and ponds, they have one or two bedrooms, massive showers and tubs, and well appointed living rooms with a wet bar and dining table. Each is decorated in the style of a different country, a gimmick that's nonetheless pulled off particularly well (handpainted tiles and Andalusian shawls in the Spain suite, bamboo shades and kimonos in the Japan room). All rooms have wood or gas-burning kiva fireplaces. The spa has been enlarged to accommodate the added guests, but it's hard to believe that groups won't invade the serene public spaces such as the plunge pool or De La Tierra restaurant, which serves New American food with Southwestern accents (try the elk chop and chicharrón chimichanga).

Right across from the Alamo, this newcomer makes it "easy to walk everywhere." Conceived in the 1920s as a medical office building, the Gothic Revival design still has terra-cotta gargoyles with toothaches and other ailments. At Oro, the menu is contemporary American. Rooms have "the most comfortable beds."

(177 rooms)

The 71 casitas sit among pine trees in "a truly breathtaking, almost magical setting." Rooms with Southwestern furnishings "make outstanding use of natural light"—"we loved the skylights in the bathroom." Yavapai allows diners 180-degree views of the surroundings and has a menu that includes buffalo tenderloin with quail sausage.

(220 rooms)

The $2.3 billion sister property to The Wynn (connected via a shopping esplanade) is smaller than its predecessor. It's difficult to describe a 2,034-suite hotel with 185,000 square feet of casino and retail space as intimate, but Encore feels friendlier and has more sex appeal, in part because the decor is very, very red—from the butterfly-patterned carpets to the Rubino glass chandeliers. Encore's most sultry space by far is the Botero steak house, one of five restaurants, and out on the European Pool deck, where topless babes sunbathe while their companions smoke cigars and play blackjack. Rooms, thankfully, don't have scarlet fever and are as spacious as they are refined: The smallest are a sprawling 700 square feet, with a 42-inch rotating TV, remote-control blinds, and a bedside button that activates the do-not-disturb light on the door. The simple color palette—primarily black and white softened by creams and browns—is enhanced by the range of textiles and textures, from the plush velvet sofas and wispy chiffon curtains to lacquered dressers and coarse houndstooth wall coverings.

The Equinox, in the southwest of the state, has been around since 1769, and what was once a hangout for British loyalists still has the flavor of an English hunting lodge. Still, it has seen a lot of changes in its time, and so it goes again: In 2008, the 183-room property shed its somewhat stodgy interior with the help of New York interior designer Geoffrey Bradfield. The $20 million renovation includes contemporary fabrics in chocolate brown, slate blue, and beige, plus hand-carved wardrobes, iPod docking stations, and LCD flat-screen TVs. The upgrade—on the heels of HEI Hotels' purchase of the Equinox from RockResorts—earned the resort membership in the Starwood Luxury Collection. The property's raison d'être, however, is its setting in 1,300 wooded acres in the Taconic Mountains. Activities include golf at the par-71, 6,423-yard course; fly-fishing and clay pigeon shooting at the Orvis schools; off-road driving with the Land Rover Experience Driving School; and taking a class at the British School of Falconry. When you're ready to go back inside, the 13,000-square-foot spa features perhaps the prettiest indoor pool in Vermont. But dining at one of the three restaurants—including the Chop House (heavy on the hunting lodge look)—or lounging in the Falcon Bar, which pairs wines and scotches with chocolates and cheeses, speaks to the resort's more indulgent past rather than a health-obsessed present.

The hacienda-style Estancia sprawls along the bluffs north of La Jolla. Setting the Spanish Mission mood are red-tile roofs, faux-adobe walls, and 210 rooms and suites set around arcaded courtyards. Interiors are equally inviting—an eye-pleasing array of apricot, avocado, and pumpkin hues set against Mexican reproduction antiques and Indonesian wicker. The Adobe restaurant blends fresh-off-the-boat San Diego seafood with traditional ranchero dishes such as grilled rib-eye steak. The after-dinner crowd adjourns to The Library for a quiet Cognac or strolls across the rose garden to the Mustangs & Burros bar, where drinks are served alfresco in front of a roaring fire and accompanied by a flamenco guitarist. The Spa at Estancia offers citrus body scrubs and outdoor massages.

It's near blasphemy to say, but for our money the 450-room Kea Lani outranks the neighboring Four Seasons as the loveliest resort on the island. Sure, boldface names flock to its more stylish, more lavish next-door neighbor, but to us the Fairmont feels friendlier and less pretentious—a more grown-up sort of luxury. There are no bad rooms among the 413 spacious, feng shui–styled suites. Some have panoramic ocean views and all have balconies. And if you want to splurge, the 37 two- and three-bedroom oceanfront villas (upward of $3,200 a night in high season, including rental car) will feel like your own private beach house. Your villa's stark-white Mediterranean-style architecture may seem out of place at first, but you'll have no complaints about the private courtyard plunge pool, great service, or palm-shaded setting. Villas also include an outdoor grill and full kitchen, but since KO restaurant—which serves a menu culled from the food traditions of Hawaii's plantation workers—significantly upgraded the Kea Lani's dining options, you'll be less likely to fire up the grill yourself.

Located in a 12-story Italian Renaissance–style building, the centrally located Fairmont is easily the most luxurious hotel in Seattle. The 450 rooms have a lavish residential feel; marble bathrooms are outfitted with deep soaking tubs and basketfuls of Penhaligon's products. Room renovations, to be completed by 2010, will freshen up this historic hotel's interiors with modern yet regal hues (fewer pastels, more deep wines and blues) and new fixtures and electronics. There are two restaurants on-site: the formal Georgian, with French-inspired Northwest cuisine; and Shuckers, a clubby, oak-paneled oyster bar. Service is top-notch with fun little extras, like a complimentary shoe shine and chocolate-covered strawberries as turndown goodies. Refreshingly, children are welcome; there are plush child-size robes at the concierge desk and complimentary milk and cookies upon check-in.

From the moment you enter, this 32-acre 540-room property is a compound of serenity. Palm trees sway, birds chirp, waves lap at the sand, and green sea turtles appear every afternoon. Once a Ritz-Carlton (you'll see it in the formal architecture), Fairmont took over in 2002 and overhauled the property from top to bottom. The renovation included warming up the guest-room decor with tropical touches, redesigning the popular Norio's Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, and adding a Fairmont Gold floor (we recommend the upgrade—the money you'll save by feasting on three daily buffets offsets the extra expense). Views from the guest rooms vary quite a bit—ask for at least a partial ocean view. Dramatic ocean views are also to be had on the green fairways bordering black lava fields of the resort's adjacent 36-hole Francis H. I'i Brown Golf Courses (North and South), and the outdoor Spa Without Walls is one of the most unique facilities on the island. (Get a rubdown in a thatched hut with a stream of water running beneath.) In 2006, Fairmont added a hip outdoor dinner luau called "The Gathering of the Kings," during which performers in nontraditional costumes entertain with modern dance to a foot-tapping contemporary soundtrack.

Perched atop Nob Hill, the venerable Fairmont is the hotel where Tony Bennett first crooned, "I left my heart in San Francisco." The lobby dazzles with its gilded opulence—a riot of gold-framed mirrors, potted palms, impressive columns, and the building's original marble floors from 1907. Most of the luxurious rooms feature Asian antique reproductions and rose-marble bathtubs. Downstairs, the sublimely kitschy Tonga Room offers Asian food and cocktails, and California cuisine is served at the Laurel Court Restaurant. The Fairmont is perfect for a romantic weekend, especially if you're looking for a place wreathed in San Francisco history.

The Fairmont Scottsdale is a favorite of duffers—probably because it's adjacent to the 18-hole Stadium Course, site of the annual FBR Open, the Phoenix area's only PGA tournament. (If you're in town for the weekend of the FBR, talk to the concierge about getting into the Bird's Nest, the legendary after-party.) A standout in the Fairmont brand, the pink palace covers more than 450 immaculately landscaped acres and has a series of pools and waterslides that attract an eclectic mix of couples, families, and guys on bachelor weekends. Readers of Condé Nast Traveler picked Willow Stream Spa here as one of America's top resort selections in 2007. The menu of spa selections is peppered with funky treatments for golfers—check out the Golf Performance Treatment, combining massage, stretching, and acupressure to help improve mobility. The 651 guest rooms' heavy Southwest look is a bit much, but there is a great selection of villas, suites, and casitas. There are several restaurants to choose from here, but sadly, the Marquesa—which had a legendary brunch—has closed.

Until upscale hotels are built in Hilo (a picturesque locals' town that's just 30 minutes by car from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park), the Shipman House B&B and this lushly landscaped private rental home are the area's best bets. Compared to double-room rates on the other side of the island (one night at the Fairmont Orchid can top $800), this three-bedroom house on a small strip of Reed's Island in the Wailuku River Valley is a steal, especially considering the waterfall views and sexy indoor hot tub. It's best to focus on the lush scenery, as the interiors are generically functional. Even though the Falls feels as if it's on a distant private island, downtown Hilo's restaurants and shops are just about a mile away. Since tropical gardens are often rainy and buggy, come prepared.

Two types of people stay here: Those who want to know how high rollers live, and actual high rollers. Located next to big brother property The Palms, about a mile off the Strip, the 53-story Fantasy Tower is mostly filled with regular rooms for the wannabe rollers (they're comfortable and similar to those at the Palms). The buzz comes from Hugh Hefner's new Playboy Club on the top level and the 14 Fantasy Suites and Sky Villas—both seem to have been designed by an overimaginative 14-year-old boy. The 10,000-square-foot Hardwood Suite will give you an idea of the silliness: a split-level NBA-inspired pad with an actual half basketball court and three massive courtside Murphy beds for postgame activities. Classy it ain't, but it could be awfully fun. Slightly more demure are the Hot Pink Suite for bachelorettes and the Erotic Suite, with a stripper pole in the shower. Hef's own suite has a cantilevered Jacuzzi that sticks out over the building. None of this comes cheap—suites go for about $3,000 to $40,000 per night and can be viewed comprehensively on the hotel's website. If you're a mere mortal, the best you can hope for is sharing an elevator with a music celebrity—this is the only hotel in Vegas with a recording studio.

You won't find actual farmers here, but the famous Farmers Market is just a short walk from this cute, family-owned hotel. It's also across the street from CBS Television City, where The Price Is Right is taped—lots of contestants stay here, and there's an altarlike photo display of recent prize-winning guests in the lobby. Sixty-six rooms and suites are done up in country-chic style: denim bedspreads, exposed wood floors, and small farm-themed paintings. The pool is merely adequate (don't expect lush landscaping or a view of anything, and watch out for a floating leaf or two), but the staff's helpfulness, the great location, and the price more than make up for it. Assuming, of course, you're the game-show type. Breakfast at Tart, the hotel's restaurant, doesn't hurt, either: Try the French toast stuffed with mascarpone and berries.

This dairy-farm homestead south of Chapel Hill feels "somewhat isolated." Original farm buildings are incorporated into the design, complemented by "gardens and flowers everywhere." "Bright, modern rooms" with Southern artwork are clustered around a flagstone courtyard. At the restaurant, sample contemporary American cuisine. "Look out for the 'Oreo' cows and fainting goats."

(35 rooms)

The Figueroa is one of the best deals in L.A. Where else can you get a one-bedroom suite with a wet bar, a silk-canopied ceiling, and handwoven Afghani kilims for under $200 per night? The downtown hotel—which began its life in 1925 as a YWCA—was decaying and depressing when the current owner, Uno Thimansson, began renovating the Andalusian-style architecture in 1976. Now, the 285 guest rooms have walls and cement floors painted in jewel tones, with handpainted tiles and Persian rugs scattered about. Some have conventional chairs and couches, others simply have pillows on the floor; the whimsical art on the walls might come from Iraq or India (or someone's idea of them). Enough with the  iPod docking stations—your room here is more likely to have a record player and a stack of 33s. The walled-in pool area is surrounded by a cactus garden and has a beautifully tiled bar.

Sometimes, all the whale-watching, antique-shopping, ice-cream-slurping hoopla of the Maine coast can create a Calgon moment. That's when you take yourself away to East Boothbay, a tiny historic boatbuilding town on Linekin Bay with only the necessities: a seafood restaurant, general store, marina, and the Five Gables Inn. Three miles from Boothbay Harbor, the 16-room B&B was built in 1896. Innkeepers Mike (a Culinary Institute graduate) and De (a Southern belle from Atlanta) Kennedy restored the hillside retreat in the 1980s and earned a cultlike following among vacationers who'd prefer Five Gables remain a secret. (Sorry!) Ask for Room 10, with the best views, or go for a third-floor gable room like 14, which has a four-poster king bed and wood-burning fireplace. Not that you can go wrong, as all but one of the rooms overlook the bay, whose bracing cobalt waters are ideal for a morning dip. Then find a sun-splashed spot on the wraparound porch and dive into mint pancakes with Chambord syrup or artichoke-and-portobello frittata. And when you're ready to reenter civilization, undertake the half-mile walk to the East Boothbay general store to buy the Times.

Closed seasonally (mid-October through May).

For a taste of the high life at down-to-earth rates, book a room at this charming mansion with a chichi Gold Coast address. Owners Mike Maczka and Tom Warnke restored the 1892 row house to its original state in 1997. Many details remain, including the beautiful exterior (an example of Flemish Revival architecture, from which the B&B takes its name). Apartment-sized units (studios and one-bedroom suites) feature all the comforts of home: down comforters, cordless phones with answering machines, cable TV, DVD player, Wi-Fi, and fully stocked kitchens. Each unit is fitted out in an English Arts and Crafts motif, with fireplaces, inlaid wood floors, high ceilings, and decorative moldings.

With its iconic Miami Modern architecture and guests like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, the Fontainebleau created a buzz when it opened in 1954. Now, a three-year renovation has put the 1,500-room beachside behemoth back on the map, with an over-the-top "what recession?" atmosphere and new adjacent towers housing rooms, 11 restaurants, and a $50 million spa. As a one-stop entertainment complex, the resort lives up to its billing—although the service will have to improve to keep up with the number of guests. All the large rooms, which fill four towers, come with 20-inch iMacs (from which you can make restaurant and spa reservations) and very comfortable beds. On-site distractions include the lobby nightclub, Liv; a series of high-end shops; and a gargantuan complex of pools that includes the see-and-be-seen original. Architecture buffs will enjoy the historic Morris Lapidus details—like the bowtie-motif marble floor and the famous staircase to nowhere, which allowed women to make a grand entrance.

If it's a true Alaska wilderness experience you're after, stay in one of the nearly 200 Forest Service cabins, located all over the state and mostly accessible only by charter plane or boat. The cabin accommodations are absolutely bare-bones: a cookstove (bring your own fuel—be sure to ask when you book if the stove takes #1 or #2 stove oil), a couple of sleeping platforms for six or eight people (bedding not provided), and an outhouse. You can forget about electricity, but for about $40 per night, you get a roof over your head, no one else around, and a million-dollar view. The beauty of the cabins is their location, on lakes perfect for fishing (there's usually a loaner rowboat) or inlets so still that the water mirrors birds taking flight. You can make reservations up to 180 days in advance (the most popular cabins, like the one at Anan or those in Misty Fjords, can book up immediately), but even if you start looking the day before your trip, you'll find an unforgettable place to stay. A couple of caveats: Always bring extra supplies, especially to fly-in cabins, and never book tight connections at the end of your stay. Alaska's weather is not interested in your schedule, and although the state has incredible pilots, there are occasionally days when they're grounded.—Edward Readicker-Henderson

In privileged Montecito, this exclusive Spanish colonial–style 207-room resort is more than a beachfront Four Seasons—it's been a glamorous Santa Barbara institution since opening as the Biltmore in 1927. A place where Greta Garbo, Errol Flynn, Lana Turner, Bing Crosby, and other Golden Age movie stars once played croquet on the front lawn, the hotel is now a gathering spot for locals (the Sunday brunch, oceanfront dining, and bar with live entertainment are big draws) and the resort of choice for visitors who want Santa Barbara's toniest beach getaway. Sweeping archways, heavy carved entry doors, colorful imported Spanish tile, and carved woodwork are renovated features of the original hacienda, but modern amenities abound, too, including a 10,000-square-foot spa. Only a sprawling green lawn and a road separate the hotel from Butterfly Beach. Revamped rooms feature Mission-style antiques, local art, more Spanish tile, decorative ironwork, rain showers and deep soaking tubs, 42-inch plasma-screen TVs with surround sound, DVD players, and broadband Internet. A botanical guide to the 44 exotic and rare plants in the resort's 22 acres of tropical and subtropical gardens is available at the concierge desk. Normally, guests are also allowed access to the private Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club next door, but the club is closed for renovations until summer 2007.

The Four Seasons looms above the toniest stretch of N. Michigan Avenue in one of the country's tallest limestone buildings. Though the stature and location are grand, this is the city's most discreet luxury hotel, with its lobby tucked up on the seventh and eighth floors. And the 343 guest rooms are even more removed—they're on floors 30 through 46. They all have sweeping views of the city, but if you're willing to pay a bit extra, you can also look over the lake. More importantly, all the rooms are undergoing a $30-million renovation that will be completed in 2009. Nearly 300 of the guest rooms are already flaunting the new look, which swaps the former English-manor, high-tea decor for a forties, French cocktail party effect. That means Cubist artwork and curving Deco lines all laid out in your choice of two palettes: a cool blend of steel and oceanic blue or a warm scheme of chocolate browns and shimmery silvers. Both schemes feature upgraded bathrooms of hand-cut Chinese marble as well as fully modernized amenities, including LCD flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, and iPod docking stations upon request.

From the dramatic staircase at the entrance to the rose-marble public spaces, this 244-room hotel epitomizes gracious Southern living. You can't go wrong with any one of the hotel's guest rooms—all have handsome mahogany furniture and spacious marble bathrooms—but first-time visitors to Atlanta should try snagging one of the corner suites on the 19th floor for the sweeping city views. The Park 75 restaurant and classic hotel piano bar, on the mezzanine level, attract an eclectic crowd: On any given night, you can see well-to-do residents (part of the building is made up of condos and offices), touring hip-hop stars, or trustafarian hippies kicking back. A 12,000-square-foot spa opened in February 2006 with a menu of Georgia-inspired treatments, such as the Peaches and Cream manicure and pedicure.

Think cowhide can't be classed up? Try camping out in the Southwestern-themed Four Seasons for a few days. The primo downtown location on the banks of Lady Bird Lake puts you near both the trendy Warehouse District and the convention center, but many guests stick close, descending from their rooms for an afternoon by the fireplace on the hide-covered sofas or ordering drinks from the VIP-heavy bar ("Was that Matthew McConaughey toting a bongo?"). The 291 rooms have goose-down pillows, full-size desks, and oversize armchairs. (The Congressional Suite has a wraparound terrace.) From March through October, ask for a terrace room overlooking the Congress Avenue bridge, so you can watch the bat colony fill the sky at sunset. But any time of the year is ideal for savoring a wine flight at the bar-restaurant's lovely outdoor patio by the lake.

Sitting on perhaps the most coveted piece of the city's real estate, the Four Seasons Boston overlooks the Public Garden and is within walking distance of Newbury Street's couture boutiques. The red-brick exterior is unassuming, and after a $43 million overhaul, belies the contemporary lobby swathed in black polished marble. The spacious rooms are now stripped of heavy drapery in favor of a sunny Beacon Hill–inspired disposition (bright color scheme, striped wallpaper, antique writing desks). The hotel's genteel new American restaurant, Aujourd'hui, has also been infused with new life, thanks to the addition of the young and talented William Kovel as chef. Perhaps what makes this and all Four Seasons so popular, though, is the highly personal, professional, and courteous service, appreciated by both leisure and business travelers alike. Managers make themselves available in the lobby each morning to assist guests, the concierge doles out boxes stocked with cuff links, socks, and belts to forgetful travelers, and a chauffeur will convey guests anywhere within a two-mile radius, free of charge.

Though you might drive right by the entrance—it's tucked behind a wall of tropical foliage on the Strip—you can use the shimmering Mandalay Bay tower as your marker. The 424-room Four Seasons is located on the top five floors of Mandalay Bay, though guests won't hear a single slot machine clink during their stay (unless they want to—Mandalay's casino is literally behind a door in the lobby). The experience here has little to do with Vegas and everything to with the hushed, refined, and comfortable Four Seasons atmosphere, successfully replicated worldwide. Service is incredibly helpful (a team of concierges will tackle your request, such as hunting down a specific handbag), though the rooms could probably use some refreshing. There's a Charlie Palmer Steakhouse just off the lobby, and guests receive priority tee times at the on-Strip Bali Hai Golf Club next door. The spa is small, but heavy on desert-based treatments: Your massage might incorporate hot stones and cactus oil. While most hotels on the Strip work hard to attract party-minded singles, the Four Seasons is a great base for families: Parents can park their kids with the concierge, who takes them to Bellagio's fountain show, Mandalay's Shark Reef, or New York–New York's roller coaster. Rooms can be childproofed in advance for those with toddlers.

You have to keep faith while entering the sterile lobby of this 70-story office-and-residential tower, but once you get upstairs to the real hotel entrance, you find an art lover's nirvana, particularly if you like the voluptuous statues of Fernando Botero. This addition to the international chain, which opened in 2003, is positioned near the Brickell Avenue business district for the convenience of its largely expense-account clientele. There are perks for leisure guests, too: The Sports Club/LA is a 40,000-square-foot facility, the sixth-floor outdoor swimming pool is atmospheric (as long as you don't look down at the parking lots below), and the Splash Spa offers everything from a Turkish steam room to mojito massages (a lime-and-sugar scrub followed by a rub down). The 221 rooms and suites are decorated in the group's handsome, if generic, international style. A good choice is the 750-square-foot Executive Bay Suite, with its gorgeous view of Biscayne Bay. Expect to run into local executives at the popular 14 Thirty Five martini bar and the poolside Bahia lounge.

You can feel the city's surging pulse from the moment you walk into I.M. Pei's soaring, minimalist marble lobby. More buzz hums from the power talk overheard at teatime in the ground floor lounge. Always smooth, the Four Seasons service attains an entirely different level here: The concierges can do the impossible, and this being New York City, they are asked to do so on an hourly basis. The 57th and Park location is central-central, and the 364 rooms are bright, with silk-lined walls and furniture of English sycamore. Aim high, if you can: Floors 40 and above have views of either the southern skyline or Central Park, to the north. The two Presidential Suites on the 51st floor, one facing in each direction, have been outfitted by society designer Peter Marino to feel luxuriously residential. And the forthcoming 52nd-floor suite is destined to be the most impressive in New York, with 23-foot-tall windows offering 360-degree views of Manhattan. Even if you're not staying here, come for L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon. The famed Parisian chef's entrée into the New York dining scene (and currently its hottest ticket), offers up casual-but-intricate Mediterranean-style dishes in a black-and-red space.

The superluxurious Four Seasons is a sanctuary so serene it's hard to believe it's in the heart of downtown. The 277 large rooms have soft beds, marble bathrooms, and deep soaking tubs; the suites have stunning views of the city. The Cal-Med restaurant, Seasons, offers a sophisticated spin on surf 'n' turf, and the vast Sports Club/LA has a gym, fitness classes, a pool, a full spa, a basketball court, and even gyrotonic and budokon studios. The hotel's Bay Area art collection is so prestigious that it merits a podcast tour, and service is so obsequious it's almost embarrassing.

After a five-year hiatus, the Four Seasons brand returns to downtown Seattle with this sleek, polished addition with doting service. The rooms have an urban sophistication: Cool abstract art and modern lamps are balanced out by the pillowtop bed and comfy armchair with ottoman, while a super-deep marble soaking tub faces a bathroom mirror with inset TV screen. The most exclusive vantage point is from the Pool Terrace—featuring a Zen garden, an infinity pool, a hot tub, and an outdoor fire pit that face Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. At ART restaurant and lounge, the Northwest fare is paired with the requisite "from our backyard" wine collection (Oregon pinot noirs and Washington cabernet sauvignons). A pleasant surprise is the customized Counter Menu of "raw" and "warm" foods—an artistic (albeit contrived) dining experience that involves dipping paintbrushes in sauces.

Just over the bridge in Georgetown, this plush, 211-room Four Seasons outpost delivers all the luxury and efficiency travelers have come to expect from the Mercedes of hotel chains. Service is smooth and professional, as always, and a recent $25-million renovation has increased the size of rooms and bathrooms in the East Wing and upped the style quotient, courtesy of Pierre-Yves Rochon, who designed the company's George V in Paris. The secret weapon here is the fitness center: It's 12,500 square feet on three levels, with a multitude of machines and aerobics and yoga classes. Under a skylight, there's also a 60-foot lap pool; guests have the option of reserving lanes for guaranteed swims.

A straw-yellow, 16-story high-rise accented with white balconies, the Four Seasons looks less like a hotel and more like one of the apartment buildings that surround it. Inside, though, it's all luxury. Rooms are decorated traditional Four Seasons–style, with rich fabrics in florals and stripes; sunlight pours through French doors that open onto Juliet balconies. The views from the fifth floor on up are spectacular, ranging from the jewel-box lights of the Hollywood Hills to panoramic city views. The fourth-floor spa and pool area is one of L.A.'s prettiest: The tiered pool is ringed by shrubs and flowers, and the blue-and-white-striped cabanas are outfitted with plasma TVs, Wi-Fi, and mini-refrigerators. Downstairs, the lobby opens onto a lush garden, where the hotel's restaurant has a discreet patio set among the greenery. During awards season, the bar overflows with recognizable faces, but star sightings (yes, that is John Malkovich having dinner) are common year-round.

Philadelphia's only hotel with an inner courtyard, the Four Seasons has a country-club-in-the-city ambience. Indulgent staff members treat guests like members—even children get milk and cookies at bedtime, and pets are pampered with fresh-baked biscuits and silver bowls of Evian water. The 364 rooms were renovated in 2005 to reflect a clean-lined, contemporary version of Philadelphia's signature Federal style, with Schumacher toile draperies and a color scheme of chocolate and butter yellow. Technological advances were also introduced: High-speed Internet and wireless connections are standard throughout the building. Naturopathic holistic skin and body care is the guiding philosophy at the spa; treatments include a massage that incorporates steaming towels steeped in aromatic herbs and essences. Executive chef Rafael Gonzalez oversees the French-influenced, contemporary American Fountain Restaurant (where dark wood paneling and modern furniture complement stunning views of Logan Square), as well as the less formal Swann Lounge.

This lavish place seems worlds away from Dallas. Technically it's in Irving, but it's just minutes from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, amid the rolling green hills of a vast planned development called Las Colinas. Surrounded by azure pools and verdant semitropical vegetation, the 397-room, 400-acre Four Seasons complex has been decorated throughout with a tastefully (and thankfully understated) Asian influence; the Asian-American fusion is handled equally well at the Café on the Green restaurant. The best rooms overlook the golf course, which hosts the PGA's annual Byron Nelson Classic (in early May). All rooms have access to a wide assortment of fitness facilities, including 12 tennis courts, four pools, and indoor and outdoor jogging tracks. You must pay a fee to play golf, but Pilates, yoga, and spinning classes are complimentary.

Adjacent to a nature preserve five minutes from Legoland, this low-rise with Spanish colonial architecture overlooks "lush vegetation and lots of flowers"—though not the Pacific. Vivace has regional Italian cuisine and a terrace for alfresco dining. Rooms in rose, melon, and ocean blue have traditional furnishings.

If you think all Four Seasons resorts fit the same mold, Hualalai—the first property up Queen Kaahumanu Highway from the Kona airport—may surprise you. There's no cement tower here. Instead, the bungalow-style guest quarters are housed in two-story buildings spread out on what seems like acres and acres. The 243 rooms have Hawaii-inspired decor, walk-in closets, slate bathrooms, and furnished lanais. A $40 million renovation (completed in summer 2009) added 20 one- and two-bedroom suites with 180-degree ocean views—perfect for the growing number of return guests who honeymooned here and now have kids. While the beach isn't stellar, there are plenty of aquatic options, including a family pool, a small adults-only pool, a quiet pool, a lap pool, and, for snorkeling, a natural lava pond stocked with photogenic fish. The trio of restaurants includes the Hualalai Grille (no longer under the direction of Alan Wong, but the market-based Pacific Rim cuisine is still excellent), seafood-centric Pahu i'a, and the revamped Beach Tree, where diners tuck into Italian-influenced California cuisine. The 18-hole Nicklaus golf course was augmented by an even better one in 2005, which we won't describe here because it's reserved for Residence owners. Aside from a lunchtime grace period, if you leave your lounger, you lose it. If that happens, retreat to the lush gardens of the expanded Hualalai Spa to select local ingredients (perhaps volcanic ash or macadamia nuts) for your customized treatment.

With lift tickets nearing $100 a day, ski towns have lost their slacker image, but it wasn't until 2003 that the Four Seasons opted to open a property in one—and the company chose Jackson. The property melds disparate worlds beautifully, with some 2,000 pieces of museum-quality artwork on the walls (including works by Joan Miró and Alberto Giacometti) along with Western-style interior details like tooled leather, cowhide chairs, and Native American–inspired throw rugs. The ski-in, ski-out hotel is built in a clever zigzag formation so that the majority of the 550-square-foot standard rooms have terraces with mountainside or valley views. But hey, everybody in Jackson has mountain views; only this place has the Seasons' legendary service. The ski concierge here custom-fits boots (all rental equipment is top of the line and replaced annually), tunes and stores skis, and practically walks guests right to the lift. Post-powder, the staff brings around heated towels, hot chocolate, and s'mores as guests soak in outdoor hot tubs styled to look like geothermal pools.

The pine tree–lined road from Lanai City ends here, at a magnificent circular driveway where the international symbol of hospitality, a pineapple, is painted on the English manor–style main building. The 102 rooms are in step with Four Seasons standards, although the dimensions (a touch smaller than usual), Hawaiian motifs, local art, and rare blue marble in the bathrooms lend the spaces a more country-house than resort aesthetic. Many rooms have fireplaces, window seats, and balconies, and a 2007 renovation brought in better beds and a fresher, more luxurious feel than you'll find at sister property Manele Bay. Old-world charm is plentiful, down to an orchid-house conservatory and a croquet lawn. Guests can decompress on a Turkish daybed in the Great Hall, slip into a lounge chair on the expansive veranda, or head for the Greg Norman–designed golf course, horse stables, or shooting range. One of the largest wood-burning fireplaces in the whole state adds to the rustic yet luxurious atmosphere of the Dining Room. Remember to pack a sweater—even when sea-level temperatures are in the high 70s, thermometers in the up-country hover in the 60s, which is a nice reprieve if you've already gotten your share of sun. A $38 charge covers the 20-minute shuttle ride down to Manele Bay and the beach for the duration of your stay.

Built atop a lava cliff overlooking Hulopoe Bay, this Eurasian palace with Mediterranean-style architecture and Ming-dynasty decor evokes postcard-perfect Hawaii. Its 236 Four Seasons–standard rooms are spacious and airy (ask for a walk-out balcony). The grounds include a 2,600-square-foot pool with panoramic views and interior courtyard gardens that are so lush, finding your way back to the lobby can be tricky. There's also a much-lauded Jack Nicklaus golf course and an 800-square-foot fitness center with a studio for tai chi, yoga, and Pilates classes. (If you stick to the cardio machines, you'll be rewarded with beach views.) The stars here, however, are the white-sand beach and the marine preserve bay. Grab your complimentary snorkel gear early in the morning for a chance to swim with the dolphins that sometimes show up, but proceed with caution—currents can be quite strong. Fans of the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea looking for something even more exclusive—and without quite so much primping and posing—will be right at home here. Consider spending a couple of nights, or at least having dinner at the up-country Lodge at Koele as well to round out your Lanai experience. A $38 transportation fee covers a shuttle between the two hotels for your entire stay.

The Four Seasons Maui is like a second home for the celebrity A-list crowd (Maui is an easy hop from L.A.). Perhaps inspired by the rave reviews of its sister properties on Lanai, the Wailea resort received a $50 million face-lift in 2007 that replaced the luxurious but grandmotherly decor in the 370 rooms and freshened the public spaces. The updated guest rooms combine the best of traditional Four Seasons—European luxury bedding and spacious marble baths—with energizing textiles in the reds, blues, and greens of the Hawaiian landscape. The idea was to create more harmony between the stunning beach views (available in 80 percent of the rooms) and the inner sanctum, now with HDTV and wireless. Of course, the pool area—with its cutthroat jockeying for first-come, first-served cabanas—is even more of a see-and-be-seen spot, with new plush lounge beds and towels. Spago is still fun for cocktails, but there's also the newer Duo restaurant, which serves a combo of aged steaks and fresh local seafood. And while the spa is less renowned than the one at the Waldorf-Astoria Grand Wailea next door, we think it's the best in Wailea because of the quality and diversity of treatments. The quality of service was never in question, yet that's improved as well. When you are a guest here, this is definitely a place where everybody on staff knows who you are.

Tucked away amid the hedgerow-hidden mansions a little ways out of town, this 210-room property provides all the pampering you'd expect from a luxury resort, from the warm smile of the valet to the ever-present pool attendants who bring chilled facecloths to your side while you sunbathe. Nearly every room has a generous ocean view, and there are lush gardens and AAA Five Diamond dining. The Spa offers extensive traditional and contemporary services, either in-room or on-site. Championship golf at nearby courses, three tennis courts, fishing and water sports, and a heated freshwater pool with cabanas are among the activities at your beck and call. Good news for families: Children under 18 can share the room for no extra charge. The supervised Kids for All Seasons activity program is available for children under 13, and teens have their own game room. Not as old-school grand or as conveniently located as the Breakers, but a good choice for the chintz-phobic, and the concierge service is exceptional.

As multimillion-dollar homes sprout up around the far North Scottsdale area, you'll have to drive past a slew of lot "lot for sale" signs, and construction crews before reaching this Four Seasons, where the usual "Welcome to the Four Seasons, you are safe now" vibe will revive you. Buffered by 40 acres of manicured desert, the resort takes its name from its golf club, Troon North, which has two Weiskopf- and Morrish-designed courses that are as quiet and exclusive as it gets. The Four Seasons also hosts a number of fun programs such as cooking in the kitchen with hotel chef Mel Mecinas ("Saturday Night in the Kitchen") and poolside margarita-mixing lessons. Parents can drop their kids off at Kids for All Seasons, a hotel program that will keep children busy in the game room, on the tennis courts, or at the Ping-Pong table.

The six-year-old inn one block from St. Philip's Steeple is "a good base for exploring the town." At check-in, guests receive champagne, and each evening look forward to "milk and cookies—a very nice touch." Eighteenth-century-style rooms with high ceilings are decorated in golds and creams. Restaurant Tristan has blue and silver upholstery, local glass art, and food that includes white tuna with Parmesan vanilla broth.

(50 rooms)

There's plenty to love about the Gaige House: the bucolic Sonoma Valley setting near Jack London State Park; the chef-prepared three-course breakfasts, gratis (think artichoke and pistachio blini with house-smoked salmon, asparagus, and saffron cream—yes, that's one course); and the 15 original rooms, with a Victorian-Asian mix of antique armoires, feather-light bedding, clean lines, nature-inspired artwork, and cozy fireplaces. And now there are eight significantly larger spa suites in two freestanding buildings fronting a creek—sumptuous riffs on traditional Japanese ryokan inns. The cedar-shingled, U-shaped quarters are built around private courtyard gardens, with Zen interiors (shoji screens, orchids, Buddha statues), huge soaking tubs carved from a single chunk of black granite, and showers built for two. Spa treatments, such as chocolate mint body scrub and Lomi Lomi Hawaiian massage, are offered outdoors in a pavilion beside the Calabaza Creek (in summer) or in the privacy of your room.

The Spanish-style architecture—adobe-looking walls and red-tiled roof—might seem out of context in southwest Montana: Shouldn't it be oceanside somewhere, framed by palms? But the inn has been here for a long time, partner. The two-story building was constructed in 1927 to serve rail passengers headed to relatively young Yellowstone National Park. The sun-splashed tile lobby with high, dark-stained beam ceiling retains a measure of this era's elegance, and the 33 mission-style rooms are tastefully restored with dark-walnut headboards and understated furniture (you won't find dead animals mounted on the wall). The Porter House restaurant, on the ground floor, uses fresh, local ingredients to produce dishes such as "Montana fish and chips" (whitefish from Flathead Lake) and a flavorful buffalo meatloaf. The location is 30 miles north of Big Sky, so you can sample nightlife in Bozeman, fishing on the Madison and Gallatin rivers, wildlife watching in Yellowstone, and skiing in Big Sky, all within an hour's drive. Ski packages are available, too.

Every ski town has a property for those who relish their privacy—and will drop mad money to ensure it. The Game Creek Chalet is Vail's clear contender. This private villa crowns the top of Game Creek Bowl on Vail's Front Side, and has four bedrooms with private baths. Many properties claim to be ski-in, ski-out, but this is genuine slide-to-your-front-door access. The service is discreet and top-flight, and includes a ski concierge who warms ski boots at night, a private half-day instructor, and a personal chef to prepare a nightly menu of your choosing. At $2,800 a night for the entire property and space for four guests—privacy is ensured, if not cheap.

Two-night minimum.

Much like South Beach's penchant for the beautiful people, this Miami outpost of NYC's landmark Meatpacking District hotel feels more focused on style than substance. Even the scant few fish in the massive aquarium in the hotel's chic lobby appear bored and self-absorbed. The service is friendly if not overly knowledgeable—even basic questions flustered the front-desk staff and managers frequently had to be called in. But everyone is very easy on the eyes. The 334 rooms, too, can feel full of vapid space, maybe because they are among Miami's largest at about 600 square feet: If you like to spread out, this is the place for you. The luxury amenities are all there—400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets covering ridiculously comfortable beds, iPod docks, flat-screen TVs, and bathrooms with both soaking tubs and showers. The room decor isn't for everyone: hot-pink headboards and couches, slightly risqué black-and-white photos on the wall. The hotel has 195 rooms in the ocean-view category (the higher the floor, the better). Deluxe rooms have "city views," which means you can check out the valet queue and some blah buildings. Where the Gansevoort South irrefutably shines is at the 18th-floor rooftop pool, which looks like a liquid catwalk and lures a style-savvy crowd (there's also a ground-level main pool if you just want to catch rays). The highly touted David Barton Gym attached to the hotel is a Moroccan-themed workout world, which unfortunately even guests have to pay extra to use.

Located at the west end of Durant Avenue, three (longish) blocks from the ski lifts, the Gant condos are 140 privately owned apartments with one, two, or three bedrooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and living rooms with fireplaces and balconies. Since the layouts are identical, the category of luxury is determined by the owner's taste: Fancier decor means higher rates. If you care less about the couch patterns than the view, pick a "Standard" second- or third-floor apartment, but be warned: Some bedrooms have only internal windows. Cable TV, tennis courts, two pools (outdoor, heated), and bike/ski storage are included.

Whitefish, in the state's northwest corner, has a split personality. The softer side is the town's fine lodging and good food. And then there's the roughin' it angle: the beautifully severe backcountry of Glacier National Park. Devote a couple days and hit both ends of the spectrum. Start at the Garden Wall Inn, two blocks off Central Avenue on a quiet street. The two-story B&B was built by a Great Northern railroad executive as a family home and it's still white-picket-fence cute, clad in white shingles and fronted by an inviting porch. The inside has 1920s Art Deco antiques, maple floors, and flowers from the garden. Breakfast is cooked and served by one of the co-owners (who are also trained chefs): Whatever time you rise, you'll get dishes such as an egg-and-leek soufflé stuffed with smoked Montana trout. After a few days in town, it's time to head to the backcountry. Sperry Chalet is within park boundaries and only reachable by a 6.5-mile trail that ascends some 3,000 feet. This is the perfect launching point for forays into this iconic American wilderness. While its caretakers give excellent advice on trails, we recommend coming well-prepared—this is rough country. The chalet, on the west side of Gunsight Mountain, was built in 1913 of native stone and rough timber and overlooks ten-mile-long McDonald Lake. The 17 spare rooms have no heat, electricity, or running water—and the bathroom building is shared by all—but you'll get clean sheets and three simple and hearty meals a day (Sperry Chalet, Glacier National Park; 888-345-2649, office@graniteparkchalet.com; www.sperrychalet.com/menu.html).

Situated on 172 acres about 20 minutes from downtown, this something-for-everything behemoth has a whopping 2,881 rooms under one (very large) roof. The Gaylord Opryland claims that bellhops walk between 9 and 12 miles a day on the job, so it's no surprise that the main complaint here is that it's easy to get lost. But if you're going to have to wander, why not do it along landscaped sidewalks that wind along indoor streams under a soaring glass roof? The Alice-in-Wonderland–style complex spreads over nine indoor acres housing 25 shops, a 20,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, and 15 restaurants. Kids love to take boat rides on the indoor river, and adults can get rowdy at the new Fuse bar and nightclub, where Kid Rock and his posse have partied. The hotel is split into four distinct sections—Cascade, Garden Conservatory, Delta, and Magnolia—each marking a past expansion. The best guest rooms are those in the Cascade area near the main entrance, with balcony views of the plant-filled atriums; if you leave the doors to the small porch cracked at night, you can fall asleep to the sound of waterfalls. Rooms have clean-lined dark-wood furniture and sleek modern fabrics that belie the sometimes hokey surroundings of the common areas. The hotel is booked to capacity 85 percent of the time, so plan your stay well in advance, especially if you visit in November and December, when tour groups descend to take in the hotel's all-encompassing seasonal decorations and holiday stage shows.

Throw a patterned pillow out of a window in the Goldener, and you'll nearly hit the Deer Valley Sterling chairlift. The first part of that sentence is possible because the 20-room property is right on the slopes of Deer Valley. The urge to hurl a pillow? Blame the hodgepodge of imported Austrian furniture stuffing the guest rooms. In any case, the easy mountain access is the selling point. Valets will store your skis, the wood-burning fireplaces in many rooms make it easy to dry out gloves, and all bathrooms have granite countertops and travertine tile. Look for package deals that include room, lift tickets, and a massage for a good price. In the restaurant, Swiss-trained executive chef James Dumas turns out elk and chestnut spaetzle; fondue blended from Gruyère, Appenzeller, Emmentaler, and Vacherin cheeses; and other hearty classics.

Closed from mid-April–mid-June and mid-October–early December.

The downtown Las Vegas core of casinos is largely a wasteland of small lowbrow properties left over from the earliest days of the city, which started here on Fremont Street. The only hotel-casino in the sector that comes close to rivaling the Strip in respectability is the Golden Nugget, with its clean rooms, its boisterous casino, and its sleek, high-end surf-and-turf restaurant, Vic & Anthony's. The Nugget offers the sort of attentive service you expect from a deluxe hotel and is significantly less expensive. Until recently, the place was co-owned by Las Vegas native Andre Agassi, so there's been a steady flow of celebrities.

Standing literally in the shadow of the State House, this historic 51-room inn attracts a mix of politicians, lobbyists, journalists, vacationers, and parents with children enrolled at St. John's College or the U.S. Naval Academy, which are both just a five-minute walk away. The original building, which dates back to 1695, once belonged to the Calverts, whose progeny included two governors. The parlor features a unique archeological attraction—a rare hypocaust, a Roman-style greenhouse heating system discovered in the basement and now exhibited beneath a clear glass floor. Most rooms are in a newer attached wing. Though restricted in size, the rooms have solid colonial-style furniture and free Internet access. The best views are to be found in top-floor rooms 410 and 412, which share a small deck overlooking the capitol building.

At this 250-room property, urban sophistication and high art come to a city better known for animal mascots and scampering children. The decor is moody and classic while giving a nod to the city's sugary personality: red velvets, gold leaf, regal purple curtains, and some of the softest beds on offer in the region. Its owner and decorator, entrepreneur Richard Kessler, is courageous enough to adorn the walls with priceless paintings from his personal collection, including authentic Klimts, but he's also affixed his own image in a few too many public spaces. The hotel's Bösendorfer Lounge, named for its $250,000 imperial grand piano, is a popular spot for cocktails, and the hotel's weekly jazz brunch enlivens the property on Sunday mornings. The theme park zone is about 10 miles southwest of the hotel, so this is a good choice for those who prefer to stay well away from the circus.

Expect arched doorways and verandas "that merge the outside with the inside" at this one-year-old Mediterranean-style resort. Guest rooms have hand-stenciled ceilings but are "not over-the-top." Six dining venues include Addison, offering contemporary French. "Sublime spa treatments" use organic products. Perfect-scoring staff "make everything appear effortless."

(249 rooms)

The Grand Hyatt is easily the most luxurious resort on Kauai's always sunny south shore. Situated on Poipu Beach, this 602-room hotel is family-friendly yet elegant enough for a romantic trip for two. The six-story structure harks back to the plantation style of the 1920s and abides by the island's rule of thumb: No building can be higher than the tallest coconut tree. But you'll still find all the modern amenities and attentive service you can handle. In 2007, a major renovation gave all of the rooms a much-needed makeover (replacing tropical prints with mod white fabrics and boxy furniture) and expanded the Anara Spa with a beautiful outdoor treatment area. Swim in the saltwater and freshwater pools, wander (and, quite possibly, get lost) amid the 50 acres of manicured grounds, and—best of all—send the kids to Camp Hyatt while you make the most of the cocktail lounges, restaurants, shops, and golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

Putting a 490-room resort casino 20 minutes off the Strip might seem like risky business, but if you build it luxurious enough, they will come. The problem is, who are "they"? The place attracts an uncanny mix of characters: the 45-plus Architectural Digest crowd, who favor a more resortlike experience and dig the Italianate architecture, patterned fabrics, and Bubble Bath Concierge; and the 25-40 Wallpaper set, who sex up the eight-acre sandy pool playground by day and the DJ-spinning Whiskey Bar by night. Both demographics meet in the casino, which can be a bit awkward—is it a party or refined gaming? But then the moment passes and everybody goes back to losing their wages. Don't stay here if you plan on hitting the Strip every night: The cab fare pushes $20 each way (though there is a free shuttle service). Dining at Green Valley Ranch is meant for a quick fix, so we recommend walking over to always-open Kennedy Tavern in The District, a retail promenade adjacent to the resort (2235 Village Walk Dr.; 702-320-8100).

When a megawatt Hollywood star and one of Manhattan's most famous hoteliers (Ira Drukier of Mercer fame) join forces for a new project in Tribeca, you'd expect a flashbulb spot as sceney as area favorites like Nobu. But when that star is the notoriously private Robert De Niro, a different picture emerges. A night at the Greenwich Hotel feels more like a stay at a cultured friend's city manse. Worn Tibetan rugs cover Italian terra-cotta floors, Taschen design books sit on Moroccan marble side tables, and shabby chic wardrobes contrast with brushed metal consoles. Each of the 88 rooms, which start at 325 square feet, is unique, and the eclectic, well-edited assortment of objets—a Buddha head here, a branch of coral there—give the property a lived-in feel. The one decorative constant? Paintings by De Niro's son, Raphael (and yes, they're good). The Greenwich gives you a local's perspective on the neighborhood: This is more the Tribeca of art-filled lofts and stroller-packed brunch spots than the Tribeca of scenesters and velvet-rope restaurants. The service complements that vibe, feeling at once welcoming and discreet: Check-in is handled in your room, fresh fruit awaits your arrival, and the free minibars are stocked with a mix of healthy Dr. Weil teas and whimsical jars of penny candy, as well as Pellegrino and other goodies. The sprawling Moroccan-tiled bathrooms and eucalyptus-scented products make a shower feel like a trip to the spa (though you can get the full treatment downstairs in the Shibui spa, which surrounds a Japanese lantern–lit swimming pool and lounge). Book a room at the back of the hotel overlooking the peaceful courtyard, where you can take tea beneath latticed vines.

The perfect-scoring location of this coastal-style inn is an undeveloped island where horses run wild. The narrow four-story property has a wide porch that runs its entire length offering "spectacular beach views." "Beautifully furnished rooms" have original Audubon prints. Of Southern meals, "the choices are limited."

(16 rooms)

Since opening in 1917 on this prime Waikiki beachfront spot, the Halekulani has grown to 454 rooms—but it still manages to feel like the most intimate, peaceful hotel on the island. There's a special Vera Wang–designed honeymoon suite and an excellent spa offering lavender-orchid body wraps and hibiscus-infused scalp massages. Even the basic amenities are pretty lavish: For instance, all Halekulani guests have VIP access to some of Honolulu's top cultural attractions, such as the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and Shangri La, the Doris Duke estate. Guests also have equal access to the small slice of beach, the superb, mosaic-tiled swimming pool, and the attentive staff. (Ask the concierge for dinner reservations at Nobu, which is located in the Halekulani's sister hotel, the Waikiki Parc). The rooms, all outfitted in soothing blue and cream tones, have large lanais, and all except the Garden Courtyard rooms have ocean views. (For the best views, book a Diamond Head room.) For a souvenir of your stay, pick up one of the wonderful Halekulani-brand body products scented with maile, a fragrant Hawaiian vine, at the on-site spa boutique.

In May 2008, a stem-to-stern renovation of this gray-shingled Victorian was completed under the watchful eye of owner Alan Worden (a former investment banker who once sailed from Nantucket to New Zealand with just one other crew member). Originally opened on the Edgartown Harbor in 1891, this grand New-England–style resort is the town's oldest and—with 141 rooms spread among two main buildings and several cottages—largest hotel. Linda Woodrum, of HGTV's Dream Homes, redecorated the cottage suites, and while they feel plucked out of a Pottery Barn catalog, they have the best of everything: kitchenettes, walk-in closets, flat-screen TVs, fireplaces, private gardens, and outdoor showers. Ask for suite 24 in the cottages for its relative seclusion, ocean view, and brand-new, high-end appointments; or for any of the more traditionally decorated, ocean-facing rooms in the main house (some of which have private balconies). Avoid the motel-like Governor Mayhew building by the pool. The restaurant, Water Street, turns out sophisticated New England–style dishes, and the comfortable bar, Henry's, serves an all-day menu of crowd-pleasers, such as lobster rolls and chocolate-chip cookies. Befitting the hotel's maritime feel, a 31-foot center console boat ferries guests to private beaches (although there is a small sand beach and heated pool on site), and the young-adult learn-to-sail program will keep the kids occupied while you watch from the wraparound porch as yachts drift by. The town is a five-minute scenic walk away—far enough to keep the hotel's vibe relaxed. Guests also get advance tee times at the nearby par-72 Farm Neck Golf Club, and a spa and health club are planned.

Note: The Harbor View has announced plans to sell off up to half of its units as condos (priced from $526,000 to $1.3 million). The rest will remain available to guests.

Open mid-May through late October.

If you want to be right in the historic district, this hotel in an old shipping warehouse is steps from the harbor, Old City Market, and Lower King Street's antique row. The 52 rooms got a makeover in 2007 and are very Charleston—think four-poster beds, plantation shutters, sea grass rugs, and rattan furniture. Larger-scale amenities are lacking, however: Gratis coffee, breakfast pastries, and afternoon wine and cheese in the marble lobby are charming, but they may not make up for the lack of a fitness center or pool (especially if you brought the kids). And be aware that, despite the name, not all of the rooms have a view of the harbor. Request one that overlooks the Waterfront Park along the Cooper River.

Channel your inner Hendrix at this way-cool 381-room Loop boutique, aptly located in a champagne-bottle-shaped Art Deco high-rise. Pictures of Bowie, the Beatles, Madonna, and other rock legends line the walls and hallways of this Daniel Burnham-designed tower. Rooms have teak-style furnishings, plasma TVs, DVD players, and lots of black, grays, glass, and mirrors. The purple-upholstered faux Barcaloungers are a great place to kick back and practice air guitar. Party into the wee hours at the hotel's Base Bar, then sleep off the hangover in a comfy feather bed. For the best views, book one of the Hard Rock rooms. The popular pan-Asian China Grill is in the lobby.

This venerable hotel, just across Lafayette Square from the White House, has such a good bird's-eye view of the First Mansion that network news divisions often book a room here just for the camera angles. Even the site has history: John Hay, Abraham Lincoln's private secretary (who later served as secretary of state to Teddy Roosevelt), and Henry Adams, an author and descendant of presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, were friends who lived next door to each other at this address, giving the hotel its name. Their houses were razed to build this Italian Renaissance–style property in 1927; with the exception of a closure in 2001 for renovations, it's been receiving guests ever since. The 145 rooms and suites are furnished with lush draperies, Oriental rugs, and Federal-esque furniture. The best? The one-bedroom, two-bathroom Federal Suite. It's 1,400 square feet, with French doors and a balcony overlooking the White House; it's particularly popular with guests who have appointments across the way.

The Heathman is old Portland through and through. Like a fine tweed suit, it is not flashy or trendy, but it does command a certain respectability. Yes, it offers guests all the modern amenities that you'd expect of a luxury hotel, but ultimately this is about preserving and showcasing the grandeur of another era. One look at the sumptuous tea court—with its high wood-paneled walls, its sparkling antique chandelier, its velvet armchairs, and baby grand piano—and you'll get the idea. Ideally situated near Portland's Center for the Performing Arts, the Heathman has a long-standing affiliation with the arts and boasts an impressive collection of its own. The rather sober neutral-toned rooms offer eye masks and earplugs, but techies can still plug in with iPod docking stations, Wi-Fi, and HDTVs. It's understandable why the junior suites, which offer more space than the rather cozy standard rooms, are quite popular. The Heathman Restaurant located just off the lobby is a convenient and distinguished white-linen option, and the adjoining bar is a popular happy-hour spot. Bookish types should check out the mezzanine library, which has played host to readings by everyone from Salman Rushdie to David Sedaris, and therefore has a vast collection of signed first editions.

The Rolls Royce of Nashville hotels, the Hermitage has been a favorite overnight stop for presidents, visiting royalty, and a slew of celebrities, from Bette Davis to Oprah Winfrey, since it opened in 1910. A $17 million overhaul in 2003 restored the ornate Beaux Arts lobby with shimmering pink marble columns and a dramatic stained glass ceiling. They did a bang-up job: The 122 guest rooms are large (an average of 475 square feet) with separate dressing and sitting areas and roomy bathrooms with flat-screen TVs, wide marble vanities, and extra-deep tubs (there's a "bath concierge," natch). The look is richly traditional with tufted sofas and stately beds covered in 1,000-thread-count sheets. The stately Capitol Grille serves modern takes on Southern favorites, and is an ideal special-occasion spot. Be sure to get a drink at the Oak Bar to see its famed Art Deco men's room, recently named "America's Best Restroom" by Esquire magazine.

On 60 acres five miles outside preppy Kennebunkport, Hidden Pond has a fantasy summer camp feel, with hand-painted wood signs pointing to a garden where you can pick vegetables or to a bike shed where you can borrow a retro cruiser for the mile ride to Goose Rocks Beach. The 14 one- and two-bedroom cottages, each by a different local interior designer, range from the playful Periwinkle (in sunshiney primary colors) to the classic Thank You (embroidered lobster pillows and an airy seafoam and powder blue New England aesthetic). All have generous kitchens, cozy porches, and gas fireplaces for chilly nights. A central lodge functions as the official clubhouse, with a simple rectangular pool and a fire pit where there's a nightly bonfire (singing optional). There's no restaurant, but cheerful staff can arrange a private chef, and there are weekly "Table on the Farm" dinners prepared by Kennebunkport chefs. Every morning, piping hot coffee and a canvas bag of fresh-baked pastries is left outside your door. The resort is blissfully relaxed, and cottages come with leisure essentials such as board games, martini shakers, books, and guitars.

The buzz was considerable in 2005 when Thompson Hotels took over this landmark Mediterranean-style hotel, where the first Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929. One reason: The 300 rooms and suites were redesigned by Dodd Mitchell—L.A.'s pet designer for the last decade. The other reason: The poolside Tropicana Bar and interior club Teddy's were taken over by nightlife impresario Amanda Demme, and quickly became the hottest spots in town. But though the marriage with Demme ended in a high-profile divorce in spring of 2006, the hotel still has plenty to recommend it. Mitchell's decor in the main hotel, as well as in a newer, separate building that surrounds the pool, is undeniably chic: Beds have draped-fabric headboards that look like Roman shades; the streamlined furnishings in shades of taupe and black seem both brand-new and retro; framed photographs of celebrities hang on the walls; and cement showers (a Mitchell trademark) are in some of the bathrooms. Lower-floor units have patios that open onto the pool, while upper floors have balconies with tables and chairs. The nightlife scene has cooled; while Teddy's is still filled with young Hollywood starlets, the Tropicana has quieted into a romantic, relaxed place for drinks.

Geek and chic converge in playful synergy at this 120-room upstart on the southern edge of Downtown. The predominant vibe may be one of a design-forward boutique hotel, but the technology is so advanced you'd swear Bill Gates was brought on as a consultant. Highlights include infrared sensors so housekeeping can tell if your room is occupied, electronic "Do Not Disturb" signs, and changing art on plasma screens. Rooms also come tricked out with all the right acronyms (40-inch LCD HDTVs, VoIP phones, and high speed Wi-Fi), while interiors are warm and inviting, with earthy tones, cherry wood, and floor-to-ceiling views of Puget Sound. Head downstairs to the trendy scene at BOKA Kitchen + Bar to sample cocktails and "urban bites" such as cornbread cupcakes studded with crab and crème fraîche frosting. And in case you've overindulged, an invigorating earth algae detox from the full-service "Spaahh" should do the trick.

The Ändra is like a smaller, gentler version of the W: It has similar modern (in this case, Scandinavian) aesthetics, but is a little brighter, a little more personal, and a little less expensive. The 119 guest rooms are done up in warm browns and cool blues, with khaki walls, alpaca headboards, and oversized executive-style desks. Please forgive the Ändra for joining the current trend of calling a lobby a "living room," because in this case it actually feels like one, with a fireplace, cords of stacked wood, and some cozy nooks and crannies to relax in. The attached restaurant is Lola, a North African/Mediterranean venture from local star chef Tom Douglas. It's well placed in Belltown, with plenty of trendy restaurant and nightlife options.

An extreme makeover has turned an aging Los Angeles icon, the 1971 circular tower at the 405 freeway's Sunset Boulevard off-ramp, into a sleek 209-room property, the first SoCal foray for Bay Area–based Joie de Vivre hotels. A thick steel-and-glass barrier minimizes the endless whoosh of traffic, and even during rush hour the intimate pool area with its outdoor fireplace feels as private as a Bel Air estate. Low ceilings and ice machines in the hallways recall the building's previous incarnation as a Holiday Inn, but the overhauled rooms pick up considerable height, and the masculine-toned space is softened by pillowtop beds and lots of sunshine. There's free Wi-Fi, and chauffeured Cadillac Escalades offer guests free lifts to the immediate surroundings, including the hilltop Getty Center. Staff are unfailingly friendly, including at the top-floor West restaurant.

Those looking for a hip, modern alternative to British colonial and Italian Renaissance will feel more at home at this former motor lodge in West Palm Beach, just over the bridge from the Island. British designer Barbara Hulanicki breathed new life into it when she took it over in 2001. The Swinging Sixties London icon, famed for her Biba label, filled the 46 rooms with mod furniture and her trademark citrus colors: orange walls, lots of plexiglass, and crisp white sheets. All of the usual hotel amenities are there as well. Bathrooms are stocked with Aveda products and the tech is up to date (flat-screen TVs, high-speed Wi-Fi). A breakfast of sticky Cuban pastries is served in the Biba Bar every morning and the bar's Asian-style garden is the perfect place for a nightcap. The location in the El Cid district also puts it right near the shops, restaurants, and bars on Clematis Street.

For a historic stay with a dash of flash, the Burnham is the place. Named for famed Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, this 122-room Kimpton boutique hotel is tucked into a landmark former office building (one of the city's first skyscrapers) with a prime State Street address, across from Macy's. Many of the structure's original details—marble wainscoting on ceilings and walls, terrazzo floors, mahogany trim, and ornamental elevator grills—were preserved during the 1999 renovation. Clubby, European-style guest rooms, once the building's offices, are splashed in gold and navy blue with velvet headboards, sateen bedspreads, and mahogany writing desks. Rooms on the northeast corner have the best views. Its Atwood Café has delicious comfort food—go for one of the signature pot pies. Pets are welcome.

Named for legendary explorer James Cook, the 547-room Captain Cook is Alaska's landmark hotel, and as the tallest building around, it's very hard to miss. Inside, the vibe is Old World meets Dallas, with doormen in top hats and lots of overstuffed leather furniture. The rooms are pleasant, if a little corporate in style, and quite a bargain for downtown, especially since the hotel is within walking distance of nearly all of Anchorage's main attractions. For the best views of Cook Inlet or the Chugach Mountains, spring for a suite on a high floor. There's a full-service athletic club (a rarity for Alaska hotels), and the top-floor Crow's Nest restaurant stocks over 10,000 bottles of wine (the state's most extensive selection) to pair with French-American fusion cuisine and spectacular panoramic views. The bar has plenty of comfy chairs and is quiet enough that you don't have to shout to carry on a conversation. Keep in mind that while the Captain Cook is the grandest of Anchorage's hotels and the first choice of visiting bigwigs, it also attracts a lot of package tours and can get very busy.—Edward Readicker-Henderson

After a $50 million renovation, the Hotel Casa del Mar opened in 1999 next to its sister hotel, Shutters on the Beach. But while Shutters has a beach-house aesthetic, the 129-room Casa, which was a private beach club in the 1920s, is done up in grand Mediterranean style. There's a stately marble lobby and a pool suspended above the sand on a wide terrace; rooms have overstuffed toile sofas and bamboo-and-wood headboards, and each has a plush chaise at the end of the bed. The white marble bathrooms with big whirlpool tubs have frosted-glass windows that can be opened onto the bedrooms (each room's "Chill Bar" includes toiletries like gel masques and bath crystals—although they'll cost you extra). The three duplex penthouse suites all have fireplaces; one has its own exercise room. On the fourth floor is the Murad Spa—although massages can also be had in poolside cabanas—and the 75-seat, first-floor restaurant, Oceanfront, has spectacular sunset views. The hotel's once mediocre service, like the decor, seems to have undergone an overhaul—staffers are now attentive and solicitous.

Upon entering this 2005 hotel on the Riverwalk, "you're greeted by a marble lobby with beautiful glass sconces," palm trees, and a wall of water. Rooms, wrapped around the central atrium, come with Spanish art. Cork Bar offers a pomegranate margarita. "The staff and the hotel were as memorable as the city."

(265 rooms)

It's gotten knocked recently for being a bit tired, but this 1888 landmark is still packing 'em in for vacations, weddings, dinners, and conference…but especially vacations. Yes, the Del is showing its age, but an ongoing series of facelifts is improving the rooms and adding (by summer 2007) a new spa and fitness center and a modern wing with cottages on the sand. Yup, this is the hotel from Some Like It Hot (it stood in for Miami, actually), so you can revel in the Del's iconographic status: a white, palm-fringed Victorian with picturesque red spires and gables on prime beach real estate on Coronado Island. Or you can just appreciate the benefits of staying at a vast (688-room) resort: Great beaches (with surfing instructors on hand), two pools, bikes for hire, take-out delis, a bakery that opens at 6 a.m., and an exceptionally child-friendly attitude, down to supplying swim diapers at the pool.

Hotel deLuxe's decor draws on Hollywood's Golden Age for inspiration, with original gilt moldings, crystal chandeliers, and some 350 black-and-white photos of film stars. The overall effect is surprisingly glamorous for a city not known for glitz. The public spaces have an old-fashioned feel, but the rooms themselves are contemporary and refreshingly unstuffy, with up-to-the-minute amenities (HDTV, iPods, and so on). With buttery yellow walls, two-tone green curtains, high ceilings, and crisp white linens, they feel sunny, airy, and bright. The hotel is part of the mini chain Provenance Hotels, which focuses on personalizing the guest experience. So you can pick a pillow from the hotel's menu, choose from a selection of iPod programs, and make creative use of the "Make It So" button on the phone. The hotel's sexy lounge, the Driftwood Room, is a great place to savor a martini and mix with locals around a curving bar. Located just east of the downtown core, it's within easy walking distance of shops and restaurants.

Hotel Fauchère is a tasteful addition to a growing category of hostelry: the destination inn. Its impeccable decor (chic and eclectic), food (a New American menu that includes frog's legs in garlic and caramel-glazed rockfish fillet), art collection (Hudson River School oils), and history (past guests include Franz Liszt and Henry Ford) underscore its appeal. This 1852 inn, lovingly restored to period architectural quality, hosted presidents and movie stars at the turn of the nineteenth century; today it's a weekend magnet for sophisticated New Yorkers and Philadelphians who are discovering this small, revitalized Poconos town and making it a base for antiquing, skiing, hiking, and spa-ing at the nearby Lodge at Woodloch. Anigre wood and contemporary photographs make the basement Bar Louis a slick contrast to the more traditionally decorated dining room and guest rooms upstairs. The service is warm, but bad weather can leave the place regrettably shorthanded.

Right next to Capitol Hill, this Kimpton property was the first hotel to bring cutting-edge design to a very traditional, Federalist city. The first clue is the gleaming chrome and glass facade. (The second is the fact that Christina Aguilera has slept here.) Inside, the lobby is white coralina stone with lipstick-red sofas, and a black baby-grand piano sits by the reception desk. Each of the 139 rooms has custom furniture (a granite-topped desk, for example), black-and-white marble in the bathroom, bold mirrors, and a yoga kit (mat, block, strap) to use while watching the in-house yoga channel on the room's flat-screen TV. It's no accident that big pop-art dollar bills, by Warhol colleague Steve Kaufman, hang on the walls—the unconventional images of George Washington are a cheeky nod to the presidential history that is all around in D.C. Bistro Bis, a modern French restaurant, has a lively bar and a regular clientele of senators and congressmen.

Hana's lush beauty has been protected from overdevelopment by the daunting two-hour drive in or out on the twisty Hana Highway, and aficionados swear it's the last authentic place on Maui. This sprawling luxury ranch takes full advantage of the unspoiled setting: The eight one- and two-bedroom oceanfront Sea Ranch Cottages sit out where the land suddenly drops into the sea. The wooden houses have high, beamed ceilings, an enclosed garden off the modern bathroom, and interiors done up in vintage Hawaiian designs. There are amenities for guests at nearby Hamoa Beach, a pool that overlooks the ocean, and a state-of-the-art spa with open-air treatment rooms. An additional four Maui Bay Cottages sit closer to the main building, with views over Hana Bay or the garden, and for complete privacy, the turn-of-the-century Plantation House has two bedrooms and is a 10-minute walk from the hotel's main building (there's a shuttle service too). Attention, honeymooners: September is an adult-only month.

The 55-room Hotel Healdsburg has stark, unfussy interiors done in warm woods and greens with bright-white bedding and Tibetan rugs covering hardwood floors. (The best rooms have balconies overlooking the buzzing Healdsburg plaza.) Bathrooms are likewise minimalist in design, with poured-concrete vanities and giant soaking tubs for two. The look is sleek and contemporary, but with so many hard surfaces, rooms can be echoey. The lobby is a happening gathering spot and a great place to warm up with a glass of zin on a chilly afternoon, especially beside the fire sculpture in the hearth. Come morning, the lobby becomes the breakfast room; the extensive buffet is included in the rate (the smoked salmon is delicious, but the accompanying bagels will disappoint New Yorkers). There's also an outdoor lap pool, fitness room, and spa with regionally inspired treatments, such as a wine-and-honey wrap and seasonal fruit scrub. Even if this weren't northern Sonoma's smartest address, the well-dressed crowd would probably still flock here for co-owner and chef Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen, where most ingredients and all the wines come from Sonoma County, some from as close as the garden out back.

Part of a midpriced boutique chain launched by InterContinental Hotels, the Hotel Indigo has an exuberant Margaritaville-meets-Nantucket design theme. The color-splashed lobby is decked out with oversize Adirondack chairs and a circular check-in desk that resembles a concession stand, but even that doesn't prepare you for the fun-house guest rooms. A typical room includes a blue phone, seashell-shaped light fixtures, whitewashed cupboards and headboards, and a small bathroom with a candy-colored shower curtain (no tubs) and Aveda products. The Golden Bean café on the ground floor dishes up salads and sandwiches, as well as a slight break from the over-the-top decor—if you want to maintain the color scheme, order the Peruvian blue corn chips with blue cheese dip. The playful Indigo also observes the seasons by shifting to different palettes (expect your room key and the lobby decor to be red, rust, or orange in the fall), but the year-round affordable rates (starting at around $250 or so on weekends) and the location on a leafy Gold Coast side street are the real draws.

It's hard to miss the Hotel Indigo. Rising 11 floors above busy West End Avenue near Vanderbilt and Music Row, the bright-blue exterior is a beacon for trendy travelers looking for a stay with a bit of snob appeal (most folks consider this Nashville's only real boutique hotel—even though it's part of a chain owned by the InterContinental Hotels Group). Indigo's rooms are a bit cramped, something that probably has more to do with the large proportions of the dark-wood furniture and awkward placement of interior walls than actual square footage. But the extra-tall beds and long chaises are good-looking and comfortable, and the Aveda products in the bathroom and sizable walk-in showers are nice touches. On the downside, parking is expensive ($21 a day, even if you self-park), and the lobby restaurant and coffee bar are kind of dinky. The real problem with Indigo is what lies outside the front door: Unless you like gazing on parked cars and the occasional derelict, the view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is far from attractive. But it's a great deal for the location, so keep your eyes focused on the interior of the lobby, which has large paintings from area artists.

Minneapolis's frigid winters are famous, so it's only fitting that this hotel takes icy minimalism to a breathtaking extreme. The cavernous lobby is an elegant study in sharp edges, marble, glass, and winter-white fabrics, which lends it a mid-century modern air. Remarkably, with a little help from the gracious staff, the overall effect is warm and welcoming. The economy of design extends to the 136 spare but comfortable rooms. The marble-clad bathrooms are nearly as large as the bedrooms, and each has a separate soaking tub with city views. Twenty-one handsomely appointed suites are located in the adjacent Ivy Tower, a compact office building built in 1930; this ziggurat-style edifice also houses a top-notch spa, a gym, and a two-story restaurant. It may all be a bit staid for trendy types, but for grown-ups in search of comfort and style, this is the address.

The Jerome dates from the days of the Wild West—1889, to be exact, when the co-owner of Macy's, Jerome B. Wheeler, settled in town, determined to raise its tone. The hotel is still taking its style cues from that era, which is a good thing if you like cozy lounges with gas fires, crimson wallpaper, velvet couches, and crystal chandeliers. The 92 rooms all have king-size beds with down comforters, oversize closets, and marble tubs. The hotel has a ski concierge who will dry boots and organize lift passes; the saloonlike J-Bar is the single most beloved après joint in Aspen, thick with bold-faced visitors replacing ski calories with bourbon-spiked milkshakes called Aspen Crud. The outdoor hot tub with heated towel service is also a draw, but unlike the other two grande dames (Nell and St. Regis), the Jerome is set back a few blocks from the mountain.

The Lucia is the little black dress of the Portland hotel scene: versatile, elegant, and impeccably stylish. Sister property of the Hotel deLuxe, the black-and-white minimalism of the lobby highlights contemporary works by regional artists, and striking photos by Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer David Hume Kennerly cover the walls of other public spaces. Although the look can be hipper-than-thou, the welcome is friendly, and the spaces are intimate and inviting. The rooms are an unfussy mix of neutral tones and rich textures (except for the bathrooms, some of which are painted a bold deep red), and feature all the high-tech amenities and creature comforts you'd expect from a luxury boutique hotel—from pillow menus and organic coffee to iPod docking stations and a "Get it Now!" button. The perfect location near downtown shops and the restaurants of the buzzing Pearl District makes up for the slightly small rooms—spring for a King Superior for a bit more space. And by all means indulge in the 24-hour room service from its outstanding Thai restaurant Typhoon.

Encounter Mediterranean architecture at this property comprising two 1890 buildings with archways and marble galore. "Nicely appointed rooms" have 14-foot-high ceilings and bathrooms with soaking tubs. Fugazzi features an Asian-French menu, including calamari with lemongrass, ginger, and garlic aioli. Cavallino Lounge "has intriguing, creative martinis."

(48 rooms)

Hotel Max has secured the honor of hippest hotel in the city, located close to the Fifth Avenue shopping district. Decor is a crisp palette of grays, whites, reds, and oranges along with a selection of attractive hi-tech frills (flat-screen TVs, little CD players). There are also comforts you'd find in a more ostentatious hotel, such as showpiece beds piled high with marshmallow-soft pillows. The Max is all about promoting local artists, and each of the 163 rooms has original artwork, with each floor dedicated to the (often provocative) work of a different local photographer. There are some rock-star worthy amenities, too, such as 24-hour room service from the Asian-fusion/sushi restaurant off the lobby, and a "You Got It" button on each room phone, which you can use to challenge the concierge with bizarre 3 a.m. requests. Note that rooms are on the small side—but big enough to pass out in after a night of debauchery, which should give you an idea of some of the clientele.

Like other Kimpton hotels, the Hotel Monaco bucks the sterile and minimalist boutique trend in favor of character and whimsy. Upon entering, you'll likely be greeted by Art, the official hotel dog, who's got his own bed and painted portrait in the lobby (if your own furry friend is along for the ride, you can book a session with the on-site pet psychic). The hotel draws inspiration from the local artists; creative types appear once a month, and guests are invited to try their hand at painting at wine-and-cheese gatherings every evening. The hotel's cheerful signature stripes and the red and periwinkle colors in the Asian-themed lobby do a good job of offsetting the often monochromatic Portland weather. The spacious and high-ceilinged rooms do the same with a riot of patterns and textures—think plaids, stripes, and dots. The whimsy doesn't end there: Animal-print robes add a dash of sass, and teddy bears on the beds are a reminder of the building's history as a department store. All fun aside, the amenities are top notch—flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, l'Occitane toiletries—and the polished service shows that the hotel takes its job seriously. Ask for a room on one of the upper floors for maximum quiet. And if you get lonely, request a goldfish to keep you company for the duration of your stay. The staff is always happy to oblige.

The West Coast–based Kimpton Hotel Group brought its successful Monaco brand into D.C. with a flourish when it took over the distinguished 1839 Tariff Building. Designed by Robert Mills, who also created the Washington Monument and the United States Treasury Building, the neoclassical property is now a stylish boutique hotel (and a registered national landmark). Located in the art-gallery-and-restaurant-filled Penn Quarter, the 182-room Hotel Monaco combines grandeur and hipness, exemplified by the six Robert Mills suites. These corner spots have vaulted 20-foot ceilings and ornate moldings, and are decorated with contemporary but not severe furnishings. In a surprising innovation, the 36 Monte Carlo rooms are designed for tall guests: King-size beds are 90 inches long, and showerheads are set higher than standard nozzles. There's also complimentary wine in the evenings, a pet-friendly policy, and a companion goldfish (on request) to keep you from getting lonely.

Hotel Monaco, one of several Kimpton properties in the vicinity of Union Square, manages to achieve luxury without being dull. The interiors are opulent and the service impeccable, but the Monaco also has a quirky touch: A goldfish is delivered to every room to keep guests company. The hotel's Spa Equilibrium, intended to evoke a "contemporary Roman bath," offers beauty treatments and massage. The Grand Café serves French brasserie food in a beautiful turn-of-the-century ballroom. A complimentary wine and cheese reception is held nightly in the sumptuous lobby, which has a frescoed ceiling and a sweeping marble staircase.

This quirky 11-story hotel in the heart of Downtown is so animal-friendly that if you don't come with a pet, you can "adopt" a goldfish for the length of your visit. The lobby has a vaguely Greek isles theme—a dolphin mural on the ceiling, a wrought-iron staircase resembling seaweed—thanks to the designer's vacations in Crete, and is the site of nightly "Hour of Indulgence" receptions featuring local wines and craft beers, as well as some fun services like a chair massage or fortune telling. The 189 rooms are the design equivalent of a crazy quilt: equal parts eccentric aunt and boutique-style opulence—striped raspberry-and-cream wallpaper, for instance, is paired with paisley patterned chairs, and diamond checked carpets. With that in mind, you shouldn't be too surprised to find an animal-print bathrobe in your closet. It might sound like sensory overload, but somehow it strikes the perfect balance between hip irreverence and standard luxury comfort.

This beachfront hotel may only be a motel makeover, but it's a good one, with perky, beachy decor by model-turned-furnishings-maven Kathy Ireland. Created from four vintage motor inns, Hotel Oceana has 122 airy rooms with whitewashed walls and furnishings tastefully decorated in cheery red, yellow, green, and robin's egg blue. It's not without its perks—two pools, a Jacuzzi, a small spa—but all said, it's a place where you sacrifice a bit of luxury for a good rate and a prime spot facing the waterfront.

This tall glass box looms symbolically and literally over the changing neighborhood of the Lower East Side, where the rundown streets of tenements that once housed Eastern European immigrants are now home to scores of cutting-edge boutiques, bars and cafés—not to mention a Starbucks. The design here is in sync with the area's other new tenants: monochromatic and modern, with floor-to-ceiling transparent walls that allow the city streets to become part of the design. If you're not careful, they also allow you to become part of the view for your neighbors, particularly in rooms on the lower floors. For shy types, there are wraparound curtains and opaque plastic panels that can be affixed to the window. All 110 rooms have Swedish Tempur-Pedic mattresses and deep Japanese soaking tubs. In the Owner's Suite, the tub is placed directly against the glass bathroom wall for a corner panoramic view. The triplex penthouse is the suite of choice for visiting Gen X and Gen Y celebrities, although the true party room might be 184—it has a shower large enough for 10. No questions asked.

Its Holiday Inn–ish exterior aside, this new boutique hotel represents the cutting edge in spa technology, with everything from deep-flow massage to laser therapy (though the Ritz-Carlton has it beat) and a dramatic lobby with 26-foot windows. Inside you'll find everything's tastefully modern, with thoughtful quirky touches such as in-room Nintendos, zebra-print bathrobes, and an honor bar with art supplies and gourmet snacks. Solo travelers can have pet goldfish to keep them company, and animal lovers can rest assured that Fido will be pampered with treats, bottled water, designer food bowls, and treats. Human guests are pampered with daily wine tastings and free in-room yoga and Pilates equipment. Decor is tasteful and modern, and includes a few quirky touches like cowhide-upholstered ottomans as well as some artful ones such as pillows and rugs with hypnotic geometric patterns. Palomar is located in Mockingbird Station, a trendy shopping and eating area a bit north of the action happening downtown. It's a good bet for business travelers with meetings north of the city or avid shoppers, who will have NorthPark only a few minutes away.

Leopard-patterned carpeting and animal-print fabrics add a contemporary touch to the lobby of this soigné downtown hotel, tucked away in a historic 1905 building. The comfortable bedrooms have simple, clean lines with some bold bursts of color (and more leopard spots). Art is a recurring theme here, from the Escher-like geometric parquet in the lobby to the Magritte Suite, a tribute to the great Surrealist artist that includes a cloud-painted ceiling and a bowl of green apples. The eager-to-please staff sets a genial atmosphere, and the swanky Fifth Floor restaurant serves seasonal California cuisine.

You could walk along swanky Prospect Street without ever noticing Parisi—and that's the point of this quietly aloof 20-suite retreat. Rooms, arranged according to feng shui principles, are tastefully appointed with walnut furniture and original abstract oil paintings, all of which helps deflect attention away from the disappointing views. (The best suites only have obstructed glimpses of the ocean.) Parisi is within easy reach of the sea caves at La Jolla Cove, but its guests (couples, businessmen, and Hollywood's elite, including Madonna and Cindy Crawford) tend to gravitate toward shopping and take advantage of the on-site acupuncturist, massage therapist, certified yoga instructor, or even the on-call clinical psychologist. If you haven't guessed already, this is not the place to bring Junior.

The quintessential Upper East Side residential nest, this collection of 149 rooms and suites is decorated with Asian and European silks, framed prints, and striped drapes. The two penthouses have indoor atriums and terraces and a past guest list that includes Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Diana, both drawn to the hotel's privacy. In contrast to the rooms' perfectly pedigreed style, the watering hole off the lobby, Bar Seine, is pretty wild, a combination of Moroccan and African decor, with animal-print couches, leather floors, velvet drapes, and onyx sconces—a place for Upper East Siders, even temporary ones, to let down their (perfectly coiffed) hair. Yes, that is Robert DeNiro lounging in the corner.

Allergic to kitsch? Watch out. This boutique hotel is drenched in over-the-top decor: red leopard-print pony-skin walls, purple lava lamps, and live (!) goldfish in the bedrooms. And management sure enjoys its cutesy double entendres: Until recently a woman wearing nothing but a pink negligee "lived" behind a glass wall in the hotel bar, called—wait for it—Pink Slip. On the other hand, the Preston certainly has more personality than your average Nashville hotel. Quirky amenities include a pillow menu with nine styles from squishy to hard as well as a "Spiritual Menu," offering the Bhagavad Gita, Koran, Torah, and many other books of worship that you don't normally find in the Bible Belt. These selections are delivered to your room, day or night, via the "You Want It, You Got It" button on the in-room phones. Rooms themselves are slightly more understated with soft espresso-colored headboards, handblown glass lamps, and tasteful black-and-white photographs. Though it's in a strange area—located on a dubious-looking side road just yards off Interstate 40 near the airport and several miles from any tourist attraction or non-fast-food restaurants—the consistently low prices make this a popular choice for air travelers or those who don't mind driving a bit to do their sightseeing.

The 72-room Hotel Renew, Waikiki's only "design hotel," is a favorite among fashion and film industry types from New York and California. Originally part of the cheap-and-cheerful Aqua chain, Renew reopened in June 2007 with a more upscale, urban design and nice extras such as valet parking, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary beach gear. Both the rates (sometimes under $200 per night) and the square footage (a standard room is about 300 square feet) are as minimalist as the design: Expect a sexy, moodily lit sanctuary with dark wood furniture and a somewhat overwhelming 80-inch projection television. The hotel has neither a pool nor a restaurant, and you probably won't want to spend too much time in the only public space—the lobby café where your complimentary continental breakfast is served—but Waikiki Beach is just a block away, and the neighborhood's plentiful restaurants and shops are within walking distance. Pooch lovers will appreciate that canine guests under 20 pounds are as welcome here as their owners.

Unabashedly sexy, trendy, high-tech, and, well, red, this hotel on Embassy Row has 137 rooms meant to stimulate, not calm you down. (Unless, that is, you request one of the designated Chill rooms, which have mood lighting, a PlayStation 3 or Wii, two 27-inch flat-screen TVs, and slightly more subdued colors than in the other spaces.) Other specialty categories include Chat rooms, with a state-of-the-art computer and unlimited Internet access, and Chow rooms, with a kitchenette, including microwave and dishes. The interiors are sharp, contemporary, and whimsical (starting with the black-and-red checkered rugs). And all guests are invited to a red-wine-and-beer session on weekday evenings, with Bloody Marys and cold pizza on weekend mornings. Just like home.

Liz Lambert, the hotelier behind Austin's iconic Hotel San José (on South Congress Avenue, just three blocks away), handpicked every detail of her new 14-room gem, an inspired union of old-world decadence and rock 'n' roll cool. In the revamped Victorian mansion, silky drapes and giant chandeliers contrast with Verner Panton lamps and Gaetano Pesce UP5 chairs; in the modern poolside bungalows, retro Spanish film posters and sky-blue tile create a Mediterranean vibe. Pleasingly fussy elements such as monogrammed bed linens and a breakfast tray that arrives with crêpes and a silver tea set are tempered with photos of The Beatles and Hunter S. Thompson and a turntable in every room. In the library, guests can flip through vintage vinyl, DVDs, poetry, and biographies—almost all related to the music and literature of the '60s and '70s. The lounge serves a charcuterie plate and cocktails and stays open until midnight, something that could be a problem if you're trying to sleep in a nearby room—it can get loud on weekend nights.