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Opened in late 2007, the futuristic 88-room 6 Columbus is two minutes from Central Park in Midtown West — a beautiful, convenient, but not so hip location. Sleek style and high-end comforts like 400-count sheets and C.O. Bigelow bath products keep pace with its famed SoHo sister, 60 Thompson, but there’s no gym, business center, or celebrities.
The 208-room Night Hotel Times Square is conveniently located just a half-block from Times Square and stands out for its adventurous design, which include a quirky lobby and a trendy restaurant, bar, and lounge with funky post-modern ski-lodge-inspired decor. Rooms are comparatively characterless, though clean and serviceable, with modern amenities like flat-screen TVs, Bose radios with iPod docks, and free Wi-Fi. Entry-level rooms are tiny (even for NYC) and can be dark, plus there’s no coffee/tea service or mini-bar and breakfast costs an extra fee. Guests get free access to a nearby Equinox gym and the hotel has a dedicated concierge. By comparison, Dream Midtown, eight blocks north, has equally whimsical decor, but larger, airier rooms.
This Union Square boutique — a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection since 2013 — has 171 up-to-date, well-appointed rooms that deliver the right luxuries — pillow-top mattresses, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi — in a stylish package. A fitness center, business center, great service, and an on-site restaurant make this hotel one of the best options in its area and price range.
Made to look like Atlantic City in the 1940s, the more subdued Boardwalk Villas rests beside a glittering stretch of great restaurants, bars, and carnival games on Crescent Lake, within walking distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios. In addition to its pools, waterslide, and great gym, all of its large suites have washer-dryers and (in most units) full kitchens.
A 278-unit time-share near the Strip, the Desert Rose features stylish but smaller-than-average suites. Even though you’ll find little to do on-site, the convenient location makes it a great base for exploring the casinos (including nearby Hooters), and the friendly service and spotless rooms make for a comfortable stay.
Stunning views are the name of the game at Sonesta Coconut Grove Miami, a great option in the heart of Coconut Grove: its rooftop pool, restaurant and bar — even its fitness center — all offer incredible panoramas of Miami and Biscayne Bay. The hotel’s 196 rooms all come with 42-inch flat-screen HDTVs, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and free Wi-Fi, while Deluxe Rooms and Suites add features like kitchenettes, balconies, and bay views. All of the rooms at the nearby Mutiny Hotel come with full kitchens, but their in-room Wi-Fi costs a pesky extra fee.
Isolated on its own, 20-acre island off the coast of funky Coconut Grove, the Grove Isle offers big rooms (each with a balcony and a stunning view), a spa, 12 tennis courts, an open-air restaurant, a superb fitness center, and a marina. But there’s no beach, just a patch of sand on some concrete by the pool, some rooms and public areas need updating, and the remote location means there’s not a lot to do (an upside for those in search of tranquility).
A-list rockers have been flocking to the Sunset Marquis, located steps from the Sunset Strip, since it opened in 1963 as a cheap motel for musicians. It offers 152 sleek, spacious rooms featuring up-to-date amenities — including large flat-screen TVs, iPod docks and Molton Brown toiletries. Hotel highlights include a top-notch restaurant, a cozy bar, two pools, and a wonderful spa.
In summer 2012, this 434-room behemoth with a starchy personality and a somewhat undesirable downtown location officially became a DoubleTree property, completing a series of multi-million dollar renovations to upgrade the hotel (including renovating the fitness and business centers). This came on the heels of a 2010 renovation of all guestrooms, meaning the hotel is in tip-top condition. It’s distinguished by its spacious rooms and tranquil, half-acre garden (a popular happy hour spot and wedding locale). But unlike some of its nearby competitors, it doesn’t have a spa or a pool.
The Midtown outpost of this four-and-a-half-pearl hotel remains a mainstay for travelers loyal to the brand, but it has some quirks and drawbacks that should be noted. A bold statement is made from the start, with grandiose interiors designed by I.M. Pei, yet beyond the marble-clad lobby, Four Seasons New York delivers an abbreviated version of a luxury hotel experience. Features check high-end boxes — there’s a bar with top-notch cocktails and 24-hour room service — but the hotel lacks a dinner restaurant, the spa and small gym are in the basement, and there’s no pool. Its 368 spacious guest rooms and suites are sophisticated and comfortably staid, with custom-made furniture, minibars, and bathrobes, though high-end amenities like espresso machines and iPod docks are missing. Travelers looking for a step up in features can try The St. Regis New York.