Must-see hotels in Florida

  • Flagler Beach Motel

    Northeast Florida

    Of several inexpensive motels, the standout is the Flagler Beach Motel. Its spotless studio and one- and two-bedroom motel-style units – many with full…

  • Gondolier

    Naples

    This classic 1950s Googie-style bungalow with sharp angles, overhanging roof and kitsch Gondolier signage is well located on a quiet street in Old Naples…

  • Pillars Hotel

    Fort Lauderdale

    This place is so protective that we couldn't even enter; they wouldn't return our calls. Let's hope you have more luck because, from all reports, this…

  • Mutiny Hotel

    Miami

    This small, luxury bayfront hotel, with one- and two-bedroom suites featuring balconies, boasts indulgent staff, high-end bedding, gracious appointments,…

  • Sweetwater Branch Inn

    Northeast Florida

    In this wedding cake mansion, you'll find 20 rooms – no two exactly alike – decorated in an Old Florida aesthetic, with hardwoods, classic furniture and…

  • Truman Hotel

    Key West

    Close to the main downtown drag, these playful rooms have huge flat-screen TVs, kitchenettes, zebra-print throw rugs and mid-century modern furniture. Try…

  • Sun Viking Lodge

    Daytona Beach

    Families continue to love this small private resort, favoring its swag of included attractions: two pools, a 60ft waterslide, beach access, shuffleboard,…

  • Bed & Drinks

    South Beach

    This hostel pretty shamelessly plays to the sexy, party, beautiful-people crowd – check the name – so know this before booking. The beach is a few blocks…

  • Sea Downs

    Gold Coast

    This cozy, unpretentious little spot has dated charm, featuring tidy studios and one-bedroom apartments equipped with everything you need to roll out of…

  • Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista South

    Central Florida

    Comfortable and modern two-room suites, complimentary cooked-to-order breakfasts and evening cocktails, as well as an on-site travel agent, Hertz car…

  • Chesterfield Hotel

    South Beach

    Hip-hop gets funky with zebra-stripe curtains and cushions in the small lobby, which hosts a chill happy hour at the in-house Safari Bar when the sun goes…

  • Boat House Motel

    Southwest Gulf Coast

    The most reasonable accommodations on the island, this 'boatel' in historic Old San Marco is family-owned and quaint, with just 20 rooms adorned in…

  • Fort Pickens Campground

    Gulf Coast

    Amid the windblown trees across from the beach, these two pleasant campgrounds are popular with RV-ers, though you'll see the odd tent or two. There are…

  • Hilton St Augustine Historic Bayfront

    St Augustine

    This Hilton is a fair cut above its corporate brethren. Rooms are a tasteful blend of hardwood dark hues and fluffy pale linen bedding, while the hotel…

  • Riverwood Suites

    Gulf Coast

    The four spacious rooms inside this formerly abandoned tin warehouse – the 'Baltimore Building' – have hardwood floors, artsy headboards, modern fixin's…

  • Hotel Breakwater

    South Beach

    A towering blue marquee offset by a geometric deco facade advertises the Breakwater to all of Ocean Dr. The rooms have an understated, but welcoming…

  • Siesta Key Inn

    Southwest Gulf Coast

    These beachy suites sit within a tropical garden a few steps from the shore and the Crescent Beach shops. And when they say these suites are fully…

  • Casa Faena

    Miami

    Part of the growing Faena empire in Mid-Beach, this 1928 Mediterranean-style palace feels like an (Americanized) Tuscan villa, with a honey-stone…

  • Lemon Tree Inn

    Naples

    Value for money is high at the Lemon Tree, where 34 clean and brightly decorated rooms (some with passable kitchenettes) form a U around pretty, private…

  • Tahitian Inn

    Tampa

    The name is reminiscent of a tiki-themed motel, but this family-owned, full-service hotel offers fresh, boutique stylings on the cheap. Nice pool, and the…

  • Hilton Garden Inn Ybor City

    Tampa

    This attractive, efficient and friendly branch of the Hilton Garden chain is just a few blocks from 7th Ave. Rooms are vast and comfortable, there's a…

  • Cypress House

    Key West

    This plantation-like getaway has wraparound porches, leafy grounds, a secluded swimming pool and spacious, individually designed bedrooms with attractive…

  • Miami Beach International Hostel

    South Beach

    An extensive makeover has turned this reliable old hostel into something like a boutique club with dorm rooms. Bright plaster, marble accents, deco-and…

  • Sandpiper Inn

    Southwest Gulf Coast

    Set a block back from the water and in close proximity to the shops and restaurants on Periwinkle Way, this cheery, yellow-and-teal Old Florida inn offers…

  • Ocean Five Hotel

    South Beach

    This boutique hotel is a cheerfully painted deco building with cozy, quiet rooms that reveal a sleek cabin-like aesthetic. Think whites and light yellows…

  • Key Lime Inn

    Key West

    These cozy rooms are all scattered around a tropical hardwood backdrop. Inside, the blissfully cool rooms are greener than a jade mine, with tiny flat…

  • Lodge at Ponte Vedra

    Northeast Florida

    Well-heeled families love this opulent Mediterranean-style resort – a historic landmark – where kids play by the pool while the grown-ups enjoy a much…

  • Tropical Manor

    Daytona Beach

    This immaculate, family-friendly beachfront property is like a playful pastel vision of Candy Land (which admittedly might be a bit too much for some). A…

  • Stiles Hotel

    South Beach

    This Stiles gets positive reviews for its (relatively) fair prices, friendly staff and attractive chambers. Guest rooms are set in sandy earth tones, with…

  • Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort

    Northeast Florida

    This solid beachfront resort, located about 9 miles south of Fernandina Beach, has a wide variety of dining options and an array of stylish, check-in and…

  • Casa de Solana

    St Augustine

    Just off pedestrian-only Aviles St in the oldest part of town, this utterly charming little inn remains faithful to its early-1800s period decor. Rooms…

  • Birchwood Inn

    St Petersburg

    Rooms are simply gorgeous at this boutique gem: spacious, with claw-foot baths and king canopy beds, and oozing vintage bordello elegance sexed up with a…

  • Aloft Orlando Downtown

    Orlando

    Open, streamlined and decidedly modern, although the carefully constructed minimalist decor might render the rooms oddly empty for some. The sleek little…

  • Disney's Polynesian Resort

    Walt Disney World

    With faux-bamboo decor, a jungle motif in the lobby, and coconut-shell cups and shell necklaces in the store, you just may think you're in the South…

  • Thunderbird Beach Resort

    Tampa Bay

    The art-deco sign has beckoned travelers since 1958, and the Thunderbird remains a reliable choice in the thick of the Treasure Island commercial corridor…

  • Sugarloaf Lodge

    Florida Keys

    The 55 motel-like rooms are nothing special, though every single one has an excellent bay view from the balcony or patio (1st floor). There is also an on…

  • Four Seasons Miami

    Downtown Miami

    The marble common areas double as art galleries, a massive spa caters to corporate types and there are sweeping, could-have-been-a-panning-shot-from-Miami…

  • Sea Gypsy Inn

    Southwest Gulf Coast

    A couple of miles down the beach from Times Sq, this is a cute and reasonably priced collection of apartments and suites, which each feature comfy beds…

  • Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove

    Miami

    Another member of the Ritz-Carlton organization in Miami, this one overlooks the bay, has immaculate rooms and offers butlers for every need, from…

  • Paradise Inn

    Gulf Coast

    Across from the beach, this sherbet-colored motel is a lively, cheery place thanks to its popular bar and grill (ask for a quiet room near the parking lot…