A beautiful hotel can be the centre of a holiday or a comfortable place to return after exploring. Decide which role you want it to play before choosing a favourite photograph.

These five US properties offer contrasting settings. The old article’s quoted room prices have been removed: a historic price range cannot tell you what a stay will cost for your dates, room category and booking terms.

Pool and oceanfront buildings at Halekulani in Waikiki
Pool and oceanfront buildings at Halekulani in Waikiki. Original image credit: HOTELS.COM.

Halekulani: a Waikiki stay with the city nearby

Halekulani places a resort experience within Waikiki on Oʻahu. Think about whether you want to spend most of the day around the property or use it as a base for a wider island visit.

Ask how your chosen room relates to the view in the photograph. “Ocean view” can describe more than one outlook, and the room category matters. Include airport transport and any planned excursions in the comparison rather than looking only at the nightly rate.

Ocean House: a coastal New England setting

Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, offers a different kind of seaside idea. Match the season to the visit you imagine: time by the water, local exploration or a stay focused on the property itself.

The historic identity and present building should not be collapsed into a claim that every part remains unchanged from the nineteenth century. Enjoy the architecture and setting while using the hotel’s current descriptions for the accommodation you book.

Amangiri: a desert landscape as the main event

Amangiri in southern Utah makes the surrounding terrain central to its appeal. Consider whether you want an organised resort-based experience or the flexibility of a broader independent road trip.

Ask which activities are included, which require separate arrangements and how conditions affect them. Desert scenery deserves more than being fitted between a late arrival and an early departure.

The Roosevelt: New Orleans on your doorstep

The Roosevelt New Orleans offers a city-hotel alternative to the landscape-focused stays above. Start with the neighbourhoods, food and cultural experiences you want to explore, then assess the location against those plans.

A grand lobby is a pleasure, but sleep and convenience matter too. Ask about your room’s position if noise is a concern, and leave enough unscheduled time to enjoy a meal without racing to the next reservation.

The Gant: more space for an Aspen base

The Gant offers condominium-style accommodation in Aspen. That can change the practical shape of a stay: separate living space and kitchen facilities may matter more to your group than a conventional hotel-room layout.

Confirm the features of the actual unit, especially beds, stairs and access. A photograph of one accommodation type is not a guarantee for every booking.

Put the comparison in one place

Write down the room total, taxes and mandatory charges, meals, transfers and cancellation conditions. Then add the reason you would choose the hotel. If that reason is a particular facility, confirm it will be available.

For more ways to assess an unusual setting, explore our distinctive hotel guide. The right stay should make your holiday easier to enjoy, as well as lovely to look at.