I’ve stayed at hundreds of US hotels – these are the 10 I’d recommend in a heartbeat

As a food and travel journalist in the United States , I've checked in and out of so many B&Bs, motels, airport chains, luxury properties, city hotels and beach resorts that it can all be a bit of a blur. Except when I've stayed at a singular hotel, the kind of accommodation that I recommend to friends who are holidaying in the area, saying: "Trust me, you have to stay at this hotel."

The hotels below turned me into a travelling salesman, urging friends, family and even people sitting next to me on flights that they should really do themselves a favour and book a room at their earliest convenience.

America's hotels are as diverse as the country itself, and this list reflects that, from a kitschy roadside motel to a fashionable and historic Los Angeles classic.

Best for: Retro Americana

Silver Sands Motel

Long Island, New York

The motel emerged in the United States a century ago with the popularity of the automobile. Silver Sands, a one-storey, U-shaped property on the fashionable North Fork of Long Island, is part of this history.

The aqua-green and peach-coloured mid-century-modern motel from 1957 got a serious refresh in 2023, going from a slightly decrepit property to a sleek one. All 20 rooms have ample space and natural light, as well as sea views, while decor leans into the mid-century vibe with orange rotary telephones and vintage-looking Tivoli speakers. Guests can borrow bicycles to explore the charming village of Greenport.

Doubles from £240, room only

Best for: Outrageous Vegas

The Venetian Resort Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

In the Venetian's two towers (containing the Venetian and the Palazzo), there are more than 7,000 suites, putting it just behind First World Hotel in Malaysia as the world's second-largest hotel. Its dozens of restaurants include four steakhouses. The spacious rooms across 35 floors offer great views (especially of the next-door Sphere), but what's truly outrageous here is the (surprisingly realistic) recreation of Venice, Italy .

Yes there's only one 400m canal, and it's likely that no one working at the many adjacent shops, restaurants and bars can say more than ciao in Italian, but look up at the Titian-blue sky, admire the (fake) Venetian Renaissance structures and you'll have to admit to yourself: It's quite impressive.

Doubles from £150, room only

Best for: Route 66

El Rancho Hotel

Gallup, New Mexico

Legendary Route 66 , from Chicago to the Pacific Coast-hugging Santa Monica, is home to ample hotels and motels. But few will be more classic than El Rancho in Gallup. First flicking on its lights in the 1930s and built by the brother of the Hollywood film director DW Griffith, this roadside motel has seen its share of Hollywood stars.

The rooms are clad in a riot of colours, and the décor is a mixture of mid-century modern and Southwestern United States. Tuck into a mountain of nachos or an enormous burger at The Silver Screen and then grab a drink at the adjacent 49er Lounge, where John Wayne reportedly once entered on a horse and ordered a beer.

Doubles from £75 , room only

Best for: Old Hollywood glamour

Chateau Marmont

Los Angeles, California

Chateau Marmont has resided on Sunset Boulevard for nearly a century. Many celebrities have laid their precious heads down here, including Jim Morrison, F Scott Fitzgerald, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Mick Jagger and John Lennon. It's where John Belushi infamously checked in but never checked out.

The lobby is all dark wood and gothic vaulted ceilings, while the pool is the place to see and be seen. But the biggest attraction of Chateau Marmont, at least for the rich and famous, has always been its privacy: The hotel operates a strict no-camera policy in all public areas, meaning discretion is the order of the day.

Doubles from £550, room only

Best for: The Big Apple at Christmas

The Plaza Hotel

New York City

The beloved Plaza Hotel, at the intersection of 59th Street and Fifth Avenue on the south-east corner of Central Park, goes all out for Christmas, as fans of Home Alone 2 will be well aware.

The lobby is bedecked with twinkling lights and shades of green and red, and fans of the Macaulay Culkin film can enjoy a themed package that includes a recreation of the limousine ride with pizza. The 18-floor chateau-like building from the early 20th century houses 282 rooms and suites, all of which are opulently decorated with the likes of Beaux Arts chandeliers, lavish bathtubs and ornate headboards.

Doubles from £1,000, B&B

Best for: Mardi Gras

The Pontchartrain Hotel

New Orleans, Louisiana

This historic Garden District hotel, located on the streetcar-heavy St Charles Avenue, oozes Big Easy cool. It is where Tennessee Williams wrote parts of A Streetcar Named Desire , while Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra and Cole Porter have all slept here. You need not come during Mardi Gras to get in the New Orleans party mood , but if you do, expect a fun riot.

The rooftop bar Hot Tin offers views of the city skyline and the Mississippi River while sipping a Sazerac. The restaurant Jack Rose serves up excellent Creole fare with a creative twist from the acclaimed chef Brian Landry. Rooms in this 14-floor 1920s beauty are bathed in mint and pink and have a retro-vintage vibe.

Doubles from £125 , room only

Best for: Hawaiian paradise

Fairmont Kea Lani

Wailea-Makena, Hawaii

Fairmont Kea Lani is the only all-suite and villa seafront hotel in Hawaii , hugging the shoreline at Polo Beach on Maui. The 22-acre property opened in 1991 but underwent a full renovation in 2024. There are three swimming pools (including one adults-only), plus a 43m water slide that whizzes guests from the upper pool to the lower lagoon pool.

Don't miss out on dining at the in-house Ko restaurant, where the talented chef Matt Dela Cruz channels Maui's culinary culture and history with dishes such as crispy shrimp doused in an Ali'i Kula lavender honey sauce and sprinkled with candied macadamia nuts.

Doubles from £640, room only

Best for: Urban cool

Hotel Ivy

Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Ivy, a Luxury Collection hotel, is in downtown Minneapolis, a short walk from some of the city's best restaurants and less than a mile from both the legendary music venue First Avenue and the Walker Art Center, one of the best modern art museums in the United States. Rooms come with spectacular views, Frette linens and rain showers, while the in-house restaurants are worth booking: Breva has a seasonal menu, while the speakeasy Masa & Agave is a great spot for a margarita and fish tacos.

Doubles from £245 , room only

Best for: California dreamin'

La Bahia Hotel & Spa

Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz's first luxury hotel opened in 2025. La Bahia is set on the beach near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and its rollercoasters – the West Coast's answer to Coney Island. Among the rooms' best features are Frette robes and a complimentary minibar (including wine from a local vineyard).

Complimentary bicycles are also available. High Tide restaurant serves elevated takes on Pacific Rim fare, and the lobby cocktail bar Pearl has an ambitious menu. For £150, guests can partake in the hotel's beach butler service: They'll set up a huge umbrella, lay down large towels, install a table and give you a cooler stocked with juices and water, with additional food and drink available to order.

Doubles from £410 , room only

Best for: Dutton devotees

Mountain Sky Guest Ranch

Emigrant, Montana

Dude ranches hit their peak about a century ago, but recently there has been huge interest in them again, not least thanks to the smash-hit TV show Yellowstone . This elegant 33-cabin ranch offers archery, horse riding, hiking and fly fishing as well as a top-notch 18-hole golf course; a high-end restaurant serving four-course tasting menus; a heated pool; and yoga.

Doubles from £3,000 per week, B&B

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.