How to get the best deal for a hotel booking
If you’re looking to save money on hotel rooms, the websites that claim to have the best deal aren’t always the best choice. Sometimes you can do better on your own.
USA TODAY
Sometimes all you need in a hotel is a bed and a shower. Other times you’re looking for a worthwhile experience, from excellent bars to a relaxing spa visit.
USA TODAY 10Best sought out the hotels with the “best amenities and facilities” and asked a panel of experts to nominate their top picks in five categories: Best Eco-Friendly Hotel, Best Hotel Bar, Best Hotel Pool, Best Hotel Restaurant and Best Hotel Spa.
Readers voted to determine the winners, and while no California hotel took first place, nine made the top 10 in almost every category.
Here is some.
What is the best eco-friendly hotel in the USA?
Four hotels in California made it onto the list of the most environmentally friendly hotels, but the winner was the Cliffs at Princeville in Hawaii.
- 1 Hotel West Hollywood describes itself as “one of the most energy efficient hotels” in Los Angeles and is LEED certified (Silver). Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design is globally recognized and was created by the US Green Building Council to rate buildings on their sustainability. The hotel’s other sustainable practices include its irrigation system and ingredients.
- The Stanford Inn & Resort in Mendocino demonstrates sustainability in a variety of ways, from its vegan restaurant Ravens Restaurant to its cleaning products and composting and recycling programs, according to the Northern California resort.
- Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey Bay is also a LEED-certified hotel. In addition, the hotel lists numerous other environmentally friendly practices, including the use of a system for cleaning and disinfecting guest rooms without harsh chemicals and bath products made from renewable and biodegradable materials.
- A central value for the Bardessono Hotel and Spa in Yountville “cares about our environment,” the hotel says. The LEED-certified hotel uses solar panels to generate “significant amounts” of its electricity and an underground geothermal system to heat and cool guest rooms and the spa, among other things.
What is the best hotel bar in the USA?
In New Orleans, the Carousel Bar & Lounge in the Hotel Monteleone, rated as the best hotel bar by 10Best, is located there. Three hotel bars in California also received awards.
- Top of the brand at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins in San Francisco takes visitors to the 19th floor and offers “stunning views of the city.” The lounge and bar celebrated its 85th anniversary this year, CBS reported.
- The Pied Piper Located in the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, which the bar says was founded in 1909, it got its name from the mural inside – “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” by famous painter and illustrator Maxfield Parrish. The bar was highlighted by 10Best for its “sophisticated ambience that combines vintage charm with elegance.”
- Grant Grill Lounge at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego was praised for its mixology and cuisine, “which elevates traditional bar fare with inventive twists,” according to 10Best.
What is the best hotel pool in the USA?
In the Best Hotel Pool category, Hawaii once again takes the top spot with Koloa Landing Resort in Poipu. The only California hotel to make the top 10 is Villa Royale in Palm Springs, which offers guests three pools, a poolside bar and a more “grown-up” atmosphere due to the hotel’s 21-and-over policy, 10Best wrote.
More: Villa Royale Palm Springs will reopen this fall and we got a little sneak peek. Check out the pictures
What is the best hotel spa in the USA?
The spa at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes in Florida was voted the best hotel spa. Coming in at number 9 is Sunny’s Spa & Beauty Lounge at the Seabird Resort in Oceanside. The spa was highlighted by 10Best for its “majestic views of the California Ocean and the sound of rolling waves.”
Paris Barraza is a trends reporter covering California for The Desert Sun. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @ParisBarraza.
