City: Cincinnati, OH

Category: Accommodations

Telephone: (513) 381-3000

Address: 601 Vine St.

Description: This historic hotel, recently named one of Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s top-25 hotels in America, was built in 1882 and elegantly reopened in 1987. It’s within easy walking distance of downtown attractions—the Aronoff Center for the Arts and shopping at Tower Place and Macy’s/Tiffany’s are only a block or two away. It’s also home to the exquisite Palace restaurant and the popular Cricket Lounge, with a good selection of lesser-priced offerings. This is generally Cincinnati’s most expensive hotel, with weekday rates for double occupancy at $190 and up, but such is the price of elegance. It has 146 rooms and 24 suites, meeting halls, and a well-equipped fitness room. Personal computers, in-room safes, secretarial services, voice mail, Internet access, free Wi-Fi, and dataports are available for business travelers. Amenities for all guests include Roman-size tubs, bathroom phones, terry-cloth robes, 24-hour room service, complimentary overnight shoe shine, turndown service, and twice-daily maid service. The rooms, as you might expect, are stunning, with intricate wood cabinets, high ceilings, impressive vase lamps, lush quilt comforters, and roomy desk space. If you choose what might be the city’s most expensive hotel room, the Emery Presidential Suite, you’ll fork over $1,500 per night. For that you get two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, and two baths. The decor is warm tones of beechwood and stately marble, accented by two fireplaces, a wet bar, whirlpools, and surround-sound stereo system. Heck, what’s an expense account for? Famous guests have included Billy Joel, who stayed here and played the hotel lobby’s baby grand at 2:00 a.m., plus Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, Frank Sinatra, Cher, and the Rolling Stones. And Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks thrilled guests by serenading Lindsey Buckingham in the Cricket Lounge.