When It’s All About Location: Best Downtown Hotels Around the World

Everyone loves to discover secret resorts, hidden chateaus, and romantic secluded villas, but there’s something about a hotel smack in the middle of the city. Yes, it’s all about location, location, location, and centrally located hotels offer easy access to, well, everything downtown. From exploring New York City by foot to combining business with pleasure in Tampa to experiencing the pubs in Dublin, we’ve got the scoop on the best downtown hotels.

View of Times Square from Room 3206 Courtyard Marriott New York City Manhattan Central Park

Location, Location, Location! We’ve checked in with our writers who have checked into and shared their favorite and best downtown hotels throughout the world.

Here’s the scoop – – and click below for shortcuts to your favorite downtown locations!

Best Downtown Hotels in NYC

If you’re traveling to NYC, you’re going to need a location that allows you to explore all this city has to offer. When that includes Times Square, my vote goes to the Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park. This dual-branded hotel is also the tallest in the city, and it also packs a punch when it comes to being in the heart and soul of the Big Apple. The best part of your stay is the ability to step outside and be within walking distance of Columbus Circle, Radio City Music Hall, 5th Avenue, and Times Square.

Photo credit: Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park

Best Downtown Hotels In Boston

Choosing just one favorite hotel in Boston is a lot like choosing your favorite kid. I can’t do either, so I’m going to talk about my favorite hotels in Beantown USA. Take your pick depending on exactly what part of Boston you want to explore.

The Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf offers both location and luxury, a perfect combination for your stay in Beantown, USA.

Located in the heart of Boston’s financial and business center on the oldest waterfront in the nation, check into the historic Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf. It’s located along the Rose Kennedy Greenway and HarborWalk and within walking distance to the North End neighborhood and Faneuil Hall Marketplace as well as a few blocks from the “T,” the city’s subway system.

Best Hotels Near the Convention Center in Tampa

According to Tim Leffel, Tampa, Florida is not one of the biggest convention markets by a long shot, but the view is perhaps the most pleasant.  Tim already did the homework for you, so go on and click through to this round-up on hotels near the convention center in Tampa, which is in the center of town, including six options within walking distance.

Best Downtown Hotel in Indianapolis

Looking for a stay in the Center of Indy, then Susan McKee points you to the Conrad Indianapolis is in the Center of Indy.  She says, “The downtown location of the Conrad Indianapolis can’t be beaten. Not only is it on Washington Street — part of the National Road laid out in 1811 from Washington, D.C., and aiming for St. Louis, Missouri, but it’s one block from Meridian (the city’s main north-south street), adjacent to the Artsgarden, and just off the center of town, Monument Circle. The city’s famed Cultural Trail goes right by the front door.”

Best Downtown Hotels in Denver

Yep, my hometown of Denver deserves a place in this round-up of best downtown hotels, but there are SO many, that once again I can’t choose. I’ll leave you with these links to round-ups of the best hotels in the Mile High City.

Best Downtown Hotel in Taos, New Mexico

A neon sign marks the Historic Taos Inn, New Mexico

Just north of the downtown Taos Plaza (within walking distance), look for the signature neon sign of the Historic Taos Inn. This 19th-century adobe compound stretches nearly a block along a busy street. A National Historic Landmark since 1982, from its 2-story lobby to its quaint 44 rooms, this historic New Mexico boutique hotel is popular with both locals and travelers.

Best Centrally Located Hotel in Portland

Kitschy and Oh-So-Portland, the Hotel Rose Portland was the perfect location for my family’s vacation. Located across the Tom McCall Waterfront Park on the Willamette River, this boutique Portland hotel provided the home base to explore Portlandia. Sure, there are hotels located closer to the heart of the city, but we could easily walk (and we did put some steps on!) to just about anywhere.

City Roundup: Best Hotel in Seattle

Best Centrally Located Resort in Cancun

Don’t Miss These Downtown Hotels in Mexico City

Best downtown Mexico City Hotel: La Valise — la Terraza

Can’t get enough of Mexico City?  If Lydia had to pick one more, she chooses the Carlota, tucked into Mexico City’s Cuauhtemoc neighborhood right off of Reforma Avenue. Read more about her top Mexico City’s best ultra-urban hotels.

Oh Canada! Vancouver & Montreal Downtown Hotels

We hometown gals love checking into hotels in our hometown, and Carolyn Heller’s home in Vancouver includes one of her favorite hotels, the Opus Hotel. The Opus is directly across the street from the Yaletown/Roundhouse Canada Line station, and from Vancouver’s airport, it’s a quick 20-minute ride. Much faster, and cheaper, than taking a cab.

Tim Leffel chimes in to vote for the Doubletree Montreal Hotel due to its central location for entertainment and business travel. He even mentions that it houses an entire mall with an extensive food court and a grocery store in the same building, so in the freezing Quebec winters you can leave your coat in the room.

Centrally Located Hotel in Dublin, Ireland

For travelers wanting to explore Dublin, the four-star O’Callaghan Davenport Hotel seriously boasts an amazing location right next to Merrion Park. Put on your walking shoes and you can reach many of Dublin’s key attractions including Trinity College, Merrion Square, and government buildings within a five-minute walk. The main shopping area, Grafton Street, is within an easy 10-minute walk, and the National Gallery of Ireland is around the corner.

Best Downtown Hotel in Jerusalem, Israel

It is hard to beat Windows of Jerusalem apartment hotel when it comes to location in the Israeli capital, says Buzzy Gordon. Equi-distant between the new intercity train station and downtown, the impressive building towers over the open-air market that has become the latest hotspot for trendy restaurants and bars. It is walking distance to the historic Old City and its holy places, as well as to the upscale Mamilla pedestrian mall. For those who would rather ride in comfort, the urban light rail system has a stop just steps from the hotel’s entrance.

Heart of Shanghai: Grand Kempinski Hotel

The Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai is located in the heart of Asia’s financial centre, overlooking the Huangpu River. Its location allows guests easy access to major landmarks and tourist attractions.  Bring comfortable shoes as you’ll put a lot of walking miles exploring Shanghai landmarks, such as the 100 floors of the Shanghai World Financial Cente and Old China, the Pu-Xi, historical part of the city with the famous Yu Gardens.