Best Historic Hotel: Built in 1910 in the beaux-arts style, the Hermitage Hotel, 231 Sixth Ave. N. (tel. 888-888-9414 or 615/244-3121), boasts the most elegant lobby in the city. The marble columns, gilded plasterwork, and stained-glass ceiling recapture the luxuries of a bygone era. This is a classic grand hotel.
Best for Business Travelers: Not only does the Nashville Airport Marriott, 600 Marriott Dr. (tel. 800/228-9290 or 615/889-9300), have rooms designed specifically with business travelers in mind, but it also has plenty of athletic facilities to help those same travelers unwind. Perhaps best of all, it's close to the airport and easy to find.
Best Hotel Lobby for Pretending that You're Loaded: Although the Opryland Hotel, 2800 Opryland Dr. (tel. 615/883-2211 or 615/889-1000), is a major Nashville attraction and draws all types of tourists and travelers, it will set you back a bundle to stay here. So, just do as everyone else does and pretend that you're a guest as you stroll the atriums and elegant lobbies.
Best for Families: With an indoor pool, a game room, and a tropical atrium complete with a stream running through it, the Embassy Suites Nashville, 10 Century Blvd. (tel. 800/EMBASSY [362-2779] or 615/871-0033), is a good place to bring the kids. Parents might also appreciate having a bedroom (and TV) all to themselves. The free buffet breakfast and in-room refrigerators also help cut expenses.
Best Moderately Priced Hotel: With its mountain-lodge lobby, the Holiday Inn Express-Airport, 1111 Airport Center Dr. (tel. 800/HOLIDAY [465-4329] or 615/883-1366), features style beyond its modest rates. It's also in an attractively landscaped office park that's great for jogging.
Best Budget Hotel: Located in the airport area convenient to Opry Mills and Briley Parkway, the SpringHill Suites by Marriott, 1100 Airport Center Dr., (tel. 888/287-9400 or 615/884-6111), is a good and economical choice for tourists.
Best Service: Whether you're here on business or to do the country music thing, you won't find better service than at the Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel, 2100 West End Ave. (tel. 800/23-LOEWS or 615/885-2200).
Best Location: If you're here on business or for a night on the town in The District, the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, 611 Commerce St. (tel. 800/HOTELS-1 [468-3571] or 615/255-8400), is your best downtown choice. It's connected to the convention center and is only a block from the Ryman Auditorium.
Best Health Club: Where else in Music City can you ice-skate, go swimming, and play tennis year-round? The Thomas F. Frist Centennial Sportsplex, 25th Ave. N. at Brandau Ave. (tel. 615/862-8480), offers all this as well as outdoor swimming and extensive fitness facilities. Several area hotels offer passes to the health club.
Best Hotel Pool: The main pool at the Sheraton Music City, 777 McGavock Pike (tel. 800/325-3535 or 615/885-2200), is fairly large and is situated in the hotel's quiet central courtyard. There's also plenty of patio space where you can spend time lounging. A smaller indoor pool is available for the cooler months of the year.
Best Views: The new high-rise Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt, 2555 West End Ave., (tel. 800/228-9290), offers birds-eye views of the Vanderbilt University football stadium as well as the Parthenon in Centennial Park.
Best for a Romantic Getaway: With its opulent beaux-arts lobby, dark and romantic basement bar and restaurant, and comfortable, newly redecorated rooms, the Hermitage Hotel, 231 Sixth Ave. N. (tel. 800/251-1908 or 615/244-3121), is Nashville's most romantic hotel. Plus, it's only a couple of blocks from The District.
Best for Country Music Fans: With the Grand Ole Opry and numerous theaters showcasing live country music nearby, the Opryland Hotel, 2800 Opryland Dr. (tel. 615/883-2211 or 615/889-1000), should be the first choice of country music fans (provided they can swallow the bill).
For a complete listing of Frommer's-reviewed accommodations, visit our online hotels index.
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