Scenic escape: 5 top hotel destinations with water views

Water-based beauty: The Westin Bayshore in Vancouver is among the best hotels with a scenic water view..

By Mark Chesnut

An inspiring view can work wonders for jumpstarting creativity and productivity when you’re traveling for business. And the summer months are among the best times to book a hotel with a postcard-perfect vista. You’ll enjoy the scenery — and just might have a better trip — when you book a scenic escape like these five top hotel destinations with great water views.

New Orleans hotels
A perennial favorite destination for business meetings and conventions, the Big Easy is home to hotels like the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, located near the banks of the legendary Mississippi River. The hotel has nearly 20,000 square feet of meeting, event and exhibit space.

San Diego hotels
California’s southernmost city is known for its waterfront beauty, and at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, guests can stay in bay-view rooms that are conveniently close to the San Diego Convention Center. The hotel itself has more than 125,000 square feet of meeting space, with several breakout rooms that offer stunning views of the waterfront. Another good option at the Manchester Grand Hyatt is 32 Bayview Terrace, a venue on the 32nd floor, where floor-to-ceiling windows create a dramatic setting for small meetings and events.

Vancouver hotels
One of Canada’s most picturesque cities, Vancouver offers lots of opportunities to enjoy the scenery. Check into the Westin Bayshore, Vancouver, which sits next to Stanley Park, and you can gaze at the harbor from your own Heavenly Bed, or while savoring lunch or dinner at the Seawall Bar & Grill.

Baltimore hotels
The waterfront in Maryland’s largest city is a model of urban design, with business, retail and cultural activities dotting the neighborhood. The Baltimore Marriott Waterfront overlooks Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, near the National Aquarium, Oriel Park and University of Maryland Medical Center. The hotel’s restaurant, Grille 700, serves contemporary American cuisine and has a dining room that accommodates 20 people for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Riviera Maya hotels
A fast-growing natural paradise on Mexico’s Caribbean coast (easily reached from the Cancun airport), the Riviera Maya is home to hotels like Grand Velas Riviera Maya, an upscale beachfront resort with a decidedly business-friendly focus, thanks to its extensive meeting and convention facilities (it recently hosted the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Americas Summit). Book a room in the Ambassador Tower or the Grand Class Tower to get the best views of the Caribbean — and have at least one meal at the waterfront, adults-only Bistro restaurant.

Related resources

• Cheap Baltimore flights
• Cheap San Diego flights
• Mexico vacations

Mark Chesnut is a travel writer, editor and publisher of LatinFlyer.com, which focuses on travel to Latin America. He recently enjoyed the views at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya.

Tagged: California, Hotels, Mexico