Southern Comfort

Having a great vacation has a lot to do with where you stay. Check out (and check into) some of the best accommodations in Alabama. 

Whether you are seeking the historic charm of century-old splendor, the pleasure and convenience of modern opulence, or a combination of the two, Alabama has an ideal spot for you to stay. Each promises Southern comfort and hospitality, along with plenty of sweet dreams. 

THE WESTIN HUNTSVILLE, Huntsville

Whether you are interested in interplanetary travel or some of the state’s best shopping, your vacation should revolve around the 232-room Westin Huntsville, a AAA Four Diamond hotel located in Bridge Street Town Centre, a Huntsville shopping, dining and entertainment hub, and less than 3 miles from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

MARRIOTT SHOALS HOTEL & SPA, Florence

The Marriott Shoals offers gorgeous views of the Tennessee River Valley, a lavish spa, refreshing swimming pools and unforgettable dining at the 360 Grille, a revolving restaurant known for both its spectacular panoramas and spectacular food. Be sure to catch the music for which the Shoals is famous at the hotel’s Swampers Bar and Grille. Golfers use the hotel as a base to try different links in the area, notably The Fighting Joe and The Schoolmaster courses, two 18-hole championship courses on The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. 

GRAND HOTEL GOLF RESORT & SPA, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION, Point Clear

At this historic hotel, history and luxury merge into a stay as memorable as it is relaxing. Enjoy a top-flight spa, a hot tub, a fitness center, eight bars and restaurants, an indoor pool, a lagoon-style lido with a kids’ pool, and two golf courses, the Dogwood and Azalea, which have helped the Grand Hotel regularly make Golf Magazine’s list of “Best Golf Resorts in America.” Comfort meets tradition at the hotel, which was built in 1847 to house steamboat passengers. Every afternoon, tea, scones and chocolate chip cookies are served in the main lobby following a ceremonial firing of a cannon. 

THE LODGE AT GULF STATE PARK, Gulf Shores

Yearning for a room with a great water view? The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel on the white sands of Gulf Shores, has one of the state’s best. The eco-friendly hotel lies within the beautiful natural wonder of 6,150-acre Gulf State Park. A beachfront ballroom with an outdoor terrace overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and its sandy beaches, as do a pool, a bar and grill, and a restaurant with outdoor seating and a private dining room. Savor house-prepared, locally sourced, fresh Alabama Gulf seafood. The Lodge also offers access to more than 25 miles of educational hiking and biking trails, a nature center, outdoor classrooms, geocaching, an interpretive center, guided Segway tours, kayaking, guided nature walks, a butterfly garden and forestland. 

RENAISSANCE BIRMINGHAM ROSS BRIDGE GOLF RESORT & SPA, Hoover

Staying at this resort with recently renovated rooms feels like you’ve traded Alabama for Scotland. Not only does the hotel resemble a modern vision of a Scottish castle, but a bagpiper appears each sunset to play Highland tunes. Its biggest tribute to Scotland is one of the longest golf courses in the world, an 8,191-yard Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail course, which has hosted PGA tournaments. Non-golfers can relax at the 12,000-square-foot, full-service spa and salon, in soothing hot tubs and at the enormous pool. 

THE BATTLE HOUSE RENAISSANCE MOBILE HOTEL & SPA, Mobile

Mobile’s Battle House opened in 1852 on the site that Andrew Jackson had used as his military headquarters during the War of 1812. Today, the venerable, AAA Four Diamond property combines luxury du jour—exemplified in its award-winning spa and salon, rooftop swimming pool, and tennis courts—with classic splendor, found in its gorgeous Grand Lobby and Trellis Room restaurant. The former features a beautiful, glass-domed ceiling crafted in the early 1900s, while the latter regularly lands on Instagram with its Tiffany-glass skylight.