The Best Hotels to Book in Hot Springs, Arkansas

This glass-fronted behemoth on Lake Hamilton is ideal for those who love boating – the hotel has its own private dock and slipway for mooring and launching, and you can bring your own vessel or rent one next door. Expect a warm welcome – upon arrival you’ll be presented with freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies, free of charge. Most rooms have balconies looking out over the lake, but you can also watch the boats come and go while huddled around the fire pit or from the lakeside picnic tables.

This all-suite Hilton centres around a soaring atrium with a waterfall and tropical greenery – it’s a great spot to relax with a cocktail while listening to live piano music in the evening. A complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfast, daily drinks reception and free shuttle bus that’ll take you anywhere within a 3mi (5km) radius add good value for money. Don’t leave without a session in the spa – opt for the deep tissue massage followed by a herbal tea made with local valley mountain water.

Lakeside family holidays – dogs included – are the speciality at this lodge-style retreat. On an islet in the middle of Lake Hamilton, the resort has a private dock with a specially-designated swimming and fishing area, plus slips for five boats. All rooms have kitchenettes and balconies with panoramic views of the lake, but the best are the double queens – wooden walls and floors enhance the log-cabin ambience. Cook outside on the grills in the lighted pavilion.

A stay at this downtown highrise centres around its Inside Track sports bar, where you can catch the latest fixtures across 40 screens, accompanied by beer from the 20-strong draft offering and a signature burger. Choose between a king or two-queen sized room. Stretch your legs in the nearby Hot Springs National Park, which boasts nine historic bath houses built on top of the ancient springs, plus 26mi (41.9km) of hiking and running trails.

Pets are welcome in suites at this waterfront residence, which come with well-equipped kitchenettes, plus most have views of Lake Hamilton. Onsite perks include a warm, glass-walled room with a heated pool, a cinema with enormous leather armchairs and a wine and snack reception on Mondays to Wednesdays. A hot and cold breakfast buffet is included and it’s a short stroll down Central Avenue for a good selection of lunch and dinner venues.

A stay at this three-star Marriott is worth it just for an evening lounging on the armchairs centred around the stone fire pit – it’s the perfect setting for swapping stories over warming cocktails. Come morning, start the day right with a swim in the heated indoor pool or work out in the adjoining gym. Rooms might lack lake views, but they compensate with cozy, subdued lighting, abstract wall art behind the beds and snug sofas.

The studios at this Candlewood are geared towards budget travellers that are keen to self cater – kitchens come with microwaves, hobs and full-sized fridges that blend seamlessly into snugly-proportioned living rooms. An onsite sundry store stocks essential ingredients and whole frozen meals if you’re after something easy, or there’s a Walmart down the road. Another bonus is the location, which is halfway between the National Park and Lake Hamilton, both reached with a 45-minute walk or five-minute drive.

The tagline of this hotel is in no way misleading. Major attractions such as the Fordyce Bathhouse, Gangster Museum and numerous walking trails are less than a ten-minute drive away. Book the Jacuzzi King suite, which comes with a whirlpool bath, kitchenette and workstations. Make sure you take advantage of the buffet breakfast, offering fruit and cereal to waffles and biscuits, and the indoor pool.

Set in five acres (2ha) of grounds scattered with magnolia trees and rose bushes, this century-old inn is the ultimate romantic retreat. Three of the five suites – the Sycamore, Spruce and Oak – have two-person jacuzzis next to stone fireplaces. Book the Spruce and you’ll also have a mahogany four-poster bed and a breakfast nook overlooking the Arcadian gardens. Sip champagne around the outside fire, snuggled under blankets, or on leather armchairs in front of the blackened hearth in the lounge.

Standout features at this stately Hilton include a hiking trail that starts directly from the third floor – don’t worry, you won’t step into thin air – and a rooftop bar offering views of the National Park. Smart, blue-and-grey rooms let in city views through oversized windows and bathrooms feature futuristic back-lit mirrors and glass-enclosed showers. The hotel counts all of Hot Springs’s most historic bathhouses among its neighbors, making it a top choice for sightseeing.