4 Best Hotels in Niagara Falls and Western New York, New York

This lovely 1837 Greek Revival inn sits on a secluded, grassy property between Westfield and Chautauqua. Rooms are traditionally furnished with period antiques and reproductions: some are dressed in flirty florals and ruffles, others have a more tailored look, with handsome four-poster beds; a few have balconies and fireplaces. The modern-built Carriage House rooms are the largest, with double whirlpool baths. Big, gourmet breakfasts, which could include amaretto-soaked French toast or four-cheese-and-tarragon omelet, are served in the cozy dining room.

A step up from the Comfort Inn across the street, this fairly new hotel (built in 2006), has a large breakfast and lobby area and updated rooms in neutrals with cherrywood headboards, the Hampton's signature striped wallpaper, and large bathrooms with granite countertops, slate floors, and some Jacuzzi tubs. Some have views of trees and a cemetery. The hotel is entirely no-smoking.

The inn is at the base of the Holiday Valley ski resort's Sunrise Quad ski lift. In winter a free shuttle brings guests to the main chalet. All rooms have patios or balconies, most with mountain views; suites have cathedral ceilings, fireplaces, wet bars, and jetted tubs. The decor is traditional but streamlined. Other pluses: an outdoor hot tub, flat-screen TVs in all rooms, and facilities for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in addition to the downhill trails. In late 2009, the resort will open another lodging option, the 79-condo-unit Tamarack Hotel.

Rooms at this Victorian hotel are individually decorated and named for great authors. The decor varies considerably from room to room. The Agatha Christie room is decked out with fern-print wallpaper that has a sort of psychedelic effect; the Isabel Allende room has cactus murals on the walls and a desert-hue theme. Some rooms are small and cramped, whereas others are quite capacious. Many have hand-painted murals or faux finishes on the walls or ceilings. Gardens surround the inn, which stays open all year. During the Chautauqua Institution season, the minimum required stay is a week.