It was not long ago that Cleveland bore the unfortunate nickname, "Mistake by the Lake." Well, make no mistake, the city has revamped itself over the past decade or so. Folks are now trying to make sure they make their stay by the lake, as downtown Cleveland has become a prime area for development, business, and, of course, Cleveland hotels.
The downtown skyline has changed dramatically with the appearance of skyscrapers touting big business, the largest of which is the Key Tower. At the foot of the tower, just off Public Square, sits the chic Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center.
The Marriott is merely one of the numerous upscale establishments within a short walk of Tower City Center, which sits atop Cleveland's main train terminal, a mere 15-minute (and USD2) train ride from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Other choices in the immediate vicinity include the sparkling new Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade, Embassy Suites on 12th Street and the Hampton Inn Downtown.
Those in town for a ballgame or concert at Jacobs Field or Gund Arena will find both the Hilton Garden Inn Gateway and the Radisson Hotel at Gateway of immediate convenience. The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel at Tower City Center is also near the arena, as is the Ritz-Carlton and the Sheraton Cleveland City Centre Hotel. Playgoers will find they can enjoy luxurious accommodations at the Wyndham Cleveland Hotel Playhouse Square. Folks not wanting to venture far from the airport need not bother. As with any good international airport, Hopkins is surrounded by hotels. The Courtyard Airport, Cleveland Airport Marriott, Sheraton Airport Hotel Cleveland and Radisson Inn Cleveland Airport are the top selections for plane-goers who might want to stay in Cleveland hotels that leave them just a short shuttle ride from their early-morning hop out of town.
Those who do not want to stay in downtown Cleveland hotels also have a number of choices. Just five miles from downtown, in Independence, sits perhaps Cuyahoga County's most extensive strip of Cleveland hotels.
Out in the suburbs, along with the standard chain fare, are several above-average places to lodge. In the east side are the Alcazar Hotel in the Cleveland Heights area, along with the Embassy Suites and Radisson Hotel Beachwood. Further south and a bit more to the west sits the Punderson Manor State Park Resort and Conference Center. People interested in the thrills, chills and spills of Six Flags World of Adventure amusement park or outlet shopping in Aurora can find a spot at the Six Flags Hotel of Ohio. Not far from there, for those wanting a much more relaxing, but every bit as exhilarating experience, is Mario's International Hotel and Spa. Large poly-room locations are far from all Cleveland has to offer. And while it will never rival San Francisco in this department, Cleveland does have a wealth of cozy bed-and breakfasts from which to choose. East-side visitors may find the Chardon's Bass Lake Inn or the Inn of Chagrin Falls to their liking.
Those are not the only hotels in town, and Cleveland is not the only town in town. People visiting or doing business in Akron also have a varied menu when it comes to selecting spots to stay. In fact, just outside of West Akron is Northeast Ohio's largest area of hotels. In an area known as Montrose is just about every chain with franchises east of the Mississippi. The Radisson, Embassy Suites and Residence Inn by Marriott are among the top-end choices, especially when you are planning trips from Cleveland, like visiting Ohio City and West Side Market.