With summer just around the corner, there might not be a more iconic vacation than a stay at the beach.
With a spate of new coastal hotels opening in time for this weekend’s Memorial Day holiday — the unofficial launch of summer in the United States — there are even more lodging options from which to choose.
There’s the unveiling of Larry Ellison’s Four Seasons Resort Lanai in Hawaii, which many have dubbed the best new resort in the world. But there are also brand-new boutique hotels that offer more intimate experiences.
Here are six of the best in the United States.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai, Hawaii
Previously the Four Seasons Manele Bay, this transformed luxury hideaway — owned by tech billionaire Larry Ellison — opened this past February with 217 rooms and suites.
There’s plenty to try out, including brand-new dining venues such as Nobu and One Forty for steaks and Hawaiian seafood, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course that is now exclusively available to guests and a collection of island activities including scuba diving, horseback riding and UTV tours.
“We’re a resort with its own island to explore,” says hotel general manager Tom Roelens. “There are just 3,100 residents on Lanai, and we believe we offer the opportunity to almost step back in time to experience the true aloha spirit of authentic Hawaii.”
From $1,075/night.
Paséa Hotel & Spa, Huntington Beach, California
Scheduled to start welcoming guests for Memorial Day weekend, the latest from Meritage Collection is all about blending modern, beachy features with unfussy service.
Expect to see the concierge playing the ukulele in the lobby as you’re whisked away to a cabana for check-in. Or be taken on a pedicab tour of Huntington Beach Pier before meeting with the hotel’s surf butler.
Other amenities include a Balinese-inspired spa, yoga classes and two infinity-edged pools. Plus, almost all of the 250 rooms and suites look out to the Pacific Ocean, so the water’s always within sight even if you are indoors.
From $289/night.
The Christopher, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
This intimate boutique hotel, which opened on May 15th, is all about bright, look-at-me aesthetics.
Inspired by the vibrant hues of the French Caribbean, Boston-based designer Annsley McAleer swathed every inch of the 15-room property with a mélange of colors, patterns, and textures.
Guest rooms are a mix-and-match of abstract wallpapers, sculptural metallic chandeliers, whimsical patterned textiles, reclaimed wood furniture and exotic area rugs.
Spring for the Lark Suite and get treated to two balconies with great views of the Edgartown harbor and though a bit farther away, the Atlantic Ocean.
From $269/night.
The Confidante, Miami Beach
Combining classic mid-century design with Art Deco flourishes, this 363-room hotel — part of Hyatt’s newly launched Unbound Collection — is located right on the beach.
A perfect home base for any Miami vacation, the hotel offers easy driving access to hip enclaves like Wynwood and the Design District.
But it also gives guests reasons not to leave: An open-air, rooftop spa with yoga classes, all-girl DJ parties and an after-hours happy hour at celebrity chef Dale Talde’s TALDE Miami Beach.
Says hotel vice president J.P. Oliver, “The vibe of our hotel is summed up in one word: playful.”
From $229/night.
Opal Sands Resort, Clearwater Beach, Florida
Standing 15 stories tall, the curved architecture of this 230-room resort is meant to give every guest fabulous views of the Gulf of Mexico, which are especially stunning at sunset.
“There’s never a guest concern about what their view will be or a doubt that it will be phenomenal and exactly what they want to see on a beach vacation — the sand and sea,” says general manager Jeff Castner.
Inside, the resort celebrates its coastal setting with many art pieces exclusively commissioned for the property, including mammoth fish sculptures, paintings of local wild and marine life and a wave-shaped installation made of 400 pieces of glass and metal.
The brand-new Opal Sands Resort is something of a one-stop shop for sun worshipers: The sea is right outside the doors, there’s a beachfront pool with a hot tub, and the resort has four dining venues, including a beachside tiki bar.
From $299/night.
American Beech, Greenport, New York
Previously a carriage house, this months-old bed and breakfast in trendy North Fork is about a mile from the beach. But its location right around the corner from the harbor makes ferry jaunts to nearby Shelter Island so easy.
The interior’s simple design is topped with plenty of nautical flourishes, including rope details in the restaurant, anchor paraphernalia on the walls, and stripes everywhere. It’s modern beach chic at its finest.
It’s an intimate setting with only five suites, but the seasonal restaurant downstairs is a popular hangout for locals and visitors. Guests of the B&B get priority reservations.
From $195/night.