3-Starhotels in Maryland, United States

Ah, Baltimore, a city of rich history and eclectic charm. My wife and I recently had the pleasure of a stay at the Hotel Ulysses, a luxurious retreat nestled in the heart of this vibrant city. True to the reputation of the New York-based design firm, Ash, the Ulysses is nothing short of an architectural marvel. The first thing that catches your eye? The hotel's impeccable aesthetic. It's a masterful blend of old-world charm and modern design, encapsulating the very essence of Baltimore's diverse character. While the rooms might have been a tad on the cozier side, they more than made up for it with their plush comfort and attention to detail. The Ulysses truly exemplifies the notion that beauty lies in the details, and the meticulousness with which they've curated every aspect of the guest experience speaks volumes. The 19th-century charm of the Mount Vernon neighborhood is beautifully echoed within the Ulysses. The delicate stained-glass skylight, the ornate crown molding, and the preserved brass postal box serve as a testament to the building's rich history. But it's not all vintage here. The interiors seamlessly transition from the ornate influences of the Art Nouveau era to a more streamlined approach, evident in the hickory wood furniture adorned with Ash’s custom textiles. And oh, those hand-beaded lampshades and embroidered quilts! They added the perfect splash of color and quirk. A special shout-out to the carved flamingos that support the bedside tables, a delightful nod to Baltimore's own John Waters and his ”Pink Flamingos.” It's this mix of opulence and eccentricity that makes the Ulysses stand out. Booking through Trip.com was a new experience for us. A bit unconventional, sure, but it came through in the clutch. The $35 ”destination fee” threw us for a loop initially, but the $20 credit we received towards our bill at the hotel restaurant (Ash Bar) or the bar (Blooms) made it all worth it. Speaking of Blooms, what an experience! The mirrored ceiling, the crimson banquettes, and the purple stools set the stage for a night to remember. In a nutshell? The Hotel Ulysses is a triumph, an ode to Baltimore's multifaceted spirit. Whether you're here for the history, the design, or the sheer experience, the Ulysses promises and delivers. Highly recommended! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Location in downtown Baltimore was excellent, a block from the Convention Center, across the street from a subway station and 2 blocks from a light rail station - subway runs east-west ( including the Inner Harbor) and light rail runs north-south for over 40 miles with 1/2 hour direct connection to/from the BWI Airport. - one way tickets on both are $2.  My corner room on the 9th floor was spacious with good views. I had business all afternoon in the area with no car - when I asked if I could check my luggage 4 hours before check-in time, they actually checked me in then and there and gave me my room key at noon.  The lobby is elegant and the the room rate was very reasonable for a downtown location hotel.

This was a short, one evening stay, out by 8am the next morning. I am rating this as a two star hotel, as it was what I wanted to keep everything in perspective. The location for me was perfect, as we were visiting the Cult Classic Brewery for an event. It was extremely convenient. The hotel wasn't busy, but check-in and check-out were efficient. The front desk was pleasant and fulfilled any questions I had. Our 2nd floor room was quiet and very new looking. I believe this is a ”newish” motel, and everything was very fresh inside. All room amenities worked, or did what they were supposed to do. I say this because too many motel rooms have outlets, USB ports, even lamps etc that don't function... so I don't take anything for granted. Everything was perfect in our room, just like it is supposed to be. This was a pleasure!!! This motel sits close to HWY 50 but we heard absolutely no road noise this time of the year. The location was convenient as I stated for our event, and even more so because a great restaurant was right across the street. If we walked 100 feet that was a lot, so we didn't need to move the car. The front of the motel faces toward the west (rear to the east) so we got a piece of the setting sun, and in general the ambiance of being so close to the water. There was also the Kent Narrows Christmas tree exhibit right across the street as well as the Fisherman's monument. So, a bit of fun items to view without needing to get in the car. The morning breakfast at the motel was included, and contained all the standard breakfast fare we have come to expect. While not busy, it was served as you would want it and neat and orderly. All and all, the hotel added to this short, get away trip from the Baltimore area nicely.

I will start with the good. The room was clean and the bed was comfortable. Now the not so good. We chose this hotel specifically because they advertised, on the website, that there was a pool, hot tub, free breakfast, and coffee in the lobby. We were visiting our grandkids, and wanted the pool so we could bring them to swim. Well, weren't we suprised when we were told that both the pool and hot tub were closed permanetly, and the clerk even mentioned that they knew it was still advertised as having them on the website. When we asked about the free breakfast, we were told if we wanted breakfast, that was an additional fee, again, some false advertising going on. When my husband went to the lobby the next morning to get some coffee, well no surprise, there was none, just a plastic jug of water. There was a coffee maker in the room with 1 pod, so we did use that. When we asked about some compensation for the false advertising, we were told no. We would not have picked this hotel, if not for the fact they advertised the pool, hot tub, and free breakfast. Oh and just to put a button on it, we went to the bar for a 12 oz bottle of beer. $7.25 for 1 beer, 12.00 for a glass of wine, we thought that was a bit steep, especially since the bar was in the lobby with no atmosphere. So, if you are just looking for a place to sleep, you'll be fine.

Friendly staff, very nice pool area, nice coffee shop, nice breakfast restaurant (pricey, got wrong order like others that day), nice bar areas, nice patio and live music, nice tiki area and lawn sitting area, right on the beach, multi-story garage, several elevators, nice gift shop (could use more merchandise ), great valet service, great pass-thru entrance off street, near many shops, bars, eateries, friendly and quick front desk staff, rooms were great (like home) with full refrigerator with ice maker, microwave, stove top, garbage disposal, dishwasher, coffee maker, dinnerware, silverware, pots and pans, two flat screen TVs, door to separate sleeping area from living area, foldout couch, two chair dining table, power outlets for devices, a/c great, balconies were nice and great views, spa and massage downstairs, nice workout room, wifi and internet good, bath has hair dryer and shampoo conditioner body wash and large mirror with lighting settings, in room safe, laundry area available, . Could use local papers of events, eateries, amusements and available coupons, more vending machines needed, pool needed to be cleaner (many guests in there), can be a bit noisy at times both from inner hallway and from balcony near pool.

Overall satisfied. The hotel felt safe and has a nice vibe. Location is in a less sketchy part of downtown, although I wouldn’t necessarily go for a night walk in the area. Conveniently located to some surrounding attractions like the Inner Harbor and Lexington Market. The room was spotless clean. The maintenance could be improved as there were some broken closet doors and holes in the wall. I informed the friendly staff and they told me they were aware. Other than that, well equipped and everything was there and working. Cleaning is not daily and depends on the length of your stay. However, if you needed anything you can ask and it could be provided. The breakfast buffet was okay, nothing special. There was a limited, but enough options. For fresh fruits they only had red apples, every day. The bar was closed for lunch during my stay. They had a small business area with a computer and a printer for guests. The gym was well equipped. The staff were friendly, welcoming and you can tell everyone was trying to make the guests have a nice experience. I would consider and return.

When we were arriving, we didn’t have navigation so it was wonderful to see the big sign from the road. Check in is also 24hrs which really helped us as we were arriving late. The room had everything we needed and included 3 power points under the table lamps. It would’ve been nice to have brighter lights as it was a bit dim but the lamps helped to focus the lighting. All the staff and housekeeping were friendly but I wished the front desk had more knowledge for overseas travellers. It’s also conveniently located near a shopping area. We got our traveller eSIM cards from the nearby AT&T store. I didn’t get to use the amenities.

The room was clean and the facilities were old, but it was easy to use. The hot water in the bathroom is a bit slow. The restaurant has a light meal that can temporarily solve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The staff is very professional. The restaurant staff is very welcoming.