Originally posted on Daily Passport.

5 Surprisingly Affordable Luxury Hotels in the U.S.

By Cynthia Barnes

Updated: September 25, 2025

Staying at a luxury hotel is like stepping into your own personal castle, a world where everything works perfectly and you’re treated like royalty from the minute a uniformed attendant whisks open the doors. This magic, naturally, comes at a price. Often, the nightly rate for five-star hotels can range into the high five figures (or even more), depending on location, amenities, and many other factors. But some truly outstanding properties might cost less than you think. Here are five of our favorite luxury hotels in the U.S. that offer five-star experiences for around $500 per night or less.

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Grand America Hotel – Salt Lake City, Utah

Exterior of the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah
Photo credit: Image courtesy of The Grand America Hotel 

Salt Lake City’s answer to European grand hotels, the Grand America wouldn’t feel out of place in Paris or Vienna. This massive hotel features more than 775 rooms and suites appointed with English wool rugs, Italian marble, and French fabrics. The lobby is a castle-worthy space with crystal chandeliers, hand-painted ceilings, and live music in the afternoon and evenings. Meanwhile, downtown Salt Lake’s walkable attractions are easily accessible by foot, and the hotel is just one block away from a TRAX train stop that services three of the major lines that travel throughout the city.

The property spans an entire city block and includes multiple restaurants, a world-class spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and extensive meeting facilities. The Garden Cafe serves contemporary American cuisine, while the spa offers treatments inspired by both European and local wellness traditions. The hotel’s proximity to world-class skiing, national parks, and downtown attractions also makes it an ideal base for exploring Utah.

Rates typically range from $200 to $350 per night, a true value for a property of this caliber. The Grand America delivers big-hotel amenities with attention to detail that rivals smaller boutique properties, and the helpful concierge team is happy to arrange outdoor adventures that showcase Utah’s incredible natural beauty.

Visit Salt Lake (VSL) is the private, nonprofit Destination Sales & Experience Organization (DSXO) dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and activating conventions, meetings, sporting events and leisure travel that fuels the region’s visitor economy. In partnership with Salt Lake County, hoteliers, members and public-sector stakeholders, VSL helps generate $6.15 billion in annual visitor spending, $575 million in direct tax revenue and $1,700 in household tax savings while supporting more than 56,000 jobs. By championing Salt Lake's authentic urban-meets-mountain identity, VSL creates transformative experiences that benefit the community and visitors alike. For more information, visit www.VisitSaltLake.com.