Downtown Jacksonville's swankiest hotel and other Jacksonville, FL Hotel/Accommodation Reviews

Unique Qualities: Located on the Northbank Riverwalk next to the Jacksonville Landing entertainment complex, the Adam's Mark ranks as Jacksonville's largest, newest and most luxurious downtown hotel. Riverfront rooms in this high rise have sweeping views of the St. Johns River and the city's Southbank skyline. West-facing rooms look right into the heart of the Northbank's skyscraper district and afford partial views of the river. Other amenities include a rooftop pool and Tiki bar, a fitness center, an upscale gift shop, an upscale Italian restaurant called Bravo! Ristorante, a sports bar, a casual restaurant called Riverfront Cafe, and two floors of enormous ballrooms and meeting spaces decorated to the hilt with numerous silver chandeliers and Floribbean colors.

Over the parking garage, which is located across the street but connected via aerial walkway to the main tower, are several tiered river deck suites, which offer private verandahs overlooking the river that are great for relaxing and soaking in the view.

As the hotel caters mostly to business travelers, rates tend to be lower on the weekends. While I have been inside the hotel several times I have never actually stayed there, so I don't know how much it costs.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average

Address: 225 E Coastline Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Directions: Downtown Northbank Riverfront
Website: http://www.adamsmark.com/jacksonville/

Unique Qualities: This historic, ultra-chic oceanfront resort and spa straddles both sides of Ponte Vedra Blvd., Jacksonville's ritziest address. Here, guests can be pampered with spa treatments, hit the links on the resort's own pristine golf course, go for a refreshing swim in the pools, or enjoy a variety of other recreational activities like tennis, sailing, fishing, horeseback riding, or simply indulging in the beach life.

As for accommodations, guests can enjoy breathtaking panoramas of sand and surf from the private terraces of their oversized oceanfront rooms.

The resort also has its own collection of boutique shops, an award winning spa, upscale dining rooms that overlook the oceanfront and the golf course, a gourmet cafe, a swimsuit-friendly beachside cafe and various meeting rooms.

Also of note, at the very center of the resort grounds is a large, reddish roundabout flanked by a spectacular, giant fountain with alligators sculpted into its base.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: most expensive

Address: Ponte Vedra Blvd.
Directions: Ponte Vedra Beach oceanfront, just south of Jacksonville Beach
Website: www.pvresorts.com

Unique Qualities: Until the arrival of the Adam's Mark and renovation of the Hilton, the Omni was unquestionably downtown's finest hotel. Featuring a luxurious lobby and great views of the river and skyline from some guest rooms, the hotel stills holds its own as one of the best places to stay in downtown.

Conveniently located, the Omni is just steps away from the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts and a Skyway station, and is just a block from both the Jacksonville Landing and the Northbank Riverwalk.

Juliet's is an upscale bar and restaurant located inside the hotel's lobby.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average

Address: 245 Water St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Directions: Downtown Northbank
Website: http://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/default.asp?h_id=7

Unique Qualities: This renovated landmark hotel on the ocean in Atlantic Beach is a favorite of author John Grisham. Located right on the beach and just steps away from the many restaurants, shops, galleries, boutiques and nightspots that make up Town Center, the 8-story hotel is an ideal home base to plan your Jacksonville vacation around.

Inside, the lobby exudes a tropical Caribbean feel with pleasing pinkish tones accented by white trimming and circular shutters. At the hotel's casual but classy oceanfront restaurant, Plantains, you can dine alfresco by the dunes and sea oats, or inside by windows looking out to sea.

From a recreational standpoint, the hotel features an oceanfront pool and you can even rent beach umbrellas and beach chairs for the day to use at your leisure. Of course, rooms facing the ocean have nice private balconies on which you can sit and watch the waves while being rejouvenated by the refreshing seabreeze.

Locally, The Sea Turtle is a popular place for parties, with something going on in the special indoor/outdoor banquet area just about every weekend. It is also used quite often as a reception place and staging area for weddings on the beach.

In addition to the offerings right outside its doors, The Sea Turtle is just a bike ride away from the noteworthy dining, nightlife and special events of Jacksonville Beach and within a 15-30 minute drive of Adventure Landing water park, Mayport Ferry, the Talbot Islands Geoparks, Fort Caroline, shopping malls, movie megaplexes, golf courses, and the museums and attractions of Jacksonville's downtown riverfront.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average

Address: East end of Atlantic Beach
Directions: Atlantic Beach Town Center
Website: http://www.seaturtle.com/

Unique Qualities: While not as glitzy as the Adam's Mark across the river, the Hilton Jacksonville Riverfront (a.k.a. Hilton & Towers) is a long time fixture along the city's Southbank. While the hotel was completely renovated several years back (after becoming a Hilton for the second time), the original Hilton served as the Jacksonville home of Elvis Presley when he would stop in for concerts. Today you can still sleep in the Elvis suite, a modern tribute to the hotel's most famous guest. (Useless trivia: I believe that Elvis' first ever major concert anywhere was held at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville).

Anyway, history aside, today's Hilton is located right on the Southbank Riverwalk with an elevated pool deck and private balconies that overlook the river and provide the best skyline views of any downtown hotel.

Hungry? Bring your appetite (and wallet) as one of the city's Ruth's Chris Steakhouse locations is located inside the hotel with windows overlooking the river and skyline.

The hotel also has its own luxury yacht, the Jacksonville Princess, which offers romantic dinner and river cruises. In addition, it is a short walk from the water taxi, museums, restaurants, the monorail and the Landing.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average

Address: 1201 Riverplace Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207
Directions: Southbank Riverwalk, Downtown

Want to watch the sunrise and rolling dolphins from the comfort of your own private oceanfront balcony? Want an awesome waterfall pool? Now, do you also want a family-friendly hotel on the ocean for a budget-friendly price? The Comfort Inn Oceanfront may be just the place for you to base your Jacksonville experience. It may not have cabana rentals and a fine restaurant like the Sea Turtle Inn, or be a posh enclave of world-class luxury like the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, but the Comfort Inn Oceanfront makes for a clean, comfortable and more reasonably priced alternative that is sure to enhance your visit.

Unique Qualities: The pool is one of the coolest in Jacksonville, featuring three waterfalls that you can swim behind under the canopy of a faux cave.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Directions: Jacksonville Beach

Unique Qualities: Nestled in the hardwood coastal hammock of Amelia Island on the ocean is the exclusive getaway that first put Amelia Island on the map as a playground for the rich and famous back in the 1970s. Amelia Island Plantation is a large destination area of its own covering much of the island's lower midsection. What really stands out about the grounds is its extensive network of bicycle and walking paths that lead through cleverly preserved pockets of woods and wetlands to connect all areas of the resort. Amenities include its own village of lakeside shops, top restaurants, beach activities, golf courses, a spa, nature views and trails, a small nature center, a chapel, a pool, tennis, and even a tennis stadium that plays host every year to the Bausch & Lomb Women's Championships. I have never actually stayed here as a guest but have wandered through the trails and shopping village on occasion. It is a beautiful place to take a stroll. The shops are pricey but the grounds offer free parking and the network of pathways are available to non-guests.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average

Address: S.R. A1A in the lower half of Amelia Island
Directions: 30 minutes northeast of Downtown Jacksonville; five minutes north of Jacksonville's Big Talbot Island State Park