PRICE:
Frommer's Exceptional

I like a hotel that's not afraid of a bit of fringe, a splash of gold damask, a touch of refined decadence. So many hotels I see opt for the zero-risk approach to traditionalism: conservative furniture with American Colonial or neoclassical elements -- what I call the George-Washington-slept-here look. Hotel Icon goes more for the Lola-Montez-slept-here look: lots of texture, ornament, and a "boudoir" feel to the rooms, all of which makes this hotel a fun place to stay. In renovating the old Union National Bank Building (built in 1912), the designers sought to capture something of the feel of that golden age of refinement and exuberance. The most fun is to be had in the suites on the top floor, each named after a glorious old hotel. These rooms are extra large and extra plush and touched by a bit of idiosyncrasy. The standard rooms also offer atmosphere and amenities. The higher rate is for rooms with extra-large bathrooms equipped with a pass-through above the bathtub that opens up to the bedroom.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Texas, 4th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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