Ithaca Marriott Downtown on the Commons

A Marriott on the Ithaca Commons, close enough to Cornell that parents' weekend fills the lobby fast. Rooms run a pacific blue and white palette with waterfall showers, and the higher floors catch Ithaca's tree canopy at its best. The hotel's own Monks on the Commons handles in-room dining, and the weekly calendar keeps things lively with tastings, trivia, and board-game nights, which is either charming or a lot, depending on your Friday mood.

One honor, in evidence: