Kentucky Specialty lodgings | Places to Stay in Kentucky

April 18, 2023 Fernanda Pittenger

Famous for Bourbon Country and horse farms, civil war battlefields and beautiful natural parks, Kentucky offers a delightful mix of experiences. You might begin in Lexington, where the 1200-acre Kentucky Horse Park is a popular attraction. The university adds exciting sports, impressive art and a vibrant student/professor population to the city. Louisville is similar, where renowned Churchill Downs hosts the annual Kentucky Derby and the Belle of Louisville, the nation’s oldest steam-driven river paddlewheeler, hosts enchanting lunch and dinner cruises along the beautiful Ohio River. Next, head south to visit Mammoth Cave National Park for a day of touring the cave (the world’s longest known cave), hiking and canoeing on the Green River. Paducah, Berea, Bowling Green – so many places to explore and enjoy!
Things to do in Kentucky

1. Meadows Hotel

101 Commercial Ave, Fulton, KY 42041-1539
Excellent
82%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 22 reviews

Meadows Hotel

A Stylish Boutique Hotel and Rare Gem

Reviewed By lilladylauren

My husband and I stayed at The Meadows Hotel during an event held there by a friend. I was blown away by this gem! I hope the locals realize what caliber of a hotel they have here. The lobby and rooms are tastefully decorated and the beds were very comfortable. The room was very clean. We ate a delightful dinner for the event at the hotel and it was great. The bar area has great appetizers to enjoy as you partake in a cocktail or two. The customer service was fantastic. The hotel doesn’t appear to be a hotel from the exterior so you have to really pay attention to know that you have arrived. It’s caddy corner from the TN state like so if you see that sign, you are probably there.

2. Denny House

5958 Old Railroad Grade Rd Intersection of Main Street and Old Railroad Grade Rd, Paint Lick, KY 40461-7005
Excellent
95%
Good
5%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 18 reviews

Denny House

Happy Birthday, indeed!

Reviewed By UKtraveler25

Stayed a couple of nights in the Miller's Station suite. Wonderful, including the great bathroom. Chatted with the owners and the manager. Great folks. Quiet place but not far from Richmond and Berea. Lexington is about 45 minutes away. Breakfast was awesome and plentiful. Friendly, helpful, informative. Would definitely stay again when we're in the area. (We might even go a little out of our way to stay again!)

3. Vu Guesthouse

822 S Floyd St, Louisville, KY 40203
Excellent
67%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
11%
Terrible
6%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 18 reviews

Vu Guesthouse

Welcome to the Vu Guesthouse and Luxury Boutique Hotel. Located in the historic Smoketown neighborhood of Louisville, KY, this 34-room boutique hotel was created from the historic remnants of a tobacco warehouse decommission in 1865. It was transformed into a stylish, contemporary boutique hotel that is a part of a multi-building redevelopment project. Classic yet chic, come experience a truly remarkable boutique experience just minutes from Downtown Louisville.

Read this before considering a reservation at Vu Guesthouse

Reviewed By P3816CIsimone

We made a reservation at the Vu Guesthouse for the Kentucky Derby, it appeared to be a good option when seeking lodgings or a hotel in Louisville, there are a few reviews that made us wary however we regret not taking these more seriously. The COVID-19 pandemic has rippled across the States and when the dates of the Derby were moved due to this we contacted the hotel to ask if we could move the dates of our stay, after much contact to and fro they finally agreed to move our reservation only after threatening to increase their already vastly inflated rates for that period. When our tickets (and those of 85% of the other ticket holders) to the Kentucky Derby were cancelled and we have become unable to travel to Kentucky from where we will be due to COVID-19 travel restrictions the Vu Guesthouse have: 1) refused to discuss our reservation stating (incorrectly) that it was controlled by Booking.com. 2) when Booking.com confirmed it was Vu Guesthouse who managed this reservation they have refused to honor their policy in relation to COVID-19 refunds - "If you want to cancel your booking and have already made a prepayment, the property should offer you credit or a voucher for a future stay. If you'd prefer to receive a refund, you're entitled to that also" - that is to say Vu Guesthouse refused to offer a credit, voucher for a future stay or a refund despite having a policy in place for the same. Clearly Vu Guesthouse are a business that is determined, despite being in the hospitality industry, that it will profiteer on of the misfortune of others (during a pandemic) and refuse to honor stated policies for bookings, credits and refunds. I would strongly recommend anyone reading this does not book with the Vu Guesthouse as the terms under which you make said reservation are unlikely to be followed by the staff at this establishment.

4. Staybridge Suites Louisville - Expo Center, an IHG hotel

380 Farmington Ave, Louisville, KY 40209-1831
Excellent
50%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
50%
Overall Ratings

3 based on 2 reviews

Staybridge Suites Louisville - Expo Center, an IHG hotel

Shame on Management

Reviewed By jayways02

I was traveling with my family and required a room with two beds. I had a reservation at a nearby HIE but this Staybridge was closer to the Expo Center. I booked here and received confirmation by both email and app indicating my room type so I cancelled my HIE reservation. On my way to Louisville, I read an email from the hotel informing me they didn’t have any rooms with two beds available. I spent about an hour on the phone with IHG Customer Care with no resolution. As a Spire Elite member they didn’t grant me any priority over a non-rewards member. I also took issue with the fact that this room cost 45,000 points more (3 nights) than the HIE room I cancelled. I would have never paid that much extra to stay in a room with a single bed. I was told by IHG Customer Care that the hotel would contact me to address the issue before the end of my stay. No one ever contacted me. Upon returning home I sent emails on 6/15, 6/23 & 7/8 asking to be contacted. No one from the hotel ever reached out to me. As someone who travels often, I understand that mistakes happen, but this one was handled poorly and management doesn’t even have the courtesy to acknowledge it. Shame on you.

5. Lucky Vista Motel

1409 S Columbia Ave, Campbellsville, KY 42718-2455
Excellent
25%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
75%
Overall Ratings

2 based on 4 reviews

Lucky Vista Motel

Closest motel to Green River Lake. American-owned and operated. Hospitality with country charm. Beautiful Campbellsville handmade cherry furniture.Enjoy the comfort of southern hospitality and our beautiful rooms at the Lucky Vista Motel with Campbellsville cherry furniture. Our motel offers in room recliners, refrigerator, microwave, Wi-Fi, and cable. Lucky Vista is the closest motel to Green R

Horrible place and possibly dangerous

Reviewed By 647dong

Site says no booking fees. Lie #1, HOTELBOOKING*SERVFEE $7.99, Cancel anytime Lie #2. Arrived and discovered what a dive it was and sign says no cancellation for any reason. Room price $81.38 + booking fee. Bed looked clean (no bugs), but was more like a cot. Asked for xtra pillow, none to be had. Discovered no towels, wash cloths, shampoo etc.. called the office, they were washing them at 8:00pm and would deliver some after dry. Reason none was in room, people steal them. Only clean hotel in town is Holiday Inn Express. They are over $120 + per night because there is no competition.

6. Chocolat Inn & Cafe

1165 Highway 11 S, Beattyville, KY 41311-7534
Excellent
94%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 31 reviews

Chocolat Inn & Cafe

Superb coffee, friendly owner, and tasty pastries.

Reviewed By meaningfulmeanderer

Wow, just wow. Our family of 4 loves to try local coffee houses while traveling, and landing at a place with mouthwatering sweets was an added bonus. We stopped mid morning before hitting the trails in Red River Gorge area.... justifying the stop with the fact we’d be burning calories. So happy we stopped! Friendly owners, who had such a fantastic dream for this place only to have Covid hit soon after they opened. Fantastic coffee, especially the Mayan Mocha ; loved the distinctive spice blended with the rich chocolate flavors. All the pastries were absolutely delightful, we tried 5 different options. Everything very reasonable for the high quality and options. Our family truly hopes this little inn and cafe becomes a go to place in this area for years to come!

7. Camp Carlson Army Recreational Area

9210 US Route 60 Muldraugh, KY, Fort Knox, KY 40155-2015
Excellent
38%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
10%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 21 reviews

Camp Carlson Army Recreational Area

Should be better

Reviewed By dalewilson35

Stayed here for nine days because of its location. While there are large trees and a lake, the campground is not well maintained. Pros: level, full hookup sites for $30/nt. Cons: Laundry room with three non-functioning washers, change machine, and detergent dispenser ( we lost money but there is a sign that no refunds would be given) Sites are mostly gravel but overgrown with weeds Uneven enforcement of rules (numerous vehicles parked on grass (weeds), but 30 minutes into my stay and while trying to unload my truck with two wheels on the weeds, a camp host (?) told me to move it. Camp hosts that drive the wrong way on the street and then try to enforce rules. Camp hosts that have no idea what the job entails ( facilitate a positive stay for all campers and not harass anyone over something minor while ignoring things that are more than 50 yards from your camper) I do not expect many people in the Army to have the depth to know how to run a business like a campground, but there are really good ones out there. Go visit Fort Belvoir if you need to know how to do it.

8. Farley’s

290 Main St, Calhoun, KY 42327-2104
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 3 reviews

Farley’s

A Step back in Time with Modern Ammenities

Reviewed By sbteach

A must visit if you are looking for peace and friendly stay. Carol , the owner, greets you and takes such pride in her bed & breakfast! Totally updated while remaining true to the era in which the home was built. Updated amenities and scrumptious food! Small town Kentucky at its best!

9. Holiday Inn Express Turner Guesthouse

82 Texas Ave ** Military / DoD only **, Fort Campbell, KY 42223-5118
Excellent
32%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
5%
Terrible
18%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 22 reviews

Holiday Inn Express Turner Guesthouse

It did the job

Reviewed By lohsefamily6

We had an overnight stay visiting our future son-n-law. After reading the reviews, I had a mixed expectation about the stay. Here's about our stay. Pros: 1. We felt secure the whole time. You have to visit the visitor's center and get a pass, then you go through the secured gate. Once we entered the gate, we felt the security of our country's men & women of service. We never worried about our safety or our vehicle. 2. The hotel was near food, gasoline, parks, and shopping. Very convenient for the needed items forgotten during packing. 3. The hotel beds were comfortable. They were soft, but not so soft that you sunk into the person next to you. 4. It was clean enough. By this, I mean that everything seemed clean except the walls. No bugs, no hairs, no gross trash, or anything else that made me think that the room wasn't clean. 5. There was a kitchen with fridge/ freezer, microwave, and stove. Cons: 1. The walls need care. Whether cleaned or painted, I wasn't going to investigate too close to see the need. They showed some need for some sort of care. 2. The hotel looked like old barracks. Not a problem for us, but some may be turned off by that. Overall, it was a fine place for an overnight stay. I wouldn't stay here for a week's trip, but for one or two nights, it does the job. It was a nice place to lay our heads. We'll come back to stay when visiting.

10. Reed - Dossey House

131 W Main Cross St, Brownsville, KY 42210-7242
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 3 reviews

Reed - Dossey House

Exceeded expectations!

Reviewed By lynnc260mc

Our stay here was amazing! Tony and Sharon are fabulous hosts. Attentive, friendly, great cooks and overall great couple. I cannot say one bad thing about our stay. Would definitely go back. And their cats Mike and Katie are an added bonus!

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