The Guest House at Graceland

The Guest House at Graceland is the place to stay if Elvis is the reason for your trip, and it is one of the best-reviewed hotels in Memphis. Built by Graceland on Elvis Presley Boulevard, a short walk from the mansion and the Elvis Presley’s Memphis complex, it has 450 rooms and a style that nods to Elvis without becoming a theme park. The highlight is the collection of 19 specialty suites, designed under the supervision of Priscilla Presley and mostly on the top floor, known as The Upstairs: two-bedroom King’s Suites inspired by the Graceland master bedroom and Las Vegas, a mid-century Vernon and Gladys Suite inspired by Elvis’s Palm Springs home, a TCB Suite and Living Room Suites with metallic accents. The 464-seat theater hosts concerts and events, and there are nightly Elvis films followed by peanut butter sandwiches and milk. Restaurants, a bar and a seasonal outdoor pool complete the picture. Expedia gives it an exceptional rating from more than 3,000 reviews.

Location and getting around: the hotel is at 3600 Elvis Presley Boulevard in Whitehaven, about 0.4 miles from Graceland, and it runs a shuttle to Graceland as well as shuttles to downtown, Beale Street and the airport, which is only a few minutes away. You will want the shuttle, a car or rideshares for downtown sights such as the Civil Rights Museum and Sun Studio.

Rooms: standard rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the specialty suites are worth the splurge for a celebration. Ask for a room facing away from the boulevard if you are a light sleeper.

Who it suits: Elvis fans, families visiting Graceland and travelers arriving by air who want an easy first or last night. It suits the Holiday Lighting Weekend and Elvis Week, when it books up early.

Good to know: breakfast is charged separately. Self-parking and valet carry modest nightly fees. The outdoor pool closes each year from early October to late May, so it will not be open on a winter visit.