Article repost from US NEWS Travel

Take a virtual tour of inventive reception spaces at top properties around the world.

These sleek entrances are upping the cool factor.

Forget the typical hotel entrance. From full-service bars to inventive programming such as salsa dancing lessons and adult coloring book parties, properties the world over are on the forefront of elevating lobbies to fun social hangout spaces rather than traditional reception areas. If you want to be entertained with a variety of out-of-the-ordinary experiences and services before you reach your hotel room, check out these memorable lobbies.

AlSol Tiara Cap Cana

Best for: Unique beach views

AlSol Tiara Cap Cana in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic features an open-air lobby filled with calming blue, green and mustard shades that reflect its striking natural surroundings. With its breathtaking ocean views, trendy coffee bar, swinging chairs, plush couches and outlets galore, this lively lobby can be used for just about anything, including a welcome cocktail with friends, an afternoon answering emails or even a quick snooze. Other daily on-site activities include bingo, Spanish lessons, cooking demonstrations and wine tastings.

French Quarter Inn

Best for: Unique amenities

Once you step inside the old-world French Quarter Inn in Charleston, South Carolina, you’ll find a lively gathering foyer. Here, you can enjoy a locally sourced breakfast, endless refreshments, freshly baked amaretto cookies, a wine and cheese hour, milk and cookies and classic port wine before bed. And with its idyllic location in the center of historic Charleston, the French Quarter Inn sits in close proximity to many of the city’s famous shops, world-class restaurants and event sites.

Hilton West Palm Beach

Best for: A unique gathering place

Upon entering the chic lobby at the Hilton West Palm Beach, you’ll feel like a VIP. On weekends, the crowd from the property’s famed yoga brunch overflows into the lobby to enjoy the beats of DJ Adam Lipson. Travelers can utilize the communal lobby, which provides an array of design books, various outlets and music. Plus, the space hosts complimentary art tours to spark guests’ creativity. What’s more, thanks to the property’s location in the epicenter of West Palm Beach, guests can walk across the street to CityPlace for shopping, dining, events and more.

Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort

Best for: Unique board games

Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort in Herradura, Costa Rica offers a spectacular open-air lobby marked by local touches like a stone floor laced with handmade Costa Rican tiles. Guests at the Spanish colonial-style property can play board games in the lobby while enjoying direct views of the beach and jungle. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and a 1,100-acre rainforest, the hotel also gives guests easy access to hiking and canopy tours.

Firelight Camps

Best for: Unique camping

Experience high-end hotel amenities in the outdoors at Firelight Camps in Ithaca, New York. Complete with an outdoor lobby and lounge, this campground’s lobby boasts a bar stocked with Finger Lakes craft beverages, communal campfires, gourmet s’more roasting and bocce ball. The furnished lobby tent also includes a front desk reception, where you can check in, find trail maps and learn about a range of local and regional activities from Firelight’s camp host. And, best of all, a locally sourced continental breakfast is served daily.

Great Wolf Lodge locations

Best For: Unique Kid-friendly perks

At each of the Great Wolf Lodge properties scattered across the U.S. and Canada, families can take advantage of complimentary kids programming within the massive Grand Lobby. From a morning yoga class inspiring little ones to soar like eagles and roll around like happy bears to nightly pajama dance parties set to buzzing Top 40 hits, Great Wolf Lodge’s Grand Lobby promises fun and excitement for those who are young – and young at heart. Plus, there are a variety of other kid-centric amusements, from character appearances to nightly story time readings.

Pod 39 Hotel

Best for: A unique playroom

The appropriately named Play Room at Pod 39 Hotel in New York City introduces a comfortable social communal space for visitors to sit back and people-watch, grab a bite to eat, challenge another patron or staff member to a game of pingpong, make friends over a game of battleship or play a variety of board games up for grabs. The colorful setting and soaring ceiling create an open layout with vintage couches, club chairs, a 25-foot-long raw steel bar and a projection screening wall that fills the recreational space. What’s more, the two parallel rooms contain pingpong tables, walls covered in large-scale poster collages and flat-screen TVs.

La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort

Best For: A Unique Atmosphere

On par with the La Concha’s social atmosphere, the Lobby Lounge at La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico, serves as the highly energized social center of the hotel. The space is adorned in Calacatta marble, accentuated by warm lighting and filled with all-white, contemporary furniture. By day, the lobby is a breezy, open-air space where guests can sip a delectable cup of Puerto Rican coffee. By night, the space transforms into a glamorous venue where guests can revel in a buzzing nightlife scene. A go-to place to see and be seen, the Lobby Lounge offers an ideal spot to rub shoulders with an A-list clientele while mixing and mingling and enjoying trendy parties with beats spun by local DJs.

Kimpton Taconic Hotel

Best For: A unique reading space

The Kimpton Taconic Hotel, a premier boutique in Manchester, Vermont, boasts a lively literary community. The hotel pays homage to its heritage with a partnership with The Northshire Bookstore, a family-owned, independent bookstore, to curate the hotel’s library within the lobby. The “picks” of the Northshire Bookstore’s staff are available for guests to read in the cozy Taconic library. And to support local businesses and artists, Taconic also offers adult coloring books in the lobby curated by the Southern Vermont Arts Center. During the evening hours, guests may stop by for a social hour with the general manager.

Halcyon, a Hotel in Cherry Creek

Best for: Unique adventures

Halcyon, a Hotel in Cherry Creek, boasts a prime Cherry Creek north Denver location and superlative accommodations. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by Halcyon hosts who serve coffee, help visitors select one of the best local pastries and check them in. The “kitchen counter,” which features snacks, Intelligentsia coffee and more treats, serves as the Halcyon check-in desk and offers warm, home-away-from-home vibes. What’s more, the lobby is highly interactive with a gear lending area called Gear Garage, which allows guests to borrow items such as bicycles and GoPros to immerse themselves in their destination and foster exploration before relaxing with fellow guests in the on-site living room.