From refund to audit: 5 holidays for tax season

By Kimberley Lovato, Frommers.com

If tax day is the only thing standing in the way of you and your next getaway, take comfort: According to the IRS, the average 2010 individual tax return was $3,003. With that kind of cash burning a hole in your pocket, taking a tax holiday takes on a whole new meaning ? and the only debate on the subject will be whether or not to order room service.

But even if you owe Uncle Sam a few bucks, there's no reason you can't escape for a few days. Whether you're looking to blow your tax refund on one night in an amazing hotel suite, or if you'd rather plan a more budget-friendly vacation, these six cities have exceptional hotels that even Uncle Sam would be proud to sleep in.

Hotel rates will vary by arrival date and availability; rates listed here are valid in mid-April.

Read More:?More cities: Maui, Dallas, Los Angeles & San Francisco

Chicago

If You're Getting A Tax Refund:?Take in the skyline from the appropriately named Extreme Wow Suite at the?W Chicago Lakeshore. Enjoy 950 square feet of indulgence, including lake views and the W's signature bed.

How Much:?From $1,500 per room per night throughout the year

If You Owe Taxes:?Less than a mile away, the Deluxe River View King at?Hotel 71?offers picturesque views of Chicago's downtown or the Chicago River. Shoppers take note -- the hotel is walking distance from Magnificent Mile.?

How Much:?The 400- to 550-square-foot Deluxe River View King rooms are from $189 per night.

Washington, D.C.

If You're Getting a Tax Refund:?The?Hay-Adams, one of D.C.'s most revered landmarks, is located directly across from the White House. Wave and say, "Thanks for the check!" from the private balcony of the 1,100-square-foot Lafayette Park one-bedroom suite.?

How Much:?From $2,199 per room per night

If You Owe Taxes:?Just 3/4 of a mile away, the historic?Hotel Tabard Inn, is reminiscent of an English manor. Opened in 1922, the inn's rooms are furnished with antiques and period d?cor. An acclaimed on-site restaurant dishes out an eclectic array of New American cuisine such as crab cakes, seafood gumbo, and sweet potato ravioli.?

How Much:?Rooms with a private bath range from $165 to $250 per room per night; rooms with shared baths are from $125.

Boston

If You're Getting a Tax Refund:?The Lenox Hotel?is in the city's walkable Back Bay neighborhood, famous for its rows of well-preserved Victorian brownstones, shops, restaurants, and bars. Retire to the Back Bay Suite with a wood-burning fireplace, a custom-made wet bar, and a steam shower.?

How Much:?From $2,500 per room per night (midweek in April)

If You Owe Taxes:?Located just a 10-minute walk from Back Bay, Boston's vibrant South End neighborhood has art galleries, an open market, and fine dining. Here,?The Chandler Inn Hotel?sits on a tree-lined street. Book a Boutique Queen, featuring a sleek modern design and a 32-inch plasma TV.

How Much:?From $189 per room per night (midweek in April)

Scottsdale, Ariz.

?If You're Getting a Tax Refund:?Beneath Camelback Mountain in the Sonoran Desert,?The Phoenician?rises above the rest. The one-bedroom Casita Suite offers 1,150 square feet of modern comfort, and a private patio or balcony faces the resort's tropical Necklace Lake.

How Much:?From $1,289 per room per night

If You Owe Taxes:?The?Saguaro, just a few miles from the Phoenician, is next to?Scottsdale's Old Town and Art District. Decorated in the colors of the desert, the ground-level King Patio Room offers a sunny spot to tan on a private patio. A pathway leads to the hotel's two pools.?

How Much:?From $197 per room per night

New Orleans

?If You're Getting a Tax Refund:?Go big (900 square feet to be precise) in the Big Easy with the one-bedroom Club Executive suite at the?Ritz-Carlton, in the?French Quarter. Enjoy complimentary breakfast and all the detailed attention you'd expect from a dedicated concierge just outside your door.?

How Much:?From $2,000 per room per night in April; rates are lower during summer months

If You Owe Taxes:?Built in 1884, the restored?Melrose Mansion?is less than a mile from the Ritz. Just steps from Bourbon Street, the white-shuttered 14-room Victorian house has a courtyard pool. Book one of the Master Suites, beautifully furnished with antiques as well as modern amenities, like a flat-screen TV and iPod docking station.?

How Much:?From $179 per room per night (midweek in April), with a $7.95 nightly amenity fee for Wi-Fi and breakfast daily

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