The motel is back! Sure, the word may prompt bad flashbacks of pulling in for the night at a drab motor inn after driving for hours in the family station wagon, but things have changed big-time. Many of these roadside motels have been reinvented in the classic ’50s style with catching retro decor, fabulous pools, and hotel-like amenities. So your own next road trip, why not consider spending the night in one of these super hip motels?
The Graham & Co. – The Catskills, New York
This motel-turned-stylish-boutique-hotel is located in Phoenicia, a funky town in the heart of the Catskills, which was recently named a top 2019 travel spot by Lonely Planet. It has 20 rooms, featuring beds made from reclaimed wood and faux animal-skin rugs. Amenities include loaner bikes, an outdoor fire pit, and, in warm weather, movie nights in the backyard.
Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills – Beverly Hills, California
The Beverly Carlton motel has been dazzling transformed into the Avalon Hotel, a mid-century modernist hideaway with Noguchi tables and Eames-inspired chairs. Its restaurant, Viviane, serving ’50s-inspired cocktails and modern California cuisine, overlooks the hourglass-shaped pool and is a hotspot for celebrities.
Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa – Napa Valley, California
Formerly the Sunburst Calistoga, a 1940s roadside motel, this revitalized retro-cool motor lodge has modernist interiors and amenities like a spring-fed swimming pool, mud wraps in the spa, Polaroid camera loaners, and winemaker dinners. Plus, you’re within a few minutes’ drive of numerous Napa Valley wineries.
Modern Mountain Motel – Jackson, Wyoming
The Modern Mountain Motel is just that – a revamped motel amid the mighty Tetons Mountains in the town of Jackson. The rustic-cool rooms have Western accents, like distressed leather chairs and buffalo-plaid blankets. The town square is within walking distance and Jackson Hole ski resort is a 15-minute drive.
Dogfish Inn – Lewes, Delaware
Housed in the old 16-room Vesuvio Motel, the Dogfish Inn, just north of Rehoboth Beach on the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, is from the same owner as Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in nearby Milton. The quirky beer-themed inn has a nostalgic-style facade, and rooms come with a original artwork and free 32-ounce growler.
Austin Motel – Austin, Texas
The Austin Motel is part of Bunkhouse Group, a trendy hotel chainlet based in Austin that now has seven properties. The motel, which has been named one of Austin’s top boutique hotels by TripSavvy, is housed in a former ’30s-era motor court and features 41 rooms and Insta-bait kidney-shaped pool.
The Briarcliff Motel – The Berkshires, Massachusetts
Fashioned from a classic 1960s motel in Great Barrington, The Briarcliff Motel is a charming option in the Berkshires. Rooms are simply but tastefully designed, there’s a cozy sitting room, and you can enjoy the fire pit overlooking Monument Mountain. Plus, Baba Louie’s a beloved local pizza place is nearby.
The Vagabond Hotel – Miami, Florida
This former 1953 motel on Biscayne Boulevard (15 minutes north of downtown Miami) has been given a kitschy-but-cool makeover, and it’s now called The Vagabond Hotel. The rooms, featuring geometric murals and mid-century modern furniture, evoke retro glamour, as does the pool bar, known for it signature Vagabond Collins.
More: Our List of the Most Unique & Unusual Hotels in the World
The Burrard – Vancouver, Canada
Though The Burrard – in the heart of Vancouver – has been thoroughly updated from its former life as a mid-century motel, it has kept some of the fun, kitschy aspects, like the vintage neon sign out front and eye-catching color schemes of yellow and turquoise. Rooms feature extras like free WiFi and Nespresso coffee makers.
Jupiter Hotel – Portland, Oregon
The Jupiter Hotel, an 81-unit motor lodge, is a hipster, dog-friendly hangout on Portland’s Eastside, featuring minimalist rooms featuring custom murals of icons like Marilyn Monroe and John Lennon, and a lobby that double as an art gallery. Its Doug Fir Lounge is a hybrid restaurant and live music venue.
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