Following the popularity of Netflix show Motel Makeover, American motels are undergoing a revival – even becoming destinations in themselves
Netflix’s Motel Makeover follows best friends turned “moteliers” April Brown and Sarah Sklash as they revamp a rundown motel in a Canadian beach town, with a renovation budget of just US$100,000 to revamp the motel without losing any of the nostalgic charm.
Looking for more retro inspiration? From Miami to Santa Rosa, WeThrift has scoured the web to find eight retrofitted motels that are worth a road trip, and shared them with Globetrender…
1. Vagabond Hotel – Miami, Florida
2. Calistoga Motor Lodge and Spa, Calistoga, California
3. Austin Motel in Austin, Texas
4. The Dive Inn Motel in Nashville, Tennessee
The 23 rooms in the hotel have been renovated to feature some incredible 1970’s inspired interior design. It has been described as “a mixture of classic motel americana meets Pantone inspired romantic nostalgia”.
The decor in each room is very Instagram-friendly and comes complete with a ‘party switch’ which starts the music and spinning disco balls – making it the perfect backdrop for those Instagram snaps.
5. Amigo Motor Lodge, Salida, Colorado
Not only does the Amigo Motel have 16 rooms but the owners have also included refurbished Airstream trailers and a yurt, making this Colorado motel a destination in its own right.
6. Phoenix Hotel, San Francisco, California
The pool is where the retro-styling comes into its own. The courtyard-style pool features potted palms and the original mosaic on the pool’s floor so it really feels like you’re stepping back into 1950’s California.
7. Sparrows Lodge, Palm Springs, California
The 20 rooms feature the original exposed beams and red walls, plus reclaimed horse troughs as baths. None of the rooms feature televisions or phones, which means it’s the perfect location for a relaxing digital detox.
8. The Astro Hotel, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California
The motel is a design-lover’s delight, furnished with mid-century modern touches such as sputnik chandeliers and vintage Eames chairs. Local artists were used for the hotel’s art, and as such, many of the pieces can be purchased as the perfect souvenir from your trip.