Travelers seem to stick to the tried and true road trips to all the classic American destinations.
While Times Square, Mount Rushmore, and Niagara Falls have their allure, there is another way to spend your long awaited vacation that is going to put Motor Lodges on the map.
Now you can combine the style and class of the past with the expectations of the modern traveler- and the results have us rushing out the door.
Motels of our childhood lured us in with their unforgettable neon signs, homey décor, and deliciously greasy diner food next door.
When the family pulled up with the station wagon to get some reprieve from the noise of sibling rivalry, it was certain there was going to be a television and affordable rates waiting.
Fast forward to 2020 and the travel industry can’t get enough of the retro eras, working hard to provide the traveler with a new experience while maintaining childhood nostalgia.
We have seen the old concept of camping with a lantern and nylon sleeping bag turn into “glamping”, full of faux furs and string lights, as Proud American Traveler has previously reported, but the concept has transferred to other areas.
Motor lodges are small motels where you can drive right up to the door to you quaint room.
Forget the chandeliers and spiraling staircases, these accommodations of the future focus on simple flashback accents that are both chic and perfectly relevant.
Here are some travel lodges you didn’t know you couldn’t live without.
1. Brentwood Hotel, Saratoga Springs, NY
In 2016, Brentwood Hotel took on new owners, Brooklyn-based design firm Studio Tack, whose collaborative vision turned it into an elegant escape for the equestrian enthusiast.
Near the Saratoga Springs racetrack you can check-in to one of twelve rooms adorned with antique oil paintings and leather knick knacks to get an upscale experience with the looks and attitude of turn of the century lodging.
Enjoy a cocktail on the porch overlooking the track, watching the horses pass by your door from the barn.
Assuming you aren’t barred to some isolated chamber in New York, as Proud American Traveler has warned, this boutique road-side hotel will not disappoint, and you will surely get some coveted, unique Instagram photos here.
Who doesn’t go crazy for horse pics?
2. Skyview, Los Alamos, CA
Skyview has held the stories of eager travelers through California’s wine country since 1959.
You will not witness a lodge like this one anywhere else on the west coast.
Condé Nast Traveler calls it “a boutique old-West oasis” with its locally sourced Fable soap, outdoor showers, and hand-woven Moroccan chairs.
Sit and enjoy wine from family-owned vineyards with a view of the St. Ynez Valley at the Skyview restaurant, The Norman.
Choose the best pairing for California cuisine such as beet hummus and avocado toast.
In this beautiful lodge, you won’t be bombarded by the busy California lifestyle, but you will bask in the famous California sunshine.
3. The Thunderbird Inn, Savannah, GA
The Thunderbird Inn is everything you would expect it to be with a name like that.
You get a 1960’s vibe with the down-home appeal of the southern charm of Georgia.
It is hard to miss the large neon sign that earned The Thunderbird Inn a 2010 spot in the National Register of Historic Places.
No detail was overlooked with pops of American culture such as the sock monkey, vintage popcorn popper, and edgy décor you would expect to find on a 1964 sitcom.
Every guest in the 42 rooms are given a blast from the past moon pie and fresh lemonade.
It’s time to break out of the mold of repetitive travel choices and cruise with the wind in your hair to one of these lodges.
You will be putting these chic destinations on your wish list after social media exposes the vacation to have of 2020, so beat the rush and book a limited availability room today.
