Motels, Revisited: 4 Boutique Accommodations You Must Visit

Discover how America’s mid‑century motels are being reinvented as stylish, affordable places to stay

the exterior of the Americana Motor Hotel in Flagstaff, AZ

Boutique motels, like the Americana Motor Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona, play up their vintage charm while folding in modern decor, services and amenities.

Practice Hospitality

Berit Thorkelson,

AARP

Published April 14, 2026

Key takeaways

Mid-century motels across the U.S. contain modern amenities while keeping retro design details.
Many revamped motels remain budget-friendly, with rates under $150.
These properties lean into nostalgia-driven travel, appealing to older road trippers.

There’s a growing trend among America’s motels, aging into their 60s, 70s and beyond: They’re having some work done.

Boutique motels are a 21st-century take on the mid-century budget travel classic. Today’s version retains the original motor hotel formula — a modest number of rooms, spread out over a level or two, with open-air entrances that often overlook the parking lot. Iconic elements, like flashy neon signage and kidney-shaped pools, remain, minus the seediness that crept in during the decline of motels in the 1980s and ’90s. Expect stylish amenities such as swank lobby bars, luxury bedding, high-end toiletries and other draws aimed at discriminating modern-day travelers. The revamps often play up the motels’ longtime area connections too.

Throwback lodging is part of a trend called nostalgication — a portmanteau of “nostalgia” and “vacation,” that has travelers looking to the past as an escape from today’s world. Boutique motels serve as a familiar, comfort for travelers 50 and older, 43 percent of whom plan to hit the road this year, according to AARP’s 2026 Travel Trends survey.

Travelers ages 60 to 69 are the most dedicated road warriors, reporting they’re just as likely to road-trip as they are to travel by plane. Fifty-eight percent of domestic travelers who have selected a destination said they planned to stay in a domestic hotel or motel this year.

Upgrades do, at times, naturally push prices upward, though plenty of boutique motels stay true to their budget-friendly roots. Such affordable accommodations are especially important to those living on a fixed income and to anyone looking to save money on travel.

The four motels below have published rates under $150 a night. A couple even dip under $100, giving throwback vibes right down to the penny.

the exterior of The Local in St. Augustine, FL

On-site bike rentals are among the perks at The Local, a flamingo-pink renovated 1940s motel that’s about a mile outside of downtown St. Augustine, Florida.

Lori Barbely

The Local, St. Augustine, Florida

When Gen Xer Lori Barbely, who writes about her explorations at Mostly Solo Travel, was looking for an out-of-the-box stay near downtown St. Augustine, The Local caught her eye. Upon arrival at the renovated, double-decker, flamingo-pink Old Florida motel, she appreciated the smooth, contact-free check-in. The clean rooms, with splashy tropical-print wallpaper, felt comfortable and safe.

The real star, she says, sits outside the guest room doors. “The pool area is the standout. They’ve got lots of comfy loungers … the striped umbrellas. It’s very Instagrammable,” she says. The motel’s size — just 20 rooms — made her dream of a group buyout, like a family reunion.

Amenities include on-site bike rentals and an interactive concierge app that connects guests with local information and events. There’s also a hospitality suite stocked with complimentary coffee and tea, which had “good vibes,” Barbely says. Add in The Local’s easy mile-ish walk to downtown and it’s a solid weekend getaway she’s been recommending to friends.

Rates start at $77 a night.

The astronaut statue that welcomes visitors to The Americana is just one example of how the motel plays up its location in Flagstaff, the world’s first designated International Dark Sky City.

Practice Hospitality

Americana Motor Hotel, Flagstaff, Arizona

The Americana played a role, albeit off-screen, in the classic road film Easy Rider. “In 1969, Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and the rest of the cast ... stayed in and worked out of the Americana when filming in Flagstaff,” General Manager Dominic Nez says.

Still, the motel prefers to play up its connection to the stars overhead with a retro-futuristic flair that’s somehow both kitschy and chic. The life-sized astronaut statue that greets visitors is a nod to the real ones who trained in the Flagstaff area before heading to the moon. In-room disco ball light fixtures set against wood panel–inspired wallpaper recall the 1970s as well as the twinkling sky. Flagstaff was designated the world’s first International Dark Sky City in 2001.

The motel’s common areas include telescopes for viewing the stars, a fenced dog park with a dog-washing station and a pool that’s heated year-round. Stargazing with s’mores and other activities take place at the motel. The motel also hosts area excursions (both sky-related and not).

New this April is a grab-and-go restaurant, Far Out Food, with burgers and salads to supplement the lobby’s drinks-only menu.

Rates start at $129, with additional discounts for AARP and AAA members.

the exterior of the River Lodge motel in Paso Robles, CA

The former parking lot of the River Lodge motel, in California’s Paso Robles Wine Country, is now a courtyard with an adults-only hot tub and pool.

Karyn Millet

River Lodge, Paso Robles, California

This motel serves as home base for explorations of the Paso Robles wine country, the laid-back, less expensive cousin to fancy Napa Valley, which is nearly four hours up the California coast.

Recent upgrades have the River Lodge motel feeling more like an upscale-retro resort. Rooms feature bespoke furniture, including velvet-upholstered beds and walnut nightstands, as well as robes and signature bath products.

Handwoven hammocks, not plastic chairs, sit outside guest rooms overlooking a lush courtyard where the parking lot once stood. The courtyard is dotted with fire pits and lawn games, and at its heart are an adults-only hot tub and pool edged in daybeds and cushioned chaises. The poolside restaurant, Ciao Papi, serves Cal-Italian food and local wines.

While published rates start at $149, sale prices run lower and were recently spotted starting at $119.

Amigo Motor Lodge, Salida, Colorado

The story of this 1950s motel, on the outskirts of the artsy Rocky Mountain town of Salida, kicked off a new chapter in 2016, along with the couple who rehabbed it. The idea occurred to Philip Sterling and Kaitlyn Canfield over pizza and beer — on their first date, no less — and the ensuing process was documented in the debut episode of the 2021 TV series (Re)motel.

Today’s Amigo is modern-Southwestern style through and through, with a low-slung, minimalist, black-and-white exterior that’s echoed inside the rooms. The rooms are warmed by place-setting touches such as weathered wood statement walls, handwoven Oaxacan throw pillows and retro red clamshell chairs out front.

Five vintage Airstream trailers are available to rent, decked out with touches such as record players and flat-screen TVs (plus a separate bathroom in the motel proper). The central courtyard’s hot tub is available for post-adventure soaks year-round.

Rates start at $82 and up, with additional discounts for AAA and AARP members.

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The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Berit Thorkelson is a travel writer and editor for aarp.org. She has also written for publications such as National Geographic Traveler, Better Homes & Gardens and The Minnesota Star Tribune’s travel section.

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