California hotels have always offered more than a place to sleep. For decades, travelers have been able to experience the state’s natural splendor and relaxed, sun-soaked lifestyle.
The state of California has a lot of different landscapes. Napa Valley is famous for its vineyards. Lake Tahoe is known for its mountain retreats. The modern surf shack is great for surfing. There are as many types of accommodations in California as there are amazing things to do.
California is known for luxury, but traditional luxury is not always the only way. Even roadside motels in California have been redesigned to make travelers feel like they are at home. These new motels have a lot of personality and can be a taste of the fabulous California lifestyle.
Travelers can enjoy a variety of hotels in Hollywood, including the Chateau Marmont. They can also stay in a fantasy land alpine-inspired bolthole or a Technicolor fantasy land. Travelers can also experience the most storied of all Tinseltown’s hotels, the Chateau Marmont.
1. Carneros Resort & Spa
This luxury resort sits in the middle of the beautiful Napa Valley. Nestled among the rolling hills and vineyards, it offers 100 cottages and homes with chic, light-filled interiors. The resorts offer sprawling patios with fire pits and outdoor showers.
The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Sonoma is a resort situated on 80 acres. The adults-only pool overlooks vineyards and has incredible views. There are three restaurants at the resort, from casual to fine dining. The spa has recently been upgraded to include indoor and outdoor body treatments using local herbs and flowers.
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2. Madonna Inn
The Madonna Inn is a colorful hotel with over 110 themed rooms. It was opened in 1958, and has been trendy throughout the decades. The property has recently enjoyed a revival thanks to social media.
The hotel’s theme is pink, but it’s not just the lobby that’s pink. There’s a tower of pink and a waterfall in the men’s room. The Love Nest has pink carpet and silver chandeliers, as does another bar. The merry merriment continues with bright pink furniture, and there are gold-rush-themed steakhouse and saloon-style bars.
3. The Boonville Hotel
Boonville is a tiny town with few visitors, but this inn is an exception. It’s situated in the countryside and surrounded by a lake. The inn has quaint rooms, but it also has modern amenities such as soaking tubs and hammocks. The inn’s decor is rustic, but the rooms have comfortable beds, and the bathrooms are modern.
The hotel’s relaxing eatery, Table 128, serves family-style dinners with a twist, such as pan-seared chicken with peach chutney, and leg of lamb with braised greens. It also offers hearty morning meals to energize the day, such as homemade granola, yogurt, and scones.
4. Ace Hotel & Swim Club
The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs is a stylish property that highlights the best of mid-century design, with a bohemian twist. Its 179 rooms are decorated with earthy elements such as kilim rugs and tent canvas, and some feature private courtyards and outdoor fireplaces.
On the weekend, Kings Highway offers a lively pool scene with DJs to liven up the party. For those who wish to relax, there is a more tranquil pool. Kings Highway takes the concept of a roadside diner and makes it hip. It serves fun dishes such as spiced buttermilk pancakes or yellowtail tacos. While it’s not an easy decision, you can work up to the tacos with a frozen watermelon margarita.
5. The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Skip the trip to Switzerland for this modern mountain retreat with ski-in access from Northstar California chairlifts. It’s located in a beautiful place and offers amazing access to the gondolas that go to Northstar Village, which is where all the shops, restaurants, and ice-skating rink are located. The rooms are decorated in warm natural finishes and have fireplaces and bathrobes. There are oversized soaking tubs in each room.
At the hotel, there is a restaurant called Manzanita that serves seasonal food such as braised short ribs and Sonoma duck. In the summertime, there is a trendy lounge called the Lake Club which offers a cocktail bar, outdoor dining, and a private pier with many activities. These activities include stand-up paddleboarding, wave runners, and luxury boat rentals.
6. Post Ranch Inn
If you want to go camping in Big Sur, you can pitch a tent and enjoy the majestic beauty of nature, with magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean. But if you want to experience luxury camping, there are hotels with infinity pools, organic architecture, and edge-of-the-world views.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai offers a variety of rooms and suites. Some include modern treehouses and luxury homes with infinity hot tubs, while others have more traditional accommodations. Each of the rooms and suites is unique in its own way, but all come stocked with complimentary wine and goodies. Every morning at Sierra Mar, the resort’s signature restaurant, there is a hosted breakfast buffet with incredible ocean views.
7. Chateau Marmont
Los Angeles doesn’t lack for fancy hotels, but none are as rich in history as this famous Sunset Boulevard hotel. It was modeled after a Loire Valley castle.
The walls of this bar would tell you some interesting stories. In the 1960s, Led Zeppelin rode their motorcycles through the lobby. Lindsay Lohan racked up an enormous bill, and she was 86’d. John Belushi died after partying too hard.
A stunningly gorgeous property with a wonderful swimming pool, the hotel is owned by André Balazs. It exudes the charm of old Hollywood, and every bungalow is decorated with original furniture from the 1960s.
8. Timber Cove
This historic home in California is a blend of Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture and coastal bluffs. It sits on the Pacific Ocean, capturing the rugged splendor of the Sonoma coast.
The Novogratz revitalized interior design with their eye for the natural landscape and their love for mid-century design. Their rooms are modern, cabin-like spaces that feature wool throws, gas fireplaces, and vintage vinyl from portable turntables.
If you want to sit in the woods and drink, head to the Adirondacks. There are lots of paths, quiet coves, and scenic overlooks. You can warm up with a local beer or cocktail by a massive stone hearth in the lodge-like lobby. The food is good too: try local oysters and fried chicken from Coast Kitchen.
9. Cavallo Point
This stunning Sausalito resort is housed in a cluster of beautiful, historic military buildings. The hotel offers the choice between modern, new suites or renovated officers’ residences.
A beautiful spa overlooks the Golden Gate National Recreation Area nature preserve. Guests can take advantage of an indoor-outdoor spa with a heated soaking pool and fire pit-warmed patio tucked into a green hillside.
A really popular spot to watch the parade is the patio of the Murray Circle restaurant. It’s actually a shared patio with Farley Bar. The patio overlooks the former parade ground and a bridge that looks like it’s made out of red stone.
10. The Pearl
The Pearl Hotel, a mid-century motel, is now a delightful place where people can sit on stylish outdoor furniture that blurs the line between indoors and outdoors. People can also sit on the furniture and look at the pool, which is surrounded by retro-mod rooms. The bar, Charles + Dinorah, is popular among locals and is located in the courtyard.
On summer evenings, the hotel shows classic films on a giant screen above the pool. The Point Loma neighborhood is slowly beginning to perk up. You should check out the bars and boutiques at Liberty Station, but don’t forget about the lively Gaslamp and Little Italy neighborhoods.
11. The Goodland
A hip beach hotel in Santa Barbara, California features a pool lined with palm trees and fire pits. The hotel is housed in a former Holiday Inn building and has a hip boho vibe. Beds come with Crosley turntables and vinyl supplied by the hotel’s record concierge.
If you’re in the mood to have a cocktail, check out the Good Bar. It’s decorated with a retro, cartoon mural by LA-based artists DabsMyla. After that, you can eat some delicious fish tacos and pork belly bao buns at Outpost.