"Of the options famously offered by hip-hop group The Sugarhill Gang, motels are often the cheapest. They also poke a soft spot in the heart of nostalgia-lovers. Some might look down upon them, but a road trip wouldn't be complete without these bastions of terrible coffee and neon splendor. Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the first motor hotel in the world - the Milestone Mo-Tel in San Luis Obispo."
"Motels are enjoying a boost, the magazine asserts, thanks to COVID steering people away from planes and toward car travel: "Their cheerful, pastel-hued mid-century designs and vintage aesthetics also speak to an increasing longing for simplicity and authenticity - motels remind us of a time when travel felt less polished and more spontaneous, filled with possibilities." Here are some magazine named the coolest ones to visit in 2026."
Motels are framed as affordable, nostalgia-rich lodging that often anchors American road trips with neon signage and weak coffee. The centennial of the Milestone Mo-Tel in San Luis Obispo marks a century of motor-hotel culture. Pandemic-driven shifts toward driving have boosted motel popularity as travelers favor cars over planes. Cheerful, pastel-hued mid-century designs and vintage aesthetics align with a growing longing for simplicity and authenticity, evoking spontaneous, less polished travel. An 11-entry list highlights notable motels across diverse U.S. destinations, from Austin and Palm Springs to coastal and mountain towns, blending historic charm with contemporary appeal.
Read at The Mercury News
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