Last Updated on May 26, 2020 by Marybeth
All over the country small, tired motor court motels, instead of being torn down for mammoth development, are being wrangled back to life by large hotel groups and small business owners, and in some cases just a husband and wife team with ingenuity and plenty of exuberance.
We’ve all seen the nostalgic postcards: a smiling family in front of their Chevy Bel Air, pulled right up to the door of their roadside inn. The mom has on a dress with a nipped-in waist (she traveled in that?) and the dad doesn’t look like he’s been chain smoking or yelling at the kids.
In the postwar 50s and 60s America’s passion for the automobile – unlike any other country’s – brought with it the traveler’s need for a place to stay while on their way to somewhere better. Smaller towns surrounding tourist cities began constructing motor courts, lit up by and beckoning with giant neon signs.
And then we all know what happened: the interstates and their purpose of bypassing busy downtowns. Zip off the exit and right in front of you were / still are several choices of chain hotels with a bland sameness.
Many of the motor court motels in America have been overhauled and refreshed to appeal to two groups of experienced travelers: Baby Boomers looking for nostalgia and Millenialls looking for something different. And as I read about these now uber-cool spots, I actually felt a twinge of jealousy because of the hip embellishments beyond the light, fresh spaces. These places were offering so many extras! House concerts! Pool bars with swim-up service! Rotating pop-up shops! Food trucks, piano bars, libraries! The opportunity to record music!
Here in coastal Florida our small inns may not be offering the chance for a rooftop guitar lesson or an $1800 luxury beekeeping experience, but here is what we do have: the ocean. Restaurants, bars, shops within walking distance. Tiki bars! Rooftop bars! Beach bars! Farm-to-table, fresh off the boat food experiences. Boating, fishing, snorkeling, paddle boarding. Camping, hiking, just basking, in the sunshine.
As we come slowly out of our pandemic lock-down, we’re all looking for some weekend (or how about a whole week? a month?) getaways with a ‘let’s treat ourselves’ feel, without a giant TREAT YOURSELF price tag. What better place to start than some cute, cozy, and creative lodging – some of the best re-imagined, re-booted into our century but also retaining some flashes from the past, starting with one that is offering 30% off for the first 25 reservations booked in May!
Please make note all properties mentioned may not be open at this time, including restaurants we recommend. Call ahead and visit each website before making your plans. As always, prices and details are subject to change.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH
1798 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach
386-402-6347
Not just that name (Danny Ocean would approve) but the super clean, contemporary and comfortable 1 and 2 bedroom suites offering spacious living rooms and kitchens, with all new appliances, new bedding, and new furniture welcome you to stay awhile. Swimming pool, BBQ area, on-site laundry facilities, and the beach is just steps away (we calculated, approx a 2.5 minute walk!)
Tucked away off of the road, so not a “roadside inn” as the above-mentioned, back-in-the-day term no one uses anymore, this peaceful enclave of 11 suites is perfectly located for beach days, restaurant visits (as they slowly open back up) and exploring historic New Smyrna Beach. The new owners have turned this small property into an upscale, contemporary haven for travelers.
RATES: Nightly rates for a 1 bedroom suite are $165, a 2 bedroom $225. Ocean Eleven operates like a vacation rental; remotely operated (but management is just a phone call away.) A cleaning fee of $55 will be calculated into your total to cover the cleaning of your room after departure. Rates subject to change.
30% OFF FOR THE FIRST 25 RESERVATIONS IN MAY, BOOK NOW! 386-402-6347 or visit the website by clicking the name, above.
NEARBY: Within walking distance is a tiki bar, a bagel shop and several other restaurants. The shops and restaurants of historic Flagler Ave. are a 4 minute drive away.
301 Buenos Aires St., New Smyrna Beach
386-847-8909
With just five suites, oceanfront, we imagine you may need to book ahead to nab one of these upscale luxury rooms. Choose from their signature double – 2 extra-long twins and a fold out couch, accommodating 2-3 people – or king size beds (the largest king room is ADA compliant.) All rooms include a microwave, Keurig Coffee maker, premium Serta mattress, workstation, luxury linens & toiletries, complimentary use of yoga mats and beach bags during your stay, and more.
Right next door is Salty Rentals Sales & Service; rent a beach bike or golf cart for your stay.
RATES: Beginning at $199; call or go online for current pricing. Your best bet is to book directly with the hotel. (Personally we have had problems using third-party booking.)
NEARBY: The Salty Mermaid is just around the corner from historic Flagler Ave. with an array of shops and restaurants, and several restaurants are a short walk, including favorites of ours Toni and Joe’s Patio, and The Breakers Oceanfront Restaurant. (Check first to make sure any restaurant you’re planning to visit is open for full service dining.)
RELATED: Voted One of the Most Walkable Small Towns in Florida: New Smyrna Beach
ST. AUGUSTINE / VILANO BEACH
Corner of San Marco Ave. and Park, St. Augustine
Available on AirBnb
One of the places that first sparked our interest in motor court motels made modern, this mid-century gem blends clever kitsch with contemporary in the best possible way. The 9 rooms all have slightly different decor (all fun and funky) and affordable pricing. Choose from full beds or kings, and each room has a Keurig type coffee maker, a microwave, and small fridge. The bathrooms are colorful old-school tile with updated sinks and toilets, and organic bath products. Included with your room rate are 2 multi-speed beach bikes and helmets.
RATES: Approximately $80/night for a king room, with a service fee of $12. Rates vary for each room type and as with most properties, rates vary with the season. Check your dates by clicking on their name above or the AirBnb link.
NEARBY: A very cool coffee shop is a couple of blocks away, DOS Coffee & Wine, as are several restaurants. Historic downtown St. Augustine is about a mile and a half away, an easy bike ride. Just over the causeway – approximately 2.5 miles – is peaceful Vilano Beach.
50 Vilano Rd., St. Augustine, Vilano Beach
904-342-5263
Perhaps “motor court” isn’t the first thing that pops in your head because there is a section that has a second story, but most of the motel is the drive-on-up-to-the-door-of-your-room accommodation. Built in 1951 as one of the few mom-and-pops in the area, the motel became the site for a TV series in the 90s, Safe Harbor, starring Rue McClanahan. The series was about a sheriff of a made-up beach town, Magic Beach and the ‘owner’ of the hotel was a magician.
We were initially drawn to Vilano Beach because we’d never heard of it! One of our first blog trips, the perfect Triple-B as I called it; little-known, and off the beaten path, but just barely as it is right around the corner from St. Augustine. (And therefore, why hadn’t we heard of it? That doesn’t happen anymore! Now if there is a gloriously ridiculous-sounding town name in Florida that I’ve never heard of, I know it’s not on the coast. Just saying, and patting myself on my back!)
Choose from a standard queen motel room, standard king, or a 2 bedroom king and queen suite with a futon and full kitchen, and other configurations in between; check the site by clicking their name above for the best room choice for you. All rooms include refrigerators, microwaves, and coffee makers. Ocean view rooms are also available – the Magic Beach Motel is just behind another property that faces the ocean.
RATES: Starting at approximately $119 for a standard queen; check the website for current pricing for each room type.
NEARBY: Publix is about a half-block away, as are several restaurants including one of our favorite waterfront restaurant/bars, Beaches at Vilano. Walk out onto the Vilano Beach Fishing Pier and take your photo by the Bluebird of Happiness! A six-ish minute drive will take you to two must-visit historic restaurants overlooking the Tolomato River, Caps on the Water and Aunt Kate’s.
120 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine
904-829-1105
When we stayed here my husband suddenly got a vivid case of déja vu: he’d stayed here as a child! So, while we’re not sure exactly when Marion Motor Lodge was built, that flashback of him in the pool and a crusty old lady yelling at the shouting kids to shut up, tells us something about the vintage!
Totally updated since those days, and with direct views of the Matanzas River, the marina and Bridge of Lions, you might want to try to book an upstairs room for better views. Or relax on the rooftop terrace in the comfortable seating. Room choices range from a standard queen to deluxe queen, king, and a deluxe triple queen (for up to 6 guests.) All rooms include mini fridges, microwaves and Keurig coffee makers.
RATES: Rates start at approximately $104; check their website or call for current pricing.
NEARBY: Everything you can imagine is nearby! Over 50 restaurants are within walking distance, and the historic downtown is just a block-ish away.
PETS: Marion Motor Lodge is pet friendly! The pet fee is $20/night, call ahead to ensure pet-friendly rooms are available for your best buddy.
FLAGLER BEACH
1204 S. Ocean Shore Blvd., Flagler Beach
386-264-3775
Freshly renovated for “the knowing traveler who appreciates sophistication, style and value” (pretty sure that’s all of us!) A1A Ocean Club is directly across the street from the beach and has its own private beach deck. An outdoor sundeck and the shaded patio have an array of seating options, including a swing for two, to lounge in, read, tan yourself or sip wine.
Choose from king, queen, or two full beds (accommodating 4 people) and a beach view suite. Some rooms have a foldable sofa. Each room has a mini-fridge, microwave, coffee maker.
RATES: Starting at approximately $139/night, check their website for your dates and room preference.
NEARBY: You can just park it (all the motels on our list have free parking!) and stay for the duration if you’d like; with the beach right there, and The Island Grille right next door, and Tortugas Florida Kitchen & Bar a five minute walk away, you’ll be all set. There are at least 5 more restaurants just beyond that one, and you may want to hop in the car to visit 2 more of our favorites, The Golden Lion Café and Flagler Beachfront Winery.This is just a sampling of the restaurants in the area to get you started! Flagler Beach
PETS: A1A Ocean Club is pet-friendly; call for rates.
LANTANA
138 S. Dixie Hwy., Lantana
561-585-0600
To be bluntly honest, when you pull up at Barefoot Mailman Motel you may want to pull out and keep going. One of us felt that way when we arrived (it wasn’t me.) Its U-shaped motor court face isn’t beautiful. But stay: that view above is also there. I’m not even going to yammer about not judging a book etc.
Rooms start at ‘Single Traveler Rooms’ with a double bed; ‘Family Traveler Rooms’ with a king sized bed; and several sizes ‘Deluxe Efficiencies’ that include kitchen sinks and larger refrigerators. All rooms have a microwave and a fridge. Free HBO and Showtime, complimentary coffee. The relaxing shaded garden courtyard has a seating area you can enjoy with your coffee or wine.
RATES: Starting at $60/night, and $85/night for the larger rooms. This includes all taxes and fees.
NEARBY: A big reason to choose Barefoot Mailman besides the affordability: just down a peaceful residential street is the charming main street of Lantana (had you heard of Lantana before?) A short walk takes you to the waterfront Old Key Lime House and approximately 5 other restaurants on the tree shaded East Ocean Ave. The beach is a 5 minute drive/19 minute walk over the Intracoastal Bridge. Boynton Beach and Delray Beach are 11 minutes and 14 minutes, respectively, just south.
MIAMI
7301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
305-400-8420
The Vagabond Motel is famous, on almost all the giant travel gurus’ lists of motel revivalism around the US. Some of the others on our list I had to do a deep delve for, but The Vagabond shines so brightly, with its fascinating history, vivid colors, mod furniture, and enviable (by me: why can’t I think of this stuff?) taglines: “Timelessly modern, decidedly Miami” and “Live glamorously, choose fabulously.”
Located in Miami’s Mi-Mo District (Miami Modern), the Vagabond was brought back to modern life by an equally famous – at least in Miami, New York, and hotel/developer land – woman, Avra Jain. Read more about her and The Vagabond Group Consulting team, here.
There are several room/bed sizes, with cool names like the Electra Deluxe, Catalina King, Galaxy King, Skylark Double. Some with an added sofa bed, mini-fridge and coffee maker, check their site for the best room for your trip. Take advantage of the hotel gym, the stunning swimming pool and Vagabond Pool Bar, and the upscale onsite Gregory’s Diner.
RATES: Beginning at approximately $119, call or go online to find current pricing and room choices.
NEARBY: Multiple restaurants are within walking distance, as is the gorgeous waterfront Baywood Park. The Wynnwood Walls are about a 10 minute drive, and Miami Beach is a 20 minute drive.
NAPLES
407 8th Ave. South, Naples
239-262-4858
Built in 1958 and called ‘The Gondolier Apartments’ this classic retro Inn has always been family owned, by one family for 60 years and now by well known Naples designer/developer Kristen Williams, and managed by her daughter and son-in-law. Superbly updated while keeping the vintage aesthetic and the welcoming vibe the families have always extended to travelers at The Gondolier.
Choose from a variety of rooms and suites, all of which have a Keurig coffee maker and pods, toaster oven, refrigerator or mini fridge, microwave, and more. Queen suites have separate living areas with a queen pull-out sofa and small kitchens with stove/oven and full size fridge. The king suite has a separate living area, two TVs, and a kitchenette with mini fridge and microwave.
On-site laundry room, spacious back yard with lounge chairs and grill, beach towels, chairs, umbrellas, coolers and fishing rods are provided for your stay, and you can get a complimentary ride to the beach on their golf cart!
RATES: Beginning at approximately $120/night; contact The Gondolier online or by phone for your dates and room type.
NEARBY: The Gondolier Inn is located in a gorgeously landscaped mostly residential neighborhood, just 3 blocks from Naples’ premier shopping and dining area of 5th Avenue. The beach is just 3 blocks away.
CHOKOLOSKEE
1180 Chokoloskee Dr., Chokoloskee
239-695-3261
Pretty darn far off of anyone’s beaten path, Chokoloskee Island looks like a little minnow hanging off of Everglades City. We are excited to include this property on our list, because even though it’s located in a remote little spit of a town (that, yes I will admit, I had never heard of) this motel has gone above the typical “welp we’re just a small fishing town and folk are here to fish, not expect much from the digs” that we’ve sometimes found in small town Florida.
Standard rooms, kitchenettes, and a 2 bedroom 2 bath cottage are located just a short stroll from the marina and the Chokoloskee Bay. Standard rooms offer 2 double beds, small fridge, coffee maker, coffee tea and condiments. Rooms with kitchenettes include 2 double beds, full size fridge, convection/microwave, electric frying pan, dishes & utensils, coffee maker, coffee tea and condiments.
The 2/2 cottage has a master bedroom, 2nd bedroom with 2 twin beds, fully equipped eat-in kitchen, separate living room and screened in porch. The cottage sleeps 4-6 people.
The Parkway Motel has received a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor!
RATES: Contact the motel by phone or online for current pricing.
NEARBY: Havana Café of the Everglades is about a 10 minute walk from the motel. The historic Smallwood Store, built in 1906 as a trading post and now operating as a museum of Florida pioneer history is a short walk away. There are several island charter/fish guides on the island for you to book a fishing tour and experience the Everglades. Everglades city is an 8 minute drive from The Parkway Motel.
Have we missed any good ones? The kind where the owners take so much pride in their property you feel proud just to have had the discernment to book a room there? Imagine doing all that demolition, restoration, designing, consulting, shopping, buying, styling, cleaning, hiring, lying awake at night worrying about every little thing. I can, but just barely.
Now that we’re allowed to venture out, a little, let’s plan on getting in the car and visiting some of these old-made-new independently owned mid-century motels where authenticity and high standards will ensure one of your best treat myself vacations yet.
2 Comments
Cathy
I LOVE this post! Love the small mom-and-pops motels, we’ve stayed in several all over the country, and several in FL, but none of those listed here so this is very helpful! And I love the local restaurant recommendations. (I’ve actually been to Caps several times, brings back many good memories……..)
Marybeth
Thank you so much Cathy! This makes my day. I’d love to know which ones you’ve visited in Florida. We like to get fellow travelers’ input. You can email me at beachesbarsandbungalows@gmail.com
Yes Caps is certainly a must-visit. If you have a chance read our article before this one, with a link to a beautifully written article about Caps.