In an age of mass-produced Marriotts and cookie-cutter accommodations, finding a hotel that is just a little bit different is a breath of fresh air. Many hotels have managed to remain budget conscious but still trendy by going the retro route. While other hotels are pouring money into five-star restaurants and outlandish amenities, these hotels are finding that guests often prefer unique to high end.
Ace Hotel
Ace Hotel is a small chain of boutique hotels located in Portland, Seattle, New York and Palm Springs. The hotels' décor was fashioned by top design firm Roman and Williams. Every room in each of the hotels has a completely unique design utilizing both vintage and retro furniture, fittings and art throughout. The designers made full use of natural, ecofriendly and sustainable elements creating an atmosphere of Bohemian chic in each of its rooms.
The Seattle hotel is as minimalistic as it is retro featuring clean, white rooms with splashes of color or the occasional 1970s photo mural. It's all about color in Portland with many of the rooms sporting hand-painted murals. New York's venue makes copious use of plaids in an almost otherwise industrial environment. The Palm Springs site is where metro meets the desert with fabric-covered walls and cabana shutters lining the walls.
acehotel.com
Hotel Helix
Hotel Helix is a part of the Kimpton family of hotels located in Washington, DC. Take a trip back into the 1960s and 1970s with pop art on the walls, metal minibars, wall murals, geometric designs and plenty of bright orange accents.
In addition to its standard single and double rooms, the Helix offers 12 specialty rooms. The Zone Rooms offer spacious apartment-like accommodations complete with plasma televisions and lava lamps. Their Bunk Rooms were created with families in mind and come equipped with everything your family will need from bunk beds to Nintendo. The Eats Rooms are perfect for foodies and celebrity chefs alike. They are outfitted with a fully equipped kitchen sporting stainless steel appliances and papaya accents.
Hotel Helix
1430 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 462-9001
hotelhelix.com
The Foshay
The Foshay in Minneapolis is part of the W Hotel family that looks like anything but a chain hotel. Forbes Traveler says that to do retro-chic properly, "...there must be a tangible sense of history." That is evident at the Foshay where the roaring twenties meets modern hip. The hotel occupies the 32-story, art-deco skyscraper built by William Foshay in 1929.
The designers stayed true to their mission, incorporating both vintage and modern touches. Guest rooms sport neutral tones with splashes of vivid color and plenty of retro touches like clawfoot tubs. Cozy up in the living room where the traditional mantel fireplace has been reinvented as a modernistic firepit. Make a stop on the 27th floor for a cocktail in the Prohibition Lounge before taking a stroll on Minneapolis' only observation deck at the top of the tower.
The Foshay
821 Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(812) 215-3700
starwoodhotels.com
Tags: Hotel Helix, both vintage, hotels located, Palm Springs, with splashes