Charming Hotels to Plan a Romantic Getaway

I love the idea of planning a last minute getaway, especially a romantic one. It’s harder to do with kids and work but if I can ever manage one, I take it! The key is starting with where you want to stay. As much as I love an epic, luxury hotel (I mean…), for a romantic getaway I want something that feels more intimate and personal. I love the idea of checking-in with the owners themselves and hearing about how much they love the place they created. Or even better – sitting down to a homemade breakfast made right in the kitchen next door.

I’ve rounded up some of my favorites below; including many we stayed at while filming “Places to Love.”

Hotels to Stay at for a Charming Getaway

The Inn of the Five Graces in Santa Fe, NM

To this day, The Inn of the Five Graces in Santa Fe, New Mexico is still one of my favorite hotels in the world. I first came here for “Great Hotels,” and it was just so unlike any other hotel I’d ever visited. Ira and Sylvia Seret originally used the space as a showplace but enough visitors kept asking about staying over, they decided to turn it into an inn. From the wooden doors to the woven carpets to the mosaic designs, the entire hotel is handmade. Rooms feel like you’re stepping into an art piece! And this time of year means their wood-burning kiva fireplaces are open, making the rooms feel even warmer and cozier.

I even had a chance to return and chat with Ira, Sylvia, and their son, Sharif, for my “25th Anniversary Special”.

Inlet Inn in Beaufort, NC

Built in 1985, Inlet Inn has been a mainstay in historic downtown Beaufort, North Carolina for well over a century at this point. It sits right on the waterfront and has all the charm of a local bed and breakfast with the privacy of a hotel. It’s currently owned by Barbara McKenzie and Jay Tervo, who think of themselves as the caretakers rather than just owners! Stay on the first floor to have access to working fireplaces perfect for a wintry romantic escape. We stayed here while filming “The Crystal Coast of North Carolina,” and I loved how the hotel perfectly encapsulated that southern coastal feel.

Wanderstay Boutique Hotel in Houston, TX

Before I tell you anything about Wanderstay Boutique Hotel, just know these two important things: 2:00 pm check in and adults-only. Music to my ears! Not only has founder Deidre Mathis traveled to over 50 countries across 7 continents, she was also the first Black woman to own and operate a hostel in the United States. (Check out Wanderstay Houston Hostel here). Between both those experiences, I like to think she knows a thing or two about good hospitality. Located in East End Houston, there are only ten rooms, each with a unique theme. In addition to all the classic amenities you’d expect, there’s also a pillow bar and towel warmers.

The Americana Motor Hotel in Flagstaff, AZ

How many chain hotels will put a crystal ball in your room? We stayed at  The Americana Motor Hotel for two nights while taking a break from filming our “Route 66: Arizona” episode, and what a perfectly on theme place to rest! The hotel dates back to 1962 and even back then had a “Jetsons meet Easy Rider” design. These days the rooms still have that retro-futurism feel with a dash of astronomy mixed in. My whole crew loved hanging out here!

Glen Oaks in Big Sur, CA

Imagine getting to buy a property you grew up working at. Basil Sanborn’s grandparents moved to Big Sur in the 1950s, and he grew up next to Glen Oaks at Ripplewood Resort, which his parents operated. As a teen, he did all sorts of odd jobs for both places whether it was cleaning rooms or waiting tables. Fast forward to 2006 when the owner was ready to sell Glen Oaks, Basil and his wife, Tracy, decided to buy it and turn it from a barebones budget establishment into something elevated yet still affordable. The redesign was inspired by midcentury design with a lot of green, rustic initiatives. Choose between their updated 1950s adobe motor lodge rooms, historic oak tree cottages, or redwood grove cabins. If you want some real privacy, opt for the Big Sur River Reserve. You can only get to one of these two deluxe cabins by crossing a 150ft walking bridge!

La Posada Hotel in Winslow, AZ

If you continue on Route 66 in Arizona, you’ll eventually come to the small town of Winslow. It’s probably most known for The Eagles song, “Take it Easy,” but it’s also home to historic La Posada Hotel. Not only is La Posada the last of Fred Harvey’s great railroad hotels, it’s also Mary E.J. Colter’s crowning architectural achievement. She was one of the few female architects working during the 1920s and 30s, and her other famous work is the Desert View Watchtower in the Grand Canyon. Allan Affeldt and Tina Mion bought the hotel in order to preserve the architecture and have been running it for over 25 years. Don’t miss dining in their onsite restaurant, The Turquoise Room. And as you wander around the hotel, check out Tina’s various art pieces. There’s a whole gallery you can enjoy on the second floor.

The Dew Drop Inn Hotel & Lounge in New Orleans, LA

When you stay at The Dew Drop Inn Hotel & Lounge in New Orleans, not only are you staying in a piece of history, you’ve got a front row to live music! The hotel goes all the way back to 1939 when barber Frank Painia first opened a barbershop and restaurant on the first floor. It soon also included the hotel and a nightclub, and during its heyday, it saw some of the most iconic Black musicians of the 50s and 60s. It’s been recently re-opened to its former, historic glory. All rooms are themed after musicians who left their mark here, and you can expect plenty of fun events in the main area. Just imagine strolling out to your balcony and catching a show!

The Southern Hotel in Covington, LA

Across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, Covington is a small town charmer where you can come to unwind in quieter, calmer territory. And in Covington is the beautiful Mission-style Southern Hotel. The hotel dates all the way back to 1907, though it took on many different forms over the 20th century including becoming FEMA housing. Local preservationist, Lisa Conrey Ward, purchased it in 2011 and restored it to its former hotel status. Rooms have this beautiful airy feel, and I personally love that all the interiors are nods to the hotel’s community past. The murals of historic Covington in the Cypress Bar are particular highlights.

The Alander Hotel in the Berkshires of New York

Right at the foothills of the Berkshires in Upstate New York, The Alander Hotel was once an old road side hotel! It’s been recently renovated to be a stylish boutique lodge thanks to owners Jason Seiler and Reid Kendall. Both have had long careers in the hospitality industry and after 15 years together, decided to open their own space in Columbia County. The hotel mixes mountain cabin aesthetics with modern design and sources all amenities locally. Plus they have an onsite restaurant called North Star which features seasonal menus and ingredients from Hudson Valley. Bonus: it’s dog-friendly!

Mrs. Rose’s Bed and Breakfast in Cajun Country, LA

Nowhere fully embodies the spirit of hospitality like Louisiana Cajun Country! If you choose to come here for your getaway, you have to include a crawfish boil and nowhere is more fun to do that at than Mrs. Roses’s Bed and Breakfast. Located in Caplan, it’s a cozy bed and breakfast that feels more like you’re staying over someone’s house. They’re also the only place in the region and likely all of Louisiana that offers crawfish excursions. Head out on a boat ride to where you can catch crawfish the old fashioned way and then come back and enjoy a Cajun-style boil.

Wilson Ranches Retreat from Oregon RV Trip

Why not spend your romantic getaway on a working ranch? The Wilson family came to Oregon on the Oregon Trail in the mid-1800s and Wilson Ranches Retreat in Butte Creek Valley has been in their family since the 1960s. Meeting Kara Wilson was actually what inspired the entire premise of “Places to Love”! You can stay over in their historic 1910 Sears Roebuck Ranch House, which has six ranch-style guest rooms and a cozy living and dining area. Nothing screams romantic like a nice horse ride at sunset.

Bel Air Motel in Wildwood, NJ

Did you know Wildwood on the Jersey Shore has a huge collection of Doo Wop architecture? I got to learn more about this mid-century futuristic design at Motel Safari along Route 66 in New Mexico, and it gave me a whole new appreciation for it. There’s a huge concentration of these motels in the Doo Wop Motel District, but if I had to choose one it’d be the Bel Air Motel. Bonus: their pool is heated!

Where would you head for a last minute, romantic getaway? Let me know below!