Cheapest Times to Travel the World by Region

One of the easiest ways to offset expenses on your next big vacation is by strategically timing the trip.

This isn’t always an option, as everyone has an ever-expanding schedule—from weddings to Little League games to medical appointments. It’s normal to take advantage of days off whenever we can.

But if you’re able to plan ahead—especially on a pricier and long-distance trip—you can find serious savings by targeting the off-season.

This will help you save around the board, from flights to hotels to museum tickets to tours.

Still, this approach to strategic timing isn’t without its pitfalls. You need to take a close look at things like weather, public holidays (at home and at your destination), and even recent trends to find deals.

Each of these factors could impact the total price that you pay for the largest expenses.

The most important is usually the weather. Obviously, travelers want to avoid inclement weather, from wind storms to monsoons; even a bit of rain, snow, and strong winds can throw a wrench into your travel plans.

Though the savings are stepp, walking the line between savings and poor weather is a tough job.

I’ve done a bit of research to help simplify your savings research. Below, you can find the cheapest times to travel to different regions (barring North America) based on weather patterns, major holidays, and similar factors.

This should give you a head start—but remember to dig in to find information that’s specific to every town and city where you’re heading.

Europe

The cheapest months to visit Northern Europe are the shoulder seasons in spring (April, May) and autumn (September, November). If you’re willing to brave the cold, you can also find deals in January and February.

I traveled to northern Sweden in February a few years ago to watch a World Rally Championship race. It was a winter wonderland with few tourists around. Very cold, but very pristine and beautiful. I would highly recommend!

The cheapest months to visit Southern Europe are generally in winter (November to March), aside from the Christmas and New Year period in December.

But keep in mind that southern Europe is one of the most touristy regions in the world. You’re going to be paying a good amount no matter the season.

Asia

The cheapest time to visit East Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and China is in autumn (September, October, and November). All three countries host multiple spring festivals, such as Chinese New Year and Cherry Blossom celebrations.

That makes autumn an ideal time to visit, as prices are lower and the weather is cooler. You can also find hefty deals if you’re comfortable traveling during the frigid winter months.

The cheapest time to visit South Asian countries like India and Sri Lanka is during the hot summer months (May to August). If you’ll be spending some time at the beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka or Goa, you should be able to beat the heat.

However, if you’re a little too hesitant about vacationing in Indian heat (totally understandable), then stick to the shoulder season in autumn (September, October, November). You’ll still find some good deals.

I’d also like to point out that the hill stations of India (areas in the Himalayan foothills like Darjeeling) are pretty temperate year-round thanks to their altitude. You can find hefty deals traveling to these spots during the summer months.

The cheapest time to visit Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries is during the monsoon seasons of June-August and November-December. The rains will be heavy and the humidity will be sauna-like, but there are still a few pros.

First, most rain showers pass through quickly. Second, they turn the jungles into lush paradises full of blooming flowers. Third, significantly less tourists.

South America

The cheapest time to visit South America is largely dependent on the country. Generally speaking, the cheapest time to visit is during the US summer (May-August), which coincides with South America’s mild winters.

The cheapest time to visit Central America is during the rainy season of May to November. However, this varies depending on the country and coastline. (The Caribbean side of Central America sees more hurricane activity, which usually happens in October.)

The cheapest time to visit the Caribbean is during the low season from June to October. October is hurricane season—so travel wisely.

However, this low season is mostly punctuated by demand, as most visitors want to come during the US’s winter months. In other words, it will be hot but you won’t see hordes of tourists around.

Africa

The cheapest time to visit Northern Africa is during the shoulder seasons of spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November).

The summer heat is really intense in Northern Africa—so I’d recommend avoiding a visit during this time unless you’re really on the hunt for savings. Usually, North Africa isn’t too pricey, which means you might be better off sticking to the high season.

The cheapest time to visit East Africa is during the rainy season (April-May). There will be passing storms and tons of mud, which could throw a wrench in your safari travel plans. However, you’ll also be able to find jaw-dropping deals during these months.

The cheapest time to visit Southern Africa is during the shoulder seasons of spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). But if you want even steeper deals, you can look during the hotter and wetter months of November-March.

Australia & Oceania

The cheapest time to visit New Zealand & Australia is in March and April. This marks the lowest of the low season in terms of tourists.

There aren’t any strong weather patterns in either location, though it’s good to keep in mind that the seasons are inverted in the Southern Hemisphere. If you leave home in summer, you’ll be heading straight into winter.

The cheapest time to visit Micronesia, Polynesia, & Melanesia is during off-season, which runs during the summer (June-August) or during the winter (December-February). Given most islands in these regions are close to the equator, you’ll see similar weather patterns year-round.

Similar to Southern Europe, there’s quite a bit of traffic throughout the islands during the Christmas and New Year’s period. For this reason, I recommend avoiding the month of December all together.

The World’s Tastiest Fusion Foods & Where to Eat Them

Food is a great way to study culture.

It’s not just about the dishes themselves, but also an approach to shared meals and eating.

In Japan, for example, it’s considered bad manners to eat while walking—something you won’t see often, if at all. But slurping on noodles, by contrast, is a hearty and welcome sign that someone is enjoying their meal.

In India, millions eat with their right hand—but not the left hand (never the left). In the US, we’re comfortable using both for a wide range of meals. In Spain, it’s common for meals to start late into the evening and run until midnight.

But eating habits aren’t usually the main focus when eating abroad. Instead, we’re zeroed in on things like flavor, presentation, and new ingredients.

Sampling new foods is one of the best things to do while traveling, after all.

But that doesn’t mean that food habits can’t meld and evolve over time. From the dawn of humankind, we’ve taken our culinary traditions with us around the world. But some twists on food are decidedly modern, leading some culinary writers to adopt the term ‘fusion food’ back in the 1990s.

Since then, the deliberate act of blending distinct culinary worlds has resulted in some truly delicious new flavors. But can you name the world’s most unique and popular culinary fusions? (Hint: two originated in the US.)

American Chinese food (US)

Debates rage on where, exactly, American Chinese food originated from.

Though some people might think of New York City, the tradition likely has its roots in San Francisco. In the late 1800s, refined Chinese restaurants started opening their doors to cater to affluent Chinese patrons.

In these establishments, the focus was on classic dishes from back home for Chinese palettes. Most immigrants hailed from Southern and Southeast China, which meant the focus was on Cantonese food.

As Chinese restaurants expanded their reach outside of San Francisco and began to open in smaller towns, they weren’t only serving Chinese patrons. They also needed to cook for American tastes, as well.

Less liver, less chicken feet. Hence the start of dishes like chop suey, crab rangoon, and sesame chicken.

One of these early (and more remote) American Chinese restaurants is still serving up noodles: Butte, Montana’s Pekin Noodle Parlor, a very storied institution.

If you’re heading to Butte anytime soon, you can eat at the oldest-running Chinese restaurant in the US:

Pekin Noodle Parlor

Photo by Roberto Carlos Román Don on Unsplash

Tex-Mex (US)

Tex-Mex originated in western Texas amongst Tejano populations. (In case you don’t know, Tejanos are Texans of Mexican heritage, descended from both indigenous groups and Spanish colonists.)

This tradition developed slowly over centuries and is differentiated from Mexican cuisine based on its list of ingredients. Tex-Mex regularly uses shredded meats, cumin, pepper jack cheese, and flour tortillas (rather than corn).

It’s not typically spicy, doesn’t involve a little of tomatillo, and isn’t usually made in a cast-iron skillet. Like American Chinese, Tex-Mex is considered an American fusion food.

The next time you’re in Houston, you can eat at one of the oldest Tex-Mex spots still open in the US:

The Original Ninfa’s

Chifa (Peru)

Want to know one of the most unique things I learned when getting my degree in Global Studies? Every country has a Chinatown. (Except for North Korea.)

This has led to a truly diverse range of Chinese fusion foods—including Peru’s delectable Chifa tradition.

Just like in San Francisco, Cantonese immigrants brought over dozens of favorites. These slowly evolved alongside Peruvian, Bolivian, and Ecuadorian staples.

Some of the most famous dishes are lomo saltado (stir-fried beef with rice), arroz chaufa (fried rise with seafood), and kam lu wontans (crispy wantons with meat).

If you have plans to visit Lima, then sample these Chifa hotspots:

Chifa Titi (for locals, too)

Madam Tusan (high-end)

Itameshi (Japan)

You might think Super Mario is Japan’s most beloved Italy-adjacent export—but it also has Itameshi.

Itameshi is Japan’s take on Italian food, in which Italian staples are remixed with distinct Japanese ingredients.

Some of the most famous dishes include spaghetti made with miso sauce and seafood, pizza with wasabi and seaweed toppings, and even ravioli that are stuffed with green tea and shrimp.

While this might sound like a high-end experiment from major restaurants, there are dozens of Itameshi chains around Japan and throughout Asia, including Saizeriya.

While researching this article, I realized that I used to eat at a Saizeriya location in Taipei, Taiwan when going to university—and the same exact restaurant is still open.

If you’re in Taipei, check out Saizeriya (it’s near a great night market, Shilin):

Saizeriya (Gusto)

Desi-Chinese (India)

Are you noticing a pattern yet?

Just like in Peru and the US, Chinese restauranteurs have succeeded in India by adapting Chinese favorites for Indian palettes.

That means dding Indian spices and flavors to Chinese dishes—a trend that’s taken off in neighboring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Jalfrezi chicken is one of the most well-known examples of Desi-Chinese food. There are also India-specific variations of sweet and sour chicken, chow mein, and even chop suey—which made it all the way from the US to India thanks to Chinese chefs.

If you’re heading to India, you’ll be able to find Desi-Chinese options around every corner. A more accessible choice might be London, where Desi-Chinese food is a staple.

You can explore local favorites with the London Eater.

Travel Accessories for Sporty & Outdoorsy Types

For most trips, travelers pack according to the season and their destination.

The focus is on weather-appropriate clothes that suit the reason for travel, like business or for a wedding. But not all trips are so easy to pack and plan for.

Especially when it comes to athletics and outdoorsy adventures.

If you’re hitting the road for recreational sporting purposes, to train for a certain type of event, or to compete in a live event, then your packing list is probably specialized. Highly specialized.

Along with sporting equipment, you probably need sporty clothes, dietary supplements, athletic gear, training equipment, and much more. With so many revolving pieces, it’s easy to get mixed up and forget something.

Especially if it’s your first time traveling as an athlete or outdoors adventurer.

I’ve got a few suggestions about which travel accessories will make an immediate difference in your experience. Check out the products listed below, which are geared to do things like minimize stink, maximize freshness, and keep you comfortable while competing with the best.

Smell-control laundry bag

Packing cubes and packing hacks are all the rage—but did you know that there are specialized laundry bags designed to minimize smelliness?

Smell-controlled laundry bags are ideal for athletes whose dirty items can quickly pile up. That might be due to traveling remotely where washing isn’t available or due to spending short intervals at each lodging.

Here’s a great anti-odor laundry bag:

Mumi Travel Laundry Bag

If the bag isn’t for you, then consider a portable odor solution:

SMELLEZE Deodorizer Pouch

Xcleen Odor Deodorizer

Laundry soap sheets

That’s a great segue to laundry.

If you’re going to be moving from lodging to lodging while traveling, then you might want to have the necessary tools to wash clothes yourself.

Laundry soap sheets are tiny packets that include dry soap strips that you can use to watch clothing by hand. These are the same types of soap sheets that campers use.

Check these out:

LazyCoconut Laundry Detergent Sheets

Travelon Laundry Soap Sheets

Soulink Lavender Laundry Detergent Sheets

If you’re really going to be roughing it, then you might also need the tools to hang up your wet items. While it might be tempting to bring along a clothesline from home, you can find more portable and lightweight options online.

Here’s a great option:

Riveda Portable Travel Clothesline

Compression socks

Compression socks are a fantastic tool for long flights. They’ll help keep your feet warm and prevent them from falling asleep.

For athletes who want to de-board their flight feeling refreshed, compression socks are a great accessory. You might also want them for smaller day trips, whether facing an hours-long bus ride or train ride. They’ll boost your circulation throughout.

Check out these options:

LEVSOX Wide Calf Compression Socks

Physic Gear Compression Socks

Pocket Blanket

A pocket blanket is a hyper-mini blanket that will fit in just about any travel bag. They’re usually geared toward campers or beach-goers, but they’re also useful for athletes facing inclement weather.

If you’re preparing to compete in winter sports or otherwise delve into a frosty landscape, then a pocket blanket can keep you warm when you need a boost most. They’re also handy to have for hikers who are heading to high-altitude trails.

Here are a few good options:

BEARZ Outdoor Pocket Blanket

Pike Trail Pocket Blanket

Collapsable Water Bottle

Depending on what sorts of activities you’ll undertake while on the road, you might need a larger solution than a collapsable water bottle. For long-distance athletes, consider bringing with you a Camelback or similar brand.

But for the average athlete, a collapsable water bottle should do the job. Don’t be wooed by pricier options for these accessories—some of the best are affordable. Just make sure to look for water bottles that are easy to dismantle and clean.

Start with these choices:

Nefeeko Collapsible Water Bottle

Infitran Collapsible Water Bottle

Wearable health devices

Many athletes rely on wearable technology to help them gauge their workouts. They might be interested in lowering their heart rates for certain activities or improving their cooldown times.

If you’re not usually an athlete who monitors your health data, it might be the time to start. Athletes who travel face a heightened risk of injury because they step out of their usual routines. Even changes to diet and sleep can throw a wrench into things.

Adopting wearable technology can help mitigate these risks while you’re abroad. I suggest looking into wearable devices like the Oura Ring and WHOOP Strap.

Check them out:

Oura Ring

WHOOP Strap

Mini massager

To be fair, almost every traveler could benefit from a mini-massage device—but they can be life-savers for athletes who might have overtrained. Depending on what type of sports you’re competing in (and whether or not you’re fighting for a gold medal), you might need a more heavy-duty option.

Regardless, don’t leave these at home—especially if you’re a high-performance athlete who needs to maintain results while traveling.

I suggest looking into these massagers:

Homedics Marbelous Mini Massager

TOLOCO Massage Gun

Alien Planets on Earth: Stunning Natural Wonders

Post-pandemic, many tourists showed heightened interest in the outdoors.

After facing periods of monotony during the lockdown, millions in the US took off to explore its many national parks. Many campsites are finally open for reservations again after being booked for years solid.

But it seems Americans are still interested in getting outdoors—even abroad.

The trend makes sense. Spending time in nature has been scientifically proven to calm adventurers down and help them regulate their nervous and endocrine systems.

On top of that, exploring nature lets travelers get up close and personal with new parts of the world. In other words, it’s a way to explore the culture and identity of our destination.

And who would argue that traveling to beautiful parks can open our minds to the power and wonders of Mother Nature?

Whether or not you’re a tree-hugger, you’ve likely been moved by some type of experience in the great outdoors. Maybe you’re thinking back to a 360-degree view from a mountaintop, a particularly colorful coral reef, or a stunning rock formation.

And maybe you’re thinking about some of our world’s crazier natural wonders.

After all, not all of Mother Nature’s creations will give you a warm and fuzzy feeling. Some might simply have you standing in place with your jaw dropped.

If you’re on the hunt for some unreal and stunning natural wonders, then start with the landmarks listed below. They look like they were pulled from alien planets.

Fly Geyser, Nevada

I’m starting out with a smaller and more reachable alien wonder: Fly Geyser, located just outside Gerlach, Nevada.

This spectacle isn’t nearly as vast as the others on this list—but it’s delightfully weird, largely unknown, and the result of a man-made well.

This cone-top geyser sits amid a tiny oasis in a broader desert. Back in 2018, the Burning Man Project (which owns the land on which the geyser sits) began opening it to the public. If you’re passing through Reno or nearby Gerlach, schedule a trip.

You can get up close to the thermophilic algae that give this geyser its bright coloring.

Dolomites, Italy

The Dolomites are a portion of the Italian Alps composed of jutting limestone mountains. They’re pale gray beauties that seem to rise out of nowhere.

Unsurprisingly, they’re a popular destination for those visiting northern Italy, especially during the winter months. But some stretches of the Dolomites offer a lot more than a scenic and snowy backdrop for snowboarding trips.

Tre Cinme di Lavaredo looks like a vista from an alien planet, while the Torri del Vajolet rises like towers made of limestone. When you head into the valleys, you’ll be surrounded on all sides by strange mountains that don’t quite look like any others on this planet.

Lake Natron, Tanzania

Tanzania is one of the world’s top safari hotspots—but you can do more than spot rhinos and giraffes near the Eastern Rift.

Lake Natron is an alkaline lake that’s popular with visitors thanks to its bright red color.

Though it’s rumored to turn animals into stone thanks to its high salt content, that’s not quite what happens. However, the lake is absolutely poisonous and inhospitable to most lifeforms thanks to its unique biology.

But there are a few notable exceptions.

The most famous are flamingos. These munch on the same algae that turns Lake Natron red seasonally. This gives the flamingoes their distinct and bright pink coloring. In fact, it’s the only breeding place for the Lesser Flamingo species.

Moon Valley, Chile (Valle de la Luna)

Similar to the Dolomites, Chile’s Moon Valley will fool you into thinking you’ve ended up on an alien planet. The rocky landscape is colorful but desolate, located inside the Atacama Desert.

Its salt deposits tend to glow brightly in the sunlight, creating a strange and illusory atmosphere.

Tourists heading to Chile are in luck.

This is a hotspot for hiking groups, meaning you can easily explore Moon Valley with a guide. Along with hiking, it’s a popular spot for photography, stargazing, and wildlife spotting. Like Lake Natron, Moon Valley is favored by flamingoes. (Are we onto something here?)

Vatnajökull, Iceland

This national park is home to some of the most accessible glaciers in the world. In fact, Vatnajökull is home to Iceland’s largest ice cap, which covers around 10% of the country. Visitors can hike across acres to explore its glowing, electric-blue face.

As you wander through the park, you’ll be able to see dozens of variations on the ice cap. In other words, you can explore archways of glacial ice, pale and icy ravines that plunge into the earth, and similarly stunning blue-ice spectacles.

Overspending Abroad: The Main Culprits

Not everyone thinks about savings when they’re traveling.

In fact, the time for budgeting is long before take-off. Usually, budgeting takes place as travelers create their itineraries and set aside funds for the major expenses like lodging, transportation, and tours.

The approach is usually methodical and measured.

But it’s easy for that financial savvy to go out the window while mid-vacation. After all, it’s time to unwind and live a little. Who cares about spending a bit here and there for an extra sweet treat or a cheeky souvenir?

Unfortunately, it’s easy to start hemorrhaging money while vacationing. We tend to be a little more impulsive and on the hunt for a good time. Even little things can pile up quickly.

Those who aren’t careful to stay on top of their spending might be in for a rude awakening when they get home and check their accounts.

If you want to avoid overspending abroad, then focus on these main areas. They’re usually the main culprits when it comes to unexpected expenditures.

International phone plans

Millions of tourists pay for international phone plans. Unfortunately, service providers know that people want to stay in the loop when traveling—which means they charge exorbitant fees for basic features like texts.

But if your cell plan already covers international roaming (and many do), you don’t need to pay extra. T-Mobile has one of the better roaming plans, for example.

Instead, you can use Wi-Fi to make phone calls, video calls, and browse social media apps. But make sure that you only connect to trusted networks. Using free public Wi-Fi exposes you to hackers and scammers.

Travel insurance

You might not need travel insurance when you travel internationally.

In general, travel insurance is useful only for those who wouldn’t be able to get home if something goes wrong on their trip. It’s required by countries because they don’t want you to become a financial burden in the case of disaster.

But if you’re in solid financial standing and didn’t fork over more than $2,000 for a single tour or day trip, you should be fine without it.

Gift shop trinkets

Tourists are always on the hunt for a quality souvenir. Not only do these serve as gifts for loved ones, but they’re also memorabilia.

But try to avoid purchasing gift shop trinkets in touristy areas. In fact, I recommend avoiding souvenir shops in general.

If you want to pick up souvenirs, try to shop around at stores that specialize in things you’re interested in. That might be a handmade book in Venice, unique tiles in Porto, and so on. These will have higher-quality products than a general souvenir shop.

Tourist trap restaurants

Just like avoiding souvenir shops in touristy areas, you might also want to avoid the restaurants. If someone walks up to you and offers you a menu, it’s a pretty good indicator that you’re going to be overcharged for a flavorless meal.

Foreign transaction fees

Most tourists have a travel rewards card—which is what you should be using abroad, almost exclusively.

Foreign transaction fees on non-travel rewards cards can quickly add up depending on your bank and the country where you’re traveling. This is one of the prime culprits when it comes to overspending abroad.

If you don’t have a travel rewards card, you can save by using cash. But this can also be a risk in terms of pickpockets.

If you don’t have a travel rewards card, consider putting all your trip charges on a single rewards card of a friend or family member who is traveling with you. It will give them a boost in terms of points, help you save on foreign transaction fees, and make it easier to divide expenses later, as they’re all in one spot.

Cabs/ride shares

Depending on where you’re going, public transportation might be more accessible and affordable than taking a cab. In many cities, it’s probably also faster.

If you’re able to, avoid taking cabs or ride shares throughout the day. Even by offsetting one of your daily journeys by taking the bus or a train can save you big – especially on longer trips.

Overpacking vs. Buying on arrival

My last piece of advice is a bit complex.

On one hand, travelers can save by avoiding overpacking. Overpacking might force you to pay insane weight fees to airlines—especially if you have multiple flights scheduled on your trip.

My first piece of advice: your luggage isn’t going to get any lighter, so it’s best to start off a little empty. This will prevent you from paying any overweight fees.

However, I also caution against the mindset of ‘I’ll buy it when I get there’ for smaller travel amenities like toiletries. Like souvenir shops, these types of toiletries can cost you an arm and a leg when in a popular area. (They know tourists might come unprepared.)

So, pack lightly to avoid paying weight fees, but not so lightly that you’ll be overspending on products when you arrive. (Simple enough, right?)

Design Spotlight: 10 of the US’s Coolest Boutique Hotels

Boutique hotels offer a more distinct and memorable experience than standard ones.

But design hotels take that specialized approach even further.

While a boutique hotel seeks to delight guests with a well-rounded and unique stay, a design hotel wants to wow guests with its visual appeal.

Not only do they tend to have a specific vision and mission, but designers aren’t afraid to spend top dollar on extravagant features that complement their projects.

They’ll borrow from a neighborhood’s history and architecture, build on local tastes and legends, and curate various atmospheres inside a larger, unified location. The goal is to uplift and touch guests through attention to detail, balance, and faithfulness to the overall vision.

But what do these hidden gems actually look like? I’ve uncovered ten of the coolest boutique hotels with a focus on design. Mark them down.

Hotel Saint Vincent, New Orleans

I haven’t stopped thinking about this hotel (and Maison de la Luz, below) since I wrote about hotels in New Orleans.

Aside from its absolutely stunning design, I love this hotel’s historical value. The grounds are located inside a massive building that was built by an Irish immigrant who wanted to construct a poor house for the area’s destitute.

Today, it’s a place for hyper-trendy visitors to rub elbows while they enjoy the wide range of activities on offer, from yoga to DJ sets.

Book a stay at the Hotel Saint Vincent

Maison de La Luz, New Orleans

I don’t envy anyone choosing between New Orleans’ Hotel Saint Vincent and Maison de la Luz. Maison de la Luz translates to House of Light – a fitting description for its uplifting design. My favorite details are the freestanding tubs and tilework.

Maison de la Luz offers a more traditional hotel stay—one with fewer socially geared amenities. The design is also slightly more elevated.

Think: fewer bright colors and patterns in lieu of more luxury fabrics and brands.

Book a stay at the Maison de la Luz

Dawn Ranch, Guerneville

At Dawn Ranch, simplicity meets nature. This hotel offers rooms with minimalist and mid-century modern décor.

Though not nearly as over-the-top as the New Orleans locations above, the building materials are all top quality—which adds an edge of luxury. But half the magic here is the environmental design. Overhead are towering ponderosa pines that tuck you into the natural world.

Book a stay at Dawn Ranch

Global Ambassador, Phoenix

Don’t just this book by its very average cover. From the outside, the Global Ambassador looks like any other chain hotel in Phoenix.

But the interior will transport you into a romantic speak-easy. The design is incredibly opulent, from the color palette to the materials.

Similarly, the dining areas have all been expertly arranged with intrigue and comfort in mind. It also has other unique amenities, like on-site car rentals.

Book a stay at the Global Ambassador

The Georgian, LA

Los Angeles is full of high-design hotels.

Like much of the southern portion of the West Coast, the Art Deco era was hugely impactful. You can still find many lodgings that preserve this history; I think The Georgian has done a particularly wonderful job.

The rooms have a beachy, mid-century feel, while the communal spaces are a bit more busy and lavish. What I love most are the color combinations, which add delightful sparks throughout the property.

Book a stay at The Georgian

KEX Hotel, Portland

KEX isn’t quite like the other locations on this list in that it functions as both as hostel and a hotel.

Though I’ve left my hostel years behind me (I think?), I wanted to showcase that even smaller-scale projects like hostels can surprise you with high design. KEX’s interior designers managed to make even multi-bunkbed rooms tasteful.

Plus, the shared spaces are truly elevated thanks to the building’s age. Both exposed brick to parquet floors have been preserved. There’s even a beautiful sauna to enjoy.

Book a stay at KEX Hotel

The Greenwich Hotel, NYC

Similar to LA, NYC isn’t short on hotels with a wow factor. In fact, narrowing that list down has been difficult.

I recommend staying at The Greenwich Hotel—it’s been a top choice for fans of design for years. It’s an entirely upscale experience, placing you right in the heart of the city. From the tilework to the brick façade, it’s a truly beautiful and well-thought-out stay.

Book a stay at the Greenwich Hotel

Bradford House, OKC

As a member of Design Hotels, the interior of Oklahoma City’s Bradford House is unsurprisingly kitschy.

I’ve fallen in love with its quirky accents and pieces, which feel both comfortable and elevated. The shared spaces are particularly bright and cheerful, while the outdoor patios are perfect for lounging or working.

It definitely has a youthful to it—which may or may not be your cup of tea.

Stay at the Bradford House

The Carpenter Hotel, Austin

Similar to Dawn Ranch, The Carpenter Hotel offers a beautifully integrated indoors-outdoors experience. Guests can enjoy the lush gardens around the pool area, along with private patios.

The interior has a slightly industrial mid-century modern twist, including concrete accents and bespoke wooden pieces. The restaurant is also well-known in the area, while the hotel’s amenities (like its robes) are for sale in a small gift shop on the grounds.

(You know a hotel is good when there’s a gift shop, y’all.)

Stay at The Carpenter Hotel

The Merchant, Salem

I have no idea why people end up in Salem, Massachusetts aside from ghost tours—but if you’re heading there, don’t miss out on The Merchant.

The Merchant is located inside a federal-style building that was constructed back in the late 1700s—it even hosted George Washington for a short period back in 1789.

Today, each room has its own unique design. I’ve found them to be funky and exciting, but they might not be perfect for everyone.

Stay at the Merchant