Boutique - C'est Chic
/Long gone are the days of cookie-cutter chain hotels and snoozy on demand menus. Now, thanks to ever-increasing demands for coziness, design, and entertainment, boutique hotels are reshaping the way we travel. Hotel hopping is taking you to three of our favorite no-frill chic boutique spots. We’ll start on the west coast, head down to the lone star state, and finish in cozy Florida.
The Goodland Hotel | Santa Barbara, California
The Goodland Hotel, a Kimpton property in Goleta, CA, is a bohemian hideaway nestled a few miles outside of Santa Barbara. Here, you’ll find surf/skate free-spirited beach vibes AND an onsite vinyl shop. “The collaboration with VNYL is the evolution of our record program at hotel”, says Lea Sindija, Director of programming at The Goodland, who has been dubbed the ‘record concierge’.
Instead of an outdated on demand menu, The Goodland boasts entertainment suited for modern iconoclasts. The pet-friendly oasis features a vintage house car and airstream, curated art gallery, film and concert series, in-room record players and workshops for guests.
We caught up in Lea:
"The hotel opened with vinyl and record players in every room which guests really enjoyed, so we wanted to take it a step further to enhance the guests' stay. We curated the content of the shop to embody The Goodland vibe, and it's stocked with music from the sixties through the nineties, in addition to most of the bands that have performed on the property. The ultimate take away from the record shop would be to have a guest discover new music that they can take with them and enjoy.”
The Standard Hotel - Austin
The Standard Hotel family already dominates the eclectic hospitality aesthetic in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Austin is being put on The Standard map as they join forces with the Bunkhouse, a brilliant line of Lone Star State hotels. The collaboration adds four properties to the family, two in Austin, one in Marfa, and one in San Antonio. Our personal favorite is the Hotel San Jose in Austin. Hotel San Jose has been transformed into a forty room urban bungalow-style hotel lined with stucco walls and lush garden courtyards.
The Hall- Miami Beach, FL
You know you’re in for a treat the instant you enter the pastel Art Deco courtyard at The Hall. Take a break from the South Beach buzz in this hidden oasis’ retro styling, private beach, and lush pool deck. Here’s a Hotel Hopping insider tip: reserve a sun lounger cabana by the Olympic sized pool and enjoy a good magazine/book/cuddle session. If you find yourself in the area we recommend a walk to the Versace mansion on Ocean Drive. Make sure to snap a picture on the famous front steps of the mansion for the ultimate Miami Beach moment.
By: Adriana Lopez