Whether it’s the first time or the thousandth time, something happens when you drive over the Sagamore Bridge and officially cross onto Cape Cod—blood pressure drops, the air feels that much fresher, the sunlight hits a little differently. This is New England summer at its finest, with world-class beaches, history in spades, and a collection of towns and villages lining Route 6 all the way out to the tip of Provincetown.

This spit of land has long been a desirable piece of real estate: It was home to some 69 Wampanoag tribes long before the Pilgrims signed their Mayflower Compact in Provincetown Harbor, and today is both a beloved summer colony and a year-round destination, with an enviable array of hotels to boot. There are the five-star resorts, there are the owner-operated B&Bs, and there are the unique boutique hotels that feel as New England-y as a Kennedy accent. Since the pandemic, the Cape has flourished with “year-rounders” who call this peninsula home beyond the confines of the summer months, meaning that good food and great hotels are easier to find than ever.

If you’re looking for a place to rest your head on old Cape Cod, here are some of our favorites—read on for the full list, or jump straight to the area you’d like to stay in.

FAQ:

Upper Cape

AutoCamp Cape Cod

AutoCamp Cape Cod

AutoCamp Cape Cod

Location: Falmouth
Top amenities: A midcentury-modern Clubhouse with views of Buzzards Bay
Nearby attractions: Falmouth’s 10-mile Shining Sea Bikeway abuts the property

Recreate the nostalgia of camping with all the creature comforts of home at AutoCamp Cape Cod. Having opened during the pandemic, this newcomer to the Cape’s hotel scene offers a mix of tented accommodations, refurbished Airstreams, and standalone suites, all situated on a quiet piece of land offering views over nearby Buzzards Bay. Take it all in from the comfort of your private firepit, or—better yet—borrow one of the house bikes and go for a cruise on the nearby Shining Sea Bikeway, which runs through beaches, cranberry bogs, and groves of Cape pines.

The Coonamessett, Falmouth

The Coonamessett

The Coonamessett

Location: Falmouth
Top amenities: Solé cruiser bikes, complimentary breakfast of small plates
Nearby attractions: Ice cream at the must-visit Ben and Bill’s Chocolate Emporium

Sometimes you just need to get away, and the Coonamessett is just the thing. It has the idyllic exterior of a cedar-shingled shake Cape Cod home, but features a gorgeous interior draped in nautical whites, neutrals, and a dash of black. You won’t find over-the-top amenities like houseboats or Michelin-starred dining here, but what you will find is a spacious lawn filled with hammocks, a beach within walking distance, and plenty of room to catch your breath on your next Cape escape.

Woods Hole Inn

Courtesy Woods Hole Inn

Woods Hole Inn

Location: Woods Hole
Top amenities: Claw-foot soaking tubs, super comfy beds, coffee from the roasting company next door
Nearby attractions: The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, one of the foremost ocean research institutes in the world

Visit the Cape’s “elbow” at Woods Hole and you’ll discover a quaint village where time seems to stand still—in fact, unless you’re heading here for the Martha’s Vineyard ferry, most visitors to the Cape continue cruising right on by. It may not have the unending offering of mini-golf courses you’ll find in the busier mid-Cape, but what it lacks in gimmicks it makes up for in charm. The award-winning Woods Hole Inn Bed & Breakfast is the place from which to discover this quieter side of the Cape. Originally built in 1887, this B&B has been updated to offer guest rooms with generous square footage, private decks, restored hardwood floors, and cast iron tubs. Breakfast is, of course, a highlight of each stay (make sure to try the delicious homemade quiche). From here, it’s possible to catch the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard for the day—the ferry terminal is right across the street.

Mid-Cape

Bluebird Dennisport

Bluebird Dennisport

Bluebird Dennisport

Location: Dennisport
Top amenities: Indoor and outdoor pools
Nearby attractions: Art galleries and theater in neighboring Dennis

For more than 100 years, Palm Springs has been California’s chicest desert getaway, transforming from a turn-of-the-century wellness retreat to a hotspot for Hollywood stars to a playground for world-renowned poolside lounging, tennis courts, and cocktail hours. And that’s not to mention the design legacy of the desert destination. The midcentury ushered in an era of design innovation, as celebrated architects followed the jet-set crowd to the desert and turned Palm Springs into a hub of modernist experimentation. Many of those buildings still stand today and are now home to some of the city’s most stylish stays.

Today, it’s not only the Hollywood elite who come to play in Palm Springs. Visitors run the gamut between retirement-age snowbirds from the north to party-hard Los Angelenos looking for a quick weekend getaway. While there’s no shortage of spectacular hotels to choose from, boutique hotels bring something a little more unique and personalized to the scene. To keep things focused, we’ve narrowed our list to properties with 50 rooms or fewer. That means you won’t find larger favorites like The Saguaro or the Ace Hotel & Swim Club on this list—but you will find a curated selection of one-of-a-kind hotels that define the city’s distinctive spirit. Here are 23 of the best boutique hotels in Palm Springs to choose from ahead of your next visit.

Courtesy Orbit In Hotel

Orbit In

Top amenities: Free happy hour Thursday-Saturday, record players in rooms (and an on-site vinyl library), cruiser bikes
Location: Tennis Club 
Best for: Embracing Palm Springs’ midcentury modern architecture and decor

Originally named The Village Manor, the Orbit In was built in 1957 by architect Herbert Burns, who owned the property with his wife, Gayle. The layout of the nine themed rooms remains the same, laid out around the small freshwater pool. And while the interiors have since been renovated, they very much retain the midcentury style, from the authentic furniture by such midcentury designers as Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, and Harry Bertoia, to the vintage record players. A continental breakfast is served daily, and guests are treated to a free happy hour from Thursday to Sunday.

Courtesy Trixie Motel

Trixie Motel

Top amenities: Café and bar, complimentary in-room breakfast, on-site boutique open to the public 
Location: Little Tuscany
Best for: Instagrammable moments

Leave it to iconic drag queen Trixie Mattel (and the man behind her, Brian Firkus) to dream up the most delightfully campy boutique hotel in Palm Springs. Rather than go for cookie-cutter midcentury style, Mattel and her partner, David Silver, fully embraced ’60s camp for the Trixie Motel. The exterior, the lobby lounge, and the pool are all pink everything, while the seven kaleidoscopic guest rooms go all-in on retro themes, from the Pink Flamingo Suite to Atomic Bombshell. Don’t plan on staying the night? Visitors can make a reservation at the small on-site bar and café, shop at the boutique, and peek at Trixie’s Cactus Garden.

Courtesy Ingleside Inn

Ingleside Inn

Top amenities: Historic Melvyn’s Restaurant, access to pools and amenities at sister property Avalon Hotel, 24/7 gym, spa
Location: Downtown Palm Springs
Best for: San Jacinto Mountain views from the ultra-private pool

The Spanish-style Ingleside Inn has quite the Hollywood pedigree; under the ownership of hotelier Ruth Hardy in the late 1930s into the 1940s, it was an invitation-only retreat for the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, and even Salvador Dalí. Today, it’s the adult-only counterpart to the Avalon Hotel next door, which means that all Ingleside guests have access to the sister property’s more robust selection of amenities, including the Estrella Spa and a 24-hour gym. While the Ingleside Inn has its own pool—with spectacular San Jacinto Mountain views—its main attraction is the fine-dining restaurant Melvyn’s, a favorite of Frank Sinatra.

William MacCollum

The Weekend Palm Springs

Top amenities: Frette linens; L’Occitane toiletries
Location: Old Las Palmas
Best for: Low-key group or family vacations

Christian Horan/Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat

Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons Hotel, South of France

“So far, we’ve seen The White Lotus crew travel far and wide—to Hawaii and Thailand—and a bit closer to home (well, for us at Traveller UK) to the gorgeous island of Sicily. But Europe is a wonderfully diverse place—so my best bet is that the next murder happens on the sun-bleached shores of the South of France. Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat is a lavish seafront palace on the Cote d’Azu—I’m imagining the eclectic, wealthy characters sipping frosty rosé while shooting daggers at each other, butting heads over long, snoozy lunches in the grounds, and flouncing around nearby well-heeled town Beaulieu-sur-Mer.” —Sarah James, deputy digital director at Condé Nast Traveller UK

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA

“My vote is the Four Seasons Jackson Hole location in Wyoming. It’ll be like a whodunnit-meets-Yellowstone with extra glitz, all set against snowcapped peaks and howling wolves. With perfect skiing in the winter and glorious sightseeing in the national parks year-round, it’s a very versatile filming location. The fashion would be immense; I’m imagining plenty of sheepskin/suede jackets, cowboy-core everything, and perfectly-fitting designer denim. And imagine the plot lines! Did she fall into the lake during that leisurely fishing session—or was she pushed? Why would he attempt to ski such a challenging slope after a few too many whiskeys? And where did that elk even come from?” —Charley Ward, commerce writer at Condé Nast Traveller UK

Istanbul At Sultanahmet

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, Turkey

“After three successive The White Lotus outings at uber-luxe beach resorts, it’d be great to see Mike White’s spin on the chaos a cosmopolitan city environment can add to the mix. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet is one of the bi-continental city’s most opulent hotels, where the old money aesthetic rules a stone’s throw from sweet-scented bazaars and fascinating historic attractions. One minute, you can zoom down a buzzy highway punctuated by international fast food chains. Next, you’re beside a Roman ruin as the Adhan (Islamic call to prayer) reverberates from an intricate minaret around a suburb. This captivating clash of culture and the fascinatingly frenetic energy of the city make it the perfect backdrop for a drama touching on taboos and traditions. As a former prison, the property housed some of Turkey’s most notorious 20th-century reprobates; cinematically, it’s ideal for The White Lotus’ palm-dampening ominous undertones.” —Connor Sturges, digital assistant at Condé Nast Traveller UK

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto, Japan

“Kyoto makes for the perfect season four destination candidate as it feels worlds apart from any of the previous series’ destinations. And, although back-to-back seasons set in Asia might seem an unlikely prospect, when has The White Lotus director Mike White played anything by the book? It’s all too easy to imagine some obnoxious hotel guests blundering through the magical streets and disturbing the peaceful temples in this storied city, plus, there are few vacation destinations more aspirational right now than Japan. Located in the Higashiyama district of the city, the breathtaking Four Seasons Kyoto also makes for a no-brainer as the epicentre of our future characters’ drama. Nestled within an 800-year-old heritage pond garden, the hotel embodies Japan’s dramatic beauty. The koi pond waters may look still on the surface, but we all know that still waters run deep…” —Lucy Bruton, social media manager at Condé Nast Traveller UK

Don Riddle/Beverly Wilshire

Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel, USA

“I’d love for the next season of The White Lotus to be set in the Beverly Wilshire, a hotel famed for housing Hollywood’s glam clientele. It’s a city where delineating between the real high-fliers and those moonlighting is difficult. I want to see actors fall from grace, socialites gossip about their so-called best friends, and covetous social climbers preying on the rich’s vanity. Los Angeles, particularly Rodeo Drive, is the perfect backdrop for this type of drama. The city’s allure is based on prestige, charisma, and history as a stalwart of the film and music industries. These characteristics make it the perfect destination for season four of The White Lotus.” —Amber Port, senior audience development manager at Condé Nast Traveller UK

This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.

The best weekend getaways in the US are as rejuvenating as the most languid vacations spent abroad. You really don’t have to go far or dedicate overly long stretches of time on your calendar to tick those boxes off your bucket list. The nation has handsome mountain ranges and beautiful beaches, historic landmarks and vibrantly diverse cities, Michelin-starred restaurants and secret holes-in-the-wall you’ll want to keep all to yourself, all just steps away from any given corner. You just have to know where to look.

We’re here to help. We took five of the country’s major hubs and found four weekend getaway ideas for each that range from hours-long road trips to hops and skips just 30 minutes away. Below, we share our picks for the best weekend getaways around the country, plus tips on where to stay and the best things to do while you’re there. Get ready to travel more like never before.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

From Los Angeles

Catalina Island

Justin Lewis/Getty

Catalina Island, California

Take the one-hour journey to this island 22 miles or so off the coast via the Catalina Express ferry, which departs from San Pedro, Long Beach, or Dana Point daily; once you’re here, biking and walking are the main transport modes (or you can rent a golf cart for longer drives). Catalina Island is a startling contrast to the mainland, with more than a whiff of East Coast hideouts like Nantucket: Start at the quaint main town, Avalon, and gorge on seafood that’s barely minutes from the water—try Bluewater Grill, right on the dock.

Then head inland to El Rancho Escondido, which earned acclaim for its Arabian horse-breeding program. The ponies are gone now, though, and much of the land has been deeded over to vines, where Rusack Vineyards focuses on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel. Outdoorsy types can hike the entire length of the 38.5-mile Trans Catalina Trail in about four days, too, with campgrounds for overnighting along the route. The Bellanca Hotel in Avalon is the plushest perch if you’d rather have someone else make your bed—or sleep in a bed, period.

When I tell my granddad that I’m going to Rome to stay in the gut-renovated Hotel D’Inghilterra for work, he says, “Give me a minute,” and goes into his bedroom. We are in the foyer of the carriage house he shared with my grandmother until her passing two years ago—the bedroom is just to the left of the front door. I stand there for a minute not thinking of anything much at all, expecting nothing and enjoying, as I often do, the black-and-white tile on the floor and the robin’s egg blue runner (my grandmother’s signature color) that crawls up the stairs. He returns holding a pair of slippers. Once white but now a dusty gray, the terrycloth set is not quite tattered but definitely peeling in places, and there are stains. Emblazoned on the top lining, the cursive text a faded gray, is the logo of Hotel D’Inghilterra.

He and my grandma stayed there once. When I push him for details, he asks to think about it because he can’t remember and then sends a “necessarily vague” email: “Late in the last century we planned a trip to Rome and discovered the D’Inghilterra, which had proximity to one of Rome’s most fashionable shopping streets, the iconic Spanish Steps and, important in those pre-cellphone days, an American Express office. We spent an idyllic week there and when we left I took with me the complementary bathroom slippers which I wore at home for many years and then saved to remind me of that special time and place.” In his memory, the hotel was utilitarian and serviceable, white and gray.

To say that my grandparents lived a blessed life would be to put it lightly. They were two people well-matched in ambition and values, who through a combination of hard work (he running the family construction business, she as a formidable educator) and good fortune were able not only to travel extensively but also make sure their grandchildren could do the same. Italy was a regular destination of theirs for the obvious cultural reasons, my grandmother having studied art history, and the first time I left the country was not with my parents but with them, age 10, to see Rome, Florence, and Venice. My grandfather describes my twin brother Jack and I as “copacetic travel companions” and generously makes no mention of my wetting myself in my sleep on the flight over. (My grandmother, anticipating such an accident, had packed a change of clothes for me in her carry-on.) I did my first travel writing on this trip as we were each assigned to record accounts of each day in black leather journals after dinner for us to show our parents upon return (who, in turn, lost them.) When I returned to Rome with my grandparents six years later, age 14, I found another first favorite in that I drank limoncello and was drunk.

And so I became even more excited for my own impending trip. I packed the slippers, with the vague idea of making some sort of TikTok with them, everything being copy. My trip would be different from those of my grandparents’ in that I would be there for work, the hotel would look nothing like it had, and I would be by myself. A lone traveler, something neither grandparent chose to be after they got engaged in Paris, on the Eiffel Tower in 1963, age 22.