Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Get comfortable without giving up personalized service at this understated boutique charmer, best for travelers who want a central location without…
Must-see hotels in California
Eastern Sierra
The narrow and twisty Owens River runs through this wide open campground not far northwest of Bishop. Ideal for those interested in fishing, or bouldering…
Central Coast
Two blocks uphill from the Embarcadero, this spiffy motel has nautical-esque rooms (some with compact kitchens) sporting sailboat photos on the walls,…
Lake Tahoe
Oriental rugs and arts-and-crafts decor give this luxurious six-room inn a classic, aged ambience, and the lake’s so close you feel like you could dive in…
Napa Valley
A former estate, this 78-room resort has rooms in satellite buildings on sprawling manicured grounds. The vineyard-view rooms are loveliest (each has…
San Diego
About halfway between Legoland and Carlsbad Village, this hyper-friendly, independently run, 86-room inn caters to both business travelers (note business…
Yosemite National Park
The 20 quiet, wooded sites at Yosemite Valley’s campground are open only to backpackers holding valid wilderness permits (and only for a night before and…
Death Valley National Park
This congenial inn helmed by the friendly Cynthia has hostel-style bunks and eclectically decorated rooms in vintage trailers, all with private bathroom…
Coastal Highway 1
Sleep amid the woods a quick stroll from town at this hipster-friendly glamping resort. The safari-style platform tents here have proper beds with down…
Monterey
Be lulled to sleep by the surf at this low-lying retreat hidden in the sand dunes north of Monterey. Reached via golf carts, townhouses harbor petite…
Mt Shasta Region
Easily accessible from Everitt Memorial Hwy, this campground has running water and pit toilets, but no showers. It’s near mile marker 4, at an elevation…
Kings Canyon National Park
This restored 1930s USFS patrol station built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) sleeps six people and offers a rustic stay. Around 4 miles east of…
Berkeley
This 100-year-old downtown jewel features a foyer of red Italian glass lighting, flocked Victorian-style wallpaper – and yes, a peace sign tiled into the…
Salt Point State Park Campgrounds
Salt Point State Park
Two campgrounds, Woodside and Gerstle Cove, both signposted off Hwy 1, have sites with cold water. Inland Woodside (closed December to March) is well…
Marin County
A stylish and comfortable contemporary hotel, although concrete hallways and staircases testify to the more basic motel it once was. The best value in…
Joshua Tree National Park
Fancy sleeping among glowing wig heads, in an Airstream or a horse stall? Then check into one of nine wackily decorated vintage trailers (and one cabin)…
Hollywood
Walls at this perennial pleaser are a bit thin, but otherwise it’s a charming base of operation with large, modern rooms, exceptional staff and a petite…
Death Valley National Park
Teensy Thorndike is one of four free first-come, first-served campgrounds in the mountains. With only six sites at an elevation of 7400ft, you'll likely…
Joshua Tree National Park
The charming Carrie presides over this three-room adobe retreat and will turbocharge your day with scrumptious breakfasts if you're staying in one of the…
Santa Barbara
Two blocks from the beach, this meticulously run inn offers bright sandy-hued studios with hardwood floors, small kitchens and mod cons such as SmartTVs…
San Diego
Despite the name, Little Italy's La Pensione isn't a pension but an intimate hotel of 67 modern, carpeted rooms with one or two queen-sized beds and…
Lake Tahoe
Spend the day on a private sandy beach or in the outdoor pool, then light the barbecue grill after sunset – ah, now that’s relaxation. All of the simple…
San Diego
Location, location, location. This Gaslamp Quarter HI facility is steps from public transportation, restaurants and big-city fun, and it has a wide range…
Sacramento
This stylishly updated mid-century motel is one of Sacramento's hippest places to stay. The area is charming, with a cute coffee shop and an art gallery…
Coastal Highway 1
This converted motel has a luxurious feel with its plush carpeting, soothing earth colors and tasteful furnishings – although rooms are a tad on the small…
Marin County
Just off Limantour Rd, this rustic hostel has bunkhouses with warm and cozy front rooms, big-view windows and outdoor areas with hill vistas. A newer eco…
Gold Country
Immediately north of the North Bloomfield ghost town, Chute Hill Campground sits among pines and cedars. Each pitch has a bear-proof locker, picnic table…
Pasadena & the San Gabriel Valley
Downtown Pasadena’s slickest sleep is a 350-room, modern, Spanish-style complex with comfortable, newly renovated rooms, large, well-equipped gym with…
Santa Cruz
Built around a running creek amid meandering gardens and old pine and redwood trees, this wood-shingled inn has 13 cozy rooms named after impressionist…
Along Highway 101
A treat for train buffs and kids, Featherbed has nine comfy, real cabooses on a grassy lawn. Some of the cabooses straddle the border between kitschy and…
San Jose
A burbling lobby fountain and deep-red corridor carpeting set the tone for this tranquil and very conveniently located 212-room contemporary hotel in the…
Santa Barbara
Poised between downtown and the beach, this petite Euro-chic boutique hotel has all the right touches: curated contemporary-art displays, outdoor terraces…
Greater Palm Springs
Palm Springs goes Hollywood – with all the sass, sans the attitude – at this former Howard Johnson motel turned hipster hangout. The 176 rooms (many with…
San Diego
Hollywood glam in San Diego. A 9000lb bronze front door pivots to reveal Nepalese carpets and multitextured surfaces: wooden blocks to sand-dollar-shaped…
West of I-5
Play like you’re in the Old West at this upscale hotel and historic landmark, refurbished in grand Victorian style. It’s luxurious but not stuffy, and the…
Russian River Area
This lovely lakeside park, 4 miles from downtown is open year-round, with lake swimming (complete with a floating playground) in summer. Take 4th St…
Santa Monica
This frilly home in leafy Santa Monica Canyon mixes Cape Cod colonial with West Coast craftsman and has romantic rooms facing the ocean or the lovely…
Coastal Orange County
A decently priced, central stay, with generous rooms, craftsman-style touches, friendly staff, pool and fitness room. Get a room facing the generous pool…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Industrial-chic Diva has a stainless-steel and black-granite dominatrix aesthetic that appeals to techies and club kids alike. Beds are comfy, with good…
Greater Palm Springs
This Rat Pack playground has been given a boho-cool makeover and sparkles brighter than ever. Expect the full range of mod-cons in nearly 400 rooms amid…
