The Hotels We’ve Got Our Eye on for When Life Goes Back to Normal

The Central Coast’s premiere dude ranch is taking advantage of its location in the rolling hills of the Santa Ynez Valley and has partnered with local Folded Hills Winery to offer guests a Sip and Saddle package that offers private and socially distanced group outings. Upgrade the experience with a Polaris tour of Folded Hills’ grounds, which includes a dock tasting on their private lake.

The iconic desert retreat built in 1928 under the watchful eye of Frank Lloyd Wright has long attracted snowbirds and Old Hollywood (Marilyn Monroe was a fan of its grand pool). It’s in the middle of a property-wide renovation, with a new adult pool and bar, next-level family pool complete with super slides, and other indoor upgrades for when we return to travel in full force.

Opened in the 1920s by Buffalo Bill Cody’s cousin Harriet, Casa Cody is the longest-running hotel in Palm Springs and has undergone a top-to-bottom remodel that adds outdoor soaking tubs, stylish new furnishings, upgraded kitchenettes, re-landscaped grounds, and Parachute linens.

Set on 1,100 palm- and saguaro-studded acres of Sonoran desert, this historic getaway is ideal for our times: Updated cabins and bungalows dot the sprawling resort, the spa features open-air treatment tents, while outdoor activities such as a new via ferrata course, stand-up-paddle yoga, horseback riding, and archery combine for a haute hard reset for the mind and body.

Snuggled in a picturesque oceanfront inlet is this new luxury property in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit. Sample ocean-to-table dining, or enjoy a tequila tasting that doubles as a class in local history. Stunning guestrooms and suites cosset while unparalleled hospitality ensures pandemic safety standards are surpassed. The ultimate WFHotel for the itinerant worker with good taste. 

Few destinations pair adventure with rustic luxury like this retreat nestled deep in British Columbia’s Bella Coola Valley. Enjoy hiking trails, world-class fishing, and jaw-dropping views of the Monarch Icefield from a seaplane. Evening relaxation awaits in the property’s heated glamping domes and A-frame cabins. The ultimate in social distancing.

Grass Valley’s Holbrooke Hotel is a Golden State staple. Boasting a storied history of 1800s fortune seekers, gamblers, and gunfighters, the vintage-yet-refined property recently completed a multi-year renovation fine-tuning much of the building’s original 1862 charm. Just don’t call it a comeback—the iconic property has already survived a history of fires and Prohibition. Modernized tweaks to its rustic aesthetic—think original clawfoot bathtubs—have Holbrooke poised to welcome guests with its timeless allure for years to come.

The sister property to nearby Skyview Motel, this low-slung 18-room hotel boasts vintage and modern amenities, lush gardens, bonfire pits, and an outdoor pavilion perfect for stargazing. Plates and wine from local wine makers, daily alfresco breakfast, and in-house desserts will fortify you while lounging by the pool or unwinding at the spa will remove any lingering stresses of urban living.