The Best of 2018: Hotels That Charmed Us
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The quiet week between Christmas and New Year's is a good time for catching up on best-ofs, digging into bookmarked links, and, of course, indulging in wanderlust. We're combing the archives and sharing some of our favorite discoveries of the year. Happy trails.
![Skyview Los Alamos motel Skyview Los Alamos motel](https://s3.amazonaws.com/fathom_media/uploads/Los-Alamos-CA-Skyview-Motel-interior-decor.jpg.1200x800_q85.jpg)
Instagram Alert! Abandoned 1950s California Motel Gets a Stunning Americana Makeover
Los Alamos, California
How often does an abandoned motel get the chic, vintage Americana makeover it deserves? The Skyview, a 1950s-era roadside motel in Los Alamos, California, an hour outside of Santa Barbara, shows us how it's done.
![Inn at Langley Inn at Langley](https://s3.amazonaws.com/fathom_media/uploads/Inn_at_Langley_-_strawberry_yogurt_and_rose_-_MAIN.jpg.1200x800_q85.jpg)
If You’re at the Inn at Langley, You’re Here to Eat
Langley, Washington
You’ll get Pacific Northwest Patagonia pampering when you stay — and, most importantly, eat — at The Inn at Langley near Seattle. This is one for people who appreciate nice things, but also own a well-worn pair of (premium) hiking boots.
![Mandrake Hotel Mandrake Hotel](https://s3.amazonaws.com/fathom_media/uploads/mandrake-hotel-Mandrake_Suite_bath.jpg.1200x800_q85.jpg)
Step into the Sumptuous Surreal at London's New Mandrake Hotel
London, England
That you enter through a dark corridor off a quiet street in Central London is the first indication that you're not at the typical come-one, come-all hotel. The next clue is the two-story lobby, dominated by a Gothic, dominatrix-y chandelier of candles. The third should have been obvious: The hotel is named for a hallucinatory plant rich in folklore. Well then. Are you in for a trippy, surreal experience?
![Les Etangs de Corot Les Etangs de Corot](https://s3.amazonaws.com/fathom_media/uploads/Cours-interieure-2-Les-Etangs-de-Corot_1.jpg.1200x800_q85.jpg)
Escape to an Impressionist Oasis 15-Minutes from Paris
Paris, France
Not that you'd ever get sick of Paris, but if you need to escape the city, head to this art-inspired escape near Versailles.
Discover More of 2018's Best
Destinations That Surprised Us
The Best Food Stories
The Hidden Gems
Travelers Who Inspired Us
How to Be a Better Traveler in 2019