Hotel Kitsch: A Pretty Cool Tour of America’s Fantasy Getaways

by Margaret Bienert, Corey Bienert

A visual celebration of the best fantasy suites and honeymoon hotels across America and beyond, from the creators of A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour In 1963, the savvy owners of the Cove Haven Resort in the Poconos unveiled their heart-shaped tub. Like Elvis Presley and  Playboy  magazine, it launched a postwar phenomenon that defined a new era of pop the honeymoon hotel. Destinations across the country were soon racing to catch up, installing not just heart-shaped tubs but all types of over-the-top design flourishes, from pink shag carpeting to immersive worlds worthy of a Broadway stage set, in order to create a sense of romance, fantasy, even adventure.  ​From the photographers and inveterate travelers behind the social media sensation A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour,  Hotel Kitsch  celebrates dozens of creative, nostalgic, one-of-a-kind hotels that span the heart of the Poconos and across the United States to Mexico, Spain, and the UK. Discover, in the middle of Iowa, a jungle room with fake trees and foliage surrounding the bed as if it had taken its cue from  Where the Wild Things Are . Or Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo where the rooms are reached by scuba diving. An Arctic Cave room at a hotel in Kentucky with its carved blue walls and not a window to be found. And on the California coast, the iconic Madonna Inn featuring 110 rooms, each themed and no two alike.  Along the way, authors Margaret and Corey Bienert uncover too many wild details to mention, including unconventional beds (a Cadillac, a clamshell, a sandwich), mirrors on mirrors on mirrors, in-room swimming pools, full suits of armor, and fiber-optic star ceilings. ​While it’s not a travel guide, every destination in  Hotel Kitsch  is open for business. Time to check in.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Interior Design, Art, Photography, History

272 pages, Hardcover

Published October 10, 2023

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of few books books i would consider a coffee table book that I've read cover-to-cover and I loved it!

I was pleasantly surprised that Margaret and Corey went beyond providing general descriptions of hotel amenities to incorporating history of FantaSuites.

This book begins with hotels on the east coast of the US, migrating west while weaving in anecdotes about various designers and styles along the way

My only qualm with this book is that it does not have a glossary, making it difficult to get a complete grasp on how many times particular hoteliers have been mentioned. Trying to keep track of this feels even messier when you flip back and forth between pages referenced throughout the book.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is as aspirational as it is gorgeous! I can’t wait to visit some of these exquisitely showcased hotels. Beautiful book to daydream to!

[Sarah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up for all that leg work!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Manicpaperclip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, and now want to live out my kitsch hotel fantasies. Not sure if it has enough text to count to my reading goal 😂

[Kristin Gomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books I’ve read this year!!

[SassieMolassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS SUCH A COOL BOOK! I absolutely LOVE kitsch and this book was no exception. Especially LOVED the jungle-y themes and heart shaped hot tubs.
Gave me some ideas for possible road trips with the husband!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5✨

This was a fun read with which to kick off the year. I now follow many of these cute and quirky places on IG and am accepting applications for road trip buddies.

[Robin Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been following A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour for a while and getting to read this book showcasing the best of their travels was a feast for the eyes as well as so much interesting history about the theme hotel industry! The passion of Margaret and Corey is evident alongside the passion of all the hotel founders and owners. Now to decide which Hotel I’ll stay at first!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The coffee table book of my dreams! There are few things I love more than a themed or boutique hotel.

[ellen bivins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this shit.

[Boozy Fruitcake · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's like scrolling Margaret and Corey's insta feed irl.

So well done, beautiful, practical, and educational!! Love this niche interest.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feast for the eyes! The photos are definitely the best part of this book, and I lamented the fact that the authors' videos couldn't also be included. Sometimes you just need a video to show off a 3D space.

I first became aware of this book through the authors' TikTok account. I've also come to realize I love immersive themed spaces and hotel rooms. I've added several places to my must-visit list.

The directory at the end seemed to be broken in my browser ebook format. I'll have to check it on Kindle.

What started as an accidental foray into quirky honeymoon getaways of yesteryear quickly became a mission for the Bienerts, who own a production company together. Multitudes of heart-shaped hottubs later, the creative couple found themselves seeking out more niche, themed experiences as they traveled off the beaten path. This book, as well as hundreds of YouTube videos, TikToks, and Reels later, are the result.

It has:
- beautiful photos of fantasy, romantic, and quirky hotels
- historical and biographical deep-dives on the dreamers who keep these hotels alive
- directory of hotels + their special offerings

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is 5 star all the way! The authors set out to take the reader on a ‘tour’ and they certainly delivered!! I’m cringing, I’m laughing, I’m gaffawing!! And to be perfectly honest, my skin is crawling and I feel like I need to shower and maybe go to church !😂 I loved all the history, and the photos are amazing. I can only believe that most of these rooms were thought up and decorated by men. Some of them are SO BAD, I couldn’t even walk in, let alone sleep in them! All the same, what a hell of a book. And do yourself a favor, look up the Mon Chalet in Colorado & read the Google reviews. 😂🤣 Holy Hell, entertainment for days just in that!
PS the cover of this book is stunning. The Trixie in Palm Springs, beautiful place🩷

[Tracy]

I mostly skimmed through the photos, which are nice quality, though a bit surreal to see hotels with literally no one there. Fun to look through but I don't know that I'd want to stay at any besides Olympic Railway Inn in Sequim WA and Urban Cowboy Hotel in Nashville. Some of these look pretty outdated, though they're photographed in their best light with a kind eye. The book devotes 3+ pages to each hotel, primarily in the US with a handful overseas. 

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a nice book with a lot of high-quality photographs. This would make a great coffee table book. Excellent for browsing. Interesting narratives give the history of the hotels and the kitsch industry in general. A nice companion to the authors' website, a pretty cool hotel tour.com. My only problem with the book is that some of the photographs do not have tags, which is a little annoying.

[Ellie Book Worm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful imagery of all of the different themed motels. My favourite being the iconic heart-shaped tub and some woodland fairytale inspired rooms. Good bit of info about the history, builders, and owners of the motels too.

[Jen Bur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hotel Kitsch has a fun topic and beautiful photos. I enjoyed reading it and learning about the themed-room hotels and motels. Actual writing in the books gets repetitive.

[Kailyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the variety of lodgings and the pictures were stunning! This book has inspired me to check out different places when I travel.

[Carol Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun photographs of places I'd never want to stay at myself, but good to know these places still exist!

[Sarah 🎀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a coffee table book

[Susan Liston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would have thought there were quite so many weird hotels...ranging from super cool to oh, dear.