Champagne pools, heart-shaped tubs, spacey suites, and clamshell beds….these are just some of the items to look forward to if you’re considering a romantic stay at a themed hotel this Valentine’s Day!

In their newly released book, HOTEL KITSCH – married couple Margaret and Corey Bienart have done all the testing and traveling for you…and then some! 

They have spent the last five years on A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour, sharing fantastic themed hotels with their 2 million followers on TikTok and Instagram.

HOTEL KITSCH

A Pretty Cool Tour of America’s Fantasy Getaways

By Margaret and 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

Thanks to married couple Margaret and Corey Bienert, a new generation of travelers and design enthusiasts are discovering the romance of themed hotels and getaways, and their debut book HOTEL KITSCH (October 10, 2023, $35, Artisan), captures all the vintage magic of this resurgence. Featuring unique destinations across the world, this photographic celebration is the ultimate guide for readers looking to plan a memorable romantic getaway with champagne pools, heart-shaped tubs, spacey suites, and clamshell beds.

Beautiful photographs of special stays:

·      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.

·      Swim at Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, where the rooms are reached by scuba diving.

·      Dig deep into 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, splurge at the the iconic Madonna Inn, featuring 110 rooms, each themed and no two alike.

HOTEL KITSCH celebrates dozens of one-of-a-kind hotels—ALL STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Readers can marvel at these rooms, or seek them out for themselves, breathing new life into these often remote, overlooked businesses.

HOTEL KITSCH is a colorful guide to dozens of creative and nostalgic hotels that span the United States from coast to coast and abroad!

Attention: road-trippers, adventurers, design lovers, and romantics interested in the whimsical and wonderful world of themed hotels.

Also, Margaret and Corey break down the essential decor of a great themed hotel room, including:

1)    unconventional beds

2)   mirrors on mirrors on mirrors

3)   in-room swimming pools

4)   full suits of armor

5)   fiber-optic star ceilings.

They profile design greats like:

·      Morris Wilkins, inventor of the heart-shaped tub and champagne whirlpool;

·      Carleton Varney, of the legendary design firm Dorothy Draper & Company and designer of the new Grand Hotel;

·      and the industry’s best-kept secret, Gary Strobusch and his manufacturing company Rainbow Nights Inc.

Romantic inspiration: Married young and from religious families in the Midwest, Margaret and Corey are forthcoming about how their travels to very untraditional, adults-only hotels have broadened their horizons and strengthened their relationship. “The getaways we discovered were often overlooked and widely misunderstood, both a little sleazy and hopelessly romantic—something we could relate to,” they write. Featuring the elaborate erotic furniture at Mon Chalet, or sunset views from the mile-high motel Love Cloud, HOTEL KITSCH will inspire honeymooners at any stage in their relationship.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: MARGARET AND COREY BIENERT are the couple behind A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour, a viral travel series exploring themed rooms and adults-only hotels across the United States and abroad. Since starting the project in 2018, they have been featured in major media outlets including Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, Elle, New York Post, Vogue Australia, VICE, House Beautiful, Refinery29, GQ, and HuffPost. Through their production company, Marginal Creative, they have worked with high-profile brands such as Marc Jacobs, Fred Segal, Warby Parker, and Twitter. When they’re not on the road, Margaret and Corey split their time between Los Angeles, California, and southwest Michigan. Find them on Instagram and TikTok at @aprettycoolhoteltour and at www.aprettycoolhoteltour.com

Q&A With the Authors

Q: How did you start A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour?

Our passion for photography connected us in college, and we started a production company together as newlyweds. While on a work trip in 2018, we decided to stay at Cove Haven Resort in the Poconos. Once we arrived, we couldn’t believe what a perfect time capsule the entire resort turned out to be. We were completely taken by the romantic atmosphere and couples-only summer camp feeling. The rooms were nostalgic, sexy, and reminiscent of the Doris Day movies Margaret had been aesthetically drawn to since childhood. After that trip, we dove into researching where to find other hotels that had a vintage or fantastical style and stumbled into the world of theme hotels. We had been wanting to embark on a personal project whereby we could join forces and create something together, and these rooms were the perfect subject. We started road-tripping as often as we could, cataloging our favorite designs along the way.

Q: Most hotel rooms are simply considered a place to sleep. What makes kitschy rooms worthy tourist destinations in and of themselves?

These rooms offer an experience, not just a service. These hotels are made to be a destination. Sure, you can stay in one and still go sightseeing and explore the nearby area, but they’re also meant to be enjoyed. Whether you’re there with friends and you turn the visit into a fun photoshoot or you’re there with a romantic partner for a fantasy experience, or both, these rooms give you a brief escape from reality which we could all use from time to time.

Q: What advice can you give to travelers who are looking for a unique hotel experience?

First, figure out what style of unique you’re looking for! There are classic theme hotels that offer fantasies like under the sea or outer space, vintage resorts with original heart-shaped tubs, and even ultra sexy adults-only getaways with erotic furniture and mirrors everywhere. Once you know what style speaks to you, find the right companion to bring who’s enthusiastic about really leaning into the experience. Don’t be afraid to pack on-theme outfits. Next, look locally because you never know what quirky bed-and-breakfast or family-owned theme motel might be hiding in your state.

Q: Many of the destinations in Hotel Kitsch are hidden gems in rural areas. What impact do you hope Hotel Kitsch will have on these small businesses?

When we first started exploring retro theme hotels, we heard people refer to them as “dying resorts,” but they were so fun and new to us. We kept asking ourselves if they were really dying or if maybe they’d just been forgotten. This entire project is centered around the belief that these kitschy, themed getaways are still needed today. People want escapism and joy and romance, and these hotels are ready to provide that experience. These rooms are works of art and are often a labor of love by artists who want people to experience their creations. From the very beginning of this photo series, we made it a priority to give people information about each location. Our deepest hope is that this project has introduced a new audience to these boutique hotels that offer experiences and imaginative fun along with their services and amenities.

Q: In your afterword, you describe the interpersonal insights your travels have offered, including establishing and respecting your partner’s boundaries. How has creating Hotel Kitsch changed your relationship?

It’s always a little nerve-racking to take on an opportunity together that requires stepping into new roles. There’s the anticipation of waiting to see if we have what it takes and if we still like each other afterward! To finish making Hotel Kitsch, we went on an intense road trip for two months. All that time, we’re editing and writing and researching and really stretching ourselves to a new limit. It was exhausting, but we were both so deeply invested in the outcome that it felt worth it. Seeing the results come together has certainly deepened our relationship by giving us a sense of shared excitement and pride, and there’s a new level of trust in our capabilities.

 Q: As you write on the future of theme hotels, “There is a cycle to every industry, and in the last decade, a new generation has come to embrace the creativity and fun of kitschy, fantastical getaways” (256). What is it about these designs that appeal to a modern-day audience?

While the original audience of theme hotels in the ‘70s and ’80s was mostly locals who couldn’t really afford a far-off destination vacation, today’s patrons come from far and wide. We think the two main reasons for this are the unique approach to escapism, and the internet. There are lots of fun, imagination-expanding experiences in the US, but most of them are catered toward children. The hotels we visit tend to be adults-only which gives them a more grown-up and exclusive feel, but what it really does is invite adults into these dream worlds and fantasies for themselves. The second reason is the internet, and more specifically, social media. Is Instagram making you jealous that you can’t make it to Europe this summer? No problem. Go book a Venetian-themed room and sleep in a gondola, or stay in a Parisian-themed room and shower under a replica of the Eiffel Tower!