Signature Inns: The Safer $100-a-Night Hotel Choice

The writer was hosted.

Sometimes you just want a clean, comfortable place to stay the night. No need for fancy frills or state-of-the-art fitness centers. You just want a good night’s sleep before moving on again the next day. Do you really want to spend $200 or more just to get a little shuteye and a shower before climbing back into the car or heading to the airport for that early flight?

That’s when a $100-a-night hotel room is just the ticket. But I always worry whether that cheap hotel room will come with a side dish of unpleasantness. Old and dirty? Musty-smelling hallways? Maybe something worse.

But spending about $100 a night to stay at a Signature Inn is a worry-free choice. That’s because Signature Inns are a part of the Sonesta Hotels brand. And that means the $100-a-night hotel has to meet Sonesta standards of cleanliness and service.

Sonesta invited me to stay in two Signature Inns in southern California:

Signature Temecula, the first Signature Inn to join the Sonesta brand
Signature Inn Indio, the newest Signature Inn.

Here’s my take on both. But first, an ode to roadside motels.

Read More: Fun Things to Do in Temecula CA

Colorful doors of the rooms at the Signature Inn Indio CA — Roadside motels are notable for their outdoor walkways and colorful doors, like these at the Signature Inn in Indio CA. Photo credit: Cindy Richards

Roadside Motels

After the sacrifices of World War II, America was ready to party.

People wanted to “get their kicks on Route 66” and they needed a place to stay along the way. They weren’t interested in the hassle or cost of staying in a stately downtown hotel. They wanted a clean, affordable room close to the highway.

Enter the roadside hotel.

Called a motel (a marriage of the words motor and hotel), these places were designed with outdoor corridors and doors that open right onto the parking lot. That made it easy to park right in front of your room, unload that big old trunk and carry your suitcases inside. This was the age before roller bags and no one wanted to lug those heavy bags down a long hotel corridor.

The motels were mostly no-frills operations, although as popularity grew, some started adding exotic amenities such as swimming pools and air conditioners.

And, to celebrate the space age wonders of the 50s and 60s, many of the motels were built with futuristic architectural features like neon signs and curvy roofs.

As America gets ready to celebrate the 100^th birthday of Route 66, the highway that runs from Chicago to LA, it’s also resurrecting the love and appreciation for the kitschy fun of a roadside motel.

Get 365 days of vacation inspiration! Sign up for our weekly newsletter now!

Signature Temecula

This charming 1950s roadside motel is just a half-mile walk from Old Town Temecula, California. (Admittedly, talking about walking in a story about roadside motels feels a bit out of sync, but I am an itinerate walker so I will find a way!)

The hotel has all of the throwback fun and kitschiness you would expect in a roadside motel – outdoor walkways, room doors painted bright colors, bright multi-colored wallpaper and a funky 60s clock on the wall.

But the throwback fun comes with some big upgrades.

Those start with the modern amenities you expect in a hotel:

Keurig coffee maker
Large flat-screen television
Microwave
Minifridge
Enough outlets and USB ports to power all of your devices.

The wifi is fast and strong, the shower head delivers a comforting rainwater stream, and the garish multi-colored 1960s wallpaper that adorns the smaller wall are muted by the soothing gray of another wall.

Plus, the bed is a lot comfier than the hard-as-a-rock beds in the budget hotels my family used to stay in when I was a kid.

There’s even room service (although it’s really just a link to order pizza delivered to your room – exactly the way motel guests have done it for decades).

When I stayed there in December 2024, my king room rented for about $189 a night. But I found that same room renting for the bargain-basement price of just $90 in early January.

Breakfast is included in the room rate, but it was less than impressive, with toaster waffles the highlight. Cereal, fruit and pastries rounded out the options.

Instead, we headed into town for breakfast at The Swing Inn, owned by Breaking Bad actor Dean Norris, the Temecula resident who played Hank Schrader on the series. If you go, don’t miss the cinnamon rolls. And be on the lookout for Dean; he stops by the restaurant most mornings when he’s in town. He’s an outgoing guy who is happy to pose for selfies.

Signature Inn Indio

The newest addition to the Signature Inn brand, this hotel near Palm Springs was still getting some final upgrades when I stayed there in December 2024. But my king room already had the kitschy colorful wallpaper adorning one wall and the quirky mid-century modern lamps and desk chair.

There was a love seat that pulls out into a twin bed, so the room could easily accommodate three.

The bathroom was huge – a big vanity around the sink, full tub and shower and separate areas for the toilet and a makeup table with a fun cube seat.

Like the Temecula property, the Indio Signature Inn has a large flat screen TV, Keurig coffee maker, minifridge and microwave. This hotel, however, was sadly lacking in sufficient outlets and USB ports. If you stay here, definitely pack a power strip.

This Signature Inn motel is about twice as big as the one in Temecula, with a large, comfortable lobby with cool 1960s furniture. The breakfast area is large, and the offerings included fresh scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and a make-your-own waffle station. In addition, there was fresh fruit and yogurt as well as baked goods, instant oatmeal and cereal. As one fellow traveler noted, “I’ve had much worse breakfasts at much pricier hotels.”

In a throw-back to the halcyon days of family fun, the lobby has a selection of board games you and play at one of the tables. I saw Yahtzee, Monopoly, Chutes and Ladders and more.

Signature Temecula hotel pool — The nicer roadside motels offered exotic amenities like this swimming pool at the Signature Temecula. Photo credit: Cindy Richards

Tips for Staying at a Roadside Motel

If you’re new to the roadside motel craze, here are a few things you need to know:

Bring earplugs. If you’re at all sensitive to sound, ear plugs will help mute the sound of the nearby highway so you can sleep in a hotel that is right off the highway.
Pack light. If your room is on the second floor, expect to walk up the stairs. There likely will not be an elevator.
Bring a power strip. Not all of the hotel renovations include adding outlets and USB ports. You may end up crawling around the floor trying to reach the plug behind the bed.
Book a roadside motel that’s backed by a reputable chain. Yes, it’s always nice to patronize locally owned mom-and-pop businesses. But knowing that mom-and-pop business has to meet high brand standards gives you the peace of mind you need for a restful night’s sleep in budget accommodations.