TL;DR

Stargazing focus: Hotel highlights the night sky as a main activity.
Modern motel style: Fresh build, not a renovation.
Cottages & pool: Stylish tiny-home cottages and a courtyard pool.
Industrial setting: Surrounded by parking lots but balanced by foothills.
Check prices here

Any place that lists stargazing as one of its main activities is good in our books, making this Flagstaff AZ boutique hotel, on the western outskirts of town, an instant favorite.

Besides the night sky, High Country Motor Lodge is a clever, contemporary take on the roadside motel.

Unlike many others, it is not a renovation job, giving you this decade’s best in facilities and accommodation.

We’re talking stylish, tiny-home-style cottages, matching motel buildings, and a gorgeous courtyard pool.

It’s one of the lesser of all charming roadsides, essentially a fenced-in parking lot next to a tire depo and a Chick-fil-A.

Flagstaff, however, does have a nice counterpart to the industrial strip mall vibe in its miles of gorgeous foothills.

It’s pretty easy to forget about the parking lots when caught up in the sky.

What are the rooms like?

111 rooms: Mix of Kings, Double Queens, Suites, and Cottages.
Stylish interiors: Wood, plaid throws, and hipster vibes.
Retro touches: Cassette players with mix tapes.
Modern amenities: TVs, streaming, mini-fridges, coffee & tea.
Options available: ADA, pet-friendly, bathtubs, couches.
See each room in detail here

Rooms are Kings and Double Queens divided into Classics and Pool Views, one a little closer to the hotel, the other a bit more naturey.

A Junior Suite gives you a little bit more space, with king beds and a corner couch.

Cottages are tucked out by the green courtyard-y area, basically tiny houses but with shingled siding and super-cute lighting that make them feel like a small section of a little mountain cape.

We would normally hesitate to engage with such a cliché, but the vibe is impeccably hipster.

There’s smooth, natural wood and steely grays, dark paneling halfway up the walls and wooly plaid throws on the beds.

The masculine chic even includes cassette players complete with a variety of mix tapes, in case you thought we were being overly judgmental.

Besides the indie millennial heirlooms, each room sports cozy linens, a 50′ TV, streaming options, coffee and tea capabilities and a wet bar with a mini-fridge.

Certain room options at High Country Motor Lodge will be ADA-compatible, pet-friendly, or have bathtubs and couches.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

General Store hub: Bar, market, game room, and fire pits.
Events hosted: Live music, movie nights, and seasonal activities.
Stylish design: Leather, wood, and glowing bar area.
Well-equipped gym: Cardio, weights, and mats.
Nordic spa: Sauna, plunge pool, and outdoor pool.

The main common area at High Country Motor Lodge is called the General Store, a friendly place that basically hosts all the amenities.

You’ll find a bar with food, fire pits on the extensive deck, a game room, and a grab-and-go sort of market.

There are events in and around the space, including live music, movie nights and other signature events.

The decor is the same sort of self-aware sophistication, full of sexy leather, rich wood and a bar that either shines or glows, depending on the time of day.

We’re also looking at a fitness center with all the fixings, weights and cardio and mats for bodyweight exercises.

The real joy comes, however, with the Nordic Spa experience. You warm up in the sauna, pop in the plunge, and can spend the rest of your time getting pruney in the outdoor pool.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Close to downtown: Just 5 minutes from cafés, breweries, and Route 66.
Parks nearby: Wheeler Park, NAU Farmers Market, Riordan Mansion.
Dark sky tie-in: Lowell Observatory and Pluto Telescope within 10 minutes.
Outdoor options: Trailheads, golf courses, and scenic drives close by.
Day trips: Sedona is 45 minutes away, monuments within an hour.

You’re outside of Flagstaff central at High Country but with many of the nearby attractions in the hill and parking included in the resort fee, it should be easy to handle.

It’s just a 5-minute drive downtown, which sits off the side of Route 66. There are plenty of cafés, cute restaurants and, of course, a handful of breweries near the Amtrak station.

Also nearby is Wheeler Park: a relaxed green area by day, festival ground by night (or summer, or month, etc).

The Farmer’s Market is on the outskirts of NAU, another 5-ish minute drive from the hotel. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is in the same area, a great stop for anyone who likes some good mountain architecture.

As for the rest, Flagstaff is simply surrounded with attractions, most of the natural variety.

Lowell Observatory and the Pluto Telescope are less than 10 minutes from the hotel, a great continuation of High Country’s dark sky vibes. Plenty of smaller parks, golf courses and trailheads are within a 10-minute drive.

Other, grander adventures can be found within an hour-long drive. Lockett Meadow and the Wukoki Nat’l Monument are worth the drive, and then hike.

Sedona is 45 minutes from Flagstaff, a day trip that is almost mandatory in its perfection.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“The design and the amenities! The reception, game room and cocktail bar was well designed. The color scheme, although mostly dark and deep color hues were pleasant to the eye. Nostalgic use of cassette tapes was genius. Coffee section was lit. Very rare they would provide Vietnamese coffee so that’s a plus. Comfy beds, not too soft. Has usb A charger and normal prong charger. The smell of soaps shampoo and conditioner are to die for. Good water pressure and drain. The lounge area with fire pit was romantic. Central location, close to downtown….”

“Loved the lounge and pool/hot tub area. Smart hotel, feels modern and trendy but down to earth. Not pretentious.
Nice products in rooms. Comfy beds. 2nd time staying and will be back….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”Charges an additional 14$ a nite (non-discretionary) for “amenities”, meaning wifi, parking and whatnot: typical scam to advertise a lower price. There was a discretionary, $50 additional upcharge if you wanted to enjoy their sauna….”

”Bar closed early, even for soft drinks….”

> Read all the reviews right here