TL;DR

Style: Remodeled retro motel with 1950s charm and pastel pink and teal decor
Vibe: Welcoming, cozy, and ideal for independent travelers
Location: Vilano Beach, Florida; close to Surfside Beach and St. Augustine attractions
Limitations: No onsite dining or full staff, but reasonable prices make up for it
Check prices here

One of our favorite boutique hotel trends is the remodeled retro motel, and we’d like to present this Vilano Beach, Florida gem as justification.

With a property dating back to the 1950s, Haley’s Court does an excellent job of combining the old and the new.

There’s a sort of contemporary retro (oxymoron, we know) to the decor that complements original architectural details like the superb roadside sign that welcomes guests on arrival.

It’s all been done up in pink and teal, which seem to be the hip St. Augustine beach colors.

It’s bit twee, granted, like it’s the brainchild of Shoshanna from Girls, but the vintage elements make it make sense.

The ultimate vibe is just plain welcoming, and its a great place for independent travelers.

Anyone who appreciates a little more care in their vacation might want to look elsewhere, however.

With no onsite employees or onsite dining, there are a few luxury essentials missing.

If pampering takes a backseat to exploration and coziness, however, Haley’s Court is an ideal base for a St. Augustine adventure, and at very reasonable prices.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 16
Room types: Studio and Apartment sizes with queens, kings, and full doubles
Style: Contemporary retro with leafy murals, rich wood, fashionable neutrals, and quirky furnishings
Amenities: Coffee machine, mini fridge, Smart TV, blackout curtains, individual climate control; Apartments have full kitchens/kitchenettes
See each room in detail here

Rooms come in Studio or Apartment size, offering queens, kings and full doubles.

Apartments are our choice, with the limited facilities on site, it’s helpful to have a full kitchen or kitchenette.

They’re decorated in a cool contemporary style, with leafy wall murals behind some of the beds that scream ‘I listened to a lot of Jack Johnson as a teen.’

The rest of the decor, however, has a certain sophistication that makes the pastel pinks palatable.

It’s rich wood and fashionable neutrals, with a variety of styles woven throughout the room types.

Some of the furnishings, such as the plush, curved benches by the foot of the bed, have a quirky charm straight out of Daiso.

Others, like the Seabreeze Apartment, have a sort of lady-surfer vibe that threads the line between chill and fashionable perfectly.

Whatever vibe feels best to you, there will be a coffee machine, mini fridge, Smart TV, blackout curtains and individual climate control for your comfort and entertainment.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

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

Facilities: Laundry, outdoor patio, bike rentals via DRIFTERS
Food: None onsite; rooms have mini fridges and Apartments have kitchenettes

Our biggest hesitation on recommending Haley’s Court was facilities and food.

With a mini fridge in the room, you’ll be able to do a bit of shopping, but many will be spending a lot of time going out to town.

For many travelers, this isn’t an issue, but it’s worth noting. Get a suite if you like to eat where you stay.

What they do have is laundry facilities, plenty of common areas (the outdoor patio is a notable plus!), and a very clever partnership with DRIFTERS Rentals.

You’ll still be paying for the bike rental, but the hotel will set up delivery and booking even without an onsite concierge.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Location: Vilano Beach center, 15-minute walk to Surfside Beach
Nearby: Historic St. Augustine (<10 min drive or 20 min bike ride)
Historic sites: Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth, Flagler College, Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum, Castillo de San Marcos
Food & Drink: Seafood and Spanish-fusion cuisine, local spirits, chic cocktails

You’ll be in the center of Vilano Beach at Haley’s, and a 15-minute walk to Surfside Beach.

It’s a small but sweet area not far from Historic St. Augustine, meaning you’ll be right between a charming downtown and a sunny beach. We can think of worse things.

You’ll need a car to get to St. Augustine, but it’s less than a 10-minute drive, and a gorgeous 20-minute bike ride if you feel comfortable on two wheels.

Once there, you’ll find a slew of historic sites to visit.

Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is a bit outside the center, but inside, you’ll find Flagler College, the Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum and the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.

If you’d prefer to eat and drink, that’ll be easy here as well. The general area cuisine is hugely seafood-focused, with a lot of Spanish fusion based on the area’s colonial past.

It might make for upsetting history, but culinarily, it’s an excellent combo, so we’ll take the silver lining.

There’s also a lot of opportunity for local spirits and chic cocktails.

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

Some things guests liked:

“The property was outstanding!!!! Everything was easy and accommodating. Air conditioning worked very good and the bathroom was very clean, and the shower was humongous. The hot water was hot. I truly don’t have any complaints at all. My wife and myself are already looking at dates to comeback and stay longer next time. There are coffee shops and in walking distance several restaurants. (Beaches next to the pier our new favorite) Again thanks to the family that owns and runs this hotel!!!”

“Super cute decor, very retro feel, very beachy. Room was spacious and clean. They provided beach towels, which was a great perk. Small kitchenette with coffee maker, microwave, and fridge. Literal 5 minutes to walk to the beach. Perfect for sunrise on the coast! I really wish we would have been able to stay longer!…”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”If I would change anything I would put a security door lock for a little extra peace of mind, but never felt uncomfortable or not safe. The area was completely safe!!!!”

”Nothing we didn’t “like”. We came at the end of June so it was HOT and our ac would struggle to keep it below 77 during the day. Not a big issue since it cooled back off before bedtime. Def expected in the FL heat. Staff was very accommodating and took our concern over the ac very seriously….”

Read all the reviews right here