How to stay at historic hotels for less

by Aimee Heckel · March 13, 2013

By Aimee Heckel

Looking for an intimate encounter with history — without having to call Bill and Ted?

Many buildings with historical significance have been converted and turned into hotels: castles, mills, school houses — even jail cells. Whether you revolve your vacation around a historical destination or opt to stay somewhere other than the traditional hotel, booking a night or two at a historical hotel can make for an unforgettable trip.

Here are some of our favorite, inexpensive historic hotels.

A private room in the Old Salem Jail, only $60 a night through Airbnb.com. Sure, it’s a little out there to sleep in a 200-year-old former jail with such a dark past, but it’s also exciting. This facility is located within a short walking distance to all kinds of other historical sites and museums. You won’t believe how they’ve redone this place; it even has wifi, a 52-inch plasma TV with a Blu-ray player, air conditioning and laundry access to a washer and dryer.

The catch? (Or maybe it’s a perfect match.) Two old, “inquisitive” cats live here, too. They’re part of the package deal.

Note: The facility has more than 45 reviews on AirBNB, with a total five-star rating.

2. The Hollywood Historic Hotel in Los Angeles, Calif., averaging $79 a night. Orbitz.com touts this find as a “1920s-era hotel with free parking and wifi in Hollywood.” For a place with this much character — imagine walking through an arched entry into a narrow hallway lined with black and white photos — this hotel has great rates. It’s also ideally located just a block from Paramount Pictures.