On my recent big Midwest trip, visiting Washington, Utah, Montana, and Idaho, I knew I wanted to stay in one of the many ‘fancy’ motels that have popped up across the US in recent years.
I’ve seen them all over Instagram, and being obsessed with 1950s classic cars, I’m all about that vibe and era – especially if they’re now a bit more luxe than your local Motel6.
With just one night in Bozeman, Montana, I figured this would be the best place to try one out.
Step in: The Sapphire Motel.
My stay at the Sapphire was incredible, and although it was pricey, the motel was ridiculously cute and retro – it gave major Schitt’s Creek Chic vibes.
So, let me tell you all about it…
History of The Sapphire
When I was researching cute, stylish motels in the Bozeman area, there were a couple that came up, but the Sapphire caught my eye, and the location was great, so I booked it.
I paid £169 ($205USD) for my room for one night, which I thought was steep, but this is a pretty standard price in Bozeman.
Montana is having such a moment right now, that the hotel prices have skyrocketed over the past couple of years so you have to expect to pay more than a lot of other US states.
Another thing that swayed me into booking it was the history.
The Sapphire has actually been a Bozeman landmark since the 1940s, starting life as the ‘Glen Motel’ in 1940, and going through four name changes over the years since then, and remaining in the same family since the 1960s.
I loved the fact it was a family business and that they had changed and adapted with the times, including re-branding to The Sapphire and renovating in 2021 for a new generation of travellers.
Arriving at The Sapphire
I drove over to Bozeman from Butte, and after the most incredible drive through the mountains and then dinner with my cousin and her family at their house in nearby Livingston, I arrived at The Sapphire around 7pm.
Located in the heart of Bozeman, just a short 10-minute walk into the town centre, it’s ideally located for any visitors who are in town for a short amount of time and want to really experience the town.
As soon as I arrived at the motel I was SO excited – it looked like something from a movie, it was like the cutest possible version of the motel from Schitt’s Creek.
It was a proper American motor-inn motel, and there was even a 1950s car out the front.
I parked my car out the front and walked into the reception area to check-in, and was instantly wowed.
The styling was beautiful – very Mid-Century Modern – with cute features such as retro board games, a retro television and chairs in a little lounge area, and a guest eating area as well.
The reception desk had fun stickers and postcards to buy, and some cute Sapphire Motel merch.
Check-in was a breeze and the staff were really friendly and helpful, and soon I had the blue key to my room!
My Retro Motel Room
The Sapphire has loads of different room types, from a smaller Queen room, to a larger two-bedroom family room with a max occupancy of 6 people in the room.
They also have rooms with patios for if you’re staying a little longer than one night and want some more space.
All rooms come with a television, mini fridge, microwave and coffee machine, drive-up parking and private entrances, free WiFi, an iron & ironing board, and a telephone (with both local and long distance calls included).
They also provide two complimentary bottles of water.
I drove up and parked directly in front of my room, and entered through the bright red door.
I fell in love with it instantly.
I’d booked a King Room, which was absolutely huge at 300sqft!
My room was thoughtfully designed in keeping with the Mid-Century Modern design of the motel, with a large king-size bed, retro-style artwork on the walls, and cute little touches including a history of the motel.
The bathroom was super pretty, with white and black tiles, pink walls, and little old-school features such as the fun push-button light switches!
There were plenty of towels, including a black make-up flannel as well.
The Sapphire’s Amenities
The Sapphire Motel offers guests a laundry, a central grassed courtyard for relaxing with a covered gazebo and BBQ, and there’s also a computer for guest use.
In the surrounding area, you not only have Bozeman, but the motel is also just 90-miles from Yellowstone National Park.
When I drove over to my cousin’s house in Livingston (30-mins away) I actually stopped at the edge of Yellowstone and had the most incredible views over the Rocky Mountains and the river – it was truly breathtaking.
Final Thoughts
My stay at The Sapphire was a highlight of my trip, and being a lover of luxury hotels I never thought staying in a motel would be a highlight for me!
It just felt so great to have such an iconic roadtrip American experience, and I was super impressed with how they had renovated the motel and really embraced its history and the MCM design era.
It’s a truly beautiful motel that’s been thoughtfully redesigned, and even when I had an issue where the hotel accidentally charged me twice (once via booking.com, and then again when I checked-in), the staff responded almost instantly when I told them of the issue and immediately refunded me the booking.com amount.
The Sapphire is a must-stay for anyone passing through Bozeman and onto Yellowstone, or stopping in Bozeman to explore the town.
It’s truly perfect for those with a love of Americana, or an appreciation of history and retro design, and I would 100% stay at The Sapphire again.
Check out my 8-day Rocky Mountain States itinerary!
Catherine Lux is a veteran travel blogger by night and the Head of Content Marketing at Amazon by day. Originally from Surrey, she spent four years living in Australia (2007-2009, and 2016-2018), and now lives in London. An ex-party girl sometimes prone to relapses, she loves nothing more than sharing her fine dining and luxury travel experiences with her loyal readers.
