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What is a 'Salvaged Stay'? The Upcycled Hotels Travellers Are Booking in 2026
These impressive getaway spots all have former lives, with an old post office, a jail, and a warehouse among them.
Natalie Wilson
Friday 23 January 2026 16:34 GMT
Hotel booking platforms have witnessed a significant surge in traveller demand for stays in "upcycled" retreats throughout 2026. According to fresh data from Hotels.com, this year travellers are actively checking into hotels that skilfully combine historical architecture with modern amenities and comforts.
Data Reveals a Clear Trend
The platform conducted a detailed analysis of increases in global hotel searches, comparing 2024 to 2025, to generate its authoritative "Hotels of the Year" list. The findings were striking: searches for several prominent stays in meticulously restored buildings more than doubled, indicating a powerful shift in consumer preferences.
Melanie Fish, Vice President of Global Communications at Expedia Group, commented on the trend: "Travellers today are craving much more than just a place to sleep — they deeply want a compelling story to tell upon their return. Salvaged stays represent the perfect blend of character, culture, and contemporary comfort. This year alone, I've personally stayed in an old post office, a converted jail, and a repurposed warehouse — it's clear the past definitely has a vibrant future in modern hospitality."
Whether it's a former French abbey or a renovated bank building, architectural relics are being creatively converted into hotels rich with history, from Kyoto to Sydney. From stylishly converted schoolhouses to majestic Alpine railway stations, here are the trending destinations with a distinct difference to consider checking into this year.
Top Trending Salvaged Stays for 2026
Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu, Japan
Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu is an elegant 48-room conversion of a former elementary school in the historic city of Kyoto. Originally built in 1933, the hotel retains charming architectural elements of its educational past. Designers have preserved iconic arched windows and sweeping stairways in communal spaces, while adding sleek, minimalist guest rooms and a popular rooftop bar. Hotels.com reported a massive 194 per cent increase in searches for this heritage hotel in Kyoto's Higashiyama district last year.
Bodmin Jail Hotel, Cornwall, UK
In the wilds of Cornwall's atmospheric Bodmin Moor, the Bodmin Jail Hotel sits within the Grade II listed ruins of an 18th-century prison. Following a major restoration completed in 2021, 70 spacious rooms were installed within its former cells, thoughtfully retaining some original iron doors and barred windows. An on-site museum and The Chapel Restaurant are clearly a major draw, as searches for this unique property increased by more than double throughout 2025.
Sandi Hotel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro's Sandi Hotel offers a vibrant boutique stay in the heart of Paraty, a designated Unesco World Heritage site. Its colourful rooms are adorned with vintage film memorabilia and striking local art — a liveliness that continues into the inviting pool and dining areas. The 18th-century colonial mansion has had many roles over the centuries, including serving as a school, a social club, and even as the Brazilian Mint during the gold-rush era, before being meticulously restored as a luxury hotel in 1987.
Fontevraud L'Ermitage, Anjou, France
Set within the Loire Valley's magnificent 12th-century Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, this tranquil 54-room hotel — Fontevraud L'Ermitage — is steeped in medieval history with subtle touches of luxury modernity. Founded in 1101, guests can now explore the serene cloistered courtyards and remarkable monastic architecture after hours. Seasonal local produce is showcased at the on-site, Michelin-starred restaurant, offering an unparalleled culinary experience.
Union Station Nashville Yards, USA
It's all aboard for a unique stay at this landmark hotel in downtown Nashville. Union Station Nashville Yards, originally opened in 1900 as a bustling terminal for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, was creatively reimagined as a luxury hotel in 1986. The former station has retained glorious nods to its past purpose — including a stunning 65-foot barrel-vaulted ceiling, stained glass lobby, and original marble floors — while offering modern amenities like nightly live music performances and a contemporary restaurant.
The Old Clare Hotel, Sydney, Australia
The Old Clare Hotel in Sydney's trendy Chippendale suburb uniquely occupies two historic, booze-inspired buildings. Once the site of the beloved Clare Hotel and the Carlton & United Breweries administration block, it was delicately and sympathetically restored in 2015. Well-preserved original features include a connecting four-storey glass atrium between the buildings, original timber panelling, and exposed brick walls. Boutique rooms, a rooftop pool, and a raucous bar now cleverly nod to the site's lively pub past.
Hotel Place d’Armes, Montreal, Canada
Montreal's Hotel Place d’Armes once served as prestigious offices for the Great Scottish Life Insurance Company. This heritage boutique hotel now stretches across four historic neoclassical buildings dating back to the late 1800s. It reopened as a supremely stylish stay in 2000, featuring 169 rooms, a scenic rooftop terrace, a relaxing spa, and refined dining options.
Nine Orchard Hotel, New York, USA
If you're looking to bed down in a bank, the Nine Orchard Hotel in Manhattan expertly blends historic grandeur with modern boutique luxury. The former landmark 1912 Jarmulowsky Bank Building reopened in 2022 after extensive restoration efforts to create 113 residential-style rooms and vibrant dining spaces such as the Swan Room and Corner Bar, all while meticulously maintaining the site's original architectural splendour. With vaulted ceilings, arched windows, and a rooftop tempietto, this offers a truly historic stay on Manhattan's Lower East Side.
Bank Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden
This stylish boutique hotel in Stockholm is set within a grand 1910 former bank building. Huge bronze doors, elegant marble floors, and impressive vaulted ceilings subtly echo its financial roots. The Bank Hotel opened in 2018 following a sensitive conversion, and now offers 111 elegant rooms and suites featuring plush velvet red sofas, marble bathrooms, and spacious, comfortable beds.
Canfranc Estación, Royal Hideaway, Canfranc, Spain
The luxury Canfranc Estación hotel sits majestically inside the historic Canfranc International railway station. Originally opened in 1928 as a crucial cross-border rail hub between Spain and France, the station's stunning Beaux-Arts architecture was reinvented as a five-star hotel in 2023. Guests in its 104 rooms will enjoy a Michelin-starred restaurant, a luxurious spa, breathtaking mountain views, and easy access to premier ski resorts such as Astun.
