When on a budget but averse to chain-hotel cheapies, this '50s relic, updated with modern amenities, is the place to be.

The Saga Motor Hotel is a kitschier, less expensive Pasadena option than its more, ahem, Ritzy neighbors, but it still has mid-century style to spare. The building hasn't changed much since it was built as a monument to modernity along Route 66, and the grounds remain bedecked in Astroturf. Breakfast can be enjoyed by the pool, and the rooms come equipped with high-speed internet. —Katherine Spiers