This past weekend I was in Lake George, New York for a really fun Tiki Weekend called ‘Ohana on the Lake‘ and the hubby and I stayed down the street at a vintage motel called the ‘Windsor”. The sign alone was worth the 7 min walk to the event each day.

Windsor Motel Lake George NY Mid Century Modern Sign

This recent motel stay inspired me to look into old vintage motel/ hotel ads of the Mid-Century (1950s & 1960s) to share with all of you. So let’s take a peek at what I found shall we?

Vintage Motel / Hotel Advertising

1950s & 1960s

First up! Do you know where the name “MOTEL” came from? It was coined by the owner of the Milestone Mo-Tel (an abbreviation of “motor hotel”) in San Luis Obispo, California.

Motel Inn in San Luis Obispo, the world's first 'mo-tel'

In 1983 the Motel Inn’s Rose DuBois holds a postcard of the original structure.

Cool huh!? Okay back to the blog post…..

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

1950s Oasis Motel Miami Beach Florida travel vacation brochure. Fantastic Mid Century design of the building!

1950s vintage hotel advertisement: 1950s Oasis Motel Miami Beach Florida FL Travel Vacation Brochure

Source: eBay

Holiday Inn of Palm Springs. Gosh one of the things I love about 1950s, 1960s advertising is the colours, the fonts and the design. So fun!

Vintage Matchbook: Holiday Inn of Palm Springs. 1950s ad / 1960s ad.

Source: Flickr

Match Book advertising for the Las Flores Inn in Santa Maria, California.

Source: Flickr

Mid Century Ad for the Palm Springs Hotel. “Sun, Swim, Fun.”

1950s / 1960s vintage hotel advertisement for the Palm Springs Hotel-Dining & Cocktails. The Matchbook or ad features an illustration of a couple swimming.

Source: Tumblr

Look at the colours in this 1960s advertising brochure for the Flamingo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. So fun!! I love this hotel and have stayed there many times over my years in Vegas.

(Note: to see the images bigger, click on them to be taken to the original website).

Vintage 1960's ad for The Fabulous Flamingo Hotel & Casino Las Vegas Advertising Brochure

Source: PicClick

The Manger TOWNE and COUNTRY Motor Lodge-1950s. From the Golden Era of the motor lodge, located just 2.5 miles south of Savanah on Route 4.

(Note: avail for purchase on Etsy at time of posting)

1950s motel lodge promotional flyer - Savanah Georgia Manger Towne and Country Lodge 1950s Architecture

Source: Etsy

1950s AVIS Rent A Car vintage advertisement. While not exactly a direct advertisement for the Hilton & Statler Hotels, it still shows off the beauty of one of their hotels ‘The Beverly Hilton’.

Source: Flickr

Lion Motel fold-out travel brochure St. Augustine, Florida 1950s.

Source: Etsy

1960s Hotel Florida advertisement – Terrigal, New South Wales.

Source: Flickr

BEL AIRE MOTEL Norfolk Virginia 1950s fold-out brochure via eBay.

Mid Century motel Advertising: BEL AIRE MOTEL Norfolk Virginia 1950s fold-out brochure

Source: eBay

Another Holiday Inn 1960s Ad. “The Great American Escape”.

Holiday Inn 1960s vintage hotel Advertisement. "The Great American Escape". The ad features a Mid Century Holiday Inn Sign.

1960s booklet/brochure for the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Nevada.

Further Reading: Vintage Las Vegas Photos, 1940s-1960s

1960s The Sands Hotel and Casino Las Vegas Booklet/Brochure featuring an illustration of showgirls on the cover.

1960s The Sands Hotel and Casino Las Vegas Booklet/Brochure featuring images of the perfomers inside (like the Rat Pack)

1960s The Sands Hotel and Casino Las Vegas Booklet/Brochure featuring an illustration of the showroom and a woman in a 1960s dress.

Source: Etsy

1950s Flamingo Motor Hotel brochure – “We Went the Flamingo Way”.

1950s vintage hotel advertisement for Flamingo Motor Hotels Brochure - "We Went the Flamingo Way"

Source: Flickr

For further reading make sure you check out ‘The Rise and Fall of the Great American Motel” by the Smithsonian.

Question Time: Have you ever stayed in a vintage motel or hotel? If so where? Comment below.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Photos 1920s-1960s (Archived blog posts)

Liz

1940s vintage travel ad for Matson Cruise Ships. The vintage ad features a couple sitting on the deck of the boat relaxing.

I love to travel because seeing the world is just something that I have to do! And when I travel, I like to get on a plane to my destination and then explore and find hidden gems with no schedule in sight. Cruise ship life is not something I’m ready for (but I’m sure I will be at some point in my life).

However! if the cruises are anything like what is advertised on these 1930s-1950s travel ads and posters, I just might have to change my mind. Glamorous and even more glamorous. Let’s see what I’m talking about friends.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Vintage Travel Ads for Cruise Ships

1930s-1950s Travel Ads & Posters

Visit Hawaii with Matson Cruise Lines-1934 vintage ad (That Dress!).

Further Reading: What to Wear on a Cruise-The 1930s-1950s Edition

1930s advertising for cruise ship featuring 1930s fashion for women

And again in 1953. How tropical!

1953-Matson-Line-Cruise-to-Hawaii-Ad-1950s-Lurline-Cruise-Ship-Vacation-1950s-Advertising

Source: Etsy

“Life at sea is friendly…delightful…on the new “4 Aces”. American Export Lines – 1949 vintage ad.

1940s Vintage ad for American Export Lines Cruise Ships.

Source: Pinterest

Nassau/West Indies/Caribbean vintage travel cruise brochures, 1950s.

Nassau/West Indies/Caribbean vintage travel brochures, 1950s

Source: Etsy

1930s summer fashions on display as Italian Lines cruises you around the Mediterranean.

1930s Vintage Ad for Lido Mediterranean Cruises. Illustration features 1930s Fashions.

Source: Pinterest

1951 Cunard Cruise Ad – Couple Dancing in the ballroom. Looks like a fun time.

1951 Cunard Cruise Ad - Couple Dancing in 1950s fashions.

Source: Etsy

Getting there is half the fun! Cunard 1952. Balloon Games! I’m in!

1950s Vintage Cruise Line ad-Cunard 1952 featuring illustration of people in 1950s fashions playing 1950s party games

Source: Pinterest

“Every day is play day on an Alcoa ship in the Caribbean”, 1947.

1947 vintage advertising for cruise ship 1940s travel vintage travel vintage advertising

Source: Duke University Library

1953 American President Lines Cruise Advertisement. Cruise the Pacific on a country club afloat to Honolulu, Yokohama, Manila, Hong Kong, Kobe.

Source: Etsy

“Come aboard for all the fun of France.” 1957 French Line Cruises.

1957 FRENCH LINE Vintage Ad for Cruising. Ad Illustration features couples dancing and a cruise ship.

Source: Etsy

1953 Cunard Cruise ad. Getting there is half the fun! A crowd of happy travelers are enjoying the many fun activities aboard ship.

Source: Etsy

1951 Moore McCormack Lines Ad. 4 Special winter cruises for 1952 from Moore McCormack include a 38 day cruise to Punta Del Este, Uruguay and a 44 day cruise to see Carnival in Rio.

1950s Vintage Ad: 1951 Moore McCormack Lines Ad. 4 Special winter cruises for 1952 from Moore McCormack include a 38 day cruise to Punta Del Este, Uruguay and a 44 day cruise to see Carnival in Rio.

Source: Etsy

Take a cruise on Canadian Pacific to see the Great Lakes-1930s.

1930s canadian pacific cruises on the Great Lakes 1930s Vintage Ad. Ad Illustration features 1930s fashions.

Source: Art.com

No need to just sit around and be bored, cruise ship life has so much to do..like tennis and games by the pool. 1951 Matson Hawaii Cruise Ad.

1951 Matson Line Cruise To Hawaii Ad - 1950s Woman Playing Tennis on SS Lurline - Retro Cruise Advertisements

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1953 Moore McCormack Cruise Lines Ad. Take a 38-Day Cruise to Trinidad, Rio, Santos, Sao Paulo, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires for old world enchantment and cities as modern as tomorrow.

Source: Etsy

Thanks for stopping by friends! I hope you enjoyed stepping back into time and seeing how travel advertising for cruising was like. I know I enjoyed seeing all that glamour I mentioned at the start of the post.

Question time: Have you been on a cruise? If yes, what did you like about and where did you go? Share in the comments below.

FURTHER READING:

Vintage Advertising 1920s-1960s. Archived blog posts
Vintage Travel Posts

Have a great week!

Liz

Tag: vintage advertising

Mid-Century Motel/ Hotel Advertising

Vintage Motel / Hotel Advertising

1950s & 1960s

Golden Age of Cruising-Vintage Travel Ads for Cruise Ships

Vintage Travel Ads for Cruise Ships

1930s-1950s Travel Ads & Posters