What is a Salvaged Stay and How to Plan One

Salvaged stays are an emerging trend in travel that let family travelers enjoy a unique way to experience a destination. Rather than staying in a destination’s big-ticket resort hotel or a cookie-cutter vacation rental, travelers look to the world’s repurposed properties, like abandoned mills and defunct train stations-turned-hotels that have found new life. These renovated properties are a lesson in sustainability and give families a chance to discover a unique view of the history of a destination.

According to Expedia’s recent Unpack ’26 report, this form of travel isn’t just on the rise, but is also expected to gain even more traction as 2026 unfolds. By staying at a property that once served a very different purpose, you not only help to promote sustainability in a world of excess but also get the opportunity to introduce kids to a different perspective on the places they visit.

Maine is home to an incredible salvaged stay find, Lincoln Hotel. Located in Biddeford, The Lincoln is not only Maine’s only 5-star boutique hotel and home to the only rooftop pool in Southern Maine, but it is also housed in a renovated 19^th-century textile mill, showcasing an industry once integral to the region.

In the Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa, you can book a stay at Auberge Eaufeu, a hotel that took over an abandoned elementary school. The building has been expertly renovated to offer luxurious accommodations while paying homage to the property’s past, with chalkboards still on the walls of the rooms and old playground equipment in the yard. The property, which also happens to feature an incredible restaurant that utilizes local ingredients, is set within a beautiful landscape with nearby hiking trails and a sake brewery that offers tasting experiences.

If you want a relaxing stay in the French countryside, Château de la Commaraine in Burgundy is an ideal place to enjoy life in a charming chateau turned luxury hotel. The property, which consists of a 37-room fortified manor set on a sprawling vineyard, was originally owned by the Dukes of Burgundy. It is expected to open in March with a spa, pool, two restaurants, a wine-tasting room and plenty of views of the beautiful French countryside.