San Francisco’s hotel scene has always been a bit of a puzzle. This is one of America’s most popular destinations, and it’s a city with a visual identity all its own. Too often, though, its hotels miss the mark — there’s a conservatism to the local design sensibility that’s entirely at odds with the city’s forward-thinking reputation. San Francisco Proper Hotel, however, suffers from no such deficit.

It seems everything old becomes new again someday; who’d have thought Palm Springs could relive its glamorous glory days? Yet that’s just what’s happening, as a new generation of Angelenos skips out on Beverly Hills and heads inland to this desert oasis hideaway. And in Palm Springs, it doesn’t get more stylish than Avalon Hotel and Bungalows Palm Springs — once the Estrella, this place has seen it all, from Joan Crawford and Errol Flynn to American presidents and one King.

There’s no sense in denying that Austin has changed a lot in recent years, and while the advent of the Austin Proper Hotel will likely be an occasion for some grumbling about Californian imports, it’s a fine example of a city embracing change with open arms. While many Austin boutique hotels emphasize their down-home roots, the Proper Hotel is unapologetically urban, and architecturally, it’s as contemporary as they come. The design is by the same Kelly Wearstler who’s responsible for the mini-chain’s California installments, and the vibe, for all its style, isn’t shy about tending a bit upscale.

The first in what’s to be the more affordable sibling of the luxury-boutique Proper Hotels line is Hotel June, occupying a classic mid-century hotel building by architect Welton Becket, on Lincoln Boulevard just to the north of LAX. Convenience is a small part of its appeal, but don’t think of it as an airport hotel — it’s equally close to Marina del Rey, with Venice just beyond, and Venice-style “West L.A.” living is what it’s all about.

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