Author: lindsay

  • Jw Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

    Jw Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

    74-855 COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE
    PALM DESERT

    Surrounded by huge lakes, which guests can tour via manned gondolas, the JW Marriott provides a resort experience like no other. Boasting an incredible 450 acres, the lodging is unbelievably massive, with 884 rooms, seven restaurants, two golf courses, three pools, a Starbucks, a putting green and a myriad of shops. It’s like Disneyland in the desert! Even if you don’t book a stay, the hotel is a must-see for its grand scale and overall spectacle alone – especially during the holidays. Each Christmas, the property truly comes alive with a smorgasbord of activities for children such as story time with Santa, cookie decorating and games galore. Bonus – the hotel is also a filming location! It was here that Jesse Spano’s dad got married on “Saved by the Bell.”

    ★★★★

    Website

  • The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage

    The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage

    68900 FRANK SINATRA DRIVE
    RANCHO MIRAGE

    The Ritz is one of the desert’s premier properties! Situated atop a 650-foot bluff, the views of the surrounding area are unparalleled – as are the amenities, which include four restaurants, a gym, multiple pools and a truly luxe spa. The customer service is also wholly singular. They say you get what you pay for, and a stay here is definitely an exclusive experience. As such, the place has welcomed quite a few celebrities like Katharine McPhee, Robert Herjavec, and Justin Bieber. Most famously, the hotel hosted the much-watched nuptials of OG Bachelorette Trista Rehn and her pick, Ryan Sutter, back in 2003.

    ★★★★★

    Website

  • Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa

    Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa

    41000 BOB HOPE DRIVE
    RANCHO MIRAGE

    Planning a desert getaway with children? Omni Rancho Las Palmas is the spot I’d book. Boasting a two-acre Splashtopia water park complete with a lazy river, a pool, two waterslides and a man-made beach, this lodging is kid-friendly in all the best ways. The sprawling 240-acre resort has plenty for adults to enjoy, as well, including a golf course, a spa, four restaurants, a bar, two additional pools, stunning grounds, a fabulous gift shop and one very memorable “Beverly Hills, 90210” connection.

    ★★★★

    Website

  • Two Bunch Palms

    Two Bunch Palms

    67425 TWO BUNCH PALMS TRAIL
    DESERT HOT SPRINGS

    A bit removed from most Coachella Valley attractions, this 77-acre, wellness-inspired, adults-only retreat is known for being an exclusive haven. Legend has it the place served as a hideaway for Al Capone in the 1920s, but today, you’re more likely to find a bevy of A-listers on the premises. With upscale amenities like prime spa services, a stellar vegetable-forward eatery, a gym, two healing mineral pools, a lap pool, a grotto, a yoga dome, a lagoon and a multitude of tranquil tucked-away corners, Two Bunch Palms offers a desert experience like no other.

    ★★★★

    Website

  • The Velvet Rope

    The Velvet Rope

    120 WEST VEREDA SUR
    PALM SPRINGS

    Teeming with Old Hollywood glamour, this newly reimagined adults-only boutique lodging was masterfully designed by David Rios, who was also behind the iconic Trixie Motel. Featuring nine suites, each with its own distinct Tinseltown personality, The Velvet Rope is stylish, sexy and utterly chic. Offering highly personalized service, a plethora of elevated touches, and the glittering onsite Bar Valerie, a stay here is truly luxe!

    ★★★

    Website

  • Triada Palm Springs

    Triada Palm Springs

    640 NORTH INDIAN CANYON DRIVE
    PALM SPRINGS

    Oozing Hollywood history, this spot started life as a private home before becoming the Ambassador Apartment Hotel in 1939 and welcoming such guests as Lana Turner, Elizabeth Taylor and Tyrone Power. In 2014, it was revamped by Marriott into the Mediterranean wonderland it is today. While chock full of amenities, including three pools, two bars, a restaurant, and a gym, the place remains intimate with a boutique feel. One of my family’s favorite staycation spots, we’ve spent many a weekend at Triada, enjoying the plush rooms and gorgeous grounds.

    ★★★

    Website

  • Casa Cody

    Casa Cody

    175 SOUTH CAHUILLA ROAD
    PALM SPRINGS

    This hotel has history in spades! Initially established in the 1920s by Harriet Cody (cousin of Buffalo Bill), Casa Cody is Palm Springs’ oldest operating lodging! Intimate, serene, and stunningly gorgeous, with amenities including two pools, a hot tub, grassy expanses, gardens, an onsite bar/restaurant, and the most charming rooms and suites, the property is an absolute gem! Be sure to ask for a tour during your stay for an up-close-and-personal glimpse of its many notable sites, including one of the original Olympic cottages from the 1932 games!

    ★★★★

    Website

  • Korakia Pensione

    Korakia Pensione

    257 SOUTH PATENCIO ROAD
    PALM SPRINGS

    It is hard to describe this Morrocan-inspired boutique lodging in words other than to say it is absolutely magical. My husband and I once checked in for a brief two-day staycation and wound up extending our reservation to a full week as we just couldn’t bear to check out. The Korakia has that effect. Stunning, peaceful, with grounds begging to be explored and not a TV nor phone in sight, at Korakia you can check in and truly check out. Be sure not to miss the classic movies shown each evening al fresco in the tranquil courtyard.

    ★★★★

    Website

  • Ingleside Estate

    Ingleside Estate

    200 WEST RAMON ROAD
    PALM SPRINGS

    One of Palm Springs’ most intimate, serene, and tranquil properties, this 30-room, adults-only boutique hotel is a genuine landmark. My husband and I actually got engaged at the property in 2009 and have returned several times since, with each stay seemingly better than the last. Boasting gorgeous grounds, a 24-hour pool and hot tub, and a stellar onsite restaurant and lounge, the Ingleside is the place to stay when you want to get away from it all. As such, it has become a Hollywood haven, hosting everyone from legendary crooner Frank Sinatra to Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, who honeymooned in Room 148.

    ★★★★

    Website

  • Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs

    Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs

    100 WEST TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY
    PALM SPRINGS

    The Rowan is one of the few spots on this list where I haven’t actually stayed the night, but I have spent a considerable amount of time on the premises, dining at the many restaurants/lounges and enjoying cocktails at the rooftop bar. And I can honestly say it is an absolute delight! Though pricey, the property is one of downtown Palm Springs’ most upscale full-service hotels with a slew of amenities to offer. And its location at the heart of pretty much everything couldn’t be more prime! You can’t go wrong with a stay here.

    ★★★★

    Website