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Palm Springs is the perfect desert getaway to rejuvenate your soul. Only a few hours outside of Los Angeles, Palm Springs has attracted everyone from U.S. Presidents, to celebrities … and everyone else in between looking to embrace the sunshine and the magic of the desert. Palm Springs is the true Californian getaway: desert heat, refreshing swimming pools, bomb Mexican food, relaxing vibes, fun nights in the downtown … it’s a place you will always find yourself visiting time and time again.
Where to Stay
Korakia Pensione is the perfect place to stay if you are looking for a relaxing vacation and the most dreamy Instagram photos. The architecture is a mix of Moroccan and Greek, with two refreshing swimming pools and the cutest little nooks.
Staying here can be a little pricey, starting around $300 for a night, but the price is totally worth it … even if it’s just for a night. I stayed here with my boyfriend and we really enjoyed the fresh, organic breakfast that was served every morning … it’s out of this world! During the day, you can use their bikes to cruise down to the downtown area, which was really close and convenient. In the evening, we loved watching old movies on a projector out by the pool. So if you want to watch “Gone with the Wind” while relaxing on a floatie in the pool … this is the place for you.
Sands Hotel and Spa is a great place for a girls trip … the hotel is pink after all. I stayed here with one of my best girlfriends and we loved the chic vibes. Instagrammers love to come here and take pictures at the front door, as bizarre as that seems. Though I will say, for as Instagram-worthy as this place may be … the hotel doesn’t allow professional cameras on the property. We thought that was a strange policy, but we switched to our iPhones instead for pics.
A night here during a weekend starts around $350 … a little pricey but if you’re looking for a cute getaway or a place to be the background of your bachelorette party … this is it. Aside from laying by the pool, which is lined with misters, we also spent a day hanging out at the spa. Spa services can be pricey, but we splurged on individual massages since we were celebrating a birthday. Disclaimer: the hotel is in Indian Wells which is about 30 minutes from the downtown Palm Springs area.
The best perk about staying at the Sands Hotel is that they have one of the cutest restaurants on site, The Pink Cabana. I’ve heard so much about this restaurant from friends, I was super excited to finally check it out. The decor is to die for: with banana leaf wallpaper and a tropical feel … it truly gives you all the vacation vibes. We dined at the restaurant for both breakfast and dinner, and both were fantastic. To get your perfect images, breakfast time is the best since there are a lot less people. But the dinner menu is killer … I highly recommend whichever fresh fish they are preparing that evening. And also, make a reservation … this place books up fast.
For all the people looking to show off those bikini bods and engage in an epic Palm Springs pool party … The Saguaro is where you want to be. A night at The Saguaro is around $150 and it comes with access to their infamous swimming pool. When I stayed here I made tons of new friends and enjoyed people watching. It’s a great place to socialize, drink a margarita and party. And their bright colored walls make for a good background in photos too!
If you are looking to party and meet people … but not really rage, then The Parker Palm Springs is the place for you. Known for its incredible white entrance and its old-school sign that says “Drugs”, this place is freaking posh. When I visited, I couldn’t help but notice there were a lot of good-looking people … and a lot of hot businessmen. Definitely a good place for single guys and girls to come and meet someone. A night here is around $300.
Where to Eat
For breakfast, you can’t beat Cheeky’s. It’s a little breakfast spot that is SUPER popular … known mostly for its famous bacon flight, which has bacon prepared with 4 different flavors. Another good breakfast spot is Norma’s, which is located at the Parker Hotel. It’s a super cute patio restaurant with a great brunch … they also serve breakfast all day and night. For dinner, I highly recommend Las Casuelas Terraza, which is located right in downtown where the action is. They have a fantastic patio area and some nights they will have live music. It’s great for people watching, great Mexican food and overall you just can’t miss it. My other recommendation for dinner, like I mentioned earlier, is The Pink Cabana located at the Sands Hotel and Spa.
What to Do
Established in 1938, the Moorten Botanical Garden is a small, privately owned arboretum, which is home to many desert trees, plants, and cacti from all over the world. It’s a very beautiful desert museum that is very tranquil and makes for a perfect cap on your desert getaway. I think we paid a $5 donation (cash) to enter, and spent about 30 minutes here. It’s a nice little stop for those wanting to pop in and see what it’s all about.
You might see it on the way to Palm Springs from Los Angeles, but the Cabazon Dinosaurs are worth the quick photo-op. This little road-side attraction is $13 per person … which gives you access to a dinosaur museum. Taking photos with the giant dinosaurs is free, just make sure you don’t make the mistake of eating at the Mexican restaurant in the same parking lot — if you take away anything from this entire post — let it be that!
Know Before You Go
- Palm Springs is huge … make sure you know the distances between where you are staying vs. where you want to end up in the night. The most popular place to be is the downtown area and some hotels are a little farther out than that.
- The days are hot and the nights are cool, make sure you plan accordingly, otherwise, you could suffer greatly lol.
- Know what kind of trip you want beforehand, each hotel has a different vibe. Some places play music till late in the night, and if you’re looking for a relaxing trip, that won’t be it. On the flip side, if you are looking to day drink and socialize, the relaxing hotels aren’t for you. Just make sure you know before you go.
Final Thoughts
Palm Springs is so much fun and a place that everyone needs to go once in their lifetime — especially if you are visiting Los Angeles. It’s a great place to either relax, party or have a mixture of both. Having been there several times, I have had a different experience each time. I would recommend 1-2 nights here. It’s a place that doesn’t require much time to get the gist, but if you can stay longer, do it!
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