Livin’ it up at the Hotel California

When my wife came to me describing this great place she found on the web 3000 miles away where we were going to spend our 26^th anniversary, I was intrigued. When she told me it was the Hotel California, on the edge of the Sonoran Desert in Palm Springs, I was a little worried. In my mind’s interpretation of the legendary Hotel California made famous by the Eagles, I expected a kitschy hotel, older and probably needing some attention – not my idea of anniversary destination!

Upon arriving at the Hotel California my expectations were completely blown out of the water. It was undeniably “such a lovely place” where “you can check-out any time you like, but you can (will never want to) leave.” I was very disappointed that we only had 1 night to enjoy this spectacular property.

A GoGirlfriend Recommendation worth a second look…

From the first seconds of the registration process with Curly, to the walk-through of the property seeing the lushness of the greenery everywhere, we discovered an amazing experience most other hotels simply do not deliver.

Their #1 Ranking on Tripadvisor for the Palm Springs area and Travelers Choice Award 2017 (many years rolling) are accolades that can only be maintained by consistent service and an outstanding property. I was indubitably impressed!

What we loved about the Hotel California property

• Property features that transform the Hotel California into a definite must-visit if you’re ever in the Palm Springs area:
• Enter the grounds through a vine-covered arch leading to the pool area surrounded by palms, bamboo, jasmine arbors and wisteria.
• Built in 1965 and well-maintained, the greenery is lush everywhere without being obtrusive, artfully climbing, winding, and covering available spaces.
• A small boutique hotel with 14 rooms spread across two floors: king beds dressed in white linens beside a cozy sitting area with TV and DVD player, mini kitchenette and fridge.
• Most rooms also feature a private patio for a private late night tête–à–tête or your morning coffee surrounded by jasmine vines.
• Poolside (or hot tub sized for 6) sit loungers with over-sized towels, a corner cabana, and large sun umbrellas for quiet relaxation.
• Soak in the pool (a comfortable 88'F) surrounded by bamboo fronds and imagine you’ve found your own personal blue lagoon.
• Fountains trickle amongst the terra cotta stone tile surrounding the pool, the buildings designed in earthy Santa Fe styled tones and tile roofs. Enjoy the frittering hummingbirds amongst the greenery.
• Adults only (18+) designated for couples relaxation (easy to relax and not have to think)

But there’s more to enjoy at the Hotel California

Not to be outdone by the spectacular property features are the simple yet wonderful amenities this small boutique hotel offers … simply as a part of the experience.

• The Hotel California offers a common living room lounge with a healthy library of DVDs and books, menus of all the restaurants in the area to peruse (we chose Mirasols Mexican Restaurant), and sofas for relaxing and conversing with other guests.
• A fully stocked kitchen (and outside BBQs for guest use) with a stocked fridge and cupboards with condiments and spices, coffee, fruit and snacks for guest use.
• Beer, wine, and pop are all free and included in the room price.
• A characteristic (and character) that makes the Hotel California a spectacular experience is Curly – he mans at the front desk. Delivering spectacular service with a wealth of information, Curly takes you on a resort walk-through of all the features and is often found still present at 9pm for a thoughtful chat before handing the evening services over to Mike who keeps the resort secure and serviced overnight.
• Bikes available (and free) to borrow for a tour of the area.
• Extremely reasonably priced at about $140 per night (through Booking.com).
• If I could add one suggestion, it would be the addition of an outside shower by the pool area with large spring-rain showerhead. It just would be the pièce de ré·sis·tance.

We spoke to other couples who visited from Canada and San Diego and asked them why they chose the Hotel California – a few had returned for a second or third visit. They said it was because the service and facilities were top-notch and raved about how the hotel lived up to its prestigious TripAdvisor rating. Well done, Hotel California!

To say I enjoyed our visit to the Hotel California would be an understatement. The service, the facility and the cultivation of relaxation easily makes this as one of my top picks as a hotel I’d happily visit anytime I’m in the area.

To peruse their stellar 5.o Excellent ratings on their Tripadvisor reviews, or to book a room at the Hotel California, or simply to connect with them on Facebook just to see how their fans rave about them, we know you will enjoy the experience as much as we did.

Where to eat and play near the Hotel California

• We hit the patio for dinner at El Mirasol’s Mexican Restaurant just down the road - we were warned about the margaritas (very true) and that Mirasols was close enough to walk to (4 min) and close enough to crawl back to the Hotel California. Good advice.
• Hit the local grocer and grill or cook on-site to enjoy your meal with continued relaxation on your patio or lounger.
• To escape the desert heat, take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up 8500 feet for spectacular views and a great restaurant at the summit.
• Drive the winding mountain roads and explore Idylldwild and its quaint shops and restaurants.
• Need some exercise - check out our West Fork Trail hike in the Indian Canyon area we mention in our adventure hike roundup.
• The Palm Springs downtown core has a thriving upscale shopping district that boasts the finest names and fashions in the shadow of the San Jacinto Mountains.

Have you been to the Hotel California? Any other gems in the Palm Springs area? We’d love to hear about your stay. Drop a comment below or connect with GoGirlfriend on Facebook or Twitter.