Attention! - 13th Annual Palm Springs Weekend, 2017

[+ Charlie]

It was good to meet you. I hope you got your voice back after all that socializing at the party.

[+ purplekow]

It was good to meet you. I hope you got your voice back after all that socializing at the party.

 

So socializing is what we are calling the cause of sore throat and voice loss at the party. Okay. Very discreet.

[mike carey]

It was good to meet you. I hope you got your voice back after all that socializing at the party.

Likewise Charlie. My voice is indeed back, well almost.

So socializing is what we are calling the cause of sore throat and voice loss at the party. Okay. Very discreet.

And I was socialising at the party, not 'socialising', so I have no idea what you could mean about discretion. Or otherwise. I make no comment about what I may or may not have done before or after the party.

[Epigonos]

I guess it is about time for me to chime in on these post-Palm Springs Weekend comments. First I would like to thank all of you for the very kind words regarding the weekend events and the planning that went into them. Although I have been known to whine about the work involved, the truth is it is all nonsense on my part, the actual fact is I enjoy every minute of the planning and the food preparation. I even enjoy making those damned deviled eggs that I hate so much.

 

What really makes the Palm Springs Weekend so special is those of you who choose to attend. Camaraderie and fellowship is what it is all about. Jawjateck nailed it when he stated “It’s all about community”. My most sincere thanks to all of you who attended; you made it an unforgettable experience for me . I look forward to seeing you all again next year PLUS many, many more who have hesitated, in the past, to join us.

[TruthBTold]

Is that music festival on the same weekend dates every year? From what I understand that made some hotel rooms hard to procure.

[Despardo]

Where to start? Now that I'm safely home I have time to reflect on the last couple of weeks, particularly the great few days I had in Palm Springs. I arrived there fairly confident that the weekend would live up to the high praise past events had generated, excited that I would meet a couple of people in particular and looking forward to whatever else might arise (no, not 'arise' like that). I was not disappointed.

 

It was great to see again some of those I had met in DC last year. More than that, it was ever so good to put a bunch of new faces to names, and names and/or faces to Forum handles. As I think back on the weekend, I realise I did not connect as many dots as I could have. I spoke to people whose handles I knew without actually finding out what their names were (not talking about escorts whose handles are their names at times like this), and I spoke to people without linking either a name or a handle to the person. Perhaps I should have been more meticulous in my introductions, mea culpa but hey, shoot me, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the event.

 

I echo others in their praise of Oliver, Epigonis and Justin for the way they orchestrated three fabulous funtions, and kept our unruly mob in line. Well, during the functions, I make no assessment as to whether 'in line' describes other times over the weekend. As the time passes, my memories of Palm Springs and of the fine men I met are no less vivid than they were when I was leaving. Thanks everyone for a great experience, I'm already looking forward to the next edition!

Great meeting you Mike. Hope to see you again next year.

[Epigonos]

The problem with dates for the Palm Springs Weekend are numerous. During the "Season" there is a major event scheduled for ever weekend. This is especially the case during April when the weather is best. Add Easter to the mix and it becomes impossible NOT to conflict with some other major event. Additionally Oliver leaves Palm Springs to return home to the Midwest the first of May and must have time to pack. The best way to avoid lodging problems is to book EARLY and cancel if plans change.

See you all next year.

[mike carey]

I booked about five to six weeks out and had no problems. The price had risen since I'd checked a couple of weeks earlier but availability was not a problem. Having been there once I may well chose a different location next time but that's a separate issue; I knew several forum members were staying at the hotel I chose and that was good enough for me at the time.

[+ glennnn]

Ditto all of the above. A splendid party, indeed! This was my second year and l was able to just relax and go with the flow. Thank you to everyone. I loved the friendly vibe and meeting everyone. It was just about perfect, except I pooped out after Sunday's dinner and missed the karaoke event. Damn!! Oh well, the pollen count from the wet winter and spring in California had my allergies front and center and my voice gone anyway. Special thanks to my escorts and all who organized a wonderful event.

 

Nota Bene: INNDulge is beautiful (roomy, elegant, clean, well-staffed, etc.), but rather pricey. I would love to hear some reviews of where others stayed as prep for next year. Where did you stay? How was it? My stay was over $700 for three nights. Thanks

[+ purplekow]

Ditto all of the above. A splendid party, indeed! This was my second year and l was able to just relax and go with the flow. Thank you to everyone. I loved the friendly vibe and meeting everyone. It was just about perfect, except I pooped out after Sunday's dinner and missed the karaoke event. Damn!! Oh well, the pollen count from the wet winter and spring in California had my allergies front and center and my voice gone anyway. Special thanks to my escorts and all who organized a wonderful event.

 

Nota Bene: INNDulge is beautiful (roomy, elegant, clean, well-staffed, etc.), but rather pricey. I would love to hear some reviews of where others stayed as prep for next year. Where did you stay? How was it? My stay was over $700 for three nights. Thanks

 

Chintzy, cheap, and cheesy but cheerful accommodations was my target and I hit a bull's eye with the Canyon Club. The place is centrally located with several restaurants and coffee shops within easy walking distance. It was a fun and social environment but not a great hotel experience. Hot water was in short supply. The air conditioning at some rooms was intermittent. The place itself was a bit dilapidated. Breakfast was included but the coffee was scarce. All in all, it was perfect for this kind of event in that you wanted to spend as little time in the room as possible but once out of the room, there was definitely a party going on.

 

The total bill for five days was about $750. I believe it was Ace who arranged for a stay three days and get a fourth day free option but I did not know about it. That option would have lowered that price about $150. I shared the room with another forum member, so conceivably the total cost for 4 days may have been as little as $300 per person.

 

The Canyon Club is definitely not for those traveling on a private jet, or those who need 1000 thread Egyptian cotton sheets or those with phobias about hotel rooms and the nature of the people who have stayed there before. For a fun, inexpensive getaway with plenty of fun guys it was perfect. I am glad I stayed there. I have not been to a clothing optional location before though nudity is not an issue for me, but while there were plenty of candles in the wind, one would not feel socially uncomfortable even if choosing a burkini.

 

I think using Canyon Club as an event home hotel would not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those wanting to do a few shots and hang with the boys, it was spot on.

[+ jrhoutex]

I would like to extend my appreciation to @Oliver for organizing the event and @Epigonos for the delightful hors d’oeuvres and @jasoncarter_dfw for his contributions! I know everyone raves over those deviled eggs, but the bacon wrap dates were quite tasty too!

 

Each year it just gets better! I stayed at Inndulge this year along with 4 other attendees. Certainly enjoyed meeting and visiting with everyone! Agree with others, Inndulge is a nice place to stay - recently remodeled comfortable rooms. Service was welcoming, friendly and helpful. Great pool and hot tub. I had a superior room which was adequate for two.

 

Booking a trip to PS in April may require planning but you can also book and cancel 90 days out if your plans change. I found that most of the gay resorts (Inndulge, Canyon club, Santiago) did not increase they basic room rate due to the other events in the area (Coachella). I booked my trip 6 months out knowing that I could cancel if I needed to. You can certainly save $100 - $200 flying into LAX, SNA, or ONT and drive over to PSP but the traffic is not predictable. Glad I choose to fly into PSP this year with Coachella going on. Note, if your schedule permits try to stay a couple of days longer in PS, returning on Tuesday or Wednesday and that will significantly lower your airfare.

 

I arrived on Thursday this year and attended the informal gathering at DavidSF’s home that he graciously offered to those of us traveling in a day early. I never met the David and was hesitant to attend but I knew I would know others. This was a great way to begin the weekend. Nice to finally meet DavidSF!

 

And of course, it was fun spending time with @MikeCruiseNYC.

 

Looking forward to next years PS event as well!

[+ Robster]

I believe it was Ace who arranged for a stay three days and get a fourth day free option but I did not know about it.

Wayne and I took advantage of that special too. They offer it year-round, with the exception of holidays and special events (Pride, White Party, etc.) but you do have to call them to get the 4th night free, as opposed to making your reservation online. Oh, and if you book five nights, you get two free, an even better deal.

 

We paid just $300, with tax, for four nights. Our room was nothing fancy, of course, quite the opposite. But I never spend much time in the room anyway.

 

They do have rooms that are bigger and nicer, but of course, they're more expensive. But you can still get the 4th night free with one of those rooms as well.

 

Rob

[Jose305]

Sorry for my naive question - is this a gathering for men who rent escorts only or just a yearly social?

[+ azdr0710]

Sorry for my naive question - is this a gathering for men who rent escorts only or just a yearly social?

 

it's a very friendly and casual gathering for all members of this forum.....certainly a very social event, but anything can happen......

[Jose305]

it's a very friendly and casual gathering for all members of this forum.....certainly a very social event, but anything can happen......

Ok thank you...

[Dave]

Thanks to everyone who enhanced my weekend, in one way or another - which includes pretty much everyone then!

 

"The Great 7 Man Orgy of 2017", hahaha.

 

Arrived back in Bali 10 hours ago... I'll soon be attending a morning guided meditation, and then going into a business meeting at noon with my Landscape Designer. Ahhh, the ability to compartmentalize - and I mean EVERYTHING. I bet we all do it to some extent... especially those of us who just came out of Palm Springs.

 

Great memories of DR PS 2017. Thanks Oliver et al!

[Despardo]

I reserved a room at Inndulge last July, but changed my mind about 5 weeks ago and went with Canyon Club, which was considerably cheaper. I did not know about the free night special--will ask next time. My main reason for switching (which was easy to do) was that many forum members seemed to have chosen Canyon Club and I wanted to be able to socialize with them. That part worked out great. The atmosphere at CC was exactly what I wanted--the quality of the room, not so much. I wrote what I consider a very fair review of the place on TripAdvisor, citing the positives and negatives. I found the accommodations clean, but shabby. Have some of the rooms been upgraded? Mine was not. I am anything but fussy, but having worked in the apartment industry, I found a marked lack of attention to detail. Many deficiencies I noticed could have been easily corrected at small expense, others would require more of an investment to modernize.

 

Shall I be specific? I enjoyed staying there for the social mix, but... The furnishings in the room were old and of a wildly incompatible mix of styles; there was a severe shortage of electrical outlets which made recharging devices a challenge; the AC cycled on and off noisily all night; the towel bar in the bathroom appeared to have broken off some years ago with only one end still protruding from the wall drawing attention to the fact that the bar itself was missing (It is neither difficult nor expensive to replace a towel bar); the bathtub was technically clean, but badly worn and scratched up (it desperately needed re-enameling); the water was hot most of the time, but the ineffective antique shower head should have been replaced long ago; there was no room safe, which would have been reassuring considering the number of cash transactions I had planned; there was no light anywhere near the desk; I couldn't get the TV to work; and the WIFI was intermittent and extremely slow. There was a serviceable fridge, but no coffee pot. So, there was nothing lacking that I could not deal with, but more attention to detail in the room would have made it more comfortable. Also, when I tried to print out my boarding pass on the lobby computer, I was told that the printer next to it no longer worked and had not done so for some time--printers are cheap!

 

So, next year I have a dilemma. Do I stay at Canyon Club for the camaraderie, or Indulge for the superior accommodations? Tough call. Maybe I should request an upgraded room at CC if there are such things there. I did have a good time and I am not as picky as I may sound here.

[+ Robster]

the towel bar in the bathroom appeared to have broken off some years ago with only one end still protruding from the wall drawing attention to the fact that the bar itself was missing (It is neither difficult nor expensive to replace a towel bar)

The towel bar in our bathroom was missing too, and has been for quite some time. I also had issues with the refrigerator, but other than that, no real problems. I should probably mention that we always stay in one of their $89 rooms when we can. They definitely have much nicer rooms; I've been in quite a few of them.

 

I have to say, their beds are incredibly comfortable! I haven't found a bad one yet, lol.

 

Rob

[AndreFuture]

I reserved a room at Inndulge last July, but changed my mind about 5 weeks ago and went with Canyon Club, which was considerably cheaper. I did not know about the free night special--will ask next time. My main reason for switching (which was easy to do) was that many forum members seemed to have chosen Canyon Club and I wanted to be able to socialize with them. That part worked out great. The atmosphere at CC was exactly what I wanted--the quality of the room, not so much. I wrote what I consider a very fair review of the place on TripAdvisor, citing the positives and negatives. I found the accommodations clean, but shabby. Have some of the rooms been upgraded? Mine was not. I am anything but fussy, but having worked in the apartment industry, I found a marked lack of attention to detail. Many deficiencies I noticed could have been easily corrected at small expense, others would require more of an investment to modernize.

 

Shall I be specific? I enjoyed staying there for the social mix, but... The furnishings in the room were old and of a wildly incompatible mix of styles; there was a severe shortage of electrical outlets which made recharging devices a challenge; the AC cycled on and off noisily all night; the towel bar in the bathroom appeared to have broken off some years ago with only one end still protruding from the wall drawing attention to the fact that the bar itself was missing (It is neither difficult nor expensive to replace a towel bar); the bathtub was technically clean, but badly worn and scratched up (it desperately needed re-enameling); the water was hot most of the time, but the ineffective antique shower head should have been replaced long ago; there was no room safe, which would have been reassuring considering the number of cash transactions I had planned; there was no light anywhere near the desk; I couldn't get the TV to work; and the WIFI was intermittent and extremely slow. There was a serviceable fridge, but no coffee pot. So, there was nothing lacking that I could not deal with, but more attention to detail in the room would have made it more comfortable. Also, when I tried to print out my boarding pass on the lobby computer, I was told that the printer next to it no longer worked and had not done so for some time--printers are cheap!

 

So, next year I have a dilemma. Do I stay at Canyon Club for the camaraderie, or Indulge for the superior accommodations? Tough call. Maybe I should request an upgraded room at CC if there are such things there. I did have a good time and I am not as picky as I may sound here.

 

This sounds like my experience. I'm not a snob by any means, but the quality of the accommodations were less than what you'd expect at a Motel 6, and as you said, would be inexpensive to fix.

[Despardo]

The towel bar in our bathroom was missing too, and has been for quite some time. I also had issues with the refrigerator, but other than that, no real problems. I should probably mention that we always stay in one of their $89 rooms when we can. They definitely have much nicer rooms; I've been in quite a few of them.

 

I have to say, their beds are incredibly comfortable! I haven't found a bad one yet, lol.

 

Rob

Rob,

 

That makes sense. For $89, I wouldn't grumble either. I think I paid $143 or something, which is OK. My bed also was very comfortable. Maybe next year I will budget for an upgrade. Really liked the crowd at CC. I suspect they are planning to update the whole property, but are doing it a little at a time.

[Despardo]

This sounds like my experience. I'm not a snob by any means, but the quality of the accommodations were less than what you'd expect at a Motel 6, and as you said, would be inexpensive to fix.

I suspect that the owners are planning to upgrade and update all the rooms. It would make economic sense to do so. That is where they are putting their money, not into the "classic" (the apartment term meaning un-rennovated) rooms. They are not going to spend any money on an a room that is slated to be "gutted" and completely redone. That thought just occurred to me.

[+ purplekow]

I suspect that the owners are planning to upgrade and update all the rooms. It would make economic sense to do so. That is where they are putting their money, not into the "classic" (the apartment term meaning un-rennovated) rooms. They are not going to spend any money on an a room that is slated to be "gutted" and completely redone. That thought just occurred to me.

As far as the bed at Canyon Club, I found it amazingly comfortable when sharing it and tremendously uncomfortable when in it by myself. I am at a loss as to an explanation for the difference.

[leeper]

Due to various conflicts I haven't been able to make it to Palm Springs for this event for the past two years. I have been able to make it only twice, but had an exceptional time when I did. Reading through this thread has added to my regret that I wasn't able to attend. Oliver is such a wonderful host and the group is so welcoming. Perhaps next year...

[Despardo]

As far as the bed at Canyon Club, I found it amazingly comfortable when sharing it and tremendously uncomfortable when in it by myself. I am at a loss as to an explanation for the difference.

Perchance you were distracted.

[+ José Soplanucas]

I am curious about the group dynamics in PS. When there are group activities, do escorts participate with no charge? Of course I am talking about sex.