Palm Springs Resorts.

[+ haring222]

I thought I would bump up a thread about my experiences in Palm Springs at various resorts.

 

Thus far, I have experienced four of the clothing optional resorts, an two of the more main stream places.

 

The Parker

Fancy place, Jonathan Adler designed. Beautiful grounds; I was there for a wedding, which they seem to do a lot of. It was really costly; I think my total bill for the weekend was almost 2 grand (but that did include some meals and drinking). I would skip it, but head there for brunch or lunch if you want to see it.

 

The Ace

I checked this out for a friends birthday weekend...the firm that designed it is called Commune, and they did an awesome job. Very sort of 60s chic vibe, they took an old motor lodge and made it cool. The clientele are very (well, to be blunt) douch-ey. Entitled 25 to 35 year old folks. Lot's of well done breast implants. The old school diner charged $16 for eggs and toast. I had fun, but mostly because of the block of friends that I went there with. It was more expensive than it was worth.

 

The Century

Gay, clothing optional. Small resort, 10 or 12 rooms. This was my first clothing optional experience, which was not as weird as I thought it would be. It really does not matter if you want to be naked or not. I thought the hotel was really cool, but also a little bit late 90s dated...but I now know that it is pretty chic as far as palm springs clothing optional goes. The hotel is small enough that everyone is super friendly with each other, and they do a magical 5 PM cocktail hour that really makes everyone hang out and chat. Great staff, friendly owners as well. The hot tub is super fun. The vibe is not overtly sexual, though I think some naughty times happens....it is more discrete and not creepy. My only complaint (seriously) is that the sliding doors are a little bit janky to try and lock....I would advise against bringing anything expensive with you so you don't have to worry about keeping the room secured. It is in Warm Sands, parking is easy...you can grab lunch if you take a 10 minute walk up the street and you can be to downtown PS in about a 25 minute walk / $8 uber ride. The folks that stay there tend to be sort of well heeled gay guys, 30-50ish.

 

The Canyon Club

OK, so it's pretty much a bath house. The check in counter has a lube display if that tells you anything. Outstanding downtown location. The pictures online are not accurate...they make it look sort of nautical and pretty, but the place has a seedy sort of rundown late 80s vibe. I kept wondering why the coke dispenser room smelled like lube until I realized it abutted a dark room sort of area. My room was cleanish with stained brown carpeting and was so un stylish that it was sort of honest about it. The crowd during the day skewed older (40 to 60) and they sell day passes, so outside folks were coming in to hang out. I was there for two nights, on night #1 I had a fun time hanging out with a guy visiting from out of town and on night #2 I had really good sex with a 25 year old fellow who must have been there on a day pass...he knocked on my room window and I got to know his bubble butt very well. The vibe was friendly-ish and a little bit skanky, which I did not mind. This place is very affordable and the location is awesome.

 

El Mirasol Villas

Not a fan. Sort of friendly staff (well, I only met one guy working there). Beautiful landscaping in general, two pools. They will loan you a porn DVD at reception but I did not get a sexual vibe at all. I had booked a room there for 4 nights, ended up moving hotels after one night; I think there are 20 rooms (give or take) but I only saw 4 other guests. One fellow was mid 50s and so tan he resembled tree bark, one mid 70s gay couple who were cute but passed a lot of gas while sunbathing, and one fellow who was in his room the entire time but had a procession of escorts come and go from it...I would assume he was the most interesting out of the lot. I think it was just not the right place for me. The room was TACKY...aggressively fake mexican furnishings. I would rather a space be taste free instead of tasteless. I think if you wanted a quiet couples only weekend this would be a great place to do it. After one night I realized I would rather pay for two rooms than remain any longer.

 

All Worlds

This place is also pretty much a bath house. The main resort is a big compound with (four?) pools, one small hot tub, and a wide array of buildings. All ages of people were there. They sell day and night passes, which brings a lot of people in. I had a lot of fun; there is a really active and super friendly dark room setup and they do a fun Sunday BBQ in the afternoon. Nice staff. Rooms were a little bit beat up but fine. There were guys there in their 20s all the way to 70s. The main resort is very busy, lot's going on. The Annex, which is across a street from it, has it's own pool and hot tub and is super quiet. My room was back there, and was nice...I think I would rather be in the main resort but the annex would be better if you wanted someplace quieter. I had a lot of sex there, which was kind of fun. Three problems: There was a lot of drug use. Lot's of smoking pot (whatever) but also a major group of people on crystal meth. They all seemed to know each other, so maybe it was just a drug friends vacation situation but grindr was full of people in the resort referring to crystal and one guy actually sat in a chair by the pool with a thing tied off around his arm...I thought he was going to shoot up right there. The owner was present, and was having an argument with his 'boy toy', which apparently change often...that was weird energy. It also got a little bit creepy at night back in the annex. I was a little weirded out by the drug guys, and did not feel 100% safe....I was up stupid early on Sunday morning and hopped into the hot tub with a book at 7 AM and was joined with two super sketch guys who were on substances and were still up from the night before. I actually had a lot of fun staying there, though I think I would probably book rooms again at the Century (just a block over) and get a day pass to hang out at All Worlds.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

The Parker is beautiful. Then again, I love Adler's design aesthetic.

 

I still think the best bang for your buck is renting a private home. The inventory of beautifully kept mid-century mod houses in PS is likely the best in the world.

 

My two favorites are the Skyfall house and the Twin Palms estate (aka, the Frank Sinatra house):

 

https://www.luxuryretreats.com/vacation-rentals/united-states/california-desert-cities/palm-springs/skyfall-114593

 

http://www.sinatrahouse.com/

[+ Pensant]

Helpful report. I stayed at Hacienda Warm Springs in 2004 with a cute blond. Loved it. Being an obsessive neat freak, I’d probably avoid any place that isn’t spotlessly clean and quiet. As soon as I know the dates for the 2019 gathering, I’ll book flights and rooms. Thanks.

[TruthBTold]

The last few years I have only stayed at the Hacienda. The one thing I dislike about it is that few people at the Weekend stay there so for better or worse you are there by yourself. One year I brought a "special guest" and that was very nice. The suites are spacious as is the bathroom. There is a kitchen in case you want to cook your own dinner. A continental (the continent where people eat like pigs it appears) breakfast and a gourmet cold lunch are served. You are given a menu after breakfast that you give back to the staff and the lunch is delivered. If you don't want to eat it lunchtime they will put it in the fridge for you and you can eat it for your dinner. Wine is also served with lunch (if you like) and I always think that is a plus. There are 10 rooms total to the hotel - 5 on one side, 5 on the other separated by a breezeway where the breakfast is served. Each side has its own pool, one side has a jacuzzi. The staff is all great and really friendly. As I mentioned, the suites are large and there is a pull out in the living room if for whatever reason you find someone needs to stay. You just need to be discreet about it. It is more like a place where couples might come to celebrate an anniversary although I have seen frolicking in the jacuzzi take place. Again it tends to be discreet. So, while the piggish side of me really, really wants to stay at one of the more risqué establishments the lazier side loves having my lunch served to me poolside. P.S. I do have a knight in shining armor who carts my lazy ass around and I get to visit the other places to escape the quietness of the Hacienda.

[+ José Soplanucas]

The last few years I have only stayed at the Hacienda. The one thing I dislike about it is that few people at the Weekend stay there so for better or worse you are there by yourself. One year I brought a "special guest" and that was very nice. The suites are spacious as is the bathroom. There is a kitchen in case you want to cook your own dinner. A continental (the continent where people eat like pigs it appears) breakfast and a gourmet cold lunch are served. You are given a menu after breakfast that you give back to the staff and the lunch is delivered. If you don't want to eat it lunchtime they will put it in the fridge for you and you can eat it for your dinner. Wine is also served with lunch (if you like) and I always think that is a plus. There are 10 rooms total to the hotel - 5 on one side, 5 on the other separated by a breezeway where the breakfast is served. Each side has its own pool, one side has a jacuzzi. The staff is all great and really friendly. As I mentioned, the suites are large and there is a pull out in the living room if for whatever reason you find someone needs to stay. You just need to be discreet about it. It is more like a place where couples might come to celebrate an anniversary although I have seen frolicking in the jacuzzi take place. Again it tends to be discreet. So, while the piggish side of me really, really wants to stay at one of the more risqué establishments the lazier side loves having my lunch served to me poolside. P.S. I do have a knight in shining armor who carts my lazy ass around and I get to visit the other places to escape the quietness of the Hacienda.

 

We all love that shiny knight taking all the miladies in his horse. Gracias @azdr0710 !

[bigvalboy]

I concur with @TruthBTold excellent analysis on his recommendations for the Hacienda.

[+ Lance_Navarro]

I saw a client at the Triangle Inn this year. A first time being there and it was quite cute. A small place, probably less than a dozen rooms, with lots of lovely landscaping and a chill naked vibe, that I'm sure could get cruisy, but overall was relaxed. The pool area is small, but adequate. I also had friends staying at Inndulge and found it to be really nice as well. Beautiful grounds with sculptures and a big pool and hot tub. I would recommend either. I was staying with an ex-client on this trip, so I had my own pool and hot tub

 

[TruthBTold]

I wanted to make my way to Inndulge, which is right down the way from the Hacienda, to check it out. I had heard it was nice and I knew there were a couple of the attendees staying there. I did not have the chance so maybe next year.

[Stormy]

It's probably been 20 years since I last visited Palm Springs. I stayed at a wonderfully slutty resort called Inn Exile. Is it still there?

[+ Socalguy]

It's probably been 20 years since I last visited Palm Springs. I stayed at a wonderfully slutty resort called Inn Exile. Is it still there?

Yes and no. It was bought several times (at one point becoming a straight resort) and most recently was purchased by All Worlds across the street. They are now calling it the All Worlds Annex. Same amount of concrete though (the place is practically carved out of it). After All Worlds bought it, they created a really large "maze" out of some of the buildings in back. It was really cool with many different rooms to walk through. Some had glory holes, some had slings, etc, etc. Unfortunately, it (the maze, not the resort) got closed down not long after opening because they didn't get the proper licensing so the Maze is gone but the resort lives on.

[njr47]

I like the Desert Paradise in the Warm Sands area, smallish (10+ rooms), clean, clothing optional and a little funky (very large brass chandelier in one of the palm trees). Gay, but not overtly cruisy, and staff, who are friendly and helpful.

[+ azdr0710]

when visiting the Coachella Valley, I INSIST on staying at the Desert Lodge.....

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32847-d77248-Reviews-Desert_Lodge-Palm_Springs_Greater_Palm_Springs_California.html

 

scroll down for rave reviews of this paradise on the desert:

 

https://www.yelp.com/biz/desert-lodge-palm-springs

 

 

 

Edited April 21, 2018 by azdr0710

[+ Lance_Navarro]

when visiting the Coachella Valley, I simply INSIST on staying at the Desert Lodge.....

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32847-d77248-Reviews-Desert_Lodge-Palm_Springs_Greater_Palm_Springs_California.html

 

Wow, what a shitbox! And yet still they can get $200/night over Coachella.

[+ Pensant]

Once the 2019 dates are announced, I’ll book the Hacienda.

[TruthBTold]

Once the 2019 dates are announced, I’ll book the Hacienda.

 

If all things work out I'm right behind you.

[nate_sf]

Hey @haring222 thanks for sharing your experiences!

 

The Century

Gay, clothing optional. Small resort, 10 or 12 rooms. This was my first clothing optional experience, which was not as weird as I thought it would be. It really does not matter if you want to be naked or not. I thought the hotel was really cool, but also a little bit late 90s dated...but I now know that it is pretty chic as far as palm springs clothing optional goes. The hotel is small enough that everyone is super friendly with each other, and they do a magical 5 PM cocktail hour that really makes everyone hang out and chat. Great staff, friendly owners as well. The hot tub is super fun. The vibe is not overtly sexual, though I think some naughty times happens....it is more discrete and not creepy. My only complaint (seriously) is that the sliding doors are a little bit janky to try and lock....I would advise against bringing anything expensive with you so you don't have to worry about keeping the room secured. It is in Warm Sands, parking is easy...you can grab lunch if you take a 10 minute walk up the street and you can be to downtown PS in about a 25 minute walk / $8 uber ride. The folks that stay there tend to be sort of well heeled gay guys, 30-50ish.

 

I stayed at the Century this year and overall really liked it. They've put a lot of thought into the design and it's well maintained, and the price was not bad. I think the rate was about the same as InnDulge across the street. As you mention the location is really good, close to lots of things. The clothing-optional aspect was inconsistent... for the most part the guys all wore swimwear, to the point that I went back in my room to review the hotel's website to confirm it really was clothing-optional. Saturday afternoon a number of guys went naked, but by Sunday morning the swimsuits were all back on. Maybe it's the afternoon heat that gets folks to release their inhibitions? In any case, I'd stay there again.

 

The Ace

I checked this out for a friends birthday weekend...the firm that designed it is called Commune, and they did an awesome job. Very sort of 60s chic vibe, they took an old motor lodge and made it cool. The clientele are very (well, to be blunt) douch-ey. Entitled 25 to 35 year old folks. Lot's of well done breast implants. The old school diner charged $16 for eggs and toast. I had fun, but mostly because of the block of friends that I went there with. It was more expensive than it was worth.

 

A couple of years ago I went with a friend who had a day pass (I'm not sure they usually have these, he may have known somebody). We spent a few hours by the pool and watched the scene. And it is quite a scene. Overall hetero, though I think there may have been a few gays here and there, and all very much beautiful-people. Also lots of dogs, as the hotel allows dogs. The dogs are allowed to hang out by the pool with their owners, usually sitting in the shade under umbrellas or deck chairs, and as would be expected the dogs were as beautiful as their owners, if not more so. The cocktails and food are great, and there's poolside service, so we had fun sitting and ordering food and drinks the entire time. Fun for a few hours by the pool, but I wouldn't want to stay there. Too many men wearing board shorts, which is just a shame.

Edited April 21, 2018 by nate_sf

[+ Pensant]

I can’t imagine going nude, lol. I have a 31/3w waist and work out daily, but I still feel weird about it.

[+ Robster]

I can’t imagine going nude, lol. I have a 31/32 waist and work out daily, but I still feel weird about it.

It takes some getting used to, certainly. My first trip to a clothing optional resort was back in the mid 90's, with my ex. The first day or two we were there, I couldn't go nude at all. Eventually I was able to go nude while in the pool, but still had to cover up when I got out. After that, I was able to lie on a pool chair nude, but still had to cover up when walking around. I was still at that point when Wayne and I started staying at the PS resorts on a regular basis, about nine years ago. But we started going so frequently that before too long, I was able to walk around the resort nude as well. And now, of course, I absolutely love it.

 

There were plenty of guys last weekend who didn't go nude, as far as I saw. And then there were guys like me who ran around naked whenever possible.

 

Rob

[+ Pensant]

Given a few drinks and a small edible, I suppose I’ll drop trou.

[caliguy]

I thought I would bump up a thread about my experiences in Palm Springs at various resorts.

 

Thus far, I have experienced four of the clothing optional resorts, an two of the more main stream places.

 

The Parker

Fancy place, Jonathan Adler designed. Beautiful grounds; I was there for a wedding, which they seem to do a lot of. It was really costly; I think my total bill for the weekend was almost 2 grand (but that did include some meals and drinking). I would skip it, but head there for brunch or lunch if you want to see it.

 

The Ace

I checked this out for a friends birthday weekend...the firm that designed it is called Commune, and they did an awesome job. Very sort of 60s chic vibe, they took an old motor lodge and made it cool. The clientele are very (well, to be blunt) douch-ey. Entitled 25 to 35 year old folks. Lot's of well done breast implants. The old school diner charged $16 for eggs and toast. I had fun, but mostly because of the block of friends that I went there with. It was more expensive than it was worth.

 

The Century

Gay, clothing optional. Small resort, 10 or 12 rooms. This was my first clothing optional experience, which was not as weird as I thought it would be. It really does not matter if you want to be naked or not. I thought the hotel was really cool, but also a little bit late 90s dated...but I now know that it is pretty chic as far as palm springs clothing optional goes. The hotel is small enough that everyone is super friendly with each other, and they do a magical 5 PM cocktail hour that really makes everyone hang out and chat. Great staff, friendly owners as well. The hot tub is super fun. The vibe is not overtly sexual, though I think some naughty times happens....it is more discrete and not creepy. My only complaint (seriously) is that the sliding doors are a little bit janky to try and lock....I would advise against bringing anything expensive with you so you don't have to worry about keeping the room secured. It is in Warm Sands, parking is easy...you can grab lunch if you take a 10 minute walk up the street and you can be to downtown PS in about a 25 minute walk / $8 uber ride. The folks that stay there tend to be sort of well heeled gay guys, 30-50ish.

 

The Canyon Club

OK, so it's pretty much a bath house. The check in counter has a lube display if that tells you anything. Outstanding downtown location. The pictures online are not accurate...they make it look sort of nautical and pretty, but the place has a seedy sort of rundown late 80s vibe. I kept wondering why the coke dispenser room smelled like lube until I realized it abutted a dark room sort of area. My room was cleanish with stained brown carpeting and was so un stylish that it was sort of honest about it. The crowd during the day skewed older (40 to 60) and they sell day passes, so outside folks were coming in to hang out. I was there for two nights, on night #1 I had a fun time hanging out with a guy visiting from out of town and on night #2 I had really good sex with a 25 year old fellow who must have been there on a day pass...he knocked on my room window and I got to know his bubble butt very well. The vibe was friendly-ish and a little bit skanky, which I did not mind. This place is very affordable and the location is awesome.

 

El Mirasol Villas

Not a fan. Sort of friendly staff (well, I only met one guy working there). Beautiful landscaping in general, two pools. They will loan you a porn DVD at reception but I did not get a sexual vibe at all. I had booked a room there for 4 nights, ended up moving hotels after one night; I think there are 20 rooms (give or take) but I only saw 4 other guests. One fellow was mid 50s and so tan he resembled tree bark, one mid 70s gay couple who were cute but passed a lot of gas while sunbathing, and one fellow who was in his room the entire time but had a procession of escorts come and go from it...I would assume he was the most interesting out of the lot. I think it was just not the right place for me. The room was TACKY...aggressively fake mexican furnishings. I would rather a space be taste free instead of tasteless. I think if you wanted a quiet couples only weekend this would be a great place to do it. After one night I realized I would rather pay for two rooms than remain any longer.

 

All Worlds

This place is also pretty much a bath house. The main resort is a big compound with (four?) pools, one small hot tub, and a wide array of buildings. All ages of people were there. They sell day and night passes, which brings a lot of people in. I had a lot of fun; there is a really active and super friendly dark room setup and they do a fun Sunday BBQ in the afternoon. Nice staff. Rooms were a little bit beat up but fine. There were guys there in their 20s all the way to 70s. The main resort is very busy, lot's going on. The Annex, which is across a street from it, has it's own pool and hot tub and is super quiet. My room was back there, and was nice...I think I would rather be in the main resort but the annex would be better if you wanted someplace quieter. I had a lot of sex there, which was kind of fun. Three problems: There was a lot of drug use. Lot's of smoking pot (whatever) but also a major group of people on crystal meth. They all seemed to know each other, so maybe it was just a drug friends vacation situation but grindr was full of people in the resort referring to crystal and one guy actually sat in a chair by the pool with a thing tied off around his arm...I thought he was going to shoot up right there. The owner was present, and was having an argument with his 'boy toy', which apparently change often...that was weird energy. It also got a little bit creepy at night back in the annex. I was a little weirded out by the drug guys, and did not feel 100% safe....I was up stupid early on Sunday morning and hopped into the hot tub with a book at 7 AM and was joined with two super sketch guys who were on substances and were still up from the night before. I actually had a lot of fun staying there, though I think I would probably book rooms again at the Century (just a block over) and get a day pass to hang out at All Worlds.

Great review.

 

I've been to Mirasol Villas. I like to get up in the morning and go do things. The interesting thing was that the few guys that were there would be out there tanning in the morning and when we got back at the end of the day they were still out there tanning dark as you can be course.

 

They weren't very social either. The same guys you describe. The funny thing is they were all on Grindr and scruff.