Travelers’ Choice awards are the highest honor TripAdvisor gives. Based on reviews and opinions from millions of travelers, La Maison of Palm Springs swept several major categories – which places it in the top 1% of hotels. Book your stay now!
There are many words guests use to describe The Andalusian Court — romantic, private, serene, stunning — but one is used over and over again: Magical.
“The grounds are lush and full of water features and fountains and at night it is lit up like a magical fantasyland,” manager Elaine Manion said. “We had one guest tell us he’s not a sentimental guy, but the property at night almost brought him to tears.”
The Andalusian Court was originally built in 1921, and retains its Spanish revival charm. There are seven private villas, each one with a bedroom, fully-equipped kitchen, luxurious bathroom, dining and living room, and fireplace, and some have private outdoor jacuzzis. The gardens are gorgeous, the courtyard pool and fire pits are inviting, and the guest barbecue is a fun touch. There’s also a Hollywood history — Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz often stayed at The Andalusian Court in Villa 4.
“Everything is unique about this property,” Elaine said. “Every villa is fully contained; it is literally turnkey, so you don’t need anything else. The customer service is impeccable, it’s number one, and the grounds are peaceful. The property is quiet because everyone is on the same page; there’s no loud music at the pool, no screaming. It is adults only, so it does have a very peaceful and serene environment.”
The owners have retained the hotel’s original architecture while adding plush new beds and linens, water heaters, and WiFi to each villa. As a bonus, when guests check-in, they are greeted with a goody bag of snacks and bottled water, and they always know that the staff at The Andalusian Court is ready and excited to help them make the most out of their stay.
“We hear wonderful reviews from our guests, and they recommend us to others,” Elaine said. “That word of mouth has led to us having lots of repeat guests.”
Next up in our series of articles on the most Instagram-worthy small hotels in Palm Springs is L’Horizon Resort & Spa.
In 1952, Jack Wrather, producer of Lassie and The Lone Ranger, wanted a desert retreat for himself and his Hollywood friends. He enlisted prominent modernist architect William F. Cody to create a large property in South Palm Springs featuring 20 separate bungalows that ultimately hosted everyone from Marilyn Monroe to the Nixons during its heyday. More than six decades later, designer Steve Hermann, who has designed homes for clients including Christina Aguilera and Vera Wang, purchased the property and reopened it in July 2015 as L’Horizon Resort & Spa following an extensive renovation and redesign.
Hermann’s design update retained Cody’s signature midcentury architectural elements while infusing modern comforts and luxuries. An al fresco fine dining restaurant called SO.PA was added to the property, as well as a poolside bar and a spa.
A blue-tiled infinity pool is the centerpiece of the resort, with guest room bungalows scattered around the property.
One bungalow, called the Fireplace Suite, was Marilyn Monroe’s personal bungalow when she stayed with the Wrathers during the 1950s. It features a wood-burning, copper clad fireplace as the centerpiece of the room and opens out onto a private patio.
The ultimate luxury accomodations at L’Horizon can be found in The Residence, which is a nearly 2,000 square foot standalone home with two bedrooms, a full kitchen, living room, sunken wet bar and its own private pool with gorgeous mountain views.
Other Instagram-able details I love at L’Horizon include the black and white multi-patterned design motifs around the property; the ornate starburst front doors; bikes available for guest use during your stay; bocce ball court; hammocks; and the desert landscaping throughout the resort. The property is adults only, but your four-legged friends are welcome!
Stay tuned as we continue to explore other great Instagram-friendly small hotels in Palm Springs in this series of blog posts coming out each month!
Images via Jeff Mindell for Palm Springs Style and Instagram.
Are you in the mood for love, Palm Springs style? This Valentine’s Day, enjoy a safe escape by booking a stay at one of Palm Springs’ intimate boutique hotels. All of our properties are taking serious precautions and have enacted strict cleaning protocols, and because they only have a few rooms with no shared hallways or elevators, you can feel safe and secure throughout your entire romantic visit.
The Paris Suite at Dive in Palm Springs showcases a 1919 brass and copper elevator cage from Paris that has been fully restored and converted into a queen-sized bed and lounge.
There is no other suite in the desert like the two-bedroom Paris Suite at Dive Palm Springs. The centerpiece is a 1919 brass and copper elevator cage from Paris that has been fully restored and converted into a queen-sized bed and lounge. There is also a large private patio with its own entrance, a full sized bar, and gorgeous vintage Parisian chandeliers lighting it all up, ensuring that you’ll never want to leave.
The Andalusian Court provides a most magical getaway for lovers so ask about its romance package.
The Andalusian Court Hotel can be described in one word: Magical. Built in 1921, it retains its Spanish revival charm, and comes alive at night when twinkle lights are turned on to illuminate the lush gardens, water features, and fountains. The Andalusian has seven private villas that are perfect for an amorous escape — be sure to book one that has a personal outdoor soaking tub, and ask about the hotel’s Romance Package, which includes a bottle of the house Andalusian Court Brut champagne, a dozen long-stemmed red roses, handmade truffles or chocolate-covered strawberries, and red and white silk rose petals for the bed.
The Sparrows Lodge is the perfect spot to connect — with no phones or televisions in the rooms, this adults-only property ensures that you can give your partner undivided attention. You’ll likely find yourself lounging by the pool, sitting around the outdoor fire pit, and strolling through the gardens. The on-site Barn Kitchen serves us delicious sandwiches, salads, and small bites until 8 p.m., so you won’t have to go far to enjoy a good meal.
The glamorous Ingleside Inn has been a romantic destination for couples since the 1930s.
The elegant Ingleside Inn has been a destination for couples since the 1930s. Looking for total privacy? Book one of the hotel’s signature rooms with walled patios and outdoor terraces, for a true hideaway experience. Dripping in old Hollywood glamor, the Ingleside Inn’s restaurant, Melvyn’s, is the place to go for a decadent meal and cocktails — outdoor dining is open, and you can also ask about taking your order back to the room.
Behind the door you’ll find the lovely La Maison Hotel, which is regularly voted one of the most romantic hotels in the country.
La Maison is often praised as being one of the most romantic hotels in Palm Springs, and upon your arrival, you’ll see why. The rooms overlook the pool and lush gardens, where flowers are always in bloom. Fountains spread across the property offer a soundtrack of trickling water, and the spacious pool is heated to the perfect temperature. Each room has a comfortable feather bed that is covered in luxury linens, and the renovated bathrooms feature beautiful marble and granite walk-in showers.
For those who want to book a getaway for later this year, gift certificates are available for most of our Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels. Just call the hotel you desire and inquire.
Just a few minutes from the thumping beat of the nightlife on Arenas is The Hacienda at Warm Sands, LUXlife magazine’s 2020 and 2021 Best LGBTQ Resort in North America. If you didn’t know, you wouldn’t know — it’s discreetly camouflaged by a perfectly manicured privacy hedge standing sentry over the Spanish villa-style artistry that waits inside. Carved into the hedge, a gorgeous wooden gate with lanterns on either side to show you the way.
Welcome to The Hacienda at Warm Sands. Photo courtesy of The Hacienda at Warm Sands
Inside, a rich tapestry of winding Saltillo tile pathways are surrounded by lush foliage and dotted with surprises along the way: an outdoor fireplace, an in-ground spa, a tranquil water feature, and the two clear blue pools that anchor the 10 suites surrounding them. And if you’re impressed with the outside of the property (if you aren’t, you’re dead inside), the rooms are gonna knock your socks off.
Before we get to that part of the tour, you should meet your hosts: Jim Moje and Maurice Minno. Jim is, as he puts it, “a frustrated architect” with a degree in finance, and Maurice has a master’s degree in hotel and restaurant administration from Cornell University. For the past 21 years, they’ve put all their hopes, dreams, and skills into turning The Hacienda at Warm Sands into the 5-star experience that it is.
The experience begins the moment you book your room — that’s when the Hacienda’s team begins to prep for your stay. Something special you’d like upon arrival? Would you like the food pantry stocked with specific items? Perhaps you’d like a private chef for a delicious dinner? If you can dream it, the team will do everything within their power to make it happen.
It gets even better when you’re a repeat guest because it’s easier to anticipate your needs, and that’s what the resort is all about: offering “anticipated but unexpected Hacienda moments” to their guests. And they do it unobtrusively, like your guardian angel. The ratio of staff to guests is one to one with a turnover that’s nearly non-existent — even after a pandemic. That’s because Hacienda values their staff as much as they do their clientele and made provisions to take care of them while the resort was closed for about six months due to COVID-19. Now that they’re back open, every precaution is taken to keep you safe inside their hedges.
The Deluxe Grand Suite. Photo courtesy of The Hacienda at Warm Sands
There are five styles of well-appointed suites. The smallest is just under 500 square feet, and the largest around 900 square feet — all with furniture and amenities chosen for functional elegance. Every suite has a kitchenette that is ingeniously disguised to look like an elegant wet bar, a sitting room, and a large luxurious bathroom with so many L’Occitane amenities it’ll make your body giddy with anticipation.
The Deluxe Junior Suite bathroom. Photo courtesy of The Hacienda at Warm Sands
Multiple heads and horizontal water sprays turn each shower into a spa, with large plush towels waiting to dry you quickly once you’re done. In your closet, there are two robe options available: a waffle weave for daytime and a heavier-weight robe to provide extra warmth and comfort on cooler evenings by the fire.
The beds are fit for a king (or queen): thick comfy mattresses dressed in crisp linens with a variety of luxury pillows available from the resort’s “Pillow Menu.” It’s a bit like Goldilocks and the Three Bears — keep trying them until you find one that’s just right.
The continental breakfast spread. Photo courtesy of The Hacienda at Warm Sands
An expanded, seemingly endless continental breakfast and a restaurant-crafted catered lunch of wraps, sandwiches, and salads are served daily, along with your favorite beverage (red or white wine, fresh-brewed iced tea, or lemonade). You can enjoy your meals while languishing in the outdoor spa, by one of the pools, or next to the outdoor fireplace. Above you, only palm trees, breathtaking mountains, and blue skies frame this extraordinary 5-star oasis in Palm Springs.
It’s no surprise that no matter where you look, all the reviews of The Hacienda at Warm Sands are five stars. Jim and Maurice have spent 21 years cultivating the best staff and service known to mankind, as well as perfecting a luscious landscape of earth, water, and fire surrounding their spacious and exquisite suites, providing so much worldly comfort and pampering you’ll feel like a royal.
Night falls on the hotel. Photo courtesy of The Hacienda at Warm Sands
Korakia Pensione (https://www.palmspringspreferredsmallhotels.com/stay/korakia-pensione) is one of Palm Springs’ most unique hotels.
It’s actually three separate buildings — an adobe dating back to 1918, a bungalow built in 1924, and a 1930s villa. There isn’t just one vibe, as Korakia Pensione has touches of Northern African and the Mediterranean; there are arches and fountains and candles everywhere, with guests able to slip into one of two saltwater pools at any time of day. There’s also a library, which has been a gathering place for writers and artists and musicians for decades.
The property’s one-of-a-kind feel makes it perfect for photo shoots. The hotel has been prominently featured in several of the world’s most popular magazines, including Vogue, Elle, and Architectural Digest. Of course, it’s also been the backdrop in countless wedding pictures, as the hotel and its stunning views of the San Jacinto mountains and palms have attracted brides and grooms from around the world.
Dive Palm Springs
Treat your other half to a weekend getaway at Dive Palm Springs this Valentine’s Day. The newly launched hotel will be offering a special package to help set the mood for an intimate and romantic evening in one of Dive’s most luxurious suites – Paris or Orchid.
The Paris suite offers secure private access from the street and spectacular touches such as a vintage ornate 1910 belle époque Parisian elevator transformed into a full canopy bed and lounge and a large outdoor patio with a lounging area. The Orchid Suite is a decadent experience with a large outdoor patio and private hot tub, indoor movie theater, and very own private three hole putting green.
For $2,500 / night the package includes:
Reservations can be made online or by emailing bonjour@divepalmsprings.com.
