Last week, the man and I returned home from our annual fall visit to Southern California, a trip that- over the years- has grown from a few days in the desert to almost two weeks total, from spending time in Pasadena visiting friends, trips into Joshua Tree, and a week relaxing at the Parker Palm Springs.
I first wrote about our time at the Parker in 2018, when we returned from our initial visit. I had been charmed by the campus layout, the incredible customer service, the landscaping… Where so many hotels and resorts can fall off over the years (more on this in a few weeks…), the Parker continues to excel.
From the moment you pull up to the iconic breeze blocks and massive orange doors, the client care here remains evident. The valets immediately open your car door, welcome you, and grab your bags to be whisked off to your room while you check in at the front desk in a lobby that’s anything but boring. We love seeing Hazel at the front desk, and Chris and Fred at the concierge stand will go way above and beyond to be sure that anything you could want or need during your stay is taken care of.
Over the years, we’ve gone back and forth between the King Hammock rooms (pictured above) and the Deluxe Garden rooms, one year lucking out and landing a poolside suite. As much as I love the Hammock rooms, with their private gardens and large outdoor spaces, we’ve rather fallen for the Deluxe Garden King rooms- garden facing, and private. The bathrooms are mirrored on all sides, with fabulous walk-in showers, and the location at the rear of the property makes it feel as if you’re hidden in a garden.
Now- don’t get me wrong, the front building, where the Estate Rooms are found, is also pretty spectacular, and being able to walk right into a building from the front door versus wandering through the grounds along windy, dark, and hedge-mazed paths at night after one too many drinks is an easier option. Not that I’ve ever had to consider such a thing. **cough cough**
Every year, time at the pool, drinks from the Lemonade Stand, and visits to the Palm Springs Yacht Club (their spa and gym) have remained pretty perfect. Almost nothing beats poolside lemonade and midday tacos… except a sugar scrub at the PSYC before a visit to the dry sauna.
At night, we’ve made our way to dinner at Mr. Parkers several times over the years, and cocktails at the Mini Bar and Counter Reformation always happen every trip, but the one spot you’ll always find us? Dining at Norma’s for brunch a few times per visit. Jose and Vanessa are our favorite servers, and they greet us by name.
If you ever have the chance to make a trip into Palm Springs, I encourage you to give the Parker a try. I’ve heard complaints about the prices here, but I promise that if you keep an eye on their website, you’ll often find deals that are 100% worth it. We do.
** this post is not sponsored in any way. all thoughts and opinions are my own **
** photos from the Parker Palm Springs website **
