Parker Palm Springs
I Finally stayed at the “Parker Palm Springs”! The stay was incredible, you can really see and feel the character of the property. Everything is super fun and artistic, from the iconic orange entrance door to the art pieces from the Parker Families personal art collection. All of the staff was extremely pleasant and accommodating. The manager, Valerie gave us a private tour of the property where we got to see the 12 villas, residence, and even a peak into Mister Parker. She explained some of the history and how the property is family owned, I had no idea! There is a tour video below. Fun fact, each villa is named after one of the 12 grandchildren and they stay in their own villa when visiting.
There were a few things that made me raise my eyebrows. Below, I’ll highlight the good and the not-so-good. None of the "not-so-good" are deal breakers, but with a few tweaks, the experience could be even better. I feel highlighting those things below could help others and it not be such a shock when staying on their next Palm Spring visit.
The Good:
There’s an adults-only pool that’s open until midnight.
The property features three pools: one for adults, one for families, and an indoor pool.
You can use the spa amenities without booking a service.
There’s no directional signage on the property to encourage you to explore and “get lost,” which adds to the whimsical, “Alice in Wonderland” vibe.
EV Charging is included in the valet service (though it’s not a supercharger, your car will be fully charged overnight).
The Odd:
When we arrived, valet started helping a vehicle that pulled in behind us first, leaving us to unload our own luggage. It was confusing and definitely a bit off-putting.
There are no trash cans at the front entrance or inside the lobby, which is strange, especially for those who may need to dispose of things when arriving.
Nothing on the property is open past 11pm, and you can’t get food after 10pm.
While the spiked lemonades are great, they aren’t very strong. The lemonade-to-alcohol ratio seems off, so you barely notice the alcohol.
There is no coffee in the rooms, you have to get it from the lobby, I’m on vacation I want to stumble out of bed and make a coffee in my pajamas—not get dressed and trek to a lobby.
There are no mirrors in the rooms, outside of the bathrooms. Which can make it difficult to get ready while someone else is occupying the bathroom. There were a few walls in our room where I felt a full length mirror could have been placed.
Day 1:
We arrived and checked in, then were escorted to our room (since the property has no signage by design).
Had lunch at Norma’s—everything is always delicious here, and the “Sunrise Parker” will have you feeling good after just a few sips!
After lunch, we settled into the room, hit the pool, and took a nap before getting ready for dinner.
Stopped by Trader Joe’s on the way to dinner (because who wants to pay $10+ for a tiny bottle of water at the hotel?).
Dinner was at “Clandestino”, which the front desk recommended—it did not disappoint!
Crashed after a long day.
Day 2:
Found a highly rated breakfast spot, “Wilma & Frieda”, about 15 minutes from the Parker—so good!
Spent some time driving around and exploring Palm Springs like tourists.
Returned to the hotel to relax, then I explored the property.
Despite the lack of signage, getting lost wasn’t frustrating—it was actually fun! I discovered new corners of the property and enjoyed the Alice in Wonderland feel.
After exploring, I grabbed a spiked lemonade and relaxed by the pool.
Later, we checked out the speakeasy on property, but left after just a glass of wine since the food options weren’t for us (lots of pork and beef, which we don’t eat).
Ended the day with dinner at “Clandestino”, again—yes, it’s that good!
Day 3:
We had breakfast at Norma’s and packed up.
We went on the private tour with Valerie of the entire property.
Headed back to Los Angeles.
Since it was off-season, everything closed early, and there wasn’t much to do past 10pm. In high season, places stay open a bit later, but not by much. Even Mister Parker’s was closed for the season, and the mini-bar had shortened hours.
Overall, Palm Springs is a relaxed, slower-paced destination. If you’re looking for a lively nightlife or a “turn up,” this isn’t the spot. But for relaxation, it’s perfect!
I would definitely stay at “Parker Palm Springs” again.
Below are some photos and a vlog style video that includes a tour of the property.
