The Paloma Resort

We came back for a second stay because we really enjoyed the first one. The grounds have a great layout, the rooms are spacious and easy to reach, and the place is quiet with fun decor. The pool is nice, the mountain view is awesome, the shower was great, and nearby stores were handy. It wasn't too expensive, either. This time, the rooms were a bit dirty, with food under the beds and dust on the baseboards. The bicycles were out of service because of tire problems that had gone unresolved for weeks. They were out of tissues, and we had to track down pool towels both days while the towels were being washed. These weren't deal-breakers, but it was frustrating and seemed like a staffing or management planning problem. We'd come back if some of this improved. One other thing to know, the bar and restaurant are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

We found the Paloma online for a couple of nights in the Palm Springs area, and it turned out to be a great fit. It's a quiet, convenient property in a residential area, with an updated modern feel. There are regular rooms and small bungalows they call one-bedroom units. I'd choose a one-bedroom for the extra room, sitting area, and patio. The rooms were spacious, clean, fresh, and well equipped with a refrigerator, counter, and coffee machine. There's no microwave. The heated pool and spa area are very nice, and lunch and dinner are served around the pool. Some evenings there's live dinner music and candlelight, which was lovely. Bikes are available for daytime rides. We paid about $130 a night all in. You can find cheaper places, such as Motel 6, though their properties seemed questionable. Resorts like Marriotts and Westins run $400 or more a night, and exclusive spas can be $600 or above. The Paloma is toward the lower end of the area's prices, and for us it was just right. We wanted a clean place with good amenities to sleep while we did other things in Palm Springs. It delivered, and we felt good about the choice. We're not fussy travelers, but the Paloma met what we needed without costing too much. We'll return next time we're in the area. It's a keeper.

The place was so empty, especially from Sunday to Monday, that it felt eerie. Most of the time there wasn't anyone at the front desk. We stayed Saturday through Monday in December, and even though the rates were reasonable and there were some good parts, we wouldn't return. My wife and I wanted to like it, but the many little lapses took away from the stay. The check-in staff member was friendly and let us check in early at no extra cost. The rooms are large, modern, and fun, and ours had a walk-in closet, a good-sized fridge and freezer, and two very large TVs. The pool deck was nice, the pool was pleasant to swim in, and it wasn't crowded. But our bed had only two flat sheets, with no comforter or bedspread and no blanket in the closet. We had four bath towels but no hand towels or washcloths. Both TV remotes worked only now and then, so we couldn't really use the TVs. The bed was too firm, springy, and uncomfortable. Sheer blinds let in morning sun, and there were no blackout curtains. The hot tub was lukewarm and its jets didn't work. There was also a broken white noise machine, filthy walkways, and two dead beetles in the blanket we requested because the bed had only sheets.

The front desk was kind and check-in went smoothly, and the lobby looks nicely decorated. The bathrooms were clean, too. But the beds were very uncomfortable, especially the pillows, and the linens didn’t feel clean. The rugs beneath the beds were filthy and need replacing. I was there for just one night, and it was hard to sleep in: sunlight came straight in because there were no blackout shades, and my room even had skylights. I stayed in December, so the heat wasn’t an issue, though I imagine it could feel like a sauna in summer. For me, comfortable beds are one of the most important parts of a hotel stay.