La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton

There’s so much to do across the stunning grounds, with pools, tennis, pickleball, and lawn games spread around the property. I also liked having a detailed map of four running routes, including a half marathon and a 20miler. The bed was extremely comfortable, and there were lots of lighting options, from the overhead and floor lamps to the bedside and headboard reading lights. The bathroom had great lighting, a large new tub, a separate shower, and beautiful Spanish tiling. Room service was fast and delicious. The buildings, architecture, and grounds have a classic Spanish-style charm, while the renovated rooms feel beautiful and up to date. My only issue was that the fridge ice maker could be a little loud when it dropped fresh ice into the container. This is my favorite Palm Springs property so far.

Getting around was the difficult part for my partner, who was on crutches for a work event. This is an old, historic property, so it may not be in total ADA compliance. The resort is spread out, and none of the doors were automated. Staff were willing to drive her by golf cart to her meetings, though she sometimes had trouble reaching the front desk during busy periods. In the end, their help made it possible for her to get around. I look forward to returning when we’re both back on our feet. I still had a relaxing, positive stay. The grounds were immaculate, the room was beautiful and clean, and staff were friendly and mostly attentive. I enjoyed movement classes with Greta at the fitness center and time by the adult pool.

The delay at Morgan’s restaurant was frustrating. We were seated at 7:30 p.m. and waited until 8:30 p.m. for our first course. They apologized and offered small concessions, but the service felt disorganized. The bigger problem came on our final evening, when a loud group of roughly 30 people started gathering in the adjoining room around 10:30 p.m. Their music, shouting, and profanity scared our kids and kept us awake. We called the front desk three times, and my spouse went to the lobby in person, but it went on for over an hour. Security even knocked on our door and asked to come into our room before addressing the room the noise came from, which made an already uncomfortable situation worse. It was close to midnight before things were finally settled. Instead of decisively stopping the disruption, staff kept asking whether we wanted to change rooms. That wasn’t realistic with two exhausted children already in bed and a 6:00 a.m. departure ahead. We stayed mid-week, when the property wasn’t near capacity. For the nightly rates they charge, service and management oversight didn’t match the price. Problems can happen in hospitality, but what matters is how they’re handled. Here, the response felt reactive, without accountability. I followed up with the front desk manager afterward to share feedback and hopefully prevent this for other guests, but didn’t get a response. La Quinta’s setting and grounds are beautiful, just as you’d hope for a desert getaway. Unfortunately, the way the hotel is run didn’t live up to the property, and that wasn’t our experience.

The grounds are still well maintained, and everywhere we went the service was beyond exceptional, from the bellmen to the food servers. But after many years away, it’s clear the hotel has gone downhill since we stayed here when it was still the grandest hotel in So Cal, before Hilton bought it. The rooms need a lot of repair. Don’t charge over $500 a night for rooms that haven’t been thoroughly checked. We’ve stayed in vintage casitas and gorgeous villas, but this was the worst room we’ve had. We booked a King with a patio, but it was very dark, old, and dated, so they showed us other options. We paid more for a villa, yet the deck and French doors were dirty, the carpet was stained, the toilet backed up, and a bathroom light was missing. We appreciate the front desk clerk applying a partial credit, but wish the manager had reached out to apologize. We wouldn’t have stayed in an owner rented unit. We’d read that rooms were renovated, but only some have been. We were hoping to return, but didn’t feel the hotel took our concerns as seriously as we expected.