The Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows - Adults Only

The rooms were comfortable and suited the boutique style, though they weren’t as luxurious as rooms at larger resorts and felt a little worn in places despite the fairly recent renovations. That didn’t take away from our enjoyment. We especially liked the relaxed, quiet feel and the property’s intimate scale. It was easy to get around without trekking across a huge resort, and the convenient location made Palm Springs simple to explore. Service was what really made the stay special. Every person we encountered, from the front desk and bellmen to the restaurant and pool servers and housekeeping, was warm, attentive, and seemed to care. Kristen, the nighttime lead at the front desk, was especially helpful and welcoming. Our poolside server, who I believe was Bianca (sorry if I got the name wrong!), even noticed the ice in my drink melting and brought me a fresh cup. A small, thoughtful gesture like that says a lot. The restaurant was another highlight. Everything we tried was fresh, carefully prepared, and delicious, and it was clear the culinary team took pride in the food. This charming, well-maintained boutique hotel delivered a relaxing stay, and we’d absolutely return.

For the price, I expected more. The Cole doesn’t feel like a 4 star hotel, and I was surprised AMEX put it in the Fine Hotel and Resort category. We were excited by the reviews, but probably won’t return. There may be nicer choices for the money if you’re willing to give up some walkability. The location was excellent, very close to DT Palm Springs and within walking distance of plenty of restaurants. The adults-only pool was pleasant and calm, though the hot tub looked a little dingy. Valet parking was quick when we called for the car, but requiring valet seems unnecessary here. I’d understand it in a congested city or at a 5 star hotel, and neither applies. The bed was comfortable enough, and I liked the Le Labo products. The furniture felt cheap, with scuffs on the walls and scratches on the door. The room was quite dark. In the bathroom, the wallpaper went over uneven walls and had visible seams, the sconces were hung far too high, and the shower grout was really dirty with some cracked tiles. The food was mixed and often disappointing for the price. Brunch was decent, but I found a crab claw shell in my crab cake Benedict. The weekend brunch menu is the only one available until 3PM and has few lighter choices. By the pool on a hot day, a sandwich or salad would be welcome instead of only options like chicken and waffles or crab cakes. The club and fries at lunch were great, but the shrimp in the tacos were undercooked and so off-putting I couldn’t eat much. Dinner entrees were better: the lamb and beef wellington were good, though their garnishes were tiny sides. The appetizers missed the mark. The Caesar salad was all anchovy with barely any parmesan or dressing, the beef tartare tasted like French's yellow mustard, and the focaccia was just okay.

The grounds are pretty, and the pool is on the small side compared with others, though service there was good. Our room was fine, with its window facing the street. We were missing the second curtain layer, so we asked for a thin sheet. When we returned, it had been pinned to the wall. The stay was good, but I’m not sure I’d come back to this particular hotel.

The common areas are beautifully decorated, and every staff member we met was friendly and helpful. The location is perfect for getting downtown. During our first night, we found dried blood spots on the sheets as we were getting into bed. We called the front desk, and someone came to take pictures and brought fresh bedding. He apologized, and I understand these things can happen. I was most excited about the afternoon massage, but the spa was a major disappointment. There was no steam room or sauna, and the robes were thin and very small. The slippers came in just one size, and neither fit my husband. In the waiting room they had only room-temperature bottled water, no tea or snacks. I booked a 60 minute deep tissue arnica massage and added 15 minutes for a longer foot massage. The masseuse kept stopping after a minute or two to fiddle with something, which was distracting. When we got to the add-on, she thought I’d booked a scalp treatment and poured oil on my scalp. I reminded her that I’d booked extra foot massage. She said I was wrong, then a couple of minutes later admitted she’d mixed me up with another client. She went to get supplies, but gave me a foot scrub instead of a longer foot massage. With all these mix-ups, the treatment still ended exactly on time at 75 minutes. I wasn’t sure what to say, and right after the massage I had to sign a receipt for the service plus a 20% tip. I paid $500, and I don’t think the spa or service was worth it. If you’re a spa person, this one’s a big skip for me.