Drift Palm Springs, a Member of Design Hotels

We enjoyed staying here, and the suites with two, three, or four rooms could make it a good choice for a larger group. Still, this was the first Palm Springs hotel where we came away saying we wouldn’t return unless we had a group like that. The room is gorgeous when you first walk in, and the place feels like a four-star experience. Then the value starts to fade, and you wonder why you paid so much for so little. Snacks and drinks in the room are priced reasonably, but you only get coffee for one day, and having the room refreshed costs extra. The things that make it seem cost effective compared with other hotels are also the things that feel missing. There isn’t much they could offer to make the stay better without charging more. Nothing was bad, and we did enjoy our visit.

The pool was the highlight, huge, stylish, and relaxing, like a little oasis where you could spend the whole day in the sun. We barely needed the car because Drift Palm Springs is right in the city center, within walking distance of the bars, restaurants, shops, and casino. The staff were friendly, attentive, and genuinely helpful from the moment we arrived. The property is beautiful too. We had a perfect weekend getaway and can’t wait to come back. Highly recommend it for a Palm Springs visit.

The staff were lovely, kind, and as accommodating as they could be. They worked hard, and none of the things that bothered me felt like their fault. I also liked the modern look, but the bare furnishings were almost comical. We paid about $900 a night for a two-bedroom suite, expecting decent amenities because of the Marriott name. There was no in-person check-in, just the app. Daily cleaning wasn’t included: you had to request it 24 hours ahead and pay a fee. For that price, that’s wild. There were four of us, but the main room had one sofa and one uncomfortable chair. The only TV was a small one in that room, so if we wanted a show or movie at night, all four of us had to crowd onto uncomfortable furniture or the floor and agree on what to watch. I know it sounds picky, but over four days it got ridiculous. The toilet paper was one-ply. Diabolical. At $600 a night I wouldn’t complain. But $900 for a two-bedroom with almost no furniture and a single TV? Woof. There are better ways to spend that money.

The downtown location was great, and parking was easy and free. The staff were nice, and the pool was long enough for laps. Our studio was very small, with no closet or drawers, which wasn’t good. The bed and linens were good, but the large deck chairs were really uncomfortable. The text-message communication got annoying.