A couple of hours drive from Los Angeles, and with the roads becoming (a little) smaller and the back drop changing from city to desert, the mercury slowly rising, the heat becoming drier and with mountains in view, we arrived in Palm Springs, the oasis in the desert! Back in the Golden years of Hollywood the great, the good and the golden came to Palm Springs to frolic and  play the way only movie stars did, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra to name a few, so naturally we thought we’d fit right in.  It was perfect timing within the trip for us, after a fleeting but full on 24 hours in Los Angeles, still rather jet lagged, we were happy to do a little calm sight seeing but had in mind, lots of lazy pool time, before we continued our four State adventure, and well where else can be better than being in the desert heat, surrounded by palm trees and sitting by the pool with a cocktail in hand…..Palm Springs.

We decided to stay at ARRIVE hotel, mostly due to the price (Palm Springs can be pricey in school holiday time) and also it is situated at the top of the main street, making it really easy to walk out for dinner in the evening, however after just five minutes here the list of reasons for staying quickly became longer.  The hotel completely reflected the surrounding style with a huge nod to mid century modernism which Palm Springs is known for, with butterfly roofs, rusted steel and wood, blending in with the mountains around.   The pool being the main event to keep any sun worshipper happy (of course the ones like me covered in factor 30 +). Hints of hollywood glamour with drinks and eats around the pool, inflatable lilos aplenty bobbing in the water, a Jacuzzi one end bigger than my bathroom, sunglasses, pooches, cabanas and in the evening pink skies, fairy lights and fire pits, there is your Hollywood glam!  The best part is, the staff and the guest were super friendly, which isn’t alway so when the former words are used to describe a place.  If sunning yourself became too much in the heat, the sprinklers soon cooled you down.  Ping Pong available, bikes to borrow and even outdoor cinema was on offer, a coffee shop, Customs coffee, which serves the best decaf cappuccinos I’ve had so far on this decaf path, is also a part of the hotel.  The hotel restaurant Reservoir is a really cool alfresco spot with tiles to keep any hashtag happy….Lots to do or not to do, whatever took your fancy.

Our room was modern in design, with a huge and mega comfy bed, a gorgeous shower and wet room complete with Mali & Gotez products. A huge TV (we don’t have a television in our bedroom at home so this is always a little treat, that and the re runs of Rosanne and The Golden Girls, well….?) and all with a view of the San Jacinto Mountain Range, bringing the outside in!

We spent our two days in Palm Springs, driving around in search of ‘that pink door’, (1100 Sierra Way, if you need to know) and coveting, (well I was, Wes was not so sure) the midcentury modern architecture of the homes, we even found Elvis’ honeymoon pad.  We popped into Ace Hotel and my absolute favourite, had coffee at Parker Palm Springs, which was just incredible.   Hotel, house, home, life, goals/dreams in every corner.  You can never have too much 70’s vibe, gold pineapples, art work, velvet seating,  and inside fire pits, it was almost delightfully too much to take in.

But for the most part we sat by the pool, eating vanilla and rose-water homemade ice cream (there is an ice cream parlour as part of the hotel) reading our books, surrounded by mountains,  under the sun, under the palms and having a pretty golden time, imagining what it could have possibly been like to holiday in the glamorous bygone days of Palm Springs……. And well for two little old Brits, I think we came pretty close!

We flew: with Virgin Atlantic, Picked up a car: with National Car Hire, Stayed: at the ARRIVE, Palm Springs.  We had ate at Dinner : at the gorgeous alfresco Italian food, at Birba, Breakfast: typical American diner type place but with great pancakes John’s, Coffee: at Customs Coffee, Homemade Ice cream at Shop(pe) 

Navy Bikini : & Other stories

Straw Hat : Accessorize

Pineapple Dress : & Other Stories (last year )

Blue Cotton Sun Dress –Topshop

Flip Flops –Havaianas

 

Thank you for reading x