{ask me anything about anywhere} “Advice for a Girls Weekend in Palm Springs, CA?”

People ask me for travel advice all the time, and sometimes I just don’t get around to blogging about it in advance. Here’s your chance to ask me anything about anywhere! If I have any good intel–I’ll gladly share it with you.

The Question: “I am planning a girls trip to Palm Springs in two weeks, and I wanted to ask for your advice on hotel and restaurant recommendations.  I’m looking for a cool “happening” central hotel with pool where we could hang out.  We’ll want to have a nice dinner on Saturday night, and may be squeeze in a lunch or brunch as well.  Any advice?”

I actually wrote a blog post with some of my favorite Palm Springs spots awhile back- it should be a helpful start, although  some of my opinions have changed slightly. I got to know the area a lot better since we got married there, so I’ve had a chance to try many more things since then…

For a hotel, it really depends a lot on the budget and what you’re after- there are lots of great hotels down there. The Ace Hotel is super groovy (definitely qualifies as “happening”) but it’s not right in the middle of town. It’s a pretty small town and cabs and parking are plentiful, so it’s not a huge deal. They have an excellent poolside scene! Two small hotels that are quite fabulous and centrally located are Del Marcos and Chase Hotel. The Viceroy has a very LA vibe, and is a bit bigger and more chichi modern. It’s in a great location as well. I have heard great things about Desert Riviera, but it’s basically next door to Ace.

While I so enjoy a stay at The Parker Palm Springs, I have to warn that it’s way on the edge of town and pretty pricey. If you don’t stay there, do go for patio drinks, splurge for dinner at Mr. Parker’s (where we went on our very last pre-wedding date as fiancees before tying the knot!) or opt for a see-and-be-seen brunch at Norma’s. Bring your biggest sunglasses!

When it comes to food: for lunch or brunch I highly recommend Cheeky’s. Everyone loves it there! They have a bacon flight, for goodness’ sake. For dinner, it really depends on what atmosphere you want. If you can sit outside, Spencer’s at the Mountain has a great outdoor area with lights that’s really pretty and the food is good. (We had our rehearsal lunch there.) I think the best quality food and service in town is at Zin, but the atmosphere is not the best. As I mentioned, Mr. Parker’s at the Parker Palm Springs has great food as well, and a super cool and funky atmosphere, but it’s pricier. The Parker is a really zany place so it’s fun to see it. You can eat brunch there, which is a great setting, but it’s way expensive and not amazing. I would definitely choose Cheeky’s over Norma’s.

Don’t forget to try a date shake while you’re there–a desert delight. Have a great weekend!