Palm Springs has long been known as one of the paramount destinations in SoCal.
I’m pretty sure that an annul weekend getaway to Palm Springs is a mandatory legal requirement for residents of Los Angeles. And if it’s not, then it darn well should be.
On my latest trip out to “the desert”, I had a chance to stay a couple of nights at the La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort.
Would the resort live up to its storied and legendary reputation?
Review: La Quinta Resort & Club, AÂ Waldorf Astoria Resort (Palm Springs, CA)
Editor’s Note: This article is part of my ongoing series on the state of California and its sister-series on Palm Springs
About The La Quinta Resort & Club, AÂ Waldorf Astoria Resort
Here is the information from Hilton’s website:
Images: hilton.com
The Official Websites:
Waldorf Astoria Resorts, La Quinta Resort & Club
The iconic La Quinta fountain
The Hilton Honors Redemption
The La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort is a Hilton Honors affiliated property redeemable for about 80,000 points per night.
On the night I stayed there, the price of a Resort Casita, 2 Queen Beds, Mountain View room went for $408.32 USD (after taxes and fees).
This meant a Hilton Honors redemption would be about 0.51 CPP (standard for a Hilton redemption).
Because of this, I instead opted to use the $250 Hilton property credits from my (2) American Express Hilton Honors Aspire cards.
At the time of my redemption, there was also a $100 Amex Offer/Benefit on each card, which brought the nightly rate down to an unbelievable $58.32 a night.
But…that was before the Diamond upgrade (read on).
The Diamond Member Benefits
Holding the Hilton Honors Aspire card grants Hilton Honors Diamond Status to the card member.
What does that mean at La Quinta Resort & Club? Well, see the list of Diamond benefits below.
The Diamond Member Room Upgrade
Turns out, I was immediately upgraded at check-in to a Spa Studio, Balcony/Fireplace, 2 Queens room.
Per the below, on the night I stayed there this room upgrade was worth $89.56 per night, or $179.12 for the stay, not bad at all.
The Lobby & Check-In
Located at the end of the long roundabout (and guarded by two conquistadors), the lobby was decorated in a typical “southwest style” with white walls, terracotta flooring, and colorful tiles for days.
Although empty, there was a dedicated line for Hilton Elites.
I was was warmly greeted and welcomed by the front desk representative, and thanked for my Hilton loyalty.
As mentioned above, she noted my Hilton Diamond status and notified me that I was to receive a room upgrade.
The Spa Studio – Balcony/Fireplace – 2 Queen [Room Upgrade]
The La Quinta Resort & Club property was quite large, so I was given a map with directions of how to find my room and where the closest parking would be.
I didn’t realize it until I arrived at the room, but the La Quinta Resort & Club is not only a Waldorf Astoria Resort, it’s also a property with real-estate ownership options (as you can see from the “for sale” sign in the window below).
The Outdoor Patio Entrance
Inside The Spa Studio
The Spa Studio was a large, well appointed, and cozy room – although there were definitely some items that felt dated such as the small flat-screen TV, the older Keurig coffee machine, and the old-school phone/clock/radio.
Still, the room was comfortable, clean, and well-lit.
The Standard Room Amenities
The Bathroom
The bathroom was unexpectedly large, with the Waldorf Astoria standard Salvatore Ferragmo-branded toiletries.
There sink area was massive with plenty of storage, with a large “step-up” bathtub on one end, and a “walk-in” shower on the other end.
The toilet was located in a water closet, with a door separating it from the rest of the bathroom.
Artwork
Extra storage spaceÂ
The Room At Night
Our unit’s “shared” pool
Walking The La Quinta Property
This almost goes without saying, but the La Quinta Resort & Club’s property was stunningly gorgeous.
It seemed to take on a different character at different times of the day (and night).
The arrival roundabout
The Spa Studios in the morning
View of the lobby building
View of the shopping pavilion
The Spa La Quinta building
The Spa La Quinta (At Night)
Breakfast At Twenty6
The Diamond breakfast benefit came in the form of a daily $15 per person (per room) credit which could be used “in any food and beverage location”.
We tried the Twenty6 restaurant on the morning of the first day.
For breakfast, Twenty6 offered guests the option to order a la carte or from the buffet for a set price.
The Smoked Salmon Benedict
The Twenty6 Omelette
This is the bill before the $30 credit
Breakfast At The Marketplace
On the second morning, we tried The Marketplace so we could order some breakfast and coffee to-go.
The Marketplace had a large selection of well, everything. There was a breakfast and lunch bar, coffee station, and a little convenience store (which had plenty of wine, in case you were wondering).
The Bottom-Line Review: La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort (Palm Springs, CA)
This will come as a shocker I’m sure, but I loved the La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort.
It’s rare for me to say that I couldn’t find any major faults, but here, I really couldn’t.
The service staff was excellent, the location and property was beautiful, the villa-style rooms were large and comfortable, and the hotel amenities were outstanding. The food at Twenty6 was great, as was the food at The Marketplace.
From a travel-hacker point of view, the La Quinta Resort & Club is a great place to utilize the annual $250 Hilton credit of the Amex Hilton Aspire Card. What’s more, you can also use the card’s additional “$100 credit for a two-night stay” benefit and any available applicable Amex offers (like the “$100 off of $500 at Waldorf Astoria Resorts” credit that I used).
Final Review: 9.5/10 – The La Quinta Resort & Club was so much more than a hotel, it was a true luxurious hideaway. Warning: Don’t stay here unless you want to spoil yourself from other Palm Springs hotels forever.
