Billing itself as “the first new luxury hotel in Palm Desert in over 30 years”, HOTEL PASEO, Autograph Collection, has certainly set expectations high.
Did it meet those expectations during our stay?
Location & Parking
HOTEL PASEO is located on a side street in the “El Paseo” district of the town of Palm Desert (nicknamed by some “the Rodeo Drive of the Desert”).
Valet parking is included in the $36 destination fee, however there is no self-parking lot available on the property.
FHOP Tip: If valet parking is not for you, I found there was ample free parking directly across the street (from the lobby) on Larkspur Ln.
Image: hotelpaseo.com
Marriott Bonvoy Booking & Redemption
During our stay, the HOTEL PASEO started at the standard rate of $408 for a “Classic, Guest room, 1 King, Mountain View” room.
However, because the HOTEL PASEO was a Marriott Bonvoy Category 6 property, I booked the room for 50,000 Bonvoy points (actually, a 50,000 point award night certificate).
This was an “average-to-good” redemption value for Bonvoy points at .82 CPP. Because of that, I would probably recommend other guests go with a cash booking on most dates.
Front Desk & Check-In
The check-in was quick, and [believe it or not] were recognized for our Bonvoy Silver status and offered a room upgrade to a “Premier, Guest room, 1 King, Mountain view, Balcony” room (which I valued at about a $35).
Image: hotelpaseo.com
Room Key
Hotel Lobby
The “playful” hotel lobby was impressively artsy, vibrant, and fun.
Elevator Area
Inside the elevator
Hallway
Art, art, everywhere
Room Entrance
Bedroom Area
We found the room clean, bright and comfortable – if not extremely minimalist.
Living Area
Room Amenities
Why do I love it so much when hotels have their own “brand” of water?
Closet
Bathroom
Likewise, the bathroom was clean and bright, with the Lather brand the toiletries of choice.
View From The Room
The balcony was on the smaller-side and uncovered, so we didn’t spend all that much time out there because the sun was blazing and it was 110 degrees.
Morning Coffee At Cafe Paseo
The Larkspur Grill was closed during our stay, so we opted to eat a full breakfast elsewhere.
We did stop by the Cafe Paseo for some morning lattes to go (which were delicious) and some pastries.
The Property Interior
One of the coolest things about the HOTEL PASEO was all the artwork on display throughout the hotel; it felt like one big art museum.
There was even a large hallway gallery near the elevators on the first floor.
The Property Exterior
Image: hotelpaseo.com
The Backyard
Another feature I really liked was “the backyard” concept which came complete with a fountain, a lawn, a swimming pool, putting green, snack bar, and even an Airstream trailer.
It was a great idea that really came together nicely to set the stage for a community feeling.
On second thought, it actually seemed more like a “backyard party,” because I definitely had the urge to grab a beer, walk around the “yard” to introduce myself to other guests, and ask, “what do they have cooking on the BBQ?”
I can’t believe I haven’t yet seen this “backyard” concept at other hotels.
Image: hotelpaseo.com
Image: hotelpaseo.com
The Swimming Pool
Image: hotelpaseo.com
Image: hotelpaseo.com
Fitness Center & Bike Rentals
Image: hotelpaseo.com
Bike rentals
Coming Soon: The Larkspur Grill
At the time of our visit, the Larkspur Grill hadn’t opened yet.
The Bottom-Line Review: HOTEL PASEO, Autograph Collection (Palm Desert, CA)
Where to begin? HOTEL PASEO is a very cool new hotel with some awesome things about it – namely the sizable art collection and the “backyard” area which I thought was a stroke of genius. The service was great, and our room (and the hotel itself) was cleaned to a shine.
Was it a true luxury hotel? Well, it was definitely hip, upscale, and classy boutique hotel – but I wouldn’t exactly put it on par with other Palm Desert luxury hotels like the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage or the La Quinta Resort, Waldorf Astoria. I would however say it was direct competition to the Kimpton Rowan or the Miramonte Indian Wells.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay at HOTEL PASEO and I would easily recommend the hotel to couples (both young and old) and singles looking for a central location to explore the Palm Desert area.
Final Rating: 8.5 out of 10.
