The second stop on my desert birthday celebration vacation was the gorgeous La Quinta Palm Springs, a Waldorf Astoria resort. I know, when you hear the words “La Quinta”, you’re probably reminded of a small chain hotel. But this property is named La Quinta because it is technically in La Quinta, California! It’s located about 30 minutes from Palm Springs and 2 hours from LAX. The area is very well known for the big Indian Wells Tennis Tournament that takes place each spring. 

La Quinta Palm Springs is a huge resort. I’ll let the numbers speak for themselves. The resort features 620 guest rooms, 41 pools, 23 tennis courts and 53 hot spas. Crazy, right? The accommodations here are unique hacienda style rooms. We elected to stay in a poolside casita. The rooms in this category are clustered around a smaller pool. So, you have a pool just outside of your door step! This proved to be especially nice when the main pools were crowded. 

There are a multitude of activities at La Quinta. We chose to get our exercise and hike! One morning, we hiked in the mountains. The next, we opted for a more flat hike in the nearby area. Aside from hiking, jeep and hot air balloon tours are popular in the area! 

One of my biggest learnings on the job has been that resorts have incredible cuisine in their restaurants. Growing up, I was told that restaurant food = cheap food. However, that is absolutely not the case! Many hotels and resorts have Michelin starred restaurants or specialty restaurants that draw guests who aren’t even staying on property. La Quinta even further proved my learnings. My two highlights are the James Beard award-winning chef and the Mexican cuisine at the Adobe Grill. I am extraordinarily picky about my Mexican food and I loved this restaurant. 

While I didn’t get to pay a visit to the spa, I have heard that it is an award-winning spa, offering advanced skin care science and custom massages. I spent my time laying by the pool, which was relaxing enough! Oh, and I should mention the margarita cart. Just when the afternoon heat is starting to set in, the margarita cart makes its rounds. 

Don’t forget your amenities when booking with Major Traveler: 

• Upgrade on Availability 
• Daily full breakfast 
• $100 resort credit
• Early check-in/late check-out 

Want to extend your stay in Palm Springs? Pair La Quinta with the Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage. Let’s book it!