My family and I are getting really good at packing for a weekend away! For the 5 of us, two suitcases, a bag of electronics, and snacks can send us on the road for 6+ hours! Our most recent trip was to Palm Springs. Approaching our destination in Rancho Mirage, CA we watched our car thermometer rise slowly from 100 up to my first experience with 118 degrees! Here, amid the mid-summer heat, you can find an amazing oasis called Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa.
From what I read about the resort, we all were looking forward to the gorgeous air conditioned rooms as well as the property’s very own water park, Splashtopia!
The resort has a grand entrance of style and elegance, you feel you are among the rich and famous, though families are the big draw to the hotel. Check-In at the resort is 4pm, if you arrive early, you are invited to enjoy the resort to it’s fullest while your room is prepared. We were given a map, filled in on all the resort amenities, locations for food, drinks, and snacks, and were given our “wristbands” for Splashtopia. Each day of your visit, each member of your party gets a wristband that gives you a full-day’s in and out privileges. (I will write an individual review of Splashtopia in a upcoming post). Golfers will love the golf course in the cooler months, while others can try out the fabulous Spa options, depending on the nature of your trip!
The rooms for the resorts are spread around the property in separate units, housing about 20 rooms per unit. When leaving the registration area, you can drive to your unit and park just outside for easy access to your car for packing and unpacking! The units have two stories with the ground level offering a patio. Our patio with table and chairs opened to the lake for amazing views. We were thrilled to know that our poolside unit’s front door was just steps away from the pool and Splashtopia!
For our family of 5 the air conditioned (complete with ceiling fan) King room was large, just right to fit all of us. The sofa pulls out to sleep two children, while the long couch cushion served as my oldest’s bed! The rooms include a desk area with access to laptop internet and FREE wireless connectivity for the length of your stay! The rooms are equipped with locking mini-bars and snacks, priced high, but there if you need them. Coffee and tea are provided free in-room. The bathroom is gorgeous and spacious, providing a hair dryer and the most scrumptious smelling mango lotion, shampoo, and conditioner.
There are some great places to eat without leaving your room or the property during your stay. BluEmber is an elegant restaurant that is also completely family-friendly. When I walked in for dinner with shorts and a tank top, I said to my waiter, “I feel underdressed!” He came back to say, we want to give our guests the best, even those with children, and you dress for the weather and season. That made my day! With fine salads, steaks (my husband had a NY), and more, adults can get exactly what they want in a fancy restaurant while keeping their kids happy too. With each paid adult entrée (breakfast deal also), a child 12 and under eats free from their children’s buffet filled with pasta, chicken tenders, pizza, fries, fruit, crudités, and cookies!
Just across from BluEmber is the Palms Café and Grill. For breakfast, enjoy Starbucks coffee, donuts, pastries, yogurt, fruit, and cold cereal. For lunch and dinner, there are tons of snacks, sandwiches, and even pizza!
Adjacent to the pool, The Splash Grill is available, outdoor seating and constant misters cooling you down, you can enjoy chips/salsa, hot dogs, salads, sandwiches and great smoothies and adult cocktails. Even better, you can get your meal delivered to your lounge chair at Splashtopia or around the main pool. Meals and drinks can be charged to your room, so don’t worry about carrying cash or cards around to the property.
During our stay, my husband and I checked out the Tranquility Pool. Located near BluEmber and The Café Grill, this pool and spa area is for adults 18 and over, plays music geared for a mature crowd and is definitely serene spot to relax. We spent about an hour and a half here, sipped drinks in the pool and realized quickly so much calmer a pool area can be without kids, no splashing, no screaming! If you come without children, this is the place to be.
Something simple but necessary in the summer heat, I enjoyed having the water stations throughout the pool areas. Plastic cups, lids, and straws, water and buckets of ice are necessary to keep hydrated and I found myself refilling my cup multiple times a day, encouraging the kids to do so as well. Let me not forget the lifeguards that you find everywhere in Splashtopia! Hundreds of kids and parents can feel secure that at any time you can trust a life guard to help out if need be. I counted seven on hand at any one time!
For one reasonable rate (packages start at $129/night), your whole family can enjoy your stay at Rancho Las Palmas plus enjoy all the features of a water park free! It’s an all-inclusive vacation. And right now, you can get 50% off your 3rd night!
Let’s mention the savings as well…For 3 full days of a water park you can pay up to $35/per day/per person, that’s about $500 for a family of 5 in addition to a hotel in some locations! My husband and I are already planning our next trip out! My sister-in-law & 2 young sons lives in Arizona and we’re thinking about meeting at Rancho Las Palmas next year!
Looks very nice! I would like to stay there