Parker Palm Springs

"The Parker Palm Springs offers charging stations for electric vehicles, making it convenient for guests to charge their EVs overnight." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Both the luxe-est and largest property in Palm Springs at 13 acres, the sprawling Jonathan Adler-designed Hollywood Regency-style hotel is posh, kitschy, whimsical, and service-centric all at once. Located on the very south end of town on a non-descript stretch of Palm Canyon Drive across from a car dealership group, once you make it through the gate and up the curling driveway you’ll feel truly transported. Formerly the estate of Western movie star Gene Autry, the Parker is hands down one of the area’s most unique places to stay. Though the entire property is huge by Palm Springs standards, it still manages to feel private and exclusive thanks to the sprawling layout, spread-out structures, and hidden hangouts at every turn, including a croquet lawn, Pétanque courts, firepit seating areas, and two perfect pools. Though you’ll need a car or Uber to get anywhere else noteworthy, you’ll likely just want to hunker down here your entire stay and get your money’s worth." - Lizbeth Scordo

"Retro chic hotel offering 40 percent off best available rates on villa reservations." - Lyndsey Matthews, Michelle Baran

"Why book? Both the luxe-est and largest property in Palm Springs at 13 acres, the sprawling Jonathan Adler-designed Hollywood Regency-style hotel is posh, kitschy, whimsical, and service-centric all at once. Set the scene Formerly the estate of Western movie star Gene Autry, the Parker is hands down one of the area’s most unique places to stay. Though the entire property is huge by Palm Springs standards, it still manages to feel private and exclusive thanks to the sprawling layout, spread-out structures, and hidden hangouts at every turn, including a croquet lawn, Pétanque courts, fire pit seating areas, and two perfect pools. The hotel’s signature lush landscaping comes by way of overgrown grasses, flowering bushes, citrus trees, 225 towering palms, an herb garden, and a tunnel of hedges (all kept up by a full-time staff of eight gardeners), meant to give the grounds a South-of-France feel. The labyrinth of pathways connects guests to both the various outdoor spaces and grand buildings that house the 156 rooms and villas, including the main building where the majority of the hotel’s dining and drinking options are located. It’s also home to one of grooviest hotel lobbies you’ve ever come across with a dramatic white brick wall, mantle of colorful glass sculptures, light-up sign screaming the word “Drugs,” and lounge with a circular hanging fireplace, menagerie of macrame owls, shag pile rugs, and plenty of luscious leather and velvet furnishings. Expect to see guests decked out in designer wear, Silicon Valley types, and even some famous faces, especially during Coachella and Palm Springs’ annual film festival. The backstory Though the property was developed as California’s first Holiday Inn in the 1950s, Autry purchased it in the early ‘60s as both a getaway for himself and a place to house members of the LA Angels baseball team, which he owned at the time, during spring training. He eventually sold it in the 1990s, which led to incarnations as The Givenchy Hotel & Spa and Merv Griffin’s Resort Hotel after the TV mogul purchased it. Hotelier Jack Parker acquired the property two decades ago, bringing in Adler to create the Parker’s signature style that remains today. The rooms I could go on all day about the retro-regal one-of-a-kind room décor that Adler updates twice a year. Guests enter most rooms through red lacquer front doors, and soon find patterned rugs, cranberry-colored armchairs, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors covered in white shutters, and fun ‘70s-style fabric wall art, while bathrooms feature with a mix of luxe bath products (L’Occitane, Aesop, Le Labo) and Hermes soap. Hammock rooms spill out to private courtyards anchored by their namesake accessory, and poolside rooms open to pool-adjacent patios, especially popular with families. The 12 villas come with a living room, a separate bedroom, and kitchen stocked with complimentary snacks and drinks from the mini bar, a pre-dinner amuse bouche from the chef each evening, and a patio with a separate entrance for staffers to set up morning breakfast without disturbing you. For the ultimate over-the-top splurge, book the two-bedroom Gene Autry Residence replete with multiple outdoor spaces, a full kitchen, massage room, dry sauna, and secret screening room hidden behind a movie poster-covered wall. Food and drink All-day outdoor eatery Norma's, set under a retractable tangerine-hued shade is one of the city’s most popular brunch bets with decadent plays on breakfast faves like berry brioche French toast and a caviar-topped lobster frittata and spins on classic comfort food like a cheeseburger, and lobster mac and cheese. Wine bar Counter Reformation is one of town’s top spots for a pour and sophisticated small plates. The sexy space holds just 20 seats at the bar, and definitely pop into the antique confessional in the back for a photo opp. Dark and decadent fine dining venue Mister Parker’s serves up classic cocktails and a seafood-centric dinner menu. The spa While the treatments are serious business at this top-notch spa, The Palm Springs Yacht Club is also here for plenty of tongue-in-cheek-fun, doubling down on the nautical theme and decked out in various hues of blue and stripes, with boating references everywhere. The 17 treatment rooms are named after America’s Cup champions, there’s an indoor pool surrounded by loungers that feels like the deck of a cruise ship, and the Boiler Room is the spa’s high-end fitness center stocked with Technogym equipment. The neighborhood/area Located on the very south end of town on a non-descript stretch of Palm Canyon Drive across from a car dealership group, once you make it through the gate and up the curling driveway you’ll feel truly transported. Though you’ll need a car or Uber to get anywhere else noteworthy, you’ll likely just want to hunker down here your entire stay and get your money’s worth. The service As good as it gets—perfectly polished without being pretentious. The property is heavy on staff to keep everything running like a well-oiled Palm Springs playground and you can expect a heartfelt greeting from every passing employee. The concierge is at your service to make just about anything happen and you can arrange for everything from a snack to a tasting menu to be brought to your room. For families Families are welcome and kids seem rather well behaved, keeping the with the resort’s chill vibe. No floaties allowed in the pools. Accessibility ADA rooms are available upon request. Anything left to mention? The property also offers an onsite putting green, four clay tennis courts, and bikes for borrowing." - Lizbeth Scordo

"The Parker has a long history. It was once Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch estate, and then the Merv Griffin Resort." - Mark Fedeli