La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Hollywood heyday glam in the desert
Recoup like a Tinseltown legend at La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, a desert hideaway wedged at the edge of the Santa Rosa Mountains, just two hours from Los Angeles. Opened in 1926 by entrepreneur Walter H. Morgan as a health retreat for Hollywood stars in need of a respite, La Quinta quickly became the place for glitterati to gather away from the pesky paparazzi.
Stretching across 45 immaculate acres enlivened by citrus trees and cacti, the red-roofed mission-revival-style resort holds 796 suite-like guest rooms — most of which are set up like private houses (or casitas) — and is dotted with 41 sparkling pools.
Though quiet and restorative in mood, the luxurious complex offers abundant athletic options (23 tennis courts, a state-of-the-art gym) for the active set to enjoy. With highly touted restaurants and garden space galore, La Quinta Resort & Club caters to all — solo travelers, couples, families and even group getaways.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- You’ll find a desert oasis with 41
variously sized swimming pools across the expansive property. While the retreat
has a grand main pool, you can also walk just steps from your casita or villa
to your own private or semi-private watering hole.
- Sports buffs will be in their element
at this Palm Springs hotel. There are tennis courts, daily fitness courses,
bike rentals, hiking trails and five championship-caliber golf courses.
- If you’re looking for a wellness
escape, you’ve come to the right place. Under the leadership of Dr. Eden
Goldman, a mindfulness program maintains scores of options for meditation and
yoga and the gorgeously appointed spa has a slew of distinctive treatments for
ultimate relaxation.
- History lovers will swoon over La
Quinta. Walk the legendary property with any eager staff member to hear about Frank
Capra’s suite (which still holds his storied typewriter, where he purportedly
wrote It’s A Wonderful Life and other
film scripts), Greta Garbo’s glamorous residence (with grounds now often used for
weddings) and tales of moonshine cocktails during Prohibition.
- While the Palm
Springs area is well-celebrated for its restaurants, you never need to
leave the property for sustenance. The resort encompasses seven stellar eateries,
including romantic Morgan’s in the Desert and the classic Mexican favorite
Adobe Grill.
Things to Know
- Post a photo from the property’s now
Instagram-famous Mind & Movement Studio. One of its walls boasts a
shimmering installation from yogi and well-known street-artist Amanda Giacomini
as part of her worldwide 10,000 Buddhas project.
- With casitas and villas spread
throughout and plenty of open spaces, a walk from your room to the spa or a
restaurant can feel like a major workout. Be prepared to go with the flow — or just
ask the savvy staff for a ride in its trusty golf carts.
- Like other guests, canines get the
royal treatment at La Quinta. A very dog-friendly resort, the hideaway provides
pups with beds, bowls, door hangers, place mats and toys. The spa even offers the
pampered pooches with in-room massages.
- La Quinta is a short drive from Joshua
Tree National Park, where you can rock climb and hike, then return to luxury.
- If you hanker after history, be sure to
request one of the original accommodations (now restored). Those more prone to
modern architecture may prefer the spa villas or new-build casitas and suites.
The Rooms
- The classic casitas in the luxury hotel
boast 400 square feet of mission revival glam with historical touches like Talavera
tiles. Most accommodations have enclosed outdoor patios with hot tubs or
fireplaces and are just steps from one of the property’s dozens of pools.
- If you need a bit more room, opt for
one of the spacious suites. These range from the 450-square-foot Frank Capra Junior
Suite to the palatial 2,000-square-foot Presidential Suite, complete with its
own private pool.
- All of the accommodations offer Spanish-
or mission-revival flourishes, such as reproductions of original furniture, art
and other antiques.
- The Spa Villas seem more like contemporary townhouses with
botanical themes and sun-dappled colors. Conveniently located near the wellness
enclave, they have direct access to the lap pool and measure about 450 square feet.
The Restaurants
- Morgan’s in the Desert has been serving
farm-to-table fare long before it became ubiquitous. Popular with residents and
hotel guests alike, this gourmet dining spot features classic preparations of
locally sourced ingredients, such as beef carpaccio, Colorado lamb saddle and
Montana pork chops.
- Adobe Grill, one of the resort’s
original restaurants, harks back to an era when Hollywood was obsessed with the
romance and exoticism of Mexico. A buzzing location for dinner any night, the grill
is known for its creamy, tableside-made guacamole.
- For breakfast, don’t miss Twenty6. This
innovative American bistro puts out distinctive classics with flair, like the
Gilberto, a Benedict-style dish with poached eggs, avocado, pico de gallo and
hollandaise.
Amenities
24-hour room service 
Babysitting services
Bar
Fitness classes
Golf
Gym
House car
Meeting rooms
Outdoor pool
Pet friendly
Restaurants
Spa
Tennis
Getting There
Stories
