Holiday House

Profiled everywhere from Vogue to Architectural Digest, the Holiday House made a huge design splash when it re-opened as a luxury boutique hotel in 2017. The property was designed by noted architect Herbert W. Burns, one of the founding fathers of what's now called Mid-Century Modern, and originally opened in 1951. Today, the design has kept the original bones and added a whole lot of personality in the form of Gio Ponti inspired tile-work, original pop art by Roy Liechtenstein, and a cozy nook where the blue sofa pattern matches the wallpaper exactly. The bar holds a neon sign that announces, "Too Dumb for NYC, Too Ugly for LA." Outside, things are just as tongue-in-cheek, though there are exceptional mountain views and greenery around the pool. The Pantry is popular with locals for lunch and the Friday night chicken dinners (served family style) draw tourists in droves. Guests must be 21 and over -- no kids allowed. Dogs are welcome with a deposit. 

Set on busy (but busy in Palm Springs is a relative term) Belardo Road, La Serena Villas has a superb location for those who want to walk or bike around downtown Palm Springs. The immediate neighborhood is also home to a few other boutique hotels, a strip mall with restaurants, and residences, and the hotel is less than a three-minute walk from Palm Canyon Drive. That's the main drag in downtown Palm Springs and the street is home to restaurants, boutique shops, banks, pharmacies, and convenience stores. You can also join a walking tour of Mid-Century Modern architecture (that will likely swing through Holiday House) from downtown. Farther afield, it's about a 20-minute drive to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Cabazon Outlet Stores are about a 25-minute drive. Joshua Tree National Park and Coachella grounds are about a 50-minute drive. It's only 10 minutes to Palm Springs International Airport. Expect anywhere from two to four hours in the car to reach Los Angeles -- traffic can be brutal, especially around Coachella in April. 

The 28 rooms are divided into three no-nonsense categories: Good, Better, and Best. But don't worry, even the Good category is really great. All rooms feature Mark D. Sikes custom textiles, curated artwork, and a minibar with both liquor and Malin + Goetz bath amenities. Nespresso machines, Italian linens, and Holiday House signature searcher robes are also provided. Better Rooms feature the same amenities, plus a more private location, additional square footage, and a wet bar area with additional seating. The Best Rooms are even bigger, and also have an indoor bathtub and balcony or outdoor patio and shower. These rooms also have mountain views. The Big Room is essentially a suite, with a separate seating area, soaking bathtub, and wet bar with a Smeg refrigerator and countertop seating. The Suite features a private entrance and an outdoor patio, kitchenette, soaking bathtub, fireplace, and a separate living room. Note that none of the rooms have TVs. 

Holiday House offers well-designed features that focus on relaxing. The large outdoor swimming pool serves as the main hangout all day long; it's surrounded by sun loungers and there's a whirlpool as well. Just adjacent to the pool is a lawn area with a shuffleboard and some sheltered seating to get out of the sun. Fire pits and Sole bikes are also found here. The Pantry serves American fare for lunch, and on Friday nights it's known for family-style fried chicken dinners -- both meals are open to the public. Guests get a free continental breakfast every morning with Verve coffee, pastries, fruit, granola, cheese, charcuterie, and yogurt. For additional snacks, the Pantry Fridge has cold drinks and nibbles available for purchase on the honor system. Art and gifts are also for sale. The indoor bar offers outdoor seating, and a wide selection of cocktails, beers, and wine. Wi-Fi, parking, and the bikes are covered by the daily resort fee. Dogs are welcome for a fee, and are required to be on a leash in the public areas.