The Monkey Tree Hotel

The Monkey Tree Hotel was originally built in 1960 as an overflow for the notorious and popular Racket Club hotel. The Monkey Tree was designed by Alfred Frey, a renowned Mid-Century Modern architect, who paid attention to every detail -- including making sure the roof life of the rooms didn't interfere with the mountain views from the pool. From the exterior, the motel looks a bit like a private home, with a stone wall and palm trees in front of the entrance. Once through the gate, the feeling is a bit like stepping back in time to the '60s, but not in a cheesy way. The bulk of the action takes place outdoors by the swimming pool, with Motown hits piped in on the speakers for ambience, or indoors in the living room and breakfast area. This room features charming Mid-Century Modern art and furnishings, complete with "hear no evil" monkeys. As for the hotel's name? The current owner thinks it was simply a fun marketing ploy: monkeys were a very popular motif in the '60s. Note that children are not allowed at the hotel and phones are discouraged by the pool. 

Racquet Club Road was once a very posh address, but today it's not all that glamorous. The Monkey Tree Hotel is on a busy street, though there's not so much traffic that noise becomes a problem, and it provides a convenient route into the nearby downtown area, which offers many restaurant and shopping options. You'll want to have a car or take Ubers, as there's little of interest in the immediate neighborhood.

• Five-minute drive to Palm Springs International Airport
• Nine-minute drive to downtown Palm Springs
• 13-minute drive to Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
• 38-minute drive to Pappy + Harriet's and Pioneertown 
• 40-minute drive to Empire Polo Club (for Coachella)
• 48-minute drive to Joshua Tree National park 

The Monkey Tree Hotel has 16 rooms, divided into six categories: five kitchenette rooms, five king rooms, a deluxe king, three queen rooms, the Jungle Room, and the Presidential Suite. The Jungle Room is the house favorite (Eric Clapton stayed there) as it has the most personality and artistic charm, plus a private back garden. The room is furnished with attention to high quality retro details, such as subtle handmade leopard-print wallpaper and macrame owl hangings. The stunning bathroom features a large window and Roman-style bath. Many of the rooms have a fun teal and yellow color palette, plus vintage framed rock concert posters on the walls. All rooms feature a 32-inch flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridge, air-conditioning, toiletries, hairdryer, vintage ice bucket, poolside glassware, and robes. Some rooms feature a kitchenette with a full oven/stove, small fridge, microwave, and sink. Simple bathrooms are clean and come with shower/tub combos and pedestal sinks. All of the rooms face the internal pool and yard, and one thing we love is a privacy cover on the windows -- meaning you can see out the windows to enjoy the view and natural light, but no one can see inside the room. Note that all of the rooms feature one bed and pillow menus are standard.

There's a rumor that John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe had a tryst in what's now the Presidential Suite, which has a private bedroom and full living room/kitchenette. The kitchenette room can be used as a party hub for full buy-outs.  

The owners of The Monkey Tree Hotel pride themselves on providing freebies, there are no hidden costs here. The day starts with a homemade breakfast of rotating items that can include pastries, bread pudding, granola, yogurt, and eggs. Special diets can be catered to. There are also free snacks and a refrigerator by the pool holds free non-alcoholic drinks that guests can help themselves to. Another nice freebie is a gym pass to Palm Springs Fitness. Parking (including a space for a Tesla and three charging stations) and Wi-Fi are included. Features are a bit limited, there's a gorgeous swimming pool, heated to 85-degrees year-round, and sun deck with enough lounge chairs for every guest. Fire pits provide a nice nighttime ambience. The Scandinavian spa is a semi-private area with a 55-degree cold plunge pool (a necessity in desert summers), 104-degree hot tub, and dry sauna. Unusually, there's also an exercise pool for swimming in place against a current. The hotel is available for full buy-outs for events and weddings.