Last Friday, I was feeling antsy. It has been a while since I traveled anywhere, so on a whim, I decided to head to Palm Springs for the weekend. Given the extremely short notice and the fact that I needed to bring my dog, I did a search on the Marriott site for pet-friendly hotels. My other favorite hotels weren’t available, but the Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage was. I decided to splurge and booked us a one-bedroom king suite, and I’m so glad I did. If you’re wondering what it’s like to stay at the Ritz Carlton Palm Springs in a suite with club access, read on to learn about our experience.
Purchasing Bonvoy Points
I’ve stayed at a few other Ritz Carlton’s in the past, the most memorable being the one in the French Quarter. Because I’m a loyal Marriot member, I’ve racked up quite a few Bonvoy points. With a combination of points and cash, I was able to secure a suite, which normally retails for $2,000 or more per night. I earn points based on stays, and I’ve also purchased points when they offer the extra incentives (for example, if you purchase 10,000, you get an additional 1000 points). Purchasing points is a great way to accumulate more points that you can use at any Marriott property. I plan to use points again this summer for a trip I’m planning to Maui.
Bonvoy Status
The other reason I love the Marriott Bonvoy program is that there are so many additional perks once you reach the different status levels. When I was a platinum member I had access to even more amenities, such as 4pm check out, access to the club lounges and free breakfast. This time around, I only have gold status, so I had to pay to upgrade to the club level. But, I totally think it’s worth the cost.
Ritz Carlton Palm Springs Club Lounge
At the Ritz Carlton Palm Springs, the price to upgrade to the club level for the day was $300. You get access to the club for the entire day, which includes unlimited food and drinks. They offer a full breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, evening hordurves, and later evening dessert. There is also an espresso maker, unlimited drinks, and a selection of snacks that are always available.
I know it might sound pricey, but I think it’s worth the cost for the access to unlimited alcohol alone. I bought the pass on the day we were going to chill in the room and by the pool all day. One drink at the pool costs $18-20. Not that we would have had 15 drinks during the day, but we might have gotten 3-5 each. So for just slightly more money, we also had two full meals and plenty of snacks throughout the day. Not to mention, we had access to sodas, juices, bottled water and other snacks. Rather than pay for room service or other dining at the hotel, we had it all covered under the club access.
Ritz Carlton Palm Springs Suite
I haven’t yet said much about our room. It was a one-bedroom king suite. The room had two balconies that overlooked Cathedral City and the valley below. It also had two bathrooms, one full-bath with a giant soaking tub and shower with two shower heads. The main bathroom was giant, with a seperate closet for the toilet. The second bathroom was a half bath with a toilet and a nice sink. The bathtub/shower room was so large it even had its own small TV.
The living area was also quite large with an L-shaped couch, a table with two chairs, and a large TV. The bedroom had a cozy king bed and another large TV, along with a sitting chair in the corner. The suite also had plush robes and slippers, a Nespresso maker, a mini fridge, and a lot of closet space.
Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage Amenities
Beyond the club lounge that I’ve already discussed, the hotel has some other great amenities. They offer two large pools, one for adults and one for kids and families. They also have a really nice hot tub that overlooks the amazing view of the city below. We didn’t try the on-site restaurant since we utilized the club lounge for the majority of our meals. However, the ambiance of the hotel restaurant was quite lovely and well attended while we were there. The hotel also has fire pits, valet parking, a gift shop, and offers some little extras, like coffee in the morning, and a candy bar in the afternoon.
Overall, we really enjoyed our stay at the Ritz Carlton Palm Springs. It wasn’t my favorite Palm Springs property of the ones I’ve stayed at, but it was definitely nice. I’d definitely consider staying there again.
If you’re looking for Palm Springs tips for traveling with kids, click here. To read about another trip I took to see Desert X, click here.