Tag: desertluxury

A Luxury Travel Collection Immersion

Some trips are memorable. Others leave you planning your return before you’ve even arrived home.

My recent Luxury Travel Collection immersion through Palm Springs and Los Cabos did exactly that.

Hosted by Visit Greater Palm Springs, followed by Los Cabos Tourism and Gate 7 Travel, the journey combined luxury accommodation, unforgettable experiences, incredible food, and genuine local hospitality.

Palm Springs: Hollywood Glamour in the Desert

Located in Southern California’s Coachella Valley, Palm Springs is around a 3 to 3.5-hour drive from Los Angeles and approximately 4.5 to 5 hours from Las Vegas. Surrounded by dramatic desert landscapes and the San Jacinto Mountains, it’s easy to see why this stylish oasis has attracted Hollywood stars, artists, and luxury travellers for decades.

Parker Palm Springs

For two nights we stayed at the iconic Parker Palm Springs, and I completely fell in love with it. With its boujee old Hollywood vibe, eclectic interiors, beautifully landscaped gardens, and quirky hidden corners, it feels less like a hotel and more like its own little world.

I could have happily spent another couple of days simply wandering the grounds and soaking it all in.

mister parker’s

Dinner at the famous mister parker’s restaurant was an experience in itself. The service was impeccable, the atmosphere was intimate and full of character, and the food was incredible. It was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had and perfectly complimented the hotel’s timeless charm.

The Palm Springs Experience

Palm Springs was full of surprises. The more we explored, the more I realised there was still so much left to discover.

We got to experience the Drag & Fly Tour, hosted by Miss Danity Zann, one of Palm Springs’ wonderful drag queen performers.

It was a fun and entertaining way to learn about Palm Springs’ history, famous residents, iconic homes, and celebrity culture, while sharing plenty of laughs.

More to Palm Springs than you think!

From the hotel, we could even see the famous Bob Hope House, the iconic hilltop residence commissioned by legendary actor and entertainer Bob Hope, who was considered Hollywood royalty for decades.

Although he never lived there, the home became synonymous with celebrity culture and glamorous events in Palm Springs.

Downtown Palm Springs

There was also a little bit of time to explore downtown Palm Springs, including the famous Marilyn Monroe statue, boutique shops, galleries, cafés, and the vibrant streets that give the city its unique personality.

Not just a Stopover!

Our time was short, but Palm Springs is much more than a quick stopover.

Palm Springs Has a Way of Surprising You

My biggest takeaway!

Allow more time than you think you’ll need.

Two nights simply wasn’t enough to fully experience everything Palm Springs has to offer.

There is also Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, championship golf courses, incredible hiking trails, mid-century architecture, luxury spas, a thriving arts scene and for the surfing enthusiasts looking for something a little different, the Palm Springs Surf Club offers world-class wave technology for all skill levels, while the new DSRT Surf in nearby Palm Desert is adding another dimension to the region’s growing list of attractions.

• Hot Tip: One thing I would do differently is fly into Palm Springs Airport and not drive from Los Angeles if staying for only a few days. It allows you to maximise your time enjoying the destination rather than spending valuable holiday time driving long distances.

Los Cabos: Luxury Meets Authentic Mexico

From Palm Springs, we travelled back to Los Angeles before flying south to Los Cabos, located at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean.

This incredible destination effortlessly blends luxury, adventure, culture, and authentic Mexican hospitality, making it easy to understand why it continues to grow in popularity.

A Warm Baja Welcome

What I loved most about Los Cabos was its stunning scenery, incredible food, rich culture, and genuinely warm people. Everywhere we went, we were welcomed with a real sense of pride in the destination.

Three Stays, Three Unique Experiences

We were fortunate to stay at three of the ten hotels we inspected, giving us the opportunity to experience each resort beyond the inspection itself.

From the accommodation and dining to the service and atmosphere, ME Cabo by Meliá was our first luxury stay, then it was on to Marquis Los Cabos and finishing at the beautiful Montage Los Cabos.

Each stay offered a completely different style of luxury, making it easy to picture the type of traveller they would suit.

ME Cabo by Meliá, located on swimmable El Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, is an adults-only beachfront resort just moments from the marina, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. Its vibrant beach club energy is ideal for couples, friends, and travellers wanting to be in the heart of the action.

Marquis Los Cabos, is overlooking the Sea of Cortez, delivered a completely different experience.

This adults-only all-inclusive resort is all about relaxation, exceptional dining with 5 restaurant concepts, uninterrupted ocean views and is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

Montage Los Cabos, a Michelin two-key recognised resort I simply didn’t want to leave.

Located on the beautiful Santa Maria Bay, one of the finest and few swimmable beaches in Los Cabos, it was one of those places where you instantly feel yourself relax.

The understated luxury, personalised service, and beautiful setting made it incredibly difficult to leave.

Luxury Hotels We Explored

The remaining hotel inspections gave us an even greater appreciation of the diversity of luxury accommodation in Los Cabos.

We explored the sister hotel to ME Cabo, Paradisus Los Cabos, an adults-only all-inclusive resort on swimmable Playa El Bledito that is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, recognised by Forbes Travel Guide as one of the world’s finest luxury resorts welcoming couples, friends and families, renowned for its spectacular cliffside restaurant, El Farallon and it’s beautifully designed tranquil spa and wellness centre.

Hotel San Cristóbal in Todos Santos, a boutique lifestyle hotel welcoming guests aged 15+ that is renowned for its relaxed Baja aesthetic and breathtaking Pacific Ocean setting,

Kimpton Mas Olas, an adults-only wellness retreat where wellness, nature, and luxury come together.

Set along the coastline in Todos Santos, the resort offers a peaceful escape with beautifully appointed suites, holistic wellness experiences and a strong connection to the surrounding landscape.

One of the highlights of our hotel inspections was experiencing a guided sound healing session, it was unlike anything I’d experienced before.

The soothing sounds and peaceful setting were so relaxing that I think I even fell asleep, which says everything about how calming the experience was.

Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos, an adults-only all-inclusive resort recognised for its personalised butler service, acclaimed spa and sophisticated atmosphere.

Grand Velas Los Cabos, an award-winning all-inclusive resort celebrated for its Michelin-inspired dining, exceptional service and spacious family friendly accommodation.

Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, its neighbouring adults-only resort, offering a more intimate all-inclusive stay centred around wellness, personalised service and exclusive access to the facilities at Grand Velas Los Cabos.

Exceptional Hospitality!

The warmth and generosity we experienced at every hotel was truly unforgettable.

Paradisus Los Cabos treated us to an incredible multi-course lunch that beautifully showcased the quality and creativity of its cuisine.

At Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, high winds meant we couldn’t dine at the iconic El Farallon as originally planned, but it gave us the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful dinner at the Forbes Travel Guide “Verified Luxury” restaurant Don Manuel’s, hosted by their Leisure Sales Manager, Estefania. It was a wonderful reminder that sometimes the unexpected moments become just as memorable.

Each hotel showcased exceptional hospitality, whether over breakfast, lunch or dinner, making each visit feel like so much more than a hotel inspection.

Beyond the Resorts: Discovering the Real Baja

As impressive as the hotels were, it was also the experiences outside the resorts that really brought Los Cabos to life.

Seeing Los Cabos from the water on a private sailing cruise with Cabo Adventures was something really special. It gave us a completely different perspective of the spectacular coastline and the crystal clear waters of the Sea of Cortez.

A Food Lovers Paradise

Todos Santos had a great little vibe, with its colourful streets, boutique stores and art galleries, creating a relaxed Baja atmosphere.

Lunch at the Michelin Guide recognised Oystera, located at the Santa Terra Reserve, was built on the former site of a sugar mill and perfectly captured everything I loved about the food in Los Cabos: fresh local produce, incredible seafood, and simple flavours done exceptionally well.

Hidden Gems & Local Discoveries

If I had more time on a return visit, I would love to spend it exploring San José del Cabo.

Wandering through the Art Walk, browsing the boutique shops and galleries, and finishing the evening with dinner at SAGE in the art district, gave me a real appreciation for the town’s charm, creativity, and authentic character.

It’s the kind of place you could easily spend a full day or two discovering.

Moments Like These

Equally memorable was exploring the Sierra de la Laguna range, where our local tour operator DMC InCabo Travel took us to see a real-life oasis hidden amongst the desert landscape before heading to Rancho Ecologico Sol De Mayo where you can do a short hike leading to a stunning crystal clear waterfall.

It was such an unexpected contrast and one of those moments that made me appreciate just how diverse Los Cabos really is, with so much more to discover beyond its beautiful beaches.

Wellness, Flavours & Relaxation

Keeping with the theme of Food Lovers Paradise, it was exceptional from start to finish.

One of my favourite experiences was learning how to make traditional churros during a cooking demonstration at Grand Velas Los Cabos. Of course, the best part was getting to enjoy them fresh afterwards!

From elegant resort dining to authentic local flavours, every meal reflected the creativity and quality the region is known for.

To finish our stay at Montage Los Cabos we were treated to a relaxing massage at Spa Montage Sanctuary.

It was the perfect way to slow down after several busy days of hotel inspections and sightseeing. It couldn’t have come at a better time, leaving us refreshed before our journey home.

The Perfect Final Evening

There couldn’t have been a more memorable setting for our farewell dinner in Los Cabos than the iconic cliff-top Sunset Monalisa.

Perched high above Cabo San Lucas Bay overlooking the famous Arch, it’s easy to understand why it’s considered one of the destination’s most iconic restaurants.

As the sun disappeared below the horizon, the staff perform a beautiful tradition by sounding a large conch shell while turning to each point of the compass, marking the end of another day. It was really special and made even more memorable when the evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display.

One Last Taste of Los Cabos

Before heading to the airport for our long journey back home,  we enjoyed one last breakfast at El Huerto, a beautiful farm-to-table restaurant and event space in Cabo San Lucas.

El Huerto Farm to Table is surrounded by lush gardens and serving fresh local produce.

It was a fitting end to an unforgettable immersion through Palm Springs and Los Cabos.

Would I Go Back?

Absolutely.

Palm Springs surprised me with its Hollywood history, desert scenery, eclectic luxury, and laid-back atmosphere.

Los Cabos captured my heart with its welcoming people, incredible food, beautiful landscapes, and collection of luxury hotels that genuinely offer something for every type of traveller.

I loved our stay at Montage Los Cabos,  it was a beautiful location to end our immersion. That said, every hotel we stayed at and inspected offered something unique, and I could happily see myself returning to any of them for a longer stay.

Until Next Time ………

A huge thank you again to Visit Greater Palm Springs, Los Cabos Tourism, Gate 7 Travel, Luxury Travel Collection, and all of our wonderful hotel partners for making this such an incredible journey.

My biggest takeaway, is that Palm Springs and Los Cabos deserve to be explored, not rushed.

Written by Renaye Sands following her adventure through Palm Springs and Los Cabos with the Luxury Travel Collection.