200 W Arenas Rd, Palm Springs, California, United States | (888) 273-7116
Easily walkable location, a few blocks from downtown Palm Springs and museums
Mid-Century Modern architecture by Herbert W. Burns in 1951 -- redesigned in 2017
Adult-only property is fun and refined
In downtown Palm Springs near Palm Canyon Drive's shops and restaurants
Good, Better, and Best Rooms -- all with Nespresso machines and Italian linens
Secluded swimming pool with an adjacent shuffleboard court and fire pits
Free continental breakfast features homemade pastries, fruit, and cheeses
The Pantry serves American fare for lunch and a Friday night fried chicken dinner; bar open late
Pantry fridge for self-serve snacks and cold drinks -- plus art and gifts
Artistic lobby with priceless works of art, including pop art by Roy Liechtenstein
Sole bikes available to borrow
Pet-friendly (with a deposit, leashes required in public areas)
Daily resort fee (covers breakfast, bikes, Wi-Fi, water, and parking)
No guests under 21 allow (pro for some)
No TVs in the rooms (pro for some)
Restaurant closed for dinner
Holiday House is one of the best examples of Mid-Century Modern architecture in downtown Palm Springs. The 28-room boutique hotel was designed by noted architect Herbert W. Burns and originally opened in 1951(it's a regular stop on architecture tours). In 2017, the hotel was artfully redone by the team behind the celebrated Sparrows Lodge. The rooms are divided into categories of Good, Better, and Best, and each is spacious and features a whimsical design and high end finishes; some have outdoor showers or kitchenettes. The resort fee covers bikes to borrow, continental breakfast, and parking. The Pantry serves American fare for lunch and a popular Friday night fried chicken dinner. For entertainment, there's a large pool, shuffleboard court, fire pits, and a cozy nook filled with priceless works of original art. For something with more of a retro Mid-Century Modern vibe and no resort fee, check rates at The Monkey Tree Hotel.
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Scene
Historical Mid-Century Modern hotel designed by Herbert W. Burns and decorated with priceless art
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.
Location
In downtown Palm Springs, a few blocks from shops, restaurants, bars, and museums
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.
Rooms
Good, Better, and Best categories -- some with outdoor showers or kitchenettes
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.
Features
Excellent pool and whirlpool, the Pantry restaurant, and a resort fee to cover bikes, continental breakfast, and parking
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.
