333 E Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, California, United States | (251) 219-4428
Convenient location a three-minute drive from downtown
Reimagined 1960s motel, reopened in 2016 with hip decor
Design-oriented digs, many with balconies or patios
Room perks include mini-fridges, bathrobes, Malin+Goetz toiletries
Sizable V-shaped pool with loungers and daybeds
Polynesian-inspired poolside bar/eatery
On-site hot tub and fire pit areas
Free parking and free bikes on request
Small but serviceable fitness room
Free Wi-Fi throughout and public computer on hand
Few on-site features to justify daily resort fee
Boisterous pool scene can translate to noise
Not all rooms have coffeemakers
Glass partition showers are pretty but not always practical
Some complaints about lax service
Conveniently located in South Palm Springs, just a three-minute drive from the city center, this former budget motel began welcoming guests in 2016 after a major makeover turned it into a three-pearl property with hipster aspirations. The lobby now boasts a minimalist look with a southwestern twist; ditto for the 140 rooms, which come with mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and, in many cases, balconies or patios (though most are missing coffeemakers). There’s also a spacious pool with the requisite loungers, daybeds, and poolside bar/eatery, as well as a hot tub, fire pit, and small fitness room. However, the overall style borders on sterile, the pool can get noisy, and the features don't justify the property's resort fee. The nearby Ace Hotel, which is aimed at the same millennial market, offers a more established upper-middle-range alternative.
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Scene
A former budget spot now targeting style-conscious millennials
Rather than opting for the mid-century modern look so loved by Palm Springs fanatics, this hotel draws its inspiration from the surrounding landscape. The free-standing lobby building, for instance, mixes earthy colors and interesting textures (including fumed oak and coarsely woven upholstery fabrics) in order to create a warmer contemporary look that incorporates desert culture and native traditions. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite work. Concrete floors and sparse furnishings make the space seem more cavernous than cozy or cool, so it’s no surprise that the millennial vacationers who typically check in here spend more time lounging by the pool, where the mood (and the volume) get turned up.
Location
In South Palm Springs, just minutes from the city center
Under the shadow of the San Jacinto Mountains, this South Palm Springs hotel is only three minutes on foot from the gorgeous Moorten Botanical Garden. Better still, it’s three by car from downtown and, as a result, offers easy access to top attractions, along with a wealth of dining, shopping, and nightlife options. (Guests who don’t have their own vehicle can borrow bikes on-site or take advantage of the city’s free Thursday-through-Sunday trolley service, which stops right outside.) If you want to go farther afield, you can drive to popular outlying sites -- like the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens or the Coachella Valley Preserve -- in 25-minutes or less; it takes just under 40 to hit the Empire Polo Club (home of the famous Coachella Music Festival) and 45 to reach the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center.- Three-minute walk to Moorten Botanical Garden
Rooms
Revamped rooms with a hipster sheen and Malin+Goetz toiletries -- but few coffeemakers
Designed by the WESTAR Architecture Group, rooms feature a minimalist decor anchored by duvet-topped platform beds plus a palette pulled from the desert landscape (picture sand tones enlivened by sky blue). An occasional animal skull and other southwestern touches are further reminders of the location, while variations on the “V” motif (evident in everything from the throw pillows and wall art to the mirrored headboards and inlaid furniture) reinforce the brand. In terms of amenities, all have mini-fridges, digital safes, 47-inch flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, but coffeemakers are notably absent in many rooms. Higher-category options add balconies or patios with funky swings, while suites, which promise direct pool access, provide separate living areas and extra amenities (Nespresso machines among them). Across the board, the handsome bathrooms boast quartz-topped teak vanities, generously sized showers trimmed in subway tile, and welcome bonuses like hooded robes and tempting Malin+Goetz bath products. But glass partitions used in place of shower curtains, while attractive, can leave water on the floor. And for all the hip boutique-hotel accoutrements, a motel vibe lingers. Also note, rooms by the pool can pick up noise from its booming sound system.
Features
A large saltwater pool leads a comparatively short list
Considering the hotel charges a daily resort fee, you might reasonably expect to find more resort-like perks. But on-site features are not a strong point. The V does have a spacious outdoor pool that’s, appropriately, shaped like a V and lined with loungers and daybeds, plus adjacent hot tub and fire pit areas. There’s a Polynesian-inspired poolside bar/eatery, too -- Elixir, which serves up Pan-Asian fare and fun Tiki-type cocktails. But otherwise recreational facilities are few and the hotel’s full-scale farm-to-table restaurant still hasn’t opened after repeated delays (optimists are now hoping for late 2017). Other amenities include a small fitness room with cardio and weight-training equipment; concierge and laundry/dry-cleaning services; free outdoor parking, a free guest computer in the lobby and free Wi-Fi throughout. Staff get mixed reviews, with some guests remarking that service is entirely too lax.
