Sands Hotel & Spa

Style

Cali-Moroccan medley

Setting

Exclusive Indian Wells

Pretend to be a sanctuary-seeking Sixties ingenue at retro-chic Sands Hotel & Spa, in the Coachella Valley city of Indian Wells. Thanks to Brit-hit designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, this charming desert escape is blessed with bright prints, exotic tiles, pink stucco walls, greenery galore, cacti and fire pits, and a perfect pool with humbug-striped cabanas. Likewise, rooms are dressed with playful sophistication; many star a private patio or a balcony with a Moroccan-style water fountain. Additional desert-cosseting comes courtesy of the Cali-meets-Marrakech spa (which has a trio of treatment rooms and a tempting menu) and the sceney Pink Cabana restaurant and bar.

Facilities

Zimmer

Forty-six, including three suites.

Checkout

Noon; earliest check-in, 4pm.

Weitere Details

Rates usually exclude breakfast.

Also

Sands Hotel & Spa offers two Superior rooms that are suitable for wheelchair-users. Aside from the second floor, the whole property is ADA compliant.

Kostenfreies WLAN

Haustierfreundlich

Pool

Restaurant

Zimmerservice

Spa

At the Hotel

Superstar spa; outdoor fire pits; free WiFi and parking; Cali greenery galore (palm trees, cacti and olive trees by the spa). In rooms: Chromecast TV, in-room entertainment system, Waterworks brass fixtures, Revival New York bed linens, Carrara marble countertops, Acqua di Parma bath products, full-size minibars with vintage crystal stemware, air-conditioning, tea- and coffee-making kit.

Our Favourite Rooms

Deluxe King Rooms are spacious and swellegant; a highlight is the big bathroom, which has a walk-in shower and a freestanding soaking tub; a tiny Moroccan-style window with pretty shutters by the tub opens up to the living room. If you’ve got some extra bucks to spare, upgrade to the Junior Suite for its soaking-tub-graced patio (and private alfresco seating area) and cosy living area with a sofa and two armchairs. A lot of thought has gone into all of the Sands’ sleeping-quarters, from the vintage stemware to the bedside USB chargers. Top marks.

Poolside

Pack your finest bikini/beach shorts for the heated outdoor pool, flanked by sun loungers, daybeds and cabanas. A fleet of attendants clad in preppy pink polo shirts and white shorts are on hand to take food and drink orders and keep things looking shipshape; there’s also a towel station and an ear-pleasing soundtrack. Go for a dip at night, if you fancy...

Spa

Sitting pretty in the olive grove, the hotel’s spa has three treatment rooms and a list of treatments that look to North Africa for inspiration. Opt for the Royal Rhassoul body treatment or the Moroccan Radiance facial, perhaps.

Packing Tips

Tennis rackets for the local courts. Light-sleepers might appreciate ear plugs to guard against any noise from the Nest, the live music bar next door. Bring a camera to capture the devil’s-in-the-detail design and interiors.

Also

Free coffee is there for the taking in the lobby. Breakfast is available (at an additional cost).

Kinder

This is a gloriously child-free stay: it's over-18s only.

Galerie

Food & Drink

Top Table

Some like it hot; if you’re one of them, sit outside. Air-con-appreciators can remain as cool as the metaphorical cucumber by bagging barside seats.

Kleiderordnung

Pretend you’re attending a poolside cocktail party in the Sixties, then dress accordingly. Bring vintage sparkle worthy of Betty Draper for the Mrs; kitsch shirts worthy of Don D for the Mr.

Hotel Restaurant

The Pink Cabana riffs lovingly on the Californian racquet clubs that were popular in the Fifties and Sixties; picture punchy, fun decor and a menu that fuses Mediterranean and Moroccan influences. Sandwiches don’t get much better than the Pink Cabana’s chicken tagine batbout: a Moroccan-style sandwich starring curried chicken, raisins and yoghurt. Less pink, more green: the dining room is kitted out with vivid green walls, lending the space a memorable Old Hollywood feel.

Hotel Bar

The restaurant has a cocktail-toting bar area; try the Pool Thyme Mimosa (prosecco, local citrus and thyme) or the Perroquet Pastis, made with Moroccan mint tea.

Last Orders

The restaurant is open from 11am–9pm Sunday–Thursday (until 10pm on Friday and Saturday). The same hours apply to the bar.

Room Service

Pick from a tempting selection of shared plates, mains, greens and vegetables during the restaurant's opening hours.

Planes

Palm Springs Airport is half an hour away by car; let Smith24 sort your flights.

Trains

It’s a 40-minute drive to Palm Springs station, which offers Amtrak services from Los Angeles, Tucson, El Paso, Albuquerque and San Antonio, Texas.

Automobiles

You can drive here from Palm Springs in 20 minutes; the hotel has on-site parking (including valets).

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

The sunny city of Indian Wells is famous for its all-bells-and-whistles spa resorts, emerald golf courses, world-renowned tennis centre and fabulous fine dining. Year-round R&R are par for the course here. The main local pursuits are tennis – try Deep Canyon Tennis Club at Frank Feltrop Circle or admire the pros in action at the Indian Well Tennis Garden on Miles Avenue – and golf. Perfect your swing at JW Marriott Golf Club, at 74–855 Country Club Drive. Make the 45-minute drive to Joshua Tree National Park to admire stark desert landscapes, rugged rock formations and the Park’s eponymous, twisted Joshua trees.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .