Nestled within motel central on the dusty road out of Palm Springs (Palm Canyon Way), the Ace hotel is so new, its sign hasn’t even gone up yet. The vibe is offbeat, hippy-chic meets simple functionality. Cleaning staff ride around on tuk tuks, and the place has the feel of sophisticated holiday camp with shared patios lending themselves to acquaintance-making by the warmth of an open fire.
This is the third in a chain of the budget Ace Hotels. The other two are in Portland and Seattle, and the out-of-the-box thinkers behind the brand have been described by Time magazine as ‘the next wave of hoteliers’ - a well-deserved title.
Number of rooms
180
Style
Rooms are decorated with canvas tent-style curtains giving guests the ultimate ‘glamping’ experience. The interiors are spacious, well thought out and furnished with kooky vintage and handcrafted knick-knacks.
Facilities
Two salt-water swimming pools, whirlpool, spa with sauna and steam room, massages available in a poolside yurt, complimentary bicycles, mini-bars stocked with half-litre bottles of spirits instead of minis.
Children and pets
Children welcome, but at peak times the pool area can be noisy at night. Pets are also welcome. There’s a small dog park.
Who goes?
A broad mix of Ace hotel devotees (musicians, writers and artists from all over the world), Palm Spring locals and laid-back LA couples looking for escape at weekends. Expect rock ‘n’ roll royalty during the Coachella music festival in the spring.
Eating and drinking
King’s Highway is a converted Denny’s with all the charm of a roadside diner but with a zesty organic menu. Hector will serve you organic sage sausages, homemade mulched strawberry jam and good strong ‘progressive’ coffee at breakfast. Lunch and dinner are also available. The cavernous Amigo Room with its old ranch-hand bar has a relaxed yet glamorous feel. Order a Kiwi Caphirina or a Facial (fresh muddled cucumber and mint, vodka and pineapple juice).
Tip
To keep cool poolside, order a refreshing ‘adult-only’ snow cone from Christian the skateboarding barman.
Unexpected pleasure
The bill upon checking out.
Could do better
The shampoo and shower gel provided isn’t great.
Verdict
If you’re planning a trip to California, Palm Springs is well worth a visit – and the Ace Hotel is one of the coolest in town. It's so stylish, it's easy to forget it's a budget hotel.
Local activities
Take an architectural tour or a tour of celebrity homes.
Visit the futuristic wind farm.
Take a trip up to the top of Chino Canyon in the world’s largest rotating cable car (pstramway.com).
There’s also horse riding, hiking and golf.
Joshua Tree National Park is just an hour’s drive away.
Rates
From $89 for a double room.
Ace Hotel & Swim Club, +1 760 325 9900, acehotel.com
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Combine eco chic with fine wine at this green escape in California's Napa Valley wine region.
