Labor Day weekend means the unofficial end of summer and the official start of school, but for adults still looking to travel, Palm Springs might just be the ideal local getaway.
With warm weather still in the immediate forecast and cooler temperatures hopefully a few weeks away, making plans to stay at the all-suites Hyatt Palm Springs before the end of 2014 is certainly a viable, if not worthy, plan for a weekend away from the everyday hustle of the Westside.
Located in the heart of the city’s downtown, the Hyatt Palm Springs features 197 newly renovated rooms, each in suite format and complete with a living room area, separate bedroom, and multiple in-room amenities.
Included in the 197 rooms are five executive and four VIP suites, complete with multiple bathrooms, bedrooms, and balconies within each unit.
Officially opened in 1990, the Hyatt Palm Springs – adjacent to a soon-to-be completed entertainment complex on Palm Canyon Drive – has revamped its look to keep up with its new neighbor.
That neighbor is Museum Market Plaza, a $150 million project proposing to bring restaurants and nightlife-friendly venues to downtown Palm Springs. Should the project ultimately be realized, Hyatt Palm Springs guests will be able to walk a few feet for great entertainment options.
Of course, there are still hundreds of restaurants, art exhibitions, bars, nightclubs, and tourist-friendly venues to visit either inwalking distance or a short drive from the Hyatt Palm Springs. .
Some great eateries less than a mile away include Zin American Bistro, Lulu California Bistro, Matchbox, Chop House, and Sammy G’s Tuscan Grill. For those seeking unique entertainment, the Plaza Theater is less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel lobby.
Within the hotel itself is Share, which offers American cuisine, fireside lounge, heated outdoor patio, and seasonable craft cocktails. Also at Hyatt Palm Springs is Hoodoo Lounge, the only outdoor café with live entertainment in the downtown district and includes a large pizza oven and fire pits.
If you are staying in any of the suites on the hotel’s eastern half, your balcony view will be quite urban. Looking down from your balcony, you will have a clear view of Palm Canyon Drive, which gets to be quite crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings.
For those who might want a little more peace and quite, be sure to grab a room on the western side of the hotel, where your view will be of a country club directly across the street and the San Jacinto Mountains directly behind the golf course.
If you want to get around the surrounding downtown area without setting foot in your vehicle, the hotel offers bicycle rentals.
There is also a little something special for film connoisseurs: in the hotel’s lobby area is a large photo exhibition of popular film directors and actors. The rather artistic, classy, photo exhibition was lent to the Hyatt’s all-suite downtown hotel by the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Outside of the downtown area are several golf courses and casino resorts. Also a short drive away is the Aerial Tram, which takes visitors several thousand feet up to the top of the San Jacinto Mountains. There, enjoy breathtaking views of the entire Coachella Valley. On a clear day, your view will include the Salton Sea, which is about 70 to 75 miles away from the vista points adjacent to the Aerial Tram.
Regular suites at the Hyatt Palm Springs run from $129 to $425 per night, while VIP units range from $199 to $499 per night.
For more information about the hotel’s many additional amenities, please visit its website at www.hyattpalmsprings.com.
Hyatt Palm Springs is located at 285 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA, 92262. Its phone number is 760.322.9000.