Seclusion at the Sands Hotel & Spa

Speeding down the 111 freeway toward Coachella Valley, you will likely miss The Sands Hotel and Spa, a romantic hideaway tucked behind palm trees and pink fortress walls. The 3-star hotel artfully integrates the concept of a Moroccan riad with iconic 60s geometric abstraction, and desert culture. The hotel offers seclusion and respite from the more bustling Palm Springs city center twenty-five minutes away.

Like a Moroccan medina, the hotel is a world unto itself. The architecture and design offer a unique interpretation of Moorish style, such as open courtyards with lavish gardens and ceramic-tile mosaic (zellij). The fire pits are surrounded by desert bushes and trees and plants, like calming aloe vera. The pool was heated and the lush towels and cabanas were open to hotel guests.

Traditional homes and palaces in Morocco are called riads. As private residences, they were built with seclusion in mind. They are focused inward with a courtyard in the center, which allow for both family privacy and protection from desert weather. All of the rooms at the two-story hotel open to the pool.

The Room at Sands Hotel and Spa in Palm Desert

We booked a Superior King, which featured a balcony with views of the palm tree lined Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountain landscape. Our room featured thoughtfully curated mini bars with vintage crystal glasses and French press, a plush bed, marble bathroom counter tops, and a spacious waterfall shower with black-and-white tiling and Acqua di Parma bath amenities.

The Restaurant at Sands Hotel and Spa in Palm Desert

We dined at The Pink Cabana, the hotel’s only restaurant. From Mediterranean-inspired menu, I ordered the red crab roll (similar to a lobster roll), though the chorizo shakshuka sounded delicious. The following morning, we sipped enjoyed free coffee by the pool. The hotel did not offer a traditional American breakfast. Free parking at Sands Hotel and Spa made it easy to come and go.

Restaurant at Sands Hotel and Spa in Palm Desert

The spa was closed for Covid-19 precautions during my visit.