As I mentioned in my 2019 Intentions post, one of my goals this year is to travel to one new destination every month. There’s no requirement of how far the location needs to be, or how ‘exotic.’ Just a simple goal to get out of my comfort zone and see the world a bit more. To kick off the year, Akash & I took a trip to Palm Springs for the first time. We had such a blast, and it was the perfect ending to a fun few weeks on holiday. Our trip was only a total of 36 hours, so today’s post will be wrapping up everything we need + my personal recommendations as must-do’s while in Palm Springs.
I’m actually heading back to Palm Spring next weekend for an influencer trip, so I’ll also be able to share more then! I’ll continuously add to this list as I find more fun spots. If you try any of these out, I always love hearing about it, so be sure to tag me in any of your photos!
WHERE TO EAT
Probably the most popular brunch spot in Palm Springs- for good reason! I’ve been here twice now, and have been impressed by the food both times. The breakfast sandwich is delicious, as is my favorite, the Croque Madame. The first time I came here, Akash & I saw a little hummingbird flutter down and eat from the flowers on the table. Such a fun experience! I do recommend making reservations if you plan on coming here- both times there was a hefty wait for us!
We stayed at the Riviera Resort the first time I visited, and this little cafe was inside the resort. For a resort restaurant, I thought it was pretty good!
This restaurant’s inside of La Serena Villas, and is just as stunning as the rest of the property. We didn’t actually get to eat here, but I’ve heard it’s great!
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed here on my most recent trip, and really enjoyed it! The hotel is the perfect place for a couples getaway or for a trip with your bestie. They have breakfast available every morning, and a sangria hour every afternoon. The property is so beautiful, and decorated in the most adorable way. If you’re looking for somewhere to have a quiet, relaxing getaway, this place is ideal. It has a gorgeous view of the mountains, and has everything you need for a weekend stay. Highly recommend stopping by if you’re planning a trip sometime soon!
I stayed here during my first stay in Palm Springs! We got a steal on this place from Hotel Tonight, and in my opinion it was well worth it. We booked about a week and a half in advance, and were able to score this hotel for $78 a night. Unfortunately it was rainy and a bit chilly on our trip, but on a day where it’s dry out and warm, it would’ve been amazing. The resort is complete with a spa, fitness center, restaurants, pool, and lounge areas. Definitely recommend!
If you’re looking for something a bit on the cheaper side, this is your hotel. The outside looks a bit misleading, like a motel. Once you get inside though, there’s a cute industrial vibe, and the pool area is clean and has a great view of the mountains. The staff is friendly, as is the price!
A little more on the pricey side, but such a gorgeous property. We actually didn’t get the chance to stay, but I took some photos on the property and it was so cute. Below are some of the photos we took here! Everything at this hotel is what you expect Palm Springs to be.
WHERE TO INSTAGRAM
Ah, the most important category of them all, right? Per your FAQs, here are the secret locations to all the spots I’ve taken photos at!
Rugged Road
On the highway into Palm Springs, a bit less than a mile, you’ll see on the right hand side a long winding dirt road. We made a spontaneous decision to stop alongside of the road to snap some pics, and I love how they turned out! Let me know if you have any questions, and I can help y’all find the exact location.
Pink Door
Obviously can’t visit Palm Springs without a trip to the Pink Door, right? Heads up: there is a no photography policy, so be as courteous and quiet as possible. It is in a residential area, so be aware and respectful! Just to be safe, I decided to shoot on the sidewalk, just to make sure I wasn’t on private property. You can still get some beautiful photos without disturbing the owners!
Tramway Road
If you put the Palm Springs Tram into your GPS, the navigation will take you to this location. It seems like a deserted road in the middle of nowhere, but it’s actually the road leading up to the Tram! It does tend to get crowded throughout the day with lots of traffic, so I’d recommend either going at sunrise or sunset. We woke up extra early on this day to get these gorgeous sunrise photos!
HOW TO GET AROUND
Y’all I think I’m officially converting to an SUV. After driving around this Mazda beauty for the last week, I don’t think I can go back to driving my tiny car! A fun fact about blogging that you might not have known.. it all seems glamorous, but when you actually see what my photoshoots look like, you’ll be shocked. Most of the time it actually entails me shoving 20 outfits into the backseat of my car, and rumbling around attempting to change between outfits. Half the time I lose my phone and/or my keys during this process. Driving around the Mazda CX-5 made the photoshoot process so easy, and just day-to-day driving was so enjoyable. I even took it to work a few times throughout the week, and got so many compliments on how cute the car was.
The interior of it was gorgeous too- I love the CarPlay, since it allows me to keep my eyes on the road while still having my navigation up. The coolest thing is that your driving speed is actually projected into the windshield, so you don’t even have to look down! This is the future, people!!
