When a gay resort’s motto is “To pamper, pleasure, or gratify oneself,” you know it’s going be one hell of a riotous and amazing stay. Welcome to INNdulge Palm Springs, a modern gay men’s resort right in the heart of the glistening desert city. This clothing-optional resort sits in Warm Sands, one of Palm Springs’ most popular and flamboyant gay-friendly areas, and is particularly known for its buzzing social scene. This small and intimate resort, formerly the Golden Palm Villa, reinvented itself in the late ’90s. Today, this place, which sits in a 1958-built midcentury modern inn, is one of the places to stay in Palm Springs for modernist gay travelers. It’s no surprise that our stay was amazing, with the entire experience leaving us with some memorable moments. Here’s a detailed guide to our stay at this fabulous, clothing-optional, men-only boutique resort INNdulge.
Table of contents
Amazing Vibe, Hospitality, and Location
As a discerning traveling couple, we have very exacting standards when it comes to travel. So, we know how important the trifecta of hospitality, location, and vibe play when it comes to the overall experience. Trust us when we say that INNdulge indeed knows how to value its guests and make their stay memorable. Firstly, the location is superb; it sits right outside Downtown Palm Springs. So, the cluster of gay bars and pubs on Arenas Road is an easy 15-20-minute walk. What’s more, the 1958-built midcentury jewel has a very pretty setting, complete with palm trees, lush landscaping, and potted flowers. It offers the quintessential retro vibe that only a Palm Springs icon can offer.
If you think we were impressed by the exterior, it’s nothing compared to how we felt when we stepped inside. We’d like to especially mention the amazing welcome given by the staff, who are nothing but helpful and super mindful. They not only had snacks and beverages waiting while we checked in but also explained the property layout and amenities to us. Not only that but also they were ever ready with suggestions on where to eat and what to do. Moreover, the property was just large enough for us to have our personal space without having to head back to our room. If a nice laidback vibe had a standard, then this was it.
What made this place so gay-friendly, besides being gay, is that it’s rated “Five Palms” by Planet Out, one of the most trusted sources for gay travel. In the end, we felt that it was the perfect place to unwind amongst friendly and inclusive folks even before our vacation had started!
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A Poolside Haven
What if we told you that one of the largest pool courtyards in all of Palm Springs lies right here? Yes! This 24-room property, with its lush landscaping and magnificent views of the San Jacinto Mountains, has one of the most sprawling pool courtyards in Palm Springs! In fact, the pool area is the best and most popular spot to socialize on the property. So, we’d often find people making friends here, indulging in conversations, and generally having a good time over drinks.
The center of all attention is the gorgeous freeform and temperature-controlled saltwater pool, which is cooled in the summer and heated in the winter. Sitting right next to it is a 12-man jacuzzi, which offers all kinds of interesting possibilities, if you know what we mean. It’s also a great spot to break the ice if you’re looking to meet someone or make new friends. The best bit? Both the saltwater pool and the jacuzzi are open 24 hours, which meant that we could even enjoy late-night swims and lounges.
While the daybeds under the parasols are complimentary, the resort recently added spanking new white cabanas, which made for a very comfortable and shaded perch as we lounged after a swim. It was the perfect place to just unwind with drinks, music, or a book, especially when we weren’t in the water. Finally, the beautiful lush landscaping and flowerbeds around only add to the chill and eye-pleasing decor and vibe.
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Amenities Galore
When current owners Jon Jackson and Sandy Miller bought this place, their aim was to make it the ultimate men-only luxurious resort in Palm Springs. And we were thrilled to see that they’d transformed the place into exactly what they’d envisioned. The complimentary continental breakfast laid out every day greatly enhances the overall experience, as it includes coffee, juice, cereal, fruit, English muffins, bagels, bread, and pastries. It allowed us to start our days with a delicious and hearty spread without having to worry about where we’d get our first meal of the day. Plus, it would fuel us for outdoor adventures and exploring the city. The best bit was that on the days we were staying in, we’d simply have to place an order for lunch in the morning, and they would deliver it to us.
Besides breakfast, the pool, and the hot tub, the resort also offered a whole lot of other amenities. For instance, it was one of the only boutique resorts we’ve seen that offered us complimentary access to the local gym around the corner. So, for those who wanted to burn off all those holiday carbs, there was a very convenient avenue. Moreover, the resort also assisted with bookings for activities and restaurant reservations. Thanks to the outdoor misters, it was very comfortable walking around the property, even on a hot, sunny day. Did we mention that they have onsite guest laundry and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property? Yes!
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A Glittering Social Calendar
If you thought that INNdulge only has casual socializing by the pool during the day, then think again! We’d heard of their social calendar, but we weren’t expecting just how amazing it turned out to be. For one, they offered a fantastic social hour every evening at 6 pm. In fact, our poolside afternoon lounging would spill over to social hour, making it one big get-together. What’s more, everyone, including owners Jon and Sandy, participated enthusiastically, as the motley of guests included new ones like us as well as a bunch of long-time returning guests. It was great to talk with like-minded people as they told us how much they’d enjoyed visiting Palm Springs and staying here. Who could guess that we got to drink liquor left by previous guests, too? Yeah!
That’s not all. Since we were staying over the weekend, we got to enjoy “Rum Punch Saturdays” and “Poolside Margarita Sundays,” too! Not only that, but INNdulge has Pizza Thursdays during social hour, along with frequent weekend and holiday feasts like Christmas turkey dinners and New Year’s lunches. If this isn’t hospitality, we don’t know what is.
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An Exclusive and Intimate Staying Experience
With just 24 rooms and suites sprinkled around the expansive pool area, staying here was an intimate experience that felt very exclusive, thanks to the restricted number of guests. We had the choice of either pool-view rooms that lay right off the pool or more private ones that lay a bit away. Nevertheless, all rooms are spacious and well-designed and come with plush beds, modern bathrooms, TV-DVD players, and in-room safes. The suites are more updated with fridges, microwaves, wet bars, and even separate living rooms with sofas that afford more space. Some of the largest ones are the one-bedroom suites, which come with a bedroom, a living room with a sofa bed, a full kitchen, and even a four-seater dining room.
We chose the pool-view Deluxe room, which was like a large studio apartment, complete with a full kitchen and a dining room. We whipped up romantic meals in the kitchen and enjoyed them on the patio, with views of the pool. The coolest bit, though, was the erotic artwork on men across all rooms and suites—it certainly did get us in the mood.
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Pros
- It’s one of the only two clothing-optional, men-only resorts in Palm Springs, the other being Vista Grande Resort in Palm Springs. However, this is more affordable and value-for-money, making it perfect for longer stays.
- The pool complex is one of the largest in Palm Springs. The saltwater pool is temperature-controlled, and there’s a 12-man hot tub.
- Staying here is an inclusive, socializing-friendly, and intimate experience.
Cons
- This isn’t a splashy Palm Springs resort, but it has a rather intimate and warm vibe. That being said, it’s perfect for discerning gay travelers who are looking for a fabulous clothing-optional, men-only experience in the city.
Conclusion
Staying at INNdulge was a testament to how amazing hospitality can make all the difference. Not only did we feel welcome and comfortable, but it also allowed us to strike up casual conversations with our fellow like-minded travelers. If there’s the perfect Palm Springs gay resort with a retro vibe, excellent digs, and a sexy clothing-optional atmosphere, INNdulge is it, beating ’em all.
Read Also
- 11 Best Spa Hotels in Palm Springs
- 11 Best Luxury Hotels in Palm Springs
- 11 Most Romantic Hotels in Palm Springs
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I’ve never stayed at a clothing-optional resort before. What should I bring?
A: We’d say that for your first time, bring lots of sunscreen, shimmer lotion, body accessories (belly chains, sarongs, etc.), barely-there daywear, and adult items (condoms, other sex-related accessories).
Q: Does INNdulge have any offers for extended stays?
A: While they don’t have many extended-stay offers, they do offer Wednesday nights free with a seven-night stay.
Q: How many nights should you stay in Palm Springs?
A: While it depends from traveler to traveler, four nights is great to explore not just Palm Springs but also nearby attractions, like Joshua Tree National Park.
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