When the tagline of a resort is “A Gay Mens Resort,” you tend to kind of sit up and take notice, right? We’re talking about the amazing Vista Grande Resort in Palm Springs. This storied resort, which boldly opened its doors in 1984, was the first of its kind in the entire region and is also the very first clothing-optional gay hotel in Palm Springs! Did you know that it had just seven rooms when it first opened? Or that business was conducted in one’s birthday suit using a payphone right by the swimming pool? Yes, and yes! Today, nearly 40 years later, the lush and sprawling resort is now a luxurious gay-friendly haven with a simple motto: celebrating love, life, and personal freedom every day. Are you dying to find out about our exciting experience? Read on!
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Location, location, location
Imagine a lush and sprawling location right in the heart of the town, but with spectacular views of the mountains surrounding the city. That’s one of the reasons Vista Grande Resort is so special. The stylish resort is just 10 minutes from most of the attractions and sights in Palm Springs. What’s more, we were treated to amazing views of the San Jacinto Mountains no matter which verdant corner of the resort we were lounging in.
Besides the truly wonderful views, the resort’s open design right in the heart of the town meant that the warm desert wind would blow in from the valley, complete with palm trees shining against a vibrant blue sky. We could also see the majestic San Jacinto Mountains in the distance, making for a dazzling tapestry that made this garden paradise all the more perfect. We’d like to call it the “art of being.”
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Garden Sanctuary of Earthly Delights
The small, unassuming wooden entrance door to the resort belies the sprawling private Eden that lies behind it. We’re talking of the standout highlight of the resort, the Garden Sanctuary of Earthly Delights, a Shangri-La of lush gardens with waterfalls, blooming flowers, birds – and interesting men from all around the world. These legendary tropical pleasure gardens are spread over an acre, and we feel like we are entering a secret and endless oasis of pleasurable potential. What made them all the more beautiful were the ever-breathtaking views of the San Jacinto Mountains.
Even better, this garden sanctuary is peppered with natural hot tubs and waterfalls. These made for very sensual and thrilling places to spend time with our partner or, in others’ cases, for exciting meet-cutes. In fact, the very first evening that we were here, a rainbow broke out over the garden, with a cloudy sky in the background and the sun shining behind us. The whole setting—and its meaning—couldn’t be more perfect.
Since this is a clothing-optional resort, it was amazing to see men embrace the vibe and be comfortable in their own skin – literally. It was also a very liberating feeling for us. But the best bit was that it felt very tasteful, discerning, and not bawdy – props to the resort staff for making us all so comfortable.
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‘Pool’ed Haven
A place with multiple pools? Now, this is our kind of place! Vista Grande has not one or two, but four pools – and multiple hot tubs spread throughout the property.
The Avalon Party Pool is an expansive party paradise that’s ripe for male adventures of all sorts in a zingy and upbeat setting. The other end of the spectrum is the art-deco-style Vista Grande Zen pool. This non-music, non-smoking, serene space boasts a vintage Palm Springs atmosphere and a very couple-friendly vibe. In fact, we’d spend most of our mornings by this pool, sipping cocktails and enjoying each other’s company. We even saw men who’d met at the resort engage in cute dates right by this pool! The best bit? Both pools had a floating canopy covering for when the sun got too hot or if it rained. Interestingly, the resort has an Atrium annex that is removed from the main resort area. It’s slightly more private but equally hedonistic and has its own private pool for Atrium guests only.
The cherry on top is the 18-man hot tub, which raises the temperature of the setting considerably if you know what we mean! The standout is the ‘grotto’ with a steam room, hot tubs, and a waterfall with a bathing lagoon ensconced in greenery. It’s even more pleasurable at night when the colored lighting sets a tastefully risqué tone for the entire place. The best bit? All pools are temperature controlled and kept at 92-95 degrees Fahrenheit degrees, which makes swimming in them at any time of the day and night absolutely fun.
Morning in the Vista Grande. pic.twitter.com/ESPqbWruXO
— Vista Grande Resort (@VistaGrandeRsrt) October 5, 2013
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Excellent Hospitality and Amenities
It’s no secret that the amenities and hospitality of a place set it apart, and the Vista Grande Resort was no exception. We were greeted by the super-sexy and friendly Chris and Mike, who usually ran the office during the day and night. Moreover, the lobby even had a mini CVS space, complete with toiletries, beauty products, and even fun adult items that we’d probably need during our stay. In fact, they even placed them in our room since we’d requested them prior to checking in.
Chris explained the amenities and even asked us what we wanted to be served in our room for breakfast. Yes, they delivered breakfast in bed right to our suite, along with a small bottle of champagne. Moreover, the general manager, Tom, took care of all our whims and fancies. We even ran into the genial owner, Robert, who told us all about his late partner and his passion for running this resort. This is just a small example of the complete and sincere hospitality we encountered at the resort. In addition to excellent breakfasts, they also had housekeeping, concierge services, and a decadent spa. For a resort fee of just USD 8/day, the services and amenities were excellent, especially since they included not only complimentary breakfast but even lunch!
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Staying options
While all rooms here are one-bedroom studios/suites that sleep two men, they can even add space for a third person if need be. Moreover, they all come with fully equipped kitchens, so we could even shop for groceries and whip up romantic gourmet meals when we felt like it. Not just a kitchen and kitchenware, but the suites even included a living room and a dining area, allowing us to enjoy meals with friends we made at the resort. Besides, all accommodations had modern and sleek bathrooms and even cable TVs with four gay adult film channels. Amazing, right? Interestingly, Vista Grande gay resort is one of the only clothing-optional men-only resorts that offers extended stay opportunities in the town. We’re referring to their spacious garden apartments, which came fully equipped with a home’s comforts. Check out their special extended-stay packages.
Since we were taking a special anniversary vacation, we spent two days in one of their four Mirage Waterfall Suites. They sit in the beautiful enclave just steps from the lagoon grotto, so we had easy access to the waterfall, steam room, and the 18-man hot tub and spa. With welcome gifts, breakfast trays delivered to our suite, and other goodies, staying here was the perfect fairytale setting. We even had our special burgundy towels (exclusive to the Mirage suites), so we wore them like badges of honor. The cheekiest and funniest bit, though, was the staff proudly announcing that we were “Mirage Men” now at the end of our stay!
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Pros
- The layout of the resort is unique, with a lush green landscape peppered with pools, hot tubs, grottoes with waterfalls, and private little spaces.
- It’s an iconic and landmark institution and the only men-only, clothing-optional resort in Palm Springs.
- It’s on the affordable end and comes with a whole lot of amenities and excellent hospitality.
Cons
- This isn’t exactly a high-end and flashy Palm Springs resort if that’s what you’re looking for. That being said, the crowd here, as is the hospitality, is extremely tasteful and discerning.
Conclusion
All in all, Vista Grande has beautifully mastered the art of being free and showcasing to others what freedom and a liberal mindset truly mean. The fact that it’s all wrapped up in excellent hospitality is the icing on the cake, making for the perfect modern stay amidst a vintage Palm Springs vibe. If a serene, gay-friendly getaway in Palm Springs is what you’re looking for, we cannot recommend this resort enough. It’s indeed a place of dreams, no matter what your fantasy is.
Read Also
- 11 Best Boutique Hotels in Palm Springs 2024 – WOW Travel
- 11 Best Spa Hotels in Palm Springs 2024 – WOW Travel
- 11 Most Romantic Hotels in Palm Springs 2024 – WOW Travel
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are visitors allowed at Vista Grande?
A: Yes, but they need to show a valid ID and pay a USD 30/day visitor charge, which also allows them to use the amenities. However, if they’re entertained only in the room, there’s no charge.
Q: This is my first time staying at a clothing-optional resort. How is the setting and vibe around?
A: Thanks to the well-trained, extremely warm, and friendly staff, the vibe is very laid back, and there are many casual opportunities for conversations with other men.
Q: Do the rooms here offer privacy?
A: Yes. Even though there are some rooms that lie closer to the pool areas, all rooms and suites at this resort offer complete privacy.
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