A totally fitting title to this blog post.
Because The Sands Hotel & Spa was just that - A Pretty Mess.
While aesthetically very lovely, this place basically just needs to get its shit together. I mean I'm just going to get to the point and per the usual be honest. This place is GORGEOUS. Instagram-worthy to say the least. BUT the service was off on every level...
We checked-in to a jaw-dropping Moroccan-inspired lobby. It really is magnificent. The staff was rather dry greeting us. And we were reminded that there is no splashing at the pool...ok. Obviously, not a child-friendly resort which is a plus in my book.
We were promptly escorted to the adorable room my sister, my bestie and I would be sharing for the bachelorette weekend...my sister was getting married in a few short weeks and I thought a quick spa/lounging getaway was in order.
The Sands has only been open a couple months at this point and I can't help but gravitate to the millennial pink aesthetic...
Our room is very cute and comfortable. Although at about $420/night (including fees, taxes) we were gobsmacked to realize that there was no room service. There is a button on the room phone that calls down to the restaurant but it just rings and no one answers.
Room service meant one of us physically going down to The Pink Cabana (the on-site restaurant) and ordering with the hostess and requesting the order be brought up to our room. A bit inconvenient, no?
Let's talk about The Pink Cabana restaurant...
After some relaxing massages at the spa, we showered and headed down for happy hour cocktails. Unfortunately, my very first glass of Taittinger Champagne was flatter than a door nail...and the crappy part was the bartender realized this as she poured me a glass. Basically, she saw the look of dismay on my face as I pushed the glass back towards her and she admitted she needed to open a fresh bottle. Ugh....could we not have done this when I ordered? I got a fresh glass from a new bottle and all was well. But sheesh...at least the surroundings were glorious to say the least.
Once I made my way through 5 different conversations with 3 different front desk staff members, I was able to book appointments for my sister and I at the spa. And after all the difficulty from just making the appointments to getting our robes/slippers for the spa delivered to our room in time for the appointments...I really needed that massage.
Yeah. You read that right. The problem was I would talk to one staff member who promised to get back to me and then wouldn't. Then I had to talk to a new person who had no clue of my previous requests and had to start the process all over...these minor inconveniences added up and made me feel like I was a nuisance when in reality they had a MAJOR lack of communication.
The spa was quite the sight to behold and probably worth the struggle it was to get in there...
But DO figure out when and what spa services you'd like to book asap after you check-in...that way you might avoid all the trouble I went through.
This is Palm Desert and the heat was exactly what we were here for. Soaking in the sun at the pool was what the doctor ordered. We are all early-risers so grabbing a cabana was no problem.
And while obtaining a pool-side cabana was no problem, we were quick to realize that what would be an issue was getting service...yet again. Unfortunately, as The Pink Cabana does not serve breakfast, it does not open till 11am. So, you are shit outa luck for food and beverages till the afternoon hits...and believe you me when I tell you nobody seemed thrilled about this...cannot tell you how many people we saw ordering via Uber Eats! Good thing we had bought plenty of water bottles when we left the airport, before we checked-in. You can never have enough water in the desert.
God bless you Uber Eats because we were the only ones enjoying mimosas...I mean hello! This was a bachelorette soiree. Drinks are a must for breakfast....ALMOST forgot...let me explain the no breakfast thing.
The Sands assert that they may not have a typical breakfast option at The Pink Cabana but not to stress because they offer morning muffins, fruit and coffee in the lobby.
Well, our very first morning walking to the lobby to get these muffins, we watched as a fellow guest dropped her muffins on the ground, trying to juggle them and her coffee...oh god...
The muffins were good but we were shocked to find a dismal display. A few muffins with a few pieces of fruit in a basket. And the coffee was nothing to write home about. No juice. No dishes. No trays. What the hell...THIS is the continental breakfast they assert on the website. At this point let me remind you we paid $420 a night. You get a better meal at a Holiday Inn.
Not one to stick to hotel food anyway, we took my sister to one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Palm Springs. LuLu's is a must people. Their decor is fun. Their menu is extensive. And everything is so good. AND they're open late. Never a disappointment here. Order the chocolate cake...you'll thank me later.
So, in the end we made it work. But we were not impressed. Our surroundings while exquisite, did not make up for the lack of service and lack of communication among the front-desk staffers.
The cleaning lady who tidied our room every day was a sweetheart and the bell hops were gracious and helpful. And credit should be given where credit is due.
I wanted to do this post because this hotel is quickly gaining popularity on Instagram for obvious reasons. But right now, The Sands is just a pretty mess. Maybe give it a shot in a year. Perhaps by then they'll have worked out all the kinks.
THE SANDS HOTEL & SPA
44-985 Province Way
Indian Wells, California
92210
