Mom..look into tu tu tun lodge in Orgeon..
It won the best of the best award last year.
November might be a little cold and totally get Hawaii..
Tahiti is pretty cheap from LAX on Air Tahiti Nui..you want to go to Moorea, Huahine or Bora Bora..under $1,200 pp for a week with air.
Too bad Rancho la Puerta is big $$,,it didn't used to be..

www.tututun.com

ksucat - thank you....

There are many, many nice posters here , et tu, ksucat!

Deb, what'cha making for Easter?
You and Mom are going to have so much fun!

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Well, I'm feeling a little put out

I haven't stayed at the Royal Palms, so can't comment.

Mom, were you referring to the pool at the Marriott hotel in Palm Desert or one of the pools at the villas? We were last at our timeshare a couple of years ago. We always hang out at the main villas pool, and didn't have any such problems, except for some way-too-loud music (we usually go in October).

As for the Montelucia, the grounds and room are lovely, the bed and linens incredibly comfortable, excellent bathroom. The only negative is that they do open the pool to non-guests on weekends in summer, which means the pool was full of 30-something locals drinking way too much beer and smoking, and generally having a very good time. They weren't really bothersome, but that pool wasn't "sedate". There is a second pool, however, which is very quiet.

Well, I'm just plain jealous over this girls' spa getaway!

sf..it's a given on how nice you are!!!
I still crack up on the 'funky casual' thing..lol
It's about time you responded!

As far as Montelucia on the pool scene, I hope that they have discontinued the 30 something partyers..hey, I'll be right there with them drinking not smoking but I want my 'people' to be hotel guests people that spent money like I did..hotel paying guests!
I'm going to call and find out.

misha just did a trip report on the Montelucia that was just posted.
she loved it!

Ksucat - she more than likely had a Seder ;-)

And thank you!!!

Sf - It was both... we were shocked - stayed at the pool spa. It ws 07 last time we were there -

I agree with Mom..for us it was in 2007 and it was a sh*t hole..sorry for the language but with the star rating of almost 5* and the room was a disaster, the pool was dirty, the overall yuckiness, there was no way I was staying there!
Stayed last year comped by the GM and things were a lot better!

Montelucia spa was gorgeous! Large comfy beds and low lighting in the lounge area. Nice steam, sauna and hot tub. It was visually really appealing with the Moroccan theme. I did not book a treatment. So, the spotty service might have been a fluke. ( I never had anyone show me around etc. ) I did see others getting this kind of service, though. I heard raves about treatments in the women's lounge. Having said this, I don't think I would choose it for a spa destination, especially without a car.

@ ksucat - Mom is right [aren't moms always right?] it was seder and not Easter. But IF I were doing Easter, it would be the easiest roast ham ever:

http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...d-the-best.cfm

@ misha thanks for the info on montelucia. We most likely won't have a car [unless the rates drop way down , YIKES, have you seen car rental prices lately?] so being stuck in Paradise Valley wouldn't be paradise.

But being stuck at the Royal Palms won't be so bad ;-)

SF - I meant to comment - I think being in Palm Desert in Oct is WAY different than July/August.

Ksucat - I meant to comment - I really want to go to the South Pacific as does dh - but we only have 6 nights total - I am in nursing school and get a 6 night break every 9 weeks. Next week we are staying home - but in June I am going for 2 nights to meet Deb - August we are using our timeshare in Lake Tahoe with the family - and in November dh and I would like to get away by ourselves - we have 5 or 6 nights at the Ko'lina already paid for - and I have about 160,000 Delta miles (not enough yet for 2 First class tickets - we might be in the back) - so I am pretty sure we will do that if we end up going away during that time - but South Pacific is high on the list. I think perhaps instead of going to Europe when I graduate (funds permitting) we might go there - but that is 2 years away!

Glad to hear your Seder was awesome Deb!

MomDD..they have such great deals from LAX for 5-6 nights in the South Pacific for air and 4-5* hotel for under $1k per person.
It is a gorgeous place and if you love Hawaii, you'll flip for Tahiti.
They fly to Paris too..
Amex has a buy one business/first class and get the other ticket free.
Aloha to all..that includes sf too!


www.airtahitinui.com