Suggestions for Palm Springs, CA. condo that's reasonable?
 

Hi all! We're a family of 5 heading to California next spring. I found great prices on 2BR/2BA condos in San Diego ($150-$200 per night) but it is off-season there. I'm having trouble finding any 2BR/2BA condos in Palm Spring or Palm Desert for $200. We will be in Palm Springs for 4 nights. They all seem to run much higher (it's in-season there) or they only rent by the week. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Try this link. Not sure it will have what you seek, but worth checking into. http://www.azuresky.com/

You might try the Marriott Residence Inn in Palm Desert. At that time it will be high season, so you could be bumping up against the high end of your budget. they have 2 BR/2BA units with a living area and kitchen in the middle. Some units overlook the public Desert Willow golf facility. The location is reasonably central to everything in the valley. <BR> <BR>Another thought is the Oasis Resort. I have seen a bunch of places (including Oasis) here as well: <BR> <BR>http://www.choice1.com/United_States..._Springs_Area/ <BR> <BR>Good luck. <BR> <BR>PS L

We've booked a place at the Desert Vacation Villas. 2BR/2BA for $136 night (discounted rate because we'll be there 12 nights). Regular rate for Spring is $170/night. <BR> <BR>http://www.vrivacations.com/PacificCoast/DVV/ <BR> <BR>Anyone have any comments on this place? <BR>

Rob: <BR> <BR>I don't know this property. I know where it is located. Their web site says it is walking distance to downtown, which is something of a stretch. Vista Chino is a good distance west of the core downtown area. <BR> <BR>Other than that, the price sounds pretty good for a 2BR/2BA at that time of year. <BR> <BR>Hopefully someone who has stayed there will post.

I would also check out www.vrbo.com <BR>I saw a bunch of very reasonable condos on that website. <BR>We also love to go to Muriels for live music and a great drink. Can't remember the name of the mexican restaurant tight next door but it is one of my all time favorites and I try and eat there every time I am in Palm Springs. You can't miss it, it has a giant Palapa bar.

I just re-read the other post and I would strongly urge you to try another resort beside Oasis first. I am not saying to completly rule it out but that you might be able to fine nicer accomadations. We stayed there last year and whil it was roomy the furnishings in my unit were not up to my standards. Some of the units are individually owned and rented out through the hotel management. Also over half the resort is a timeshare. The pluses were the free waterslide park passes and the fact that we had a pool shared with only 5 other units. We had the pool to ourselves most of the time. They also had VCR and movie rentals which was nice and Vons Grocery store was less then a 5 minute drive. Do check out what night they have the street fair in downtown. I think it is Tuesday. Your kids will love it. They have giant titanic waterslide things, lots of crafts and bounce houses as well as live music and fresh fruits and veggies.

The Palm Springs Market Night (street fair) is on Thursday evenings.

The Mexican restaurant is Las Casuelas and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Locals avoid it like the plague. Mediocre food at best. The palapa bar is fun for a drink but the food---ugh. <BR> <BR>PS L

Yes Las Consuelos is the name of it. I guess I just have poor taste since I have eaten several meals there and loved it each time. I have also taken friends who came to visit me from up in Northern California too and they enjoyed it as well. I have also seen tons of locals there many times. I won't go into how I can tell a plam springs local but they are VERY distinctive. Too each his own I suppose but I think it's worth a visit. It sure is better then that weird Kaeser type grill on the other corner where I have never had such horrid service in my whole like. Local please remind me of the name so I can put my rant in the rants and raves section. It is on the other corner and has an art deco typish design and all ala carte meals.

We are frequent visitors to Palm Springs during the winter months and have both rented condos and stayed in the various hotels. I agree that the Oasis can be a mixed bag, mostly it seems because of the ownership variables. Our experience is, though, that it is often the cheaper opportunity in season when the more deluxe stuff is sky high, so I guess you get what you pay for. <BR> <BR>Regarding the restaurants, there are many good ones. I have to agree with a previous poster that the Mexican place is pretty average. If you think Olive Garden is good Italian food, then this is probably the place for you - mass produced, factory like meals. <BR> <BR>We have found other, much better places. I am not sure what a 'distinctive' local looks like. To me, they look pretty much the same as people anywhere. But it is usually easy to spot the out of towners. <BR> <BR>As an aside, it is funny how personally some posters take it when somebody offers a different opinion, resorting to personal attacks. These are the kind of people that probably get offended when someone likes a different kind of music than them. Kind of like their whole fragile self-image comes from the popular culture they consume. The only half-intelligent thing I can see is, 'each to his own'. Sad.

Well I guess I am now sad and have bad taste. I live about 40 minutes from palm springs and while I don't spend a ton of time there I have been more then a few times. When someone states mediocre I think of cafeteria food slammed down by a nasty waitress. Las Consuelos is better then that. I know that locals eat there since I was talking to several of them one night at the bar. Yes I am sure there are better mexican restaurants in town but come on this one IS enjoyable. Maybe someone should have suggested where they were and the names? And you can't compare Las Consuelos to olive garden. Nothing is that bad.

Ok I found out the name of the restaurant where the most awful dining experience of my life occured. A few years ago I attended my cusins wedding at a little chapel off the strip. Some of the party not all decided to go lunch afterwards. It was a Saturday afternoon in May and very crowded downtown. The wait at our favorite Las Consuelos was to long so we decided on The Kaiser Grill instead. We had a large party of between 10-15 people including 1 small child. We did not ask for seperate checks and we all ordered. The waitress was a little snippy but fine with us it was busy and we were a large party. The one child with us was very well behaved adn as soon as he even started to squirm we took him out side. He didn't throw food, yell or in any way disturb other diners. The adults rotated with him outside due to the long wait for food. Fine with us that the wait was long due to our large party. We were very understanding and enjoying time with the relatives. The seervice was just ok not great since the waitress didn't even attempt to be friendly. All of us settle our bill. I was not in charge of this but we passed it around and everyone paid their fair share. My uncle metioned that the tip was figured in under I think a 20% service fee for large parties. So well all added out fair share of tax and tip as well. We came up with a little more then the total of the check which already included a 20% tip. We leave and start walking back to our cars. We get almost a block and the waitress is shouting at us to stop from behind us. We turn around and she asks us very snotty like if there is a problem? NO we say why? She says something to the effect that the tip wasn't adequate. My uncles says isn't the tip included in the check and didn't I give you over the 20% amount? I am sorry but all of us were just horrified. I mean what is an adequate tip for good service? More then 30%? And I have never been a waitress but do you chase customers down the street to confront them over the amount? We didn't stiff her. We didn't leave a quarter in the glass. We felt for the quality of service we recieved which was just passable at best the 20% plus extra was more then enough. I know I wasn't in charge of the check but am I nuts to think this is reasonable?

Las Casuelas isn't all that bad. I prefer the one in Rancho Mirage area, but downtown can be fun with a group. The carnitas are actually quite tasty. True it's not gourmet food, but it is far better than to be compared to Olive Garden.