La Quinta/Palm Springs Advice

I've started researching for our next CA trip next July (2008)when the Daught has finished A levels, and we fancy a trip to the desert (yes, we know it will be hottttt! but we won't be doing the mad dogs and Englishmen bit. We'll be there for three weeks minimum, four if I can manage it workwise.

We would be renting single family home with pool/spa, etc and the budget will pay for a 4/5 bed (although we only really need 2 we like the extra space). I'm just overwhelmed by the choice! I was looking around the PGA west area of La Quinta and I've realised that it's like trying to pick just one villa in Orlando.

Any v-flyers with experience of staying in this area that can advise of the best locations? The trip is very much for R&R so the most important things are setting, proximity to good restaurants and a supermarket I can get to in the early part of the day. Not bothered about golf or casinos.

Thanks

Pat

[Scrooge]

Chuck !.....He is the man that needs to reply to this..I am sure he will be along soon.

I love Palm Springs! We went there for 2 days as part of a road trip a few years ago. We loved it so much we made it part of our honeymoon last year, and this year we are going back for a week after getting a v.cheap mpm ticket.

We have stayed in Palm Springs (palm canyon drive) each time but have visited a lot of the areas.

Things I would recommend are the following:-

Aerial Tramway is awesome but can get chilly Living Desert in Rancho Mirage is a good day out The Cabazon Premium Outlets are a great place to shop For food go to The River at Rancho Mirage. Some great places (Flemings, Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs) - About 20 mins from Palm Springs Horse riding from Smoke Tree Stables

We are going to do Joshua Tree Park this year and maybe Soak City as it gets VERY hot during the day but its such a nice dry heat unlike the Carribean.

You'll have a blast! Here are our pics from 2005 if your interested [url][/url]http://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_roberts/sets/72157594542388871/[url][/url]. Will have to put our 2006 ones on soon.

Andy

[Bazz]

Pat, as Dave says, Chuck is your best bet and knows the area well. I'm sure he will come up with some ideas for you. My contribution, having been there, take plenty of sun screen. In July it will be cooking!

Pat, we went in July just so that my daughter could experience some desert. It was hot,125, and a lot of the stores were closed for the summer as it was out of season. Pool in our hotel was packed at 12 at night as it was too hot during the day.
Is there a special reason you need to go to PS, as there are other nicer areas for that time of the year?

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by Paul H
Pat, we went in July just so that my daughter could experience some desert. It was hot,125, and a lot of the stores were closed for the summer as it was out of season. Pool in our hotel was packed at 12 at night as it was too hot during the day.
Is there a special reason you need to go to PS, as there are other nicer areas for that time of the year?

All very good points..thought to be honest I have not had a problem with the stores being closed..however a swimming pool at 100 degrees is not that refreshing.

Pat - yes it's hot, but also dry heat. Some people (my no. 1 included) like that. I stay in the shade with a good book until the evening time.

La Quinta is OK but a little far from some of the main strips around Palm Desert, Ranco Mirage and Palm Springs itself. Not that that's problem, no one walks unless you're in the heart of PS. However there are plenty mores restaurant choices in those areas.

I think if you find a house you like, go for it, I'll assume you have a car.

The dry desert heat is something both me and the misses really liked as well. Its hot yes, but not sapping like it gets in Florida/Carribean.

Lake Havasu was unbearable though. When we got there it was 42c at 19:00 and was v.v.muggy with tons of mossys around. So glad we only had 1 night there.

[Scrooge]

Guy's a dry heat is nice...but turn your over on, set the temp to 125 then stick your head in it for a sec...it is still damn hot.

Thanks everyone for your replies so far. Andy, your pics are stunning.

To answer a few queries - we want to go to "the Desert" as:
- we've been to many other places in SoCal
- we like to have a private pool and not many rentals along the Pacific coast have them unless you pay mega $$$$$
- in July it'll be quieter as the "tourists" will have mainly gone home and you can get some amazing rentals for your money
- we hope that the temperature will not reach the highs of July 2006 when we were out in LA/Santa Cruz/San Fran - anywhere more than a few miles inland was 120 plus - but remember we also had a heatwave at home (UK) and in Europe which was many people found insufferable due to the humidity. I'd rather have 107 degrees in Palm Springs (average temp) than be in Florida in July! Also not hurricane territory which most of the Carribean/Gulf of Mexico is from June - Nov.
- 107 degrees is OK by us - it was 97 in Dubai when we were there a few weeks ago. All of the properties on our shortlist at the moment have air con/pool and "misters" - which can effectively bring the temperature down by 10 - 20 degrees.
- as I said in the original post, we would not be venturing out in the hottest part of the day
- we can stay for 3/4 week instead of the alternative Easter break which is a max of 2 weeks due to school hols
- there's likely to be good G availablity
- I miss America and would like to be back there on July 4th

I've now got a shortlist of 10 rentals - mostly in La Quinta but one in Indian Wells. Any further advice greatly appreciated,

Regards

Pat

[Scrooge]

If it does get to hot go back down along the 10 towards Riverside and head up into the mountains to /Idlewyld .

and head up into the mountains to /Idlewyld .

[y]

Originally posted by patjohnson
I've started researching for our next CA trip next July (2008)when the Daught has finished A levels, and we fancy a trip to the desert (yes, we know it will be hottttt! but we won't be doing the mad dogs and Englishmen bit. We'll be there for three weeks minimum, four if I can manage it workwise.

We would be renting single family home with pool/spa, etc and the budget will pay for a 4/5 bed (although we only really need 2 we like the extra space). I'm just overwhelmed by the choice! I was looking around the PGA west area of La Quinta and I've realised that it's like trying to pick just one villa in Orlando.

Any v-flyers with experience of staying in this area that can advise of the best locations? The trip is very much for R&R so the most important things are setting, proximity to good restaurants and a supermarket I can get to in the early part of the day. Not bothered about golf or casinos.

Thanks

Pat

Let me know how you get on with the rental home Pat - I've also been looking, but for October this year (will it be a bit cooler then, I hope so!) And like you, I'm pretty much overwhelmed by the sheer number of places available. Have you noticed though, that a lot of the sites accept payment only in form of money order or a cheque in local currency? That's knocked a lot of possibilities out for me.

[/quote]

Let me know how you get on with the rental home Pat - I've also been looking, but for October this year (will it be a bit cooler then, I hope so!) And like you, I'm pretty much overwhelmed by the sheer number of places available. Have you noticed though, that a lot of the sites accept payment only in form of money order or a cheque in local currency? That's knocked a lot of possibilities out for me.
[/quote]

Hi Claire

You can get an International Money order from your bank payable in local currency, not that expensive really (IIRC around £7 which is less than you'll pay if someone wants to put a credit card mark up on). It is a risky way to pay though.

I like to pay by CC for protection, although I did hear a while ago that banks were trying to remove their liability for non-uk purchases - not heard anything since. My favourite at the moment accepts AMEX but will charge 2.4%, not bad for some peace of mind.

As well as vacationrentals.com and VRBO.com I've looked at a site called Homeaway.com - better than the other 2 as it allow you to search on a variety of criteria, e.g. property type, bedrooms, air con, pool, etc.

Regards
Pat

Originally posted by patjohnson

Let me know how you get on with the rental home Pat - I've also been looking, but for October this year (will it be a bit cooler then, I hope so!) And like you, I'm pretty much overwhelmed by the sheer number of places available. Have you noticed though, that a lot of the sites accept payment only in form of money order or a cheque in local currency? That's knocked a lot of possibilities out for me.
[/quote]

Hi Claire

You can get an International Money order from your bank payable in local currency, not that expensive really (IIRC around £7 which is less than you'll pay if someone wants to put a credit card mark up on). It is a risky way to pay though.

I like to pay by CC for protection, although I did hear a while ago that banks were trying to remove their liability for non-uk purchases - not heard anything since. My favourite at the moment accepts AMEX but will charge 2.4%, not bad for some peace of mind.

As well as vacationrentals.com and VRBO.com I've looked at a site called Homeaway.com - better than the other 2 as it allow you to search on a variety of criteria, e.g. property type, bedrooms, air con, pool, etc.

Regards
Pat

[/quote]

Thanks for the sites Pat. I had realised that it's possible to get a money order, it's just that it's a hassle I can't be bothered with and yes, it also feels risky to use that method of payment.

Am sure I heard recently that it was confirmed that cover for non-UK card purchases was assured - the news item flagged it up as a big step forward. For amounts over £100, as it is in the UK too. Some sort of test case, I believe, though the details escape me. No doubt someone else on here has a better memory/was paying closer attention!

[ChuckC]

Hi, Pat!

Well, as one who loves the desert during October through May I always caution people who plan to visit during the summer months -- it is very warm. It will take you all of your visit to be come accustomed to the heat. The temps in the morning will be around 90 degrees Farenheit and as others have said, could reach 120 degrees in the afternoon.

La Quinta is a comparitively new, planned community in the southern end of the desert. There are many, many housing alternatives and rates in the summer should be reasonable. Very good restaurants abound, though most are located in the Rancho Mirage area (about a 10-15 minute drive). Unless you really want to be in LaQuinta, you may prefer Rancho Mirage actually, or Palm Desert, the community that sits between Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells and LaQuinta. The "River" complex in Rancho Mirage is a huge shopping and entertainment complex with restaurants such as Richard Mannion's favorite (Cheesecake Factory), PF Changs, Roys. There's also a terrific big tavern with beers from all over the world (which you will need to stay cool!).

Speaking of which, cooler alternatives to the desert but close enough so that you could visit are places such as San Diego (on the ocean!) and where you were before, Dana Point. Both are two hours from the desert. I also invite you to think about LA's westside area where places such as Santa Monica offer all the enjoyment of being near a big city without the unrelenting heat. If you enjoyed Dana Point but want more to do, Santa Monica is a great city (I lived there for 8 years and would move back today).

If this sounds as though I am trying to talk you out of spending time in the desert, I'm not, but think you'd enjoy it much more, immensely in fact, if you visit during the part of the year when being outside is a joy rather than a health hazard. That said, please PM me for questions or advice on housing, etc.

Chuck-

Thanks Chuck,

Unfortunately the academic year here runs Sept - Mid July so I haven't much chance of a longer break unless I go in July or August. I did love our trip up the pacific coast highway last year but we were paying around $2,500 a week for properties that either only had access to a communal pool or had no access to a pool - probably not a sought after feature for properties on the coast but something we missed.

We don't just want a base for sleeping in, we'd like somthing more upscale and private that we can lounge around in doing next to nothing for a few weeks. It's not really a case of looking for more to do than in Orange County, rather less to do!

Thanks for the Rancho Mirage tip - we have found something there that fits the bill with wonderful shaded outdoor living spaces, pool, aircon and misters, and lots of entertainment, plasma TVs, HBO, dvd libraries, and more. Great indoor and outdoor kitchens where I can indulge my passion for cooking.

We have done our research on heat and it will be OK for us unless records are broken - for example the average July 4 high temp is 108 degrees and it's only significantly exceeded this on 3 occasions in the last 11 years 1996 (114),2003 (113) and 2005 (111) - the record was 120 degrees in 1989. I've been trying to stay away from the cliche about dry heat as I know it can offend people living and working there, but with low dew point and humidity dropping to single figures on occasion (but usually between 27 to 37)and us "tourists" not having to exert ourselves the "real feel" temp is much more manageable for us than you might think.

Thanks everyone for the advice so far. The Aerial Tramway is probably the only thing I can say I won't be doing - things like that scare the life out of me[:0]

Regards
Pat

[quote]Originally posted by patjohnson
Thanks everyone for the advice so far. The Aerial Tramway is probably the only thing I can say I won't be doing - things like that scare the life out of me[:0]
[/quote

I am terrified of heights, get woozy at the top of the stairs, but the misses forced me on the tramway a couple of years ago. Its very slow and gentle, with only a bit of vibration over the pilons, and the highest your from the ground is the first mast.

Its well worth the ride though as the top of San Jacinto is awesome with amazing views! Just stand in the middle of the car like I did and you'll be fine