Viceroy Palm Springs

From the outside, the Viceroy Palm Springs’ white walls overflowing with greenery and the glimpses of red tile roofs recall the Mediterranean-style charm of this original 1933 Palm Springs hideaway. But when I opened the bright yellow doors – wow – I was immersed in the Hollywood glamour of the 1960s.

The lobby’s glossy white, black and yellow walls, mirrored coffee tables and gilt Empire-style chairs set the tone for the décor throughout this hip haven in the glittery heart of Palm Springs. Walking through the gardens to my cottage suite, countless statues of greyhounds and white draperies fluttering from every terrace and outdoor pavilion gave me the feeling I was in a movie-colony hideaway.

“The Viceroy Palm Springs was frequented by superstars including Elvis, Orson Welles and Joan Crawford when it was The Estrella,” explained Kurt Bjorkman, general manager. “Today, guests come to relax and rejuvenate, go to the spa, lay by the pool and float in the water. With Citron, the Viceroy Palm Springs’ trendy restaurant and bar serving breakfast, lunch and dinner; the Estrella Spa providing full services indoors and out, and a 24-hour fitness room, with free weights and cardiovascular equipment – there’s really no reason to leave,” he enthused. I agreed.

Relaxing in my cottage’s white-on-white living room, I felt pampered and privileged. The white fireplace, white shag carpet and a dining room adorned with bold black-and-white wallpaper were Doris Day perfect. Glazed white tile floors led to a stylish retro bathroom, with the tub and shower in an arched alcove. In the bedroom, white drapes on three walls made a dramatic backdrop for the pillow-top king bed dressed in white Frette linens. Glass doors from the living room and the bedroom opened onto a private walled terrace.

Before heading to the Estrella Spa at Viceroy Palm Springs, I snacked on a nectarine from the heaping tray of complimentary fruit and berries and dish of color-coordinated jelly beans: white (coconut flavor), black (licorice) and yellow (citrus).

“The Deep Tissue Massage is our most popular treatment,” Tanya Illustrisimo, Estrella Spa manager, told me. However, since I love facials and a facial seemed so appropriate – to be ready for my close-up – in this celebrity-charged atmosphere, I signed up for the signature “Citrus Facial.”

Sitting in my white robe in the small relaxation lounge at the Viceroy Palm Springs Estrella Spa, the glossy black walls gave me a dramatic sense of well being. White Regency-style furniture, white shag carpeting and faux marble Greek busts added a retro Max Factor studio flair. While the spa is small, converted from a guest cottage, it’s warm and friendly and offers a lengthy menu of massages, scrubs, glows, wraps, acupressure facials, botanical baths and nail, waxing and tinting services. It lacks a sauna, but the steam-shower is open 24 hours.

For 60 wonderful minutes, esthetician Tamara Studer applied an invigorating combination of Yon-Ka Paris cleansing, toning and firming products including a fruit acid treatment with organically sourced AHA-BHA from natural fruits. “This improves your skin tone immediately because it restores a healthy cell renewal cycle,” Studer explained, as she peeled off the hardened mask. Her powerful massaging fingers were so effective – I slept through most of the treatment. When I awoke, I felt refreshed and years younger thanks to my newly smooth and luminous complexion. I had nothing to do until dinner at Citron, so I adjourned to the spa’s private garden and sunned by the fountain. The billowing white curtains of the outdoor treatment cabanas, each tucked behind elegant hedges, looked heavenly. An outdoor cabana would be perfect for a signature “Sacred Stone Massage,” or a dreamy couple’s massage, or the new signature “Yoga Facial.” Next time, I decided.

For now, it was time for a dip in the nearest pool. The Viceroy Palm Springs boasts two adult pools, a family pool and two large outdoor Jacuzzis.

Drying off on a chaise lounge under the cloudless blue sky, surrounded by manicured lawns, white roses and dense lemon, grapefruit and tangerine trees, I felt totally pampered. As if on cue, an attendant arrived with complimentary ice water and lemon.

That night, I sipped a signature “Le Citron Bleu” martini – shaken not stirred, while sitting in a retro bikini-style chair at the Citron bar. The mix of Hpnotiq “Tiffany blue” liqueur and citrus-flavored vodka in a sugar-rimmed glass was as tasty and trendy as the restaurant’s bold yellow and white décor. The California-French menu including delicious ahi tuna tartar, free range roasted chicken with wild mushrooms, and a chocolate soufflé to die for, has made Citron one of Palm Springs’ favorite dinner destinations.

Suggested Improvements: I loved everything. Just remember that this resort is sophisticated. I’d think twice about bringing the kids, even though the brochure says one of the pools is a family pool. The only family members I saw at the shady pool were two peach-colored poodles relaxing with their doting “moms.”

Located two blocks from downtown Palm Springs stylish boutiques, galleries, restaurants and nightlife, the Viceroy Palm Springs offers 74 accommodations in a multitude of configurations. Regency Rooms feature king beds, studios offer two queen or one king bed and a patio or balcony, suites feature queen and king beds plus a convertible sofa for up to three people; and the one and two-bedroom villas boast fireplaces, dining rooms and fully equipped kitchens. In early 2006, 15 new one- and two-bedroom villas are scheduled to open. High speed Internet access and DVD players are among the standard amenities. The garden courtyards are picture perfect for weddings and parties of up to 170 guests and 1,600 square feet of new function space is available for meetings of up to 170. Activities from self-guided nature hikes in the nearby San Jacinto Mountains, rental bicycles, yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi to star gazing make it a wonderful life at the Viceroy Palm Springs.

Destinations : California : Viceroy Palm Springs