GoodKarmaGuy

(NOTE FROM YOUR GAYLA HOSTS: We suggest downloading Justin Timberlake's "Bringing Sexy Back" and singing along to that tune. LOUDLY. Perhaps with a martini or a very large espresso in hand. ) Then read all of our amusing, funny comments. You will find an itinerary,how to pay, who-is-coming and hotel, flight and car suggestions. Some of these are in the second post.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Bringin’ Sexy Miles Back!

(Please know that this took hours and hours of listening and RELISTENING to Justin Timberlake playing a str8 man.... ... to get all the right words and syllables to match. The LEAST you could do is download the song from iTunes, etc., to see what a fab job we did! )

Bringin’ Sexy Miles Back
Them other folks sure don't know how to act
Palm Springs - it's special and we’re going back
So fly around, ‘cause miles’ll pick up the slack.

Take em' to the desert!

Dirty Baaaaaabes….
You saw those FA’s, baby, we’re their slaaaaaaves
We'll let ‘em whip us to get up in froooooont
It's just that upgrades make us feel that waaaaaay


Take em' to the desert

Come here y’all
Get the Miles
Come to the Do
Get the Miles
VIP
Get the Miles
Martinis on us
Get the Miles
Who you're flyin’ with
Get the Miles
Look at those miles
Get the Miles

They make me smile
Get the Miles
The pool is wild
Get the Miles
The girls come out
Get the Miles
The gift exchange
Get the Miles

Sexy miles back
Get the Miles
Sexy miles back
Get the Miles
Sexy miles back
Get the Miles
Sexy miles back
Get the Miles
Sexy miles back
Get the Miles

Get your miles on!

We’re Bringing Miles Back
Darn airlines don't know how to aaaaaaact
Come let us make up for the things they laaaaaack
Under the sun you can drink and relaaaaaax

Trippin’ for the desert!

Dirty Baaaaabes….
You saw those pilots, baby, we’re their slaaaaves
We'll let ‘em whip us and then stay in baaaaaaack
It's just that pilots make us feel that waaaaay

Get to the desert!

Listen up you guyz
Get the Miles
Get to the Do
Get the Miles
VIP
Get the Miles
Prince Albert’s there
Get the Miles
Big drag queens
Get the Miles
Ketel One chilled
Get the Miles
Hikes if in the mood
Get the Miles
Beach boys and food
Get the Miles
L girls and cool
Get the Miles
We’re dancin’ fools
Get the Miles

Bring sexy miles back
Get the Miles
Sexy miles back
Get the Miles
Bring sexy miles back
Get the Miles
Bring sexy miles back
Get the Miles
Bring sexy miles back
Get the Miles
Get your sexy miles on

Bringin’ Sexy Miles Back

You ready?

You ready?

You ready?

Ahhhh…..yesssssss!

Bringin’ Sexy Miles Back
Get there early and stake out your plaaaaaaace
Half price rates’ll give a smile to your faaaaaace
Pool, sun, relax without the same old rat race!

See ya in the desert

Last chance y’all.
Get the Miles
Come to the Do
Get the Miles
VIP
Get the Miles
Energize you
Get the Miles
Sit up in F
Get the Miles
Appletinis
Get the Miles
Girls gone wild
Get the Miles
Under the stars
Get the Miles
Count the days
Get the Miles
Brunch’ll help the daze
Get the Miles

Bring miles back
Get the Miles
Sexy miles back
Get the Miles
Bring miles back
Get the Miles
Sexy miles back
Get the Miles
Bring miles back
Get the Miles

Get Your Miles Back!

You Ready?

Yes

You Ready?

YES

YES

YES



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++

Ahhh... Palm Springs!

THE FOURTH ANNUAL PALM SPRINGS FLYERTALK GAYLA!
MARCH 23-25, 2007

How to surpass Gayla II in 2005 or Gayla III in 2006?



Discounts, tips and itineraries follow. Hotel info is in the 2nd post because this one is already too big. Please add your comments and reviews in a post and they will be moved to the review area in the second post. It is not possible to go through all the PSP threads but we do remember that lots of folks had good suggestions at various times.
************************************************** **************

This is a PG rated event and ALL FLYERTALKERS are welcome and encouraged to attend. We have quite a handsome following of heterosexuals that attend! Please come, everyone! As a matter of fact, this event is always cross-posted in the Community Forum HERE so that all can be in the fun! All Events are rated PG.

This is a very, very, very fun event. Several of us have wandered around past Gaylas in dazed amazement at how much fun these PSP Do’s really turn out to be! The crowd is very mixed of all different ages, shapes, colors and sexes. Dress is casual, fun and resort-y.

Also, please be courteous of some member’s anonymity. As well, if you would prefer not to be named on the list, please just email or PM me so that I can add you to the count. This worked well last year for a few members. If you do not say otherwise I will add your name(s) to the list.

HOST HOTEL:The Desert Moon Resort. Next door to Toucan’s and across the street from Rick’s. The manager is the former manager of The Villas and has successfully wooed us away from there. WE HAVE THE ENTIRE HOTEL!! Let them know you are with the FlyerTalk-Martini Party Group. DO NOT use Travelocity. The hotel has said that they will beat those rates.

They love, love, love us and have given us a GREAT high-season deal:

Our discounted price for Friday and Saturday is $129/ night for suites and $119 for rooms+. And we get 50% off rack rates on Thursday and/or Sunday! Please ask them to extend this discount if you stay other nights.

These discounts will be honored as long as there are rooms available.

-------------------

Who is Coming - The PAID DEFINITES: (If you are NOT on the list please post here or PM me if you!!)

kyushuman
FlyBalletGuy
olafman
mwp2Paris
The Divine Miss N (she gets her own line this year )
missydarlin
nroscoe
KenCt
Nobbi +1
peteropny +1
GoodKarmaGuy +3
aviationkiwi
Tennen
StSebastian
bluesincenew
JCinNYC +1
Malaysian16
izzik +1
dfwoods
SJC1K
fooko2002
Viajero Joven
lisamcgu +1/2
Desert Dave +1
bigguyinpasadena
Wireless
LAXGambit
Aluminum tubing
howard-socal
holtju2
Seeksreal (Friday Martinis and Sunday Brunch only)
stobin (Friday Martinis and Sunday Brunch only)
stevenjames (Friday Martinis and Sunday Brunch only)
ricepaddy2 +1


We HOPE they are coming!:
Droneklax
MapleLeaf +1
Randy Petersen (+1?)



-------------------
-------------------
ITINERARY: please note that usually only Friday and/or Saturday evening events are “de rigeur” and so far only Friday and Saturday evening requires advance payment. If your plans are not definite, we will work something out.

THURSDAY NIGHT:
TIME: 8pm : UNOFFICIAL WHO-IS-HERE-EARLY? MEET-AT-THE-STREET-PARTY-AND-HAVE-DINNER!
Let us know in advance that you will be here. A few of us are seriously thinking of seeing the Palm Spring Follies. Hmmm… can we get back stage passes?

-------------------

FRIDAY NIGHT: World Famous Gayla Martini Party
TIME: 830pm
LOCATION: Great Room of the Hotel. (off the Lobby)
DRESS: Resort casual.
Expect some folks to go bar-hopping after. (Some us will sit around the fire until 2am. )
PRICE: $20pp for unlimited drinks. $10pp for one drink or less. THIS IS A PAY IN ADVANCE.

--------------------

SATURDAY EVENING DINNER AND ENTERTAINMENT:
TIME: Drinks at 730p followed by dinner at 830pm
DRESS: Resort casual/dressy- jeans are cool.
LOCATION: Las Casitas Restaurant in Downtown Palm Springs. Served family style with several big platters of food. This also includes margaritas before dinner and perhaps some wine with. We are still negotiating some final details with the restaurant. This is a local institution and the food is DELICOUS. We are very lucky to get in there.
PRICE: $40pp all inc. THIS IS A PAY IN ADVANCE.
-------------------

SATURDAY NIGHT GAY BAR WHOOPEE TOUR:
TIME: 10pm
Dress: Probably not by the end of the evning in the pool!
-------------------

SUNDAY BRUNCH: We will have the absurdly famous and often climactic (and sometimes anti-climactic )Palm Springs Gayla Secret FlyerTalker Gift Exchange at brunch. So bring a travel orientated (or not) gift. Please make sure that the expiry date has not passed on your gift. ( Trust me, last year I thought I was so smart for trading for an envelope full of coupons...got to Staarbucks and the barista beweirdly said that the coupon was from 2001!! Whaaaaaaat? How embarassing! But she took it. )
TIME: 1130am
LOCATION: Dale's Lost Highway across the corner, coincidentally, (WE SWEAR! ), from La Casita in downtown Palm Springs. Prices range from $9 to $24 for brunch per entree. Pay on your own, I told them to include a 20% tip on each.AND INCLUDES BOTTOMLESS CHAMPAGNE!!
DRESS: As long as you are awake (sort of ) who cares.

-------------------

SUNDAY AFTERNOON : A Spa Afternoon, Poolside
TIME: Post-Brunch until Pre-Barracks
LOCATION: Poolside at the Hotel.
DRESS: Ummm.. you can figure this one out.
PRICE: TBD. Expect $30-40 for a 30 minute massage and comparable rate for one other treatment to be offered. Pay as you go but please RSVP if possible.

----------------

SUNDAY BEER BUST:
TIME: 5 or 6pm
LOCATION: The Barracks. (NOTE: This is an ADULTS ONLY event…sorry)
DRESS: Ummm...think leather, chains, piercings, boots.
Price: $1 beers
NOTE: We usually go get a bite to eat later, about 9 or 10pm

-------------------

************************************************** *************


************************************************** ************


TIP: Payment for dinner and the Martini Party should be through PayPal or you can mail a check. To Use Paypal, you will pay to [email protected]. Include the first names and genders of each attendee. For those of you unfamiliar with PayPal, peteropny will post directions on how to do this in a couple months when the prices are definite. IF YOU ARE LAST MINUTE OR UNSURE, PM ME. WE WILL WORK SOMETHING OUT.

TIP: We often organize side things like shopping and hiking.

TIP: See the end of this post for Palm Springs general info.

TIP: Reserve a rental car now. You can cancel later. The prices will go up, up up!

GOODKARMAGUY'S SPECIAL TIP: I always book car rentals and then recheck once a week to see if the rates have gone down. PSP cheapest rental car: Dollar Rental Car. REMEMBER: Airport car desks close early!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Some cool gay PSP links (with notes!) by gay :

http://ww.palmspringslife.com/medi...vents/index.php

Here is a link to things happening at the PSP convention center and events:

http://www.palmspringscc.com/events/default.aspx

Here is a link to a gay rag the Desert Daily Guide, which is posted on the net:

http://www.desertdailyguide.com/weekly/index2.php

Here is a link to another gay rag the Bottom Line, which also is posted on the net. It has a nice list of events each month (check early March for March events):

http://www.psbottomline.com/

Here's a site about gay PSP. It's mostly advertising but does have a map.

http://www.palmspringsgay.com/

Here's a great site about PSP, which includes a gay section:

http://palmsprings.com/

AIRPORTS

Local airport: PSP. This airport is really, really cute and worth flying into if it is not a lot more money. And no, you will not need a car if you are only there a couple days. Hotels have free parking and there are some awesome daytrips.NOTE that the car rental desks here close early: 9/10pm!

Alternative Airports: LAX, SAN (2-3 hour drive depending on traffic), SNA, BUR, ONT( @ 2hour drives +- depending on traffic), LAS (cheeeeeap rental cars but a 4 hour, albeit gorgeous, drive).

Some creative routing may be beneficial. For example, last year AS for $108 SFO-PSP was found. While that may not work for the Gayla(who knows, though!) it does seem that a low fare to SFO, ONT, LAX or LAS may be combined with a low fare to PSP.

------------------
------------------

SIDETRIPS: Many available! Also several special events that cannot be had elsewhere.

If you can get in on Thurs nite - Palm Springs has a street fair downtown- they close down the main street to traffic and there are booths up and down the street . I had the most marvelous roasted corn - yum makes me want to come back . - jan_az

The Palm Spring Follies are supposed to be fabulous. The ladies are all retired show girls, some from Broadway, others from Radio City Music Hall, and so on. I've see a video and they are terrific. The run is usually from November through May 30. Thanks to SanDiego1K


Joshua Tree National Park is a few miles away and is a beautiful drive with hiking and walking available.

There is a big Casino in downtown PSP.

Palm Springs even has an Air Museum.

This will be a very fun weekend... Don’t Miss It and SEE YOU THERE!

GoodKarmaGuy

All of the "big" evenings are accounted for but here are some foodie ideas from past gayla postsfor evenings and lunches on either end of your visit:

RESTAURANT REVIEWS

SFOTRAVELER":
On my last visit, I was at a large, fun, queer-friendly Chinese / pan-Asian place...surely you guys know it...can't remember the name, though. christianj: could be Wangs, Thai Smiles, Peppers, etc.
--EDITOR: This is Wang's.)

christianj:
Here's a list of our favorites:
- Shame on the Moon - Rancho Mirage - Same owners as Blame it on Midnight in PS but with better food.
- Blame it on Midnight- PS - Great people watching with decent food.
- Kalura Trattoria - PS - Super italian food on S. Palm Canyon Dr. next to the theater.
- Zin American Bistro - PS - New Place with great food on S. Palm Canyon Dr.
- Sherman's Deli - PS - for the biggest sandwiches
- California Pizza Kitchen - PS- for a quick pizza or salad
- Hamburger Mary's - PS - for a fun time
- El Mirasol - PS - for the best mexican food and magaritas
- Wangs - PS - for chinese

Other places we have either tried or have received recommendations for:
- Spikes (EDITOR's NOTE: Probably is "Spike's Baja Cantina" (611 South Palm Canyon Drive) 760-864-9775 -Gay-owned Mexican restaurant located two doors away from Heaven, in the Sun Center Mall."
- Johannes
- Davey's Hideaway
- New Asian place in the casino in PS
- New Cheesecake Factory in Rancho Mirage


GoodKarmaGuy:
Isort of thought that Blame it onMidnight really looks like the inside of a drag queen's closet (I HEAR... never having actually SEEN the inside of a drag queen's closet )... all sorts of sparkly things hanging from the ceiling. If you are here before 8pm, the avaerage age is 90. It drops to 20-30-something after 8pm. The food is good. The menu layout reminds me of places like Wolfie's in Miami where you have to pay an extra 25 cents for an extra lemon slice. Then the menu throws in really interesting things like a shrimp ceviche! A very "Palm Springs" experience over all. Later this place is more of a bar than a restaurant.

Hamburger Mary's (always an OK chain experience) was a real hetero-touristy.

thetravelguru:
Wangs has a great happy hour on Friday nights. Usually starts round 6ish. Eat at Wangs or any of the other great restaurants in the area and then head to Hunters Nightclub.

From RBCal: Following are my favorite exclusively gay restaurants/bars in PSP:

Look
139 East Andreas Road
Palm Springs, CA
Phone: (760) 778-3520
Large outdoor patio, younger crowd, good food, walking distance to gay district of Arenas and shopping on Palm Canyon.

Plum
241 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760)322-0200
Very popular Sunday brunch, older crowd than Look.

Blame It On Midnight
777 East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA
Phone: (760) 323-120
Large restaurant and bar, has been in PSP forever. In my opinion the food is just okay but it is very crowded. The food is much better than Rainbow Cactus which is also crowded but mostly with an older clientele.

Butterfield's Adobe at The Villa Resort
67670 Carey Rd.
Cathedral City, CA 92234
Phone: (760) 328-7211
Excellent brunch/lunch seven days a week. The best new exclusively gay restaurant in PSP in my opinion.

Sidewinders (BAR)
67555 E. Palm Canyon, Above Upper Crust Pizza
Cathedral City, CA 92234
The bar I like best, since it has a friendly crowd and line dancing. I find the dancing cowboys interesting, even before I saw Brokeback Mountain.
======================================
======================================

Hotels will be in several categories:

NOTED BY ILuvParis: People should be aware that many of the resorts may have a three or even four night minimum stay in March - since it will definitely be prime time in PSP.

MEN'S RESORTS
********************

WOMEN'S RESORTS
********************

"MIXED" RESORTS(men AND women, possibly str8)
********************

MILES AND POINTS RESORTS AND HOTELS
********************


SO..........

MEN'S RESORTS

First, general comments by FTers:

JGR01:
PSP has many many gay B&B complexes. Your choice will definately impact the what you want.

For example CCBC can be considered a bath house hotel for nudists! LOTS of play and minimal on the hotel facilities (nothing wrong with that as I had a GREAT time a the 'stable' house there one weekend). They tend to host 'group weekends' so you may find yourself with naked square dancers or drag-festa-val or ??

Santiago on the other hand is (hope still is as been 2+ years since was there) a more elegant place with great sunning and great mountain views and really a relaxed place. Its more a couples place with minimal play ....

Another place (I forget) has Saturday wet jockeyshorts contests and lets the locals into the grounds for a fee... real busy and real 'groups'... not relaxing.

The weekends tend to be very busy and the the week is much more relaxed and friendly. I know Sun/Mon nights many times I was one of three guests at some places.

The trouble is you need a current 'scope' of the place you are going to stay. They change names/ownership sometimes and what was an elegant couples type place (enjoyed Triangle Inn many years back that way) .. then boom new owners .. and you get the leather/bear crowd or the twinks or the lesbians.

All said, I like PSP because of the options and ability to do lots of things.

Rent a car .. go the the cable-car and drive to Joshua Tree area .. Go shopping.. do Shame on the Moon for a fabulous dinner (not gay but most friendly like all of PSP)... there is a kewl little fish/chips shop on the edge of downtwon by the start of Warm Sands. Am not a club/bar person so cannot make comments there.

aeneastwin:
The good thing about staying at Warm Sands all-male resorts is that the surrounding ones are within walking distance and have day passes that allow you to sample what each has to offer. Also, Warm Sands is a short driving distance (and even walkable) to the main strip in Palm Springs. A very nice IHOP and Duane Reade with a full selection of alcohol are nearby.

FROM THE EDITOR:
The following includes reviews of the men's resorts in Palm Springs (condensed from Out and About's Palm Springs guide by peteropny).
(Where a Fter name appears, that is THEIR review. Otherwise O & A's words are paraphrased. Not plaigarized, BTW. Generally, they are ordered from highly rated ones first down to lower rated ones (some similarly rated ones may be in alphabetical order). Most of the gay resorts are clustered in two areas, Warm Sands and San Lorenzo, and location are indicated as such. Rates are generally $100-150 per night for the basic room, otherwise any outside this range will be mentioned. Property size and "cruise" factor is included (some of the resorts can be extremely cruisy and we include this information as FYI as this is not for everyone. Some are more bath-house type facilities and these are included at the end. These are still hotels, though.). Note however, almost ALL the properties are clothing optional. Generally a continental breakfast and some sort of light lunch is provided for guests. It may be very simple. If we have not included a website, that means we didn't have one handy. Google it or call 411 if you need to. Check things out!

HIGHER RATED PROPERTIES (SOME LUXE):

Hacienda at Warm Sands - www.thehacienda.com - Smaller 10 room property in Warm Sands. Elegant and luxurious rooms and grounds. Somewhat higher rates. Service seems to be very high including pillow choice. "Cruise" factor - Low.

One of the nicest resorts in the Warm Sands area is The Hacienda. Pricey but very nice!
jefro
--------
East Canyon Hotel and Spa - www.eastcanyonps.com - 15 room top notch luxury property with very luxurious rooms and grounds. Only property with a full-service spa. Expensive rooms start at $139. Downtown Palm Springs location - just west of Warm Sands. Walk to some bars. "Cruise" factor - Low.
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Chestnutz - www.chestnutz.com - Smaller 12 room property in San Lorenzo. Full gym facilities and laundry facilities. Cozy property. "Cruise" factor - Medium to High.
--------
Desert Paradise Resort Hotel - www.desertparadise.com - Warm Sands property with 14 rooms. Property has been under renovations by the current owner. "Cruise" factor - Medium to High.
--------
El Mirasol Villas - www.elmirasol.com - 16 room Warm Sands property. Large rooms in property that was built by Howard Hughes. "Cruise" factor - Medium.
--------
Harlow Club Hotel - www.theharlow.com - Downtown Palm Springs, west of Warm Sands and San Lorenzo, property with 15 rooms. Massively renovated luxury property by the same owners as Santiago. Room rates start at $160. "Cruise" factor - Low.
--------
INNdulge - www.inndulge.com - Larger 24 room Warm Sands property that is well managed. Complete gym on property. "Cruise" factor - High.

When not staying with friends, I much prefer InnDulge. It's low key, sexually. You can swim, hot-tub, and sunbath nude and no one will jump you. You may get the once-over, and some come-hither looks, but nothing aggressive. The owners John and Jean Guy are very gracious hosts who see to it that their guests enjoy their stay. Guests come (no pun) from all over the world. They have a happy hour every evening with snacks, and many other social activities poolside. Coffee and juice by the pool every morning is my idea of paradise, next to watching meteor showers streaking overhead from the hot tub. GarySAN

Inn Dulge has a very low key atmosphere and the owners work hard to maintain the place. ILuvParis

I've stayed at InnDulge a couple of times and really liked it. It's "clothing optional" but not too sleazy (OK late nights in the jacuzzi can be...) Nice breakfast and social hour in the evening included.
myleguy
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Las Palmas Hotel - www.laspalmas-hotel.com - New North Palm Springs property with 17 rooms. 1950 property was totally renovated. Top-notch service. "Cruise" factor - Medium.

In October, we stayed at Las Palmas in the North end of town. Rooms were quite nice. Bathroom was awkward and cramped. Attentive and responsive ownership. Laid-back atmosphere.
peteropny
--------
La Posada de las Palmas - www.laposada.com - Small 10 room property located in a residential neighborhood. Relaxed atmosphere. "Cruise" factor - Low to Medium.
--------
La Posada East - www.laposada.com - 11 room Downtown Palm Springs property with the same ownership as the La Posada de las Palmas. Large pool and Jacuzzi. "Cruise" factor - Medium.

La Posada is very nice but it's a bit of a trek to the bar/downtown area if you don't plan to drive.rjque
--------
Santiago - www.santiagoresort.com - Larger 24 room San Lorenzo property. Larger immaculate rooms with many recent upgrades. One of the largest pools among the gay resorts. "Cruise" factor - Medium.

My favorite is Santiago - large nicely furnished rooms, great service.
(UPDATE: This property was recently (mid-late 2005) sold to new owners so not sure what changes are in the works.)
peteropny
--------
Terrazzo - www.terrazzo-ps.com - South Palm Springs property with 12 rooms. Eager to please attitude of the owners. Amenities and service positives are somewhat offset by smaller rooms and somewhat noisy location off South Palm Canyon. "Cruise" factor - Low.

One of the nicest resorts in the Warm Sands area is .... Terrazzo which is on South Palm Canyon. The owners are great and very hospitable.
jefro
--------
Totuga Del Sol - www.tortugadelsol.com - 12 room San Lorenzo property. Rates start at $80. Accent is on comfort and relaxation rather than luxury. "Cruise" factor - Low. I highly recommend "Tortuga del Sol". Right across form Santiago. Owned by a very nice gay couple. It's low key, clothing optional, no sex required.Nobbi
--------
Triangle Inn - www.triangle-inn.com - 13 total (including recently acquired house next door) unit San Lorenzo property. The house has 4 total rooms and can be rented as one large unit. Large rooms with small but romantic grounds. "Cruise" factor - Medium to High.
--------

Mid-Range Resorts:

All World's Resort - www.allworldsresort.com - Large 44 room Warm Sands property that was created by combining 3 smaller resorts. Ownership is the porno company All Worlds Entertainment. Rates start at $69. Ongoing renovations. "Cruise" factor - High.

If you are looking for a porno star sort of experience, you may wish to try All Worlds Resort, which has served as a location set for All Worlds Adult films. However, All Worlds Resort is rather stark, with a lot of concrete.aeneastwin

The Saturday lunch BBQ at All Worlds Resort is fun and they sell day pass for $5. ricepaddy

Read this trip report on ALL WORLD'S RESORT by apudme.

--------
Bacchanal - www.bacchanal.net - Small 7 room Warm Sands property undergoing significant renovation. "Cruise" factor - Medium.
--------
Indianola - www.indianola-tiki.com - 11 room North Palm Springs property. Polynesian themed with original furniture and artwork. "Cruise" factor - Medium.
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Inn Exile - www.innexile.com - 31 room Warm Sands property. Modern stark design appealing to hunky young Southern California types. Rates start at $80. "Cruise" Factor - High to Very High.

The grounds are very "high desert". Waterfalls, rocks, concrete formations and a few cool cacti. No shade. Incredibly simple, almost dowdy rooms with all southwest decor. The place is breathatkingly gorgeous at night. BVery cruisy with "gate-jumpers". GoodKarmaGuy
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Mirage/Vista Grande/Avalon/Atrium - www.mirage4men.com - Large 40 room, combined, Warm Sands properties. Rates start at $79. "Cruise" factor - Off the charts.

I highly recommend Vista Grande with its lush landscaping and expansive view of the surrounding mountains. Also, the tropical garden and steam room make for more adventures than an episode of Survivor! aeneastwin

I LOVED this place but found a few locals who looked down their noses at me when they found out where I was staying. I did not realize that it had that "bath house" rep. The management has changed their daily admissions policy and admit only locals during the day. No out-of-towners who are staying elsewhere. Also, noone but guests are admitted at night. The grounds and waterfalls are lush and beautiful and the rooms were kitschy, large and well appointed, though not very fancy. I stay there all the time.
GoodKarmaGuy

NOTES SPECIFICALLY ON THE ATRIUM SECTION OF THE VISTA GRANDE:

The Mirage and Vista Grande are adjoining interconnected resorts. The Atrium is across the street. All three have the same owner, but the Atrium is not as convenient because you have to cross the street to join the "action". ricepaddy2

Of all the gay resorts in the Palm Springs, this one is the best if you are looking for a combination of well-maintained digs and free-wheeling opportunities. One selling point about staying at the Atrium is that it does get awfully crowded during the day pass period in the Vista Grande section and you might prefer some peace and quiet in the Atrium (and you can always saunter over during the peak times in the steam room, which are from 3PM to 7PM) aeneastwin
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Warm Sands Villa - www.warmsandsvilla.com - 25 room Warm Sands property. Much improved and completely renovated property. "Cruise" factor - Medium.
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The Columns - www.pscolumns.com - Small 7 room Warm Sands property. Rooms in need of renovation. Decent grounds. Rates start at $79. "Cruise" factor - Medium to High.
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Desert Bear - www.thedesertbear.com - 11 room North Palm Springs property marketed to "bears" and their admirers. Basic rooms and grounds. Rates start at $65. "Cruise" factor - Medium to High.
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HOTELS FREQUENTLY BEING ACCUSED OF BATHHOUSES MASQUERADING AS HOTELS:

Camp Palm Springs - www.camp-palm-springs.com - 29 room North Palm Springs property. Mediocre rooms. Rates start at $69. "Cruise" factor - Very High.

Camp Palm Springs is one of the more active resorts in terms of wild sex. The range of guys will vary from one night to the next, but overall it has a pretty sleazy atmosphere--for better or worse. If your sexual tastes are a bit raunchier than the regular vanilla stuff this may be a place to check out. Of course I am only sharing what I have heard from others.. Seeksreal
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Canyon Boy's Club - www.canyonclub.com - Motelly 31 room North Palm Springs property. Rates start at $79. "Cruise" factor - Very High.
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Cathedral City Boy's Club (CCBC) - www.ccbc-gay-resort.com - 44 room Cathedral City property marketed as a frisky playground. "Cruise" factor - Very High.

CCBC is a bathhouse masquerading as a motel. Overall it's ok. The grounds are cruisy at all hours (including breakfast), the pool was fine; our room was only ok. This was my first trip so I have no point of reference, but I hope it gets better than this. I've already told ILP that I'd like to stay in the Warm Sands area in January. "
jockdAAdy
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RESORT THAT HAS RECENTLY CHANGED OWNERSHIP / MANAGEMENT W/O REVIEWS:
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La Dolce Vita www.ladolcevitaresort.com - 19 room South Palm Springs property. Recently acquired by new management so not sure what changes are in the works. The following comments are from when the place was called the Citadel - Front portion has been renovated but the rear part needs serious renovation. "Cruise" factor - Medium to High.
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WOMEN'S RESORTS(reviews condensed from the Out and About Guide by peteropny).

Queen of Hearts - www.queenofheartspsp.com - All women property with 12 rooms. Simple, well appointed, and cheerful rooms. "Cruise" factor - Low.
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Casitas Laquita (Women's) - www.casitaslaquita.com - 13 room property with women only clientele located in south end of Palm Springs. "Cruise" factor - Low.
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"MIXED" RESORTS(men AND women, usually str8)

HOTTEST new str8 hotel in a GREAT location: Hotel Zoso!

I thought it had the obligatory pale, overweights by the pool and the obligatory gorgeous gay-men employees, but I thought the cruise quotient was near ZERO. (Hotel has been open a month as of this writing, Jan. 15, 2006) GoodKarmaGuy

Pepper Tree Inn (look for it on Travelocity/Priceline):
My friends really liked it. They have originally booked into the Movie Colony hotel and were disappointed on arrival. They found this one from trip advisor and walking around. We took a tour around it last summer. It seems nice, neat and clean and the lady on the front desk was very nice. We thought the rooms were a bit basic and if we're going to PS, then we want to be gay (if you know what I mean). From a gay perspective, I'd choose something in the Warm Sands area myself over this one. But that's just my taste. LHRTim

The Spa Resort Casino in downtown PSP looks fun though I have never been in it. I will check it out in the future. www.sparesortcasino.com

Just gambled at the SPA Resort last week - the rooms in the hotel itself are dated. jan_az
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MILES AND POINTS RESORTS AND HOTELS

The Hilton is across the street [from the casino]. jan_az

I really liked the Hilton in Palm Springs. Average F and B, stupid resort fee, but a great location, especially if you come into town on Thursday and go to the street fair! Only 1 block away. Ask for a pool king on the first floor. They place the bed diagonally with back lighting and have big, wooden louvered french doors. Very cool and chi-chi. Walk to downtown and shops. $5 taxi from airport. The FD was more like a discount property, though. They "lost" a package sent to me. Then found it. Never told me that I had mail, etc., etc. But it sure was a gorgeous place! GoodKarmaGuy
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For mainstream hotels, I've only stayed at the Hyatt Grand Champions, very nice but kind of away from central Palm Springs.
peteropny

There is a another big beautiful Hyatt in Downtown PSP.
GoodKarmaGuy
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RideThe22A

Anyone stay at the Canyon Club Hotel, www.canyonclubhotel.com lately? The website shows great improvement from when in was Canyon Boys Club. Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

mwp2paris

MWP can say, based on personal observation, the Divine Miss N is absolutely GIDDY over being assigned her own line. Whilst MWP is a bit lonely without his +1, he is happy for his dear traveling friend and her elite Gayla status.

The Divine Miss N has promised even higher heels to totter about in this year; a special lap dance for Joe, complete with boa (real, I fear); and finally, to not become lost at The Barracks giving Joe and MWP a real scare as they pictured her holding court with several leather-clad gentlemen in the "backroom" lecturing them on the appropriate use of an extra-wide rubber band.

GoodKarmaGuy

Haha.

What is so very funny is that only those of us that were there really has a picture of this... ummm... older, dressed-to-the-nines doyen (is that the right word?) walking into the Barracks ON HER OWN and being lost for 1/2 hour .

<sigh>

Ahhh... those past Gayla moments! That and the memory of the stripper yanking (so to speak) our mild-mannered peteropny around Wang's are maybe my fave 2006 memories. Maybe.

Oh and I have updated the list. If our party is under 35 we are definitly doing a restaurant for Sat. night dinner.

dfwoods

I am in for my third year running. Sorry, not staying at the host hotel, though. Should be in town in time for Friday martinis, though will depend somewhat on traffic outbound from LAX. (And I have sworn off Lemon Drops, so I am afraid that I will need to find another tonic for the soul....)

KenCT

THURSDAY NIGHT:
8pm : UNOFFICIAL WHO-IS-HERE-EARLY? MEET-AT-THE-STREET-PARTY-AND-HAVE-DINNER!
Let us know in advance that you will be here. A few of us are seriously thinking of seeing the Palm Spring Follies. Hmmm… can we get back stage passes?

The earlier link is wrong. Here's the right one: http://www.psfollies.com/ The only show on Thursday, March 22 is at 1:30 pm and there don't seem to have a lot of empty seats. My third PS "Do" and I haven't seen it. It's time.

Malaysian16

i get in wed early evening - as am looking forward to a good evening's rest rather than arriving tired and haggered off the LHR-LAX-PSP flights (on thurs)... so am game for any entertainment planned for Thurs.

SJC1K

I am in, for my first time. Looking forward to meeting you all!

holtju2

Last year I was at Palm Springs during the Gayla and had even paid for the festivities but couldn't make it at the end.

This year I will make my best effort to actually make it. I should know for sure around 10th March when I should be back in LA area.

KenCT

I remember that. We just assumed you got a better offer. Hope to meet you this time around.

peteropny

Well I can say that he does exist and isn't a figment of our imagination I've met him at a couple of LA dinners in the last month and a half.

GoodKarmaGuy

I should be there for Follies as well. I wish there were more seating available. Hard to add on people?

StSebastian

I was just looking at some bookings, and wondered if we'd looked at getting group discount codes on airline tickets for the people flying in -- or are there not enough people flying the same airlines to the same destination airport for that to work?

I thought about that since I'm in the middle of putting together an event this summer in ORD and getting the discounted rates for as many people as possible.

And when I talked to Tony back in early December, the hotel was already half full when I made our reservation. I don't know how close they may be to capacity now.

Also, can any people booking revenue AA tickets send me a PM? I have a request of you...

jockdAAddy

Sadly (gladly?) the Lemon Drop 'pusher' won't be there. So you MIGHT be safe. Must find pics and post...now where are they?.....