Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Originally built in 1933, this Historic Hotel sits on over an acre of beautiful landscaped grounds in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, walking distance to the famous Palm Canyon Drive, where you will find the best restaurants, boutiques and galleries. Redeveloped as a luxury hotel in 2016 by award winning architect, May Sung, with all the amenities of a 5 star hotel. Each piece of furniture and all materials and finishes have been carefully handpicked by interior design group, Avenue Interior Design. The stunning San Jacinto Mountains are the backdrop for this luxury boutique hotel. The secluded private villas each have a private patio, complete with a romantic claw foot tub, fire-pit and built in seating. Our 18 guest villas, Whispers Spa, Azucar restaurant and bar, and our roof top deck are all designed to create your ultimate Palm Springs getaway. 21 and Over Resort.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Value
Languages Spoken
Spanish
Location
339 S Belardo Rd, Palm Springs, Greater Palm Springs, CA 92262-7307
La Serena Villas, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel
4.5 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Our stay at La Serena was wonderful overall. The property is beautiful and walking distance to downtown. The pool is heated in the winter and the back patio fire pits and bathtubs are a fun touch. We stayed over new years and the property had a fun NYE dinner and party on-site which made celebrating the new year super easy 😆. The drag brunch on NY day was also a fun way to wrap up our stay!
The rooms are spacious but did have some issues such as burned out lights and a broken safe; however, the on site staff was super quick to respond and addressed the issues promptly which allowed us to focus on enjoying our stay.
This brings me to the service. I glanced at some other reviews and I am totally surprised by the negative comments. While we had some hiccups with the facilities, the service was top notch throughout our stay. The manager, Holly, and her whole team were incredibly helpful, kind, and attentive throughout our stay and really made us feel at home. Whether it was giving us advice on what to do, sharing a fun snack in the lobby, or addressing issues with our room, they always went above and beyond to make our stay feel special. Huge shout out to the team for taking such good care of us, we will definitely be coming back for another visit! Cheers!
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was greeted with very helpful and friendly staff. The room was ready long before check-in time. Problems were tended to promptly. The room was beautiful and peaceful with a Southwestern vibe. I loved that I had a back patio and I did spend some time by the fire pit. The bed was comfy. There were a few hiccups. The thermostat did not seem to work at all. They give you brunch order cards and tell you to hang at the door, however, they have no pens in the room. They also did not pick up my card so I had to call and request food the next morning. On my last day I was told that I had to hang it at the walkway door, not my room door, so there were unclear instructions. The morning complimentary breakfast was a packaged muffin, a piece of fruit and coffee. One morning it was just 2 pieces of fruit without the muffin... kinda lame. They give you coffee and sugar, but no stir rod. There is also no stir rod in the room. The hotel restaurant had overpriced mediocre food with subpar service. However, the location of the hotel is great in that it is a short walk to the main shopping strip where there are a lot of restaurants. Overall, it was a very nice experience but for the price guests pay, they should up their game a bit.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Alexandra Gutierrez, Guest Services / Front Office at La Serena Villas, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel
Responded May 12, 2024
We apologize that the breakfast basket did not meet your expectation - we have started to serve a full brunch at our restaurant, which is fabulous and would recommend trying on your next visit! Ecstatic to hear that you enjoyed our property, and had a lovely time. One of the best spots to enjoy the stars in Palm Springs is on our patios next to a warm fire. Looking forward to your return!
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We spent two nights at La Serena Villas in January. This is a charming, beautifully restored and appointed boutique hotel just outside and a two minute walk into downtown Palm Springs. We were welcomed on arrival with a glass of champagne. The rooms consist of individual casitas, which makes for privacy and quiet. Our casita was spacious, cozy and comfortable and included a private outdoor patio with fire pit and bathtub. The hotel provided several bottles of drinking water and a nicely packaged complimentary continental breakfast delivered to our room in a basket. The swimming pool was a good size considering the size of the hotel; there is also a hot tub. Complimentary bicycles are made available to guests. We did not eat in the on-site restaurant but ordered a room service dessert which arrived quickly and was good. Staff was uniformly friendly and helpful. Note that there is limited on-site parking (otherwise, street parking) and it takes a few minutes for the shower to warm up (don’t give up!). Even though close to downtown, the hotel feels like a quiet oasis.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Note that this is an adult-only property.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jamal Bissat, Guest Services / Front Office at La Serena Villas, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel
Responded Jan 16, 2023
Thank you so much for the amazing review and all the details. We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your stay with us and look forward to seeing you again very soon. We hope the next time you visit you are able to try our restaurant and spa.
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Like most things now, the price has skyrocketed and quality has gone down hill. Stayed here 2 years ago and had a fantastic time so I was so excited to come back and was soo disappointed this time especially for the amount of money spent. The air conditioning in our room was not working from the time we got there and when I finally went to ask for a new room (since they weren’t answering the phone) I was told the ac not working was OUR fault for messing with the temperature and to give it some time to turn on, in 110 degree heat! After some arguing we were finally moved to a new room one night and then another the next night (3 rooms in 2 nights) where the air was on but not working well. The free breakfast also used to be really nice and have choices, now all they send is a few pieces of fruit and a bag of granola with no yogurt? Pool area wasn’t cleaned very well, the pool and bar staff were really nice but staff seemed to be short so I don’t blame the employees, seems like the new management just sucks now. If this were a reasonably priced place I’d maybe give them 3 stars but paying almost a thousand dollars a night for this experience was definitely a poor one. Won’t be back.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Dutch F, Owner at La Serena Villas, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel
Responded Nov 19, 2024
Greetings Jenny, Thank you for your review and for sharing your experience. We regret that your recent stay did not meet the standards you remembered from your last visit. Your comments about the air conditioning, breakfast, and overall experience have been noted and are being reviewed by our team. While we’re glad to hear you found the pool and bar staff friendly, we understand the frustration you felt and deeply regret the inconvenience. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to make meaningful improvements for our guests. Best, Operations Manager
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I have stayed at this hotel 5-6 times in the past, and like others, feel the need to write a review after the change in ownership.
First off, prices have increased substantially. In the past repeat customers were offered a loyalty discount, but even without that I never paid over $1000 a night for the cheapest room. Which perhaps would be ok if the hotel had improved, or even maintained, but in fact it has deteriorated significantly.
Like others, I too had a room (#6) that smelt of sewage. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep with this, and was also reluctant to unpack and have my things take on the smell. When I went to the front desk they suggested I open a window, which I said I didn't want to do as I was concerned about noise and security. They offered me Febreeze, and then a candle, which upon my return wasn't in the room. Ultimately they switched my room. I noted the new guests in room #6 left the back door open during their stay. In the past I was able to book a specific room... which isn't possible now. I'd be very concerned about being assigned these problem rooms again.
The new 'free' breakfast was very sad. I'd rather have nothing than a mealy apple and frozen grocery store muffin.
Finally, one of the things I always appreciated were the small design features. I immediately noticed that the pretty textural pink blanket was missing from my room. I believe the hotel used to sell these so I mentioned it to the front desk so I wouldn't be charged for one, and they brought me a poor substitute. I also noticed that the character defining blue dog painting in the lobby has been replaced by a boring print. Even the pretty white vases in the lobby have lost their artistic flair, as they now are lined up like soldiers... every time I walked by I wanted to adjust them.
The little things do matter.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Specify that you don't want to be assigned room #5 or 6, as these have been known to have bad...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Alexandra Gutierrez, Guest Services / Front Office at La Serena Villas, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel
Responded Apr 10, 2024
Thank you kindly for all your feedback! We apologize that you had to experience the unpleasant smell we endured for the short period of time it was occurring. It has been addressed and was due to the beautiful palm trees we have on property and their roots. Our breakfast has been modified due to our restaurant, Azúcar, now doing a fabulous brunch! If you give us the opportunity to make up the experience,I would recommend trying our breakfast poolside on a cabana. Please do call us directly when you do plan to return to Palm Springs as we'd like to make your stay better than the last.
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Overall, this hotel is quite good. The restaurant is exceptional, receiving a 10/10 rating for its delicious cuisine. The staff, particularly the manager and our server Manny, are amazing and provide exceptional customer service. The rooms are cozy and charming, complete with a fire pit and bathtub attached to each room. However, there were a few disappointments during my stay. Despite booking the room back in May and sending multiple emails requesting assistance with booking massages, I did not receive a response until a couple of days before my trip. Additionally, I required a handicap accessible room, which resulted in a lot of back and forth communication, detracting from the excitement of the trip. Although I did not book directly with the hotel, I was surprised to learn that they wanted to charge an extra for this accommodation. Fortunately, after contacting the manager ,I was able to secure the room. Unfortunately, the pool was not as clean as I would have liked and seemed a bit unsanitary. Additionally, the hotel has a strict rule prohibiting the use of floating devices in the pool. It's frustrating that the hotel's website doesn't mention that floaty devices are not allowed in the pool. Palm Springs is known for its pools and sunshine, and I was surprised by this policy. I understand that the hotel is under new management and is going through a transition, but it's still confusing. On their Instagram page, they even promote pictures of floaties in the pool. The floaty I had was just for my back, and it didn't take up much space or ruin the "vibe" of the pool area. It's a shame that I couldn't use it.
On the other hand, the breakfast that came with our reservation was absolutely adorable. The breakfast was very clean, and delicious.
It would be great if the hotel had valet parking or designated parking for guests. I didn't feel comfortable parking on the street, especially since there is a BevMo across the street and a lot of Junkie in the parking area ,It would have been more convenient and secure to have a parking option provided by the hotel.
Overall, the staff at the stall was extremely kind, and the massage I received was truly amazing. I highly recommend booking a massage when you visit. This hotel is especially ideal for couples, as you can spend the entire day enjoying the amenities without needing to leave. The drinks and food are exceptional, and the overall atmosphere is incredibly relaxing. It was a wonderful getaway, and I would definitely return again in the future.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Alexandra Gutierrez, Guest Services / Front Office at La Serena Villas, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel
Responded May 12, 2024
Thank you for all the feedback. First and foremost, isn't Azúcar just amazing, i'm glad to hear to you enjoyed the cuisine, and environment of the restaurant as it is a special one. I apologize about the lack of communication but can assure that we have improved greatly and make sure that everyone is tended to in a timely manner. Additionally, we do have designated parking on the backside of our property for La Serena Villa guests and apologize that you were not informed of it. On your next trip to our Oasis here in Palm Springs, please let us know when you'll be returning - we will be looking forward to it!
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We have enjoyed visiting this property in Palm Springs many times over the past few years. I am sorry to say we will not be returning to La Serenata on our next visit due to the new owners lack of interest and care in keeping this beautiful property up to its former standard of excellence. I'll start with the room, our villa on the most recent stay had a leak under the counter sink, a leaky shower head, and the thermostat was not functioning for either warmth or cooling. The pool is beautiful to look but it was too cold for a swim. There is no one to help at the pool or spa area. The rooftop restaurant is lovely for a drink however the menu has not changed in the past year. Gone are the day of the hand delivered lovely breakfast basket filled with delicious goodies and replaced now with a flimsy canvas bag with store bought pastry, a sad apple, and a carton of yogurt. The reduced staff is working hard and doing their best under the new management. However, this is a huge disappointment to all loyal and now former guests who feel obligated to write this review.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Alexandra Gutierrez, Guest Services / Front Office at La Serena Villas, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel
Responded Apr 10, 2024
Thank you and we appreciate your feedback, during your visit our pool was experiencing a minor set back with the system itself. Letting us know about your experience helps us uphold the integrity of our property and ensure that your stay is seamless. I can assure you that it has all been repaired and hope on you next visit you can enjoy the pool to the fullest extent! We have also started doing full breakfast at our restaurant, Azúcar. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly upon your return so we can make your experience a pleasantly unforgettable one.
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Returned to stay at this gorgeous oasis after dining at their rooftop restaurant during a former trip years before. Every square inch of the property is beautifully decorated (boho chic/Spanish mission) and carefully attended to. The sheets are softer than my sheets at home, and the staff is friendly, witty, and offers excellent recommendations for food and outings. Take the cruiser bikes for a ride! All of downtown Palm Springs is within a short ride or walk. Get lost in a good book on one of the lounging beds by the pool or hot tub! It’s clearly a well-loved location but it never felt too crowded or too loud. Search no more: this is the Palm Springs getaway you are looking for. We’ll be back for sure!
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Date of stay: March 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The villas are spacious and loved the extra touches of a bathtub on the patio. The restaurant was delicious with seating options on the roof, by the pool and inside. The staff was great - very attentive and parking is easy on the street. The "spa" was just okay, very accommodating in getting the appointments, but the facility is a room with 2 massage tables. No spa facilities other than that. Also, avoid the seaweed wrap if you have aversion to being cold - it contains peppermint oil and I was freezing the whole hour. 90 minute massage was perfect though.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Alexandra Gutierrez, Guest Services / Front Office at La Serena Villas, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel
Responded May 12, 2024
Thank you for the kind words, and isn't a soak in the tub under the stars just lovely! We are glad to hear that you also enjoyed our Azúcar Restaurant - can't wait for your return!
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Look no further - this is the place to stay in Palm Springs!! My husband and I stayed for 4 nights and loved every minute of it. The service was incredible - met with a warm hello and a cold beverage, tequila shot in room, unlimited filtered water in glass bottles (I always cringe when hotels use plastic bottles), and very large villas all including a large private patio with an electric fire pit and a spacious outdoor bath. The custom made a La carte breakfast basket was wonderful and generous and included a thermos of coffee, plenty of hot and cold options with some extras at cost (eg latte); my fave being a delicious egg white burrito and overnight oats with fresh fruit. We took off early to Joshua tree one day and they let us take the basket with us! Having the kitchenette in the deluxe suite made it easy to store beverages, leftovers and treats. The restaurant staff was very friendly and ensured they always had space for guests despite reservations being required in advance. We ate tacos, chips and guacamole poolside almost every day and it was delicious. Despite the hotel being nearly fully booked when we were there, there was plenty of space to relax around the pool or jacuzzi (no reservations required for cabanas). We didn’t use the spa but heard great things from other guests. Would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a couples getaway or small group vacation.
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:All room were incredible, honestly I don’t think you can go wrong
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jamal Bissat, Guest Services / Front Office at La Serena Villas, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel
Responded May 30, 2023
Thanks for the amazing review. We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your stay with us and enjoyed our restaurant. We hope your travels bring you back to us again very soon.
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While we were there, the restaurant was busy but not noisy. The music was kept at a low volume. The outdoor tables are just outside the restaurant and upstairs on the roof. So, the pool still felt private.
Los Angeles, California19 contributions5 helpful votes
Well....I am the owner. The spa “heat” can be turned off and you have a small cool private dip pool. The patio is very private and there are 2 lounge chairs (in addition to chairs, umbrella and Firepit. The rooms are also quite large w a separate living room and small kitchen. And the best part is the rooms are half price! So I think summer is the best time for the “spa” rooms. But all the rooms are great and you can’t go wrong. My favorite standard room is 6. And if you want to “half splurge”...Go for room 10!!! (I like 14 a bit better than 15 for the spa rooms) Lars
Manhattan Beach, California15 contributions6 helpful votes
Yes. My mom and I wanted two beds. They have a two bedroom suite, which was really big. We chose the one bedroom with pull out couch in the living room. I slept on the pull out couch and it was very comfortable.
There are more places to choose from in the Palm Springs area.
PRICE RANGE
₱21,397 - ₱49,259 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaCalifornia DesertGreater Palm SpringsPalm Springs
NUMBER OF ROOMS
18
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including any mandatory fees. Taxes not included. Please see our partners for more details.
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