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Section 1: EDITOR'S NOTES
Welcome to the October 2006 newsletter. This month, we have the second of two parts of our report on Southern California - Palm Springs. Next month we'll be reporting on our visit to Hawaii's Big Island. This Month's Travel Articles This month we have two great short columns about wonderful people they've met on their travels from Don & Ray. Thanks, guys! We also have a great feature article from Echo Magazine in Arizona on Gay Guadalajara (Originally printed in Echo Magazine, reprinted here courtesy of the publisher, Bill Orovan). Thanks, Bill!!! We also have a tale on Alternative Palm Springs from Steben at Villa PS - thanks Steven! And we have an update on New Orleans a year after Katrina from Leigh at Elysian Fields Inn - consider the Big Easy for your next trip. Thanks, Leigh! Innkeepers - write us an article about your area, and we'll include it in a future issue of this newsletter with credit and links to your website and email addresses. Contact wheretostay@purpleroofs.com for more details. Late Availability/Special Offer Accommodation Notices As always, we also have our Late Availability & Special Offer notices (146 offers in 15 countries/regions) all at http://www.purpleroofs.com/lateavailability.html, or just check your favorite destination page - these notices are also right there on the regular listings. Innkeepers: Fraud Alert Once again, we have folks using the site to contact innkeepers with suspicious reservation emails. These are often for 6 guests, often request multiple rooms, and are usually for 10 or 15 days at a time. Remember the old adage, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is? Because of this, we are once again to issuing this notice to all of our innkeepers via the newsletter. We suggest you take extreme caution with any similar requests, and check with your credit card processor’s fraud protection unit if you have any questions. If you belong to an innkeepers’ association, they may also offer resources related to fraud protection. Travelers - Try a Home Trade Membership for Just $60 for 3 Years... ...and stay for free with other gay, lesbian, and gay friendly travelers around the world. More details on our Mi Casa Su Casa site at: http://www.gayhometrade.com. Innkeepers: Our Inns for Sale Listings are On Sale thru October 31st! ... for just $99 for 6 months - save 25% on these real estate listings: http://www.purpleroofs.com/forsaleform.html Seen Our Real Estate, Wedding, and Professional Sections Lately? We've been beefing up our realtor, mortgage lender, and wedding vendor listings over the last several months, and now have over 500 real estate professional listings in 45 US states, Spain, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. We have over 500 Wedding Vendor listings in 42 US states, Asia, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Mexico and the South Pacific. And we recently added a Gay Professionals site - FindAGayProfessional.com. Check out our real estate professional listings here: http://www.gayrealtynetwork.com That's it for this issue. |
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Section 2: PURPLE ROOFS TRAVELS
Gay Palm Springs
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Welcome to Palm Springs
We flew into Ontario airport in the Inland Empire (that big area east of Los Angeles), and it took us just over an hour to get here via rental car. But you can also fly directly into the Palm Springs airport - it's nice to have options. When you first drive into town on Palm Canyon Drive, there's not much to look at (besides the much-needed gas station that saved us from a AAA call and a delightful afternoon wait in the 108 degree heat). But once you reach the downtown area, things change. Downtown Palm Springs is a very walkable, cute stretch of restaurants, art galleries, bars, and boutique stores, which we'll discuss more in detail below.
The map below was provided by the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism - click on the map for a larger version. For more info (and free brouchures about gay Palm Springs), go to http://www.palm-springs.org/. Thanks, Mary, for the use of the map, and several photos within this article! Although most of Palm Springs can be considered a gay area, we found several specific places even more gay than the general gayness of the entire city. First of all, there's a stretch of Arenas Rd. just to the right of the blue section of Downtown Palm Springs on the map below, where you'll find a huge gay store (toys, undergear, videos, clothes and more), several bars, and several places to eat. A little farther down East Palm Canyon Dr. is another cluster of gay bars, just south of the downtown area. A third spot is just past the Cathedral City border where you'll find two more bars and one of the gay resorts. Finally, there's the Warm Sands area - a large cluster of gay resorts a little south-east of the Downtown area - see the part of the map below just south of Ramon Rd., where all the little squiglly streets are.
Palm Springs has benefited greatly in the last decade from rising real estate prices in the San Francisco Bay Area and the LA Basin. Lower home prices, a liberal attitude, and tons of sun have contributed to an unprecedented gay influx into the Coachella Valley, and close to 50% of the general population is now gay/lesbian, higher than even San Francisco. The Bureau of Tourism is also hugely gay friendly, producing a free map/brochure about all the GLBT related things to do in the area. There are a bunch of great places to stay for GLBT folks in Palm Springs - everything from clothing optional men's resorts to family friendly places, all inclusive to small, intimate b&b stays. We profile a few of these below. |
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333 B&B is run by Andy and Tim, a couple of great guys who began renovations on the building in 2002. They opened in January of 2003, keeping the unique look and design of the building as original as possible. This small hotel features three rooms - 1 suite and 2 bedrooms. Each one has a full bathroom, its own air conditioning (very important in Palm Springs), and the whole place has a wireless network, so you can connect to the 'net from anywhere inside or outside on the grounds. The grounds include a hot tub with mountain views, several patio areas to relax in the evening, and many hummingbirds that call the little backyard home. This is a great place for folks who don't want the charged atmosphere of some of the gay PS resorts, or who just want a warm, clean, comfortable place to stay that's central to all of Palm Springs. Click Any Picture to See More
Bacchanal Resort
Featuring beautiful hardwood floors and large, masculine furniture (leather-clad beds, beautiful inlaid woods, etc), rooms also have modern kitchens with microwave oven, refigerator, sink and dishes. Each Suite offers Plantation Shutters, Wireless Internet Access, high quality furnishings and superb bedding to include firm mattresses, pillow selections, and 800 thread count sheets. You can eat in here, or walk to many great restaurants in downtown Palm Springs. There are 8 rooms altogether, 6 suites and two queen bedroom units. All rooms offer direct poolside access, wireless internet access, and flat panel televisions featuring HBO, Showtime, and 2 Adult channels. The courtyard has a great pool with fantastic views of the San Jacinto Mountains, and is surrounded with a high wall and hedge for complete privacy. The pool area offers several oversized, covered lounges where guests can relax with friends. The clientele is predominantly gay men. There's also a complimentary Continental Breakfast in the lobby, served daily between the hours of 9am - 11 am. (only served weekends during the short off-season). Click Any Picture to See More
Casitas Laquita
There's also a special Romance Suite, with its own private backyard, hot tub, and mountain views. The resort features great mountain views from the pool area and from many of the rooms, with an old mission charm on 1.2 private, spiritual grounds. The central courtyard is beautiful and serene, with mature Palm Trees, a large round pool, hot tub, chaise lounges to relax, and a beautiful fountain (see above). Casitas Laquita is close enough to walk to Downtown on a warm evening, and is a great place for women (single or couples) to stay, meet other folks, and enjoy beautiful Palm Springs, California. Click Any Picture to See More
Century Palm Springs
The resort features a heated pool and spa, with great San Jacinto Mountain views, and the occasional randy guest. <grin> We were extremely flattered when one of them called us "boys" - big style points for that one. :) The Century has 6 rooms and 3 suites, with flat screen tv's, Egyptian Cotton sheets and comforters, King sized beds by Chiropedic Beds, in-room coffee by Koffi/Palm Springs (local gay-owned coffee shop - see the where to eat section), bath amenities by lather, DVD players, robes, complimentary slippers, hair dryers, private patios, full kitchens, and sitting areas. There's also a great common room furished with green and orange modern furniture and a computer station for guests who didn't bring a laptop to use. And there's wifi access as well if you did. This is a great choice in the Warm Sands area, and is just a short walk from Downtown. Perfect for gay couples and singles, with a gay but not overtly sexual atmosphere. Click Any Picture to See More
Chestnutz Resort
The resort faces east/west, so it gets sun at the pool all day. The resort offers a large pool, hot tub, an outdoor kitchen for guests to share, and a small workout room with all the basic equipment. The property is owner-occupied, so help is also available. Rooms all have en-suite bathrooms, safes, air conditioning, and some have wireless access - ask when making a reservation if this is important for you. There are six standard rooms with queen beds, and 6 superior rooms with enclosed patios, king beds, and 3/4 kitchens. Rooms also have TV's, DVD's and cd players, and are individually decorated. The resort also offers concierge services, an expanded continental breakfast with a full array of coffee and tea selections and daily newspapers, and a computer station for guest use. A great place for couples and singles who want a gay resort in Palm Springs, close to but not in the middle of Warm Sands. Click Any Picture to See More
East Canyon Resort
The property us a warm, friendly, upscale establishment, with a fully licensed spa. The pool onsite is heated year round, and was recently fully replastered. East Canyon features a Grand Suite with a sitting area and entertainment center, and a bathroom with an oversized shower and his and his vanities. There are also seven Junior Suites, a Deluxe King Room, and several Deluxe Rooms. All rooms include resh chocolate chip cookies at check-in, all cotton Italian Frette linens, hairdryer, plush cotton waffle robes by Bernard, down comforters, large LCD Flat Panel TV's, Sony DVD / VCR player, Sony shelf stereo system with MP3 input, telephone with data port and private voicemail, complimentary wireless internet access throughout the property, individual, in-room climate control, and refrigerators in most rooms. East Canyon also serves a breakfast buffet, including breads and rolls, muffins, bagels, seasonal fruits, ceareals and yogurt, and French Roast coffee and teas and juices. This is a great property for folks looking for upscale, romantic accommodations for gay couples in Palm Springs. Click Any Picture to See More
El Rancho Lodge
El Rancho Lodge has a homey, comfortable feel, with a large, heated pool and a shell-shaped hot tub, perfect for relaxing in the warm afternoons. The main courtyard features a big (formerly red) barn. The El Rancho Lodge was originally built in 1951 by Don and Zetta Castle, and was originally called Castle's Red Barn. The buildings were painted barn-red, green grass surrounded the pool and waterfall, and tennis courts lined Palm Canyon Drive. Don Castle was a former stage and movie character actor with MGM, and was featured in the early Andy Hardy movies, Northwest Passage, and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. There are 19 rooms overall, including King or Queen beds, a/c, DVD players and TV's, and 60% have kitchenettes. The owners also provide a free guest laundry room - a big help for long trips. While the clientele is primarily straight, about 10% of the visitors are gay/lesbian, and the owners are extremely gay friendly. This is a great property for families and for couples who want to stay away from more expensive places and more adult-oriented resorts. Click Any Picture to See More
Hacienda at Warm Sands
The resort features 2 pools, both heated year-round, so if one is busy, you can stay and enjoy the fun, or move to the other for a little more quiet. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, and there's always a bit of shade somewhere, even at noon in the summertime. The rooms themselves are a revelation - beautiful spanish tile is complimented by warm, contemporary furnishings and gourmet features like granite kitchen countertops and above-counter sinks in the bathrooms, to create a wonderfully pleasing setting to spend your time when you're not by the pool or out on the town. Rooms have flat screen TV's, VD players, pillowtop mattresses, and a kitchenette or full kitchen in every unit. There's also a washer/dryer on-site for guest use, again a great amenity for longer stays. Guests are mostly couples, with a high percentage of return guests. They also offer a large video library. Hacienda offers the best of both worlds - a private, quiet, beautiful men's resort that's in the heart of the action in gay Palm Springs - the warm sands area. Perfect for singles and couples looking for gay Palm Springs - with a little bit more. Click Any Picture to See More
La Dolce Vita Resort
The resort has 20 rooms in two separate wings, and two pools. There's also a steam room for you to sweat out the stresses of the day, and a covered outdoor workout area as well. The owners are building a return clientele, and offer a rewards program for repeat guests. For business folk, there's free wifi service, and rooms have a number of great amenities, including Aveda Properties, French doors, Hardwood floors, patios, private cabanas, a/c, ceiling fans, TV & VCR. They also offer suiteswith living rooms and kitchens. Some rooms have patios, and all rooms have robes for guest use. La Dolce Vita is about five minutes by car to Downtown, or a 15 minute walk in he evening. This is a great place for singles or couples looking for a men's resort close to town, but away from the rush. Click Any Picture to See More
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