The Skylark - a Palm Springs Hotel — Attraction in Palm Springs

The Skylark Hotel is a Motel 6 with an orange color scheme. We went with a large group of people expecting a group rate, but did not receive it. This group rate is one of their selling points on their website, but we weren't made aware we wouldn't be receiving the rate until check out (tip: he said that booking via booking.com is what excluded us on this so if for some reason you do choose to stay here, keep that in mind. We didn't know this and all were under the impression when checking in that it was still going to be a part of our deal). Speaking of checking out, we were met with Francisco. From the beginning of our conversation, he was very rude in his communication. My boyfriend and I were on our way to check out when we began to compare the amount of our stay with those who are also in our group. We all couldn't believe the prices in the first place, but the major shocker for us was that our rate was much higher than our friends' along with us all having $100 in hidden fees. Francisco had told a member in our group that half of the "hotel" was being renovated and that those rooms are at a higher rate (something we were not told at check in). Our friend made a very valid argument to Francisco that if the hotels are being renovated, then that should be considered their standard room and therefore be a standard price. The rooms that were not renovated should be a lower rate--not vise versa. Regardless of this, the hotel knew we had a group and instead of just giving us all the same rate, it created complications in our group with the major price difference. We all agreed that the rates were WELL above what they should be. Our "renovated" room was not much different from the ones that weren't. Our shower was hilariously small (imagine being in a small square shower were your bottom has to touch the wall just for the shower head that doesn't move to hit you), getting ice had to be done at the front desk (despite a machine visually being present by the stairs), inside of the rooms you can hear everything, and receiving rude service from Francisco was how we ended our trip. Francisco would not let me talk by constantly talking over me when I'd want to explain or ask him something. I finally had to ask him if he would let me finish talking and then I would listen to him talk. It was one of the most unprofessional encounters I have ever experience. On to the positives. The location is nice--a long walk from downtown, but it's doable with some good walking shoes. If you do choose to stay here, I'd uber. The pool is nice in temp, but there was a bit of grossness in it (like finding a random hair tie at the bottom of the pool not from any of us). The guy who had checked us in (I believe his name was Ken) was very kind! And very helpful. Also, the lady who works in the breakfast area deserves a raise. Despite being cooked up in a room with NO air-conditioning and full of glass windows that invite in the heat, she was very sweet to us all and served great coffee and an amazing frittata. And as their website says, the parking is free, but don't let that fool you into staying with them--the parking is free everywhere in Palm Springs.

If it wasn't for Francisco leaving on us with a note of undesirable behavior and talking over me to the point where I had to ask him to stop, the ridiculous price differences between all the rooms we had booked, and the prices of the rooms themselves for a Motel 6 stay with a "mid-century modern era" color scheme, it would have been nice. I wouldn't recommend staying here though. This isn't a "boutique hotel"; it's only an overpriced delusion with a nice...

Pool and hot tub, not mega resort size but nice. The room itself is nice and updated and bathroom beautiful and clean, although room did have a strong smell when we walked in. Property itself is very small, has old vintage feel. They do have a nice fire pit and movie in the evening but we did not partake in that. Breakfast was very limited - but i will say the scrambled eggs were probably the best I had. Other than that it was just bacon, bread, toast, cereal, yogurt, fruit, and drinks (water, OJ, milk).

From looking at front and back of property i was very worried - it barley looked like a hotel - building is very run down. Only a handful of parking spaces.

You get an actual KEY for the room - not a card that you swipe. No one at front desk when we arrived had to call the hotel number to get someone to come up.

Also i booked this last minute and a hurry so i didn’t notice but, this is a motel-style hotel. So basically all rooms face the outside. Theres no building that you go into with a hallway to the rooms. Not sound proof could hear everything outside.

The price i paid for this place was outrageous for what we got ($150/night PLUS a $25 resort fee per night). For the amount if money i was spending and the high rating i thought i was getting a really nice hotel. To pay on a resort fee and not be on a big resort-like property didn’t make sense. This is basically a small motel. But probably my fault for not looking closer at the details. If i had paid $80/night i would have felt differently as i feel this is what the property would be worth.

Nice place but not worth it for the price. I would have just paid slightly more to stay at hyatt or best western plus.

You are in walking distance to lots of restaurants but you are very north downtown. Its a straight walk to the heart of downtown but it took us about 30 min walking straight to get to villagefest which is every Thursday night. Fridge in room but no microwave - microwave is in lobby...

The Skylark Hotel in Palm Springs was built in 1955 and played host to a parade of movie stars wanting a relaxing holiday far from Hollywood. Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Tony Curtis, Jayne Mansfield and Peter Lawford were all seen poolside in the private courtyard at the Skylark.

During the late 1990's the once swanky hotel on N. Palm Canyon Drive became Camp Palm Springs, a clothing-optional retreat for gay men. In 2010 and 2011 Camp Palm Springs had fallen into disrepair, and many in the gay community called it a 'seedy dive.'

Sensing a great opportunity, two enterprising gay men who were business and life partners bought the hotel in 2012, and invested over a million dollars renovating the rooms and exterior of the hotel, which reopened in January 2013. The Skylark is proudly gay-owned, gay-marketed, and straight-marketed. Everyone is welcome at the Skylark.

I spent five nights at the Skylark and would stay there again in a heartbeat. Check in was a breeze, and the general manager and his front desk staff couldn't be nicer. The winning mid-century modern decor and the king-sized bed was very comfortable, the air-conditioning worked well, and the fridge in the room was put to good use and appreciated. The wifi signal was strong and the pool outside the door was fantastic! The bathroom is very small and had a small shower. My one complaint with the room would be inadequate water pressure and scalding hot water in the shower. Minor quibbles that won't keep me from staying at the Skylark again.

This is a limited service hotel and there's no restaurant or room service. A continental breakfast is served in the hotel's great room. The breakfast is lacking and the only thing I had was a banana. There are plenty of dining options within walking distance of the hotel.

If you're looking for a lovely hotel with a nice pool and a storied history in Palm Springs, be sure to check out the...