The Cole — Hotel in Palm Springs

AVOID THIS PLACE.

I snuck away with my significant other for the weekend and we considered this hotel to be a complete bust.

We were assigned room #111 which is directly by the spring loaded entry gate that slams the wall every time someone leaves or enters the property - all day and all night. We recognized this issue immediately and reached out to the phone number. Their customer service is outsourced to the Philippines. The rep refused to let me speak to any person who actually works for the hotel or had a management role. We were told that the hotel was full (not likely) and that they weren’t able to move us. I responded that the noise level was absolutely unacceptable (not only the slamming but the paper thin ceiling and footsteps above us) and asked to be refunded so we could leave. The best offer was 15% but still no resolution for the issue. They also said they would send maintenance the next day and also call back to let us know if another room was opened. Surprise - there was no follow up phone call, no maintenance man (what was he going to do? Take the door off?), and no partial refund. Our two night stay was EIGHT HUNDRED dollars and we listened to a door slamming any time we were in the room.

There is NO RESTAURANT OR BAR. It appears they were in over their head with this service. There was no notice of this while booking the hotel. In fact it was a huge reason we chose this location - for poolside service. There is a sign hanging saying that it’s going to open up in a few weeks (and it’s not dated so I suspect they will leave it up indefinitely).

The pool area in comparison to the other hotel properties we visited was run down and dirty. This is likely the result of having zero on site staff.

I’m going to work with my credit card company to get refunded via fraud because this place delivered on zero expectations for a significant expense. Thankfully I was only visiting from San Diego. I would feel so sad for anyone who had made a bigger trip and hopefully folks can see this as a big warning.

One star...

I would stay at this hotel again, but there are a few things that made our stay here less than ideal. For reference, we were in a standard room (not one of the suites).

First, the check in instructions say to go in the gate/door that says check in. There is no such door. Go into any door or gate with your code, no need to walk around the building in the dark (like we did) looking for the door that doesn't exist. Even the woman who owns the vintage store across the street commented on how their check in instructions must be confusing because she sees people constantly trying to figure out how to get in.

Second, there's no staff on site. They are responsive via text or the app, but no one is on site. There's a supply closet if you run out of toilet paper, towels, etc but be warned it's often out of things. Also, the app says there's ice in that storage closet and there isn't, the ice maker in under the stairs on the opposite end of the sidewalk from the supply closet.

The rooms are nice, but a little more thought could have been given to a couple key things. The soap dispensers in the shower are mounted on the narrow part of the shower when it would have made a lot more sense for them to be on one of the ends. Where they are placed is in the most in the way spot they could possibly be placed and you'll constantly be bumping into them with your arms. Also, there is a shelf mounted below the hanging rod in the closet, so you can't hang long things in there. So forget about hanging your dresses.

Lastly, on our last day they were doing some maintenance to the pool and the hot tub and it was closed for the day. It would have been nice to receive some heads up about this but nothing was communicated to us. We were really disappointed not to be able to get in the hot tub the last day (we were in it every other day of our...

I decided to take a last-minute getaway to Palm Springs and found The Cole on Booking.com. The Cole Hotel, located in the hip, revitalized north Palm Springs community. When I go to Palm Springs I most definitely want a sense of old-school nostalgia and The Cole delivered. As I drove in, I most definitely had a sense of retro charm, but with modern features including the check-in. You know you are in for a great time when check-in is at an open-air bar with friendly staff and a stiff drink. This was a great concept and made for a welcoming first impression.

Located directly across from the bar, is a simple dining venue called The Heyday. The Heyday has a short menu — but with its famous smash burger, you don’t need a lot of options as it was a perfect choice. Their breakfast sandwich was excellent as well and I enjoyed the interaction with the chef. The common space was thoughtful with cute outdoor seating around the bar including a firepit, charming accent features, and clever architectural details. The pool and hot tub area were inviting and well-appointed with loungers and cabanas. And although I did not bring my dog, I assume The Cole is pet-friendly, are there were a couple of dogs living their best lives around the pool.

I booked the Cole King room and I was very pleased with its size and on-point décor. The bed and linens were very comfortable and I loved the bathroom and rain shower head. I was most definitely taking notes on details and decorative finishes that I would want in my own home. I can honestly say that my experience at The Cole was a delightful find. From the friendly staff and check-in to the stylish room and inviting pool, I was immersed in Palm Springs throw-back, but with all the creature...