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Movie Colony Hotel
Rating Details »
726 N Indian Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 320-6340
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 320-6340
- Price Range:
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$$
22 reviews for Movie Colony Hotel
Once again - Yelper's, god bless you all. Your reviews brought me here and you were right on the money.
See below for all of the details about WHY this place is so uber wonderful, but I'll just add that they really 'get it'. Right on decor, simple - modern. Pretty and clean. The added perks were so sweet, coffee etc. And since I'm all about vibe, I'll go with that. LOVED the vibe. We stayed in one of the balcony rooms and in the evenings the birds would go OFF about I don't know what in the lime tree that backed up to our very private balcony. So sweet.
I will so totally very much go back soon. Big fan.
GOOD:
1. It is an Albert Frey designed property. For the mid-century buff this is a classic place to kick up your feet and enjoy. They also have pictures throughout the property showing the hotel when it was first opened.
2. Aveda products...Hello! Me mucho gusto.
3. The pool and spa are open 24 hours. It is a great sized pool and spa. Being the white girl that I am, I loved that there was ample places for me to read my magazines in the shade.
4, Free beach cruisers with easy access to Downtown Palm Springs. We cruised and thrifted. Fun times!
5. Breakfast is perfect. They serve bagels, muffins, fresh fruit, juices, coffee, and tea. It is well kept and super fresh. They even serve free sangria in the afternoon!
6. The staff is so friendly! If you need anything at all just ask and they will be sure to accommodate you.
7. The off season price to stay here was $225 for three nights including fees and taxes. You can't beat that.
BAD:
1. They need to really step up and replace the television sets with plasmas. The hotel has sets straight out of the nineties. The sets were way too small for the cabinets they were placed in.
2. The rooms don't have bath tubs. What is a girl supposed to do without a bubble bath on a mid-week vacation?
3. The bed was a little on the hard side for my liking. And the furniture in the room was probably from Ikea. Well put together but not awe inspiring in design.
4. I feel the pictures on the website are a little bit deceiving. I was expecting more in terms of furniture throughout the property because of their website.
5. There is construction going on at the hotel next door. The sound wasn't too imposing while in our room but it was hard to relax by the pool when the Roach Coach medley is playing to alert the construction workers that it is time for their burrito.
This is a cool little hotel. Only 18 rooms so it is very personal. We booked their 3 night $225 stay. It was my wife's birthday and she was not in love with the first room we were given. She sort of mentioned it to the girl at the desk, and she gave us a second floor room overlooking the pool. Very nice of her!
We went midweek in the summer, so the hotel was maybe half full if that. The pool was almost always empty. We did meet a nice couple at the pool and shared some drinks and laughs with them all day. Get well soon, Tom!
This was our first visit to Palm Springs, although we have been to the desert area many times (La Quinta, Palm Desert, etc.) This is a great place to go for a romantic weekend.
Don't expect the hotel to have all the amenities of a mega resort, and you wont be disappointed.
My Second Home I Love This Place
Amazing little hotel. Designed by the midcentury architect Albert Frey.
Very low key, cozy, beautiful, relaxing and cheap.
$99 for a patio room right now, on weekdays.
Patio rooms have a private patio.
Our room was right next to the pool so we didn't use the private patio much, just walked right out to the pool instead.
Soft music playing from speaker-rocks by the pool.
Not too many other people to share the pool with.
Very private and calm.
Cute yellow and white pool towels that match the yellow edge of the pool and the yellow beach balls.
Glass fire-pit to sit around.
They make you feel like it's your home. Free Sangria and beer from 5:30 - 6:30, Continental breakfast in the morning.
Staff are very nice.
The shade from the trees made the pool perfect in the evening. There are less than 20 rooms, so the place is very quiet, no children allowed. The pool is open 24 hours.
The rooms come with plastic glassware which can be used by the pool, refrigerator, and a wine bottle opener :)
I was so happy our room had a bathtub, I was afraid it was just going to have a shower.
The bed is SO COZY and soft, with the softest sheets.
They have bikes, dvds, board-games, and maybe books? you can borrow.
I really really loved this place.
Only complaints are: I wish they had more types of fruit for breakfast, and that breakfast didn't start getting put away BEFORE 11.
&
The bathtub drained really slowly when taking a shower...
BUT those are small things and I don't care, I loved this place anyway.
My boyfriend booked us a room here for a spontaneous weekend getaway and I couldn't have been happier. They knocked $50 off the room price on the phone, so we got a nice patio room for $99 a night! We arrived forty-five minutes before the 12:00 check-in time, but the nice girl behind the counter check us in and gave us a thorough tour of the grounds.
The buildings were designed by the prominent midcentury architect Albert Frey, so the grounds are really beautiful -- a real treat for any fan of midcentury modern design.
The hotel isn't extravagant, but it's beautiful, well kept, and mellow. We loved the self-serve bar with cucumber water, fresh fruit, and magazines for the taking, and the beach cruisers by the pool for guest use were a nice touch (though we chose to walk rather than pedal). The pool is small but beautiful. We never had to share the pool with more than a few other guest at a time, and all the Movie Colony's clientele seemed to be low key and no fuss -- all couples as far as we could tell; no screaming kids poolside like you might find at a bigger chain hotel. And the pool area is open 24 hours, which was a real treat for my boyfriend and me as we returned to Palm Springs around 8:00 PM after a few hours in Joshua Tree.
Our room was small but really comfortable, with a very private back patio and a nice standing shower. The A/C was cranked up all the way to 11 the entire time we were there, which made it a nice refuge from the blazing desert sun. I guess the TV was on the small side, but we didn't go to Palm Springs to lay in bed and watch TV, so it didn't bother us.
Check-out time was 12:00 PM, but we went and asked the girl at the front desk if we could stay past 12:00. She was really accommodating and said we could stay until we were ready to head out, which bought us several more hours poolside.
We absolutely loved the Movie Colony Hotel and will definitely be back.
I also wish I could give this amazing place a million stars. This is not a hotel. This is your home away from home. My boyfriend and I had the most amazing time here.. I mean, AMAZING. The pool is 24/7. The grounds are cleaner than a bottle of sanitizer. The rooms are cute, contemporary and the a/c works like a champ. We actually had to shut it off cuz it worked so well. The staff is your family. I can't write enough compliments about this place. It's the best place I have ever stayed at. Thank you, Movie Colony Hotel for making our first visit to Palm Springs one of our best vacations yet.
This place is great and was exactly what I needed for a serious mental check out vacation. However--it is not going to be for everyone!
The Movie Colony is small and private. There is no bar on site and with less than 20 rooms you end up seeing the same handful of people over and over. When we were there it seemed to be pretty much all couples, many of whom seemed to be from the UK and Europe.
My favorite parts about the experience:
- one block away from Palm Canyon Drive (the main drag)
- Albert Frey-designed building
- the open "serve yourself" bar/kitchen area with great continental breakfast in the AM, ice, glasses, dishes, cucumber water, and Tecates and sangria in the PM
- rooms were clean clean clean upon arrival
- AC was pumping, worked great
- we had a totally private patio room (16) but it was so warm even at night that we didnt really use it--though it was great to be able to hang up our wet bathing suits and towels out of sight from everyone else
- staff was very nice
- love the mid century vibe and decor
- our room had a really little nice bar area--complete with plastic glassware and nice fridge--we brought our own cocktails and snacks and saved a bundle
- we borrowed bikes the first evening and trekked all the way down to the Ace for dinner
- the price! $99 a night--third night free!
Not so favorite:
- the only real problem was that our shower and sink didnt drain so hot. I am forgiving tho considering this place's plumbing is 50-60 years old. We didn't complain about it while we were there, but told them at check out.
- They also should upgrade the TVs, but then again, youre probably not in PS to hide in your hotel room.... so.... it didnt bother us much.
Would love to come back with the BF when in need of a quick escape. This would also be an amazing place to rent out the whole joint for a special occasion. I will be back for sure.
Kinda hate to be the hater and break the 5 star review streak, but let's file this review under "U" for Useful.
PROS:
~Nice staff
~Free happy hour
~The Terrace off the Townhouse is nice and private.
~Comfortable beds
~Decent continental breakfast. Maybe that's like saying "That was a decent Maroon 5 song." Both designed to be mediocre.
CONS:
There's a lot of little things that are kind of sideways here but when you add them all up, it's bunk.
~Really bad TV reception. There was full cable, but there were lines running through the screen. Also, I would sack up and buy plasmas since you can get a 20" one for like a buck .95 now
~Townhouse Front French Doors do not lock. They *have* locks. They just *don't* lock. Maybe the reason there's no plasma. I'm sure it's a safe area, but it's kinda skeevy just the same.
~One tiny, tiny garbage can in the bathroom in the entire place. Two floors.
~Thanks for the notepaper by the phones with no pen.
~No shelving in the showers. Soap, shampoo, etc...have to live on the shower floor.
~The pool is kind of whack. No cushions on the lounge chairs, no grass, just your run of the mill cement pond.
~Bathroom ceiling is peeling.
~Not really close enough to downtown or any necessary stores. And of course by that, I mean a liquor store.
And above all, it is LOUD. Indian Canyon Dr. runs in front of this place and it kept me up all night. In the morning, it took away from the relaxation factor.
Nothing can be done about the noise, I know. I didn't even mention it to the owner when I got us out after only one night when we'd planned to stay three. The place is not hurting for business so I might be alone but there are so many better options to stay in PS, notably the Viceroy, the Chase and the Del Marcos.
I actually wish I could leave more stars than five. THIS is your real Palm Springs destination, right here, you're welcome. So peaceful, so beautiful, elegant, affordable, I am not at a loss for positive adjectives.
This is a smaller property, I think 20 rooms total? This means the pool is never over run with people (ahem, Ace, cough) and you don't have to compete for a lounge chair by the pool. The focus of this place is not to get drunk, so there is no crazy bar set up or anything. They will probably have a bottle of wine out by the serve yourself bar and some Tecates in the fridge, just chill out, if you need it, go buy it. The staff is very, very nice. We've tried to stay other places in Palm Springs and always feel sad that we aren't at the Movie colony. The rooms are lovely, with Aveda products and decent A/C (VERY IMPORTANT in Palm Springs). The hotel itself has an art deco look to it, but not over the topt. Simple elegance. Rooms have DVD players, very comfortable beds. Their patio rooms are great and very affordable, I think $99 last time I checked.
This hotel is also located in the center of Palm springs, in walking distance of the strip with all the restaurants and shops, instead of on that weird part of Palm Canyon where hotels like the Parker are situated. This means that you can walk everywhere you want to go in Palm Springs practically. Stay here already, you will be so glad that you did.
Let me add this little tidbit:
When one tries to check into the Movie Colony after 7, your room is ready with the door unlocked, and the key under the pillow. They buzz you in at the gate, and tell you to help yourself to the fridge in the pool area bar. Wine, juice, fruit and so on is there for everyone to share. I love it. I love this place.
Great linens, comfy beds. The tvs are outdated and tiny, but it is kind of nice to stay in a hotel room not overwhelmed by a giant plasma tv mounted on the wall.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/15/2008
I love this hotel. I have stayed here several times with friends when we meet them in the middle… Read more »
Here is how I arrived at my 3 star rating.
Staff=5 stars
Location=4 stars
Rooms/Ambiance=2 stars
Cleanliness=1 star
AVERAGE ALL THESE FACTORS AND YOU COME OUT WITH 3 STARS OVERALL
So, lets start with the staff. They are polite, accommodating, and responsive hence they get five stars.
Location. Yes, the MC is on one of the main streets, and very close to downtown. But, I give the hotel four stars for location because it sits adjacent to a construction site. I know that is a bit out of the control of the MC, but it still makes a five star ranking impossible.
Ambiance/Rooms. True, it's an art deco hotel----and when doing art deco one must be true to the period, but regardless things looked a wee bit tired and outdated. Nothing had that crisp feel that makes you want to truly chillout and spend some real time at a place. Our room's terrace had two sad lounge chairs that did not even have cushions. The rest of the hotels common grounds did not seem all that well maintained either. Plants were overgrown and outdoor furnishings looked old. That could all be easily changed with a little cha-ching, TLC, and an attentive eye.
Cleanliness. Shower floors were moldy and there was hair in the sink. No need to say any more, 1 star.
I stayed here based on other reviews. They are correct. This place is nice. Originally were booked for room 18, but for whatever reason the door would not open. So they asked if room 29 would be ok. Yes it is fine, townhouse next to the pool. The room was nice, 1st floor mini bar with complimentary water and snacks, fireplace. 2nd floor bedroom and large balcony. Bathroom is small but it works. Aveda bath products. The hotel is unique nothing splashy just more comfortable and relaxing. They offer free bicycles, DVDs and library etc.
Staff is friendly and helpful. At 5:30 they have complimentary happy hour for guests serving Wine, Dean Martini's and snacks. Just help yourself. the pool and the hot tub were just right. Other benefits you are within 1 block of Palm Canyon Dr. If you are looking for a relaxing getaway this is the place to go. I will go back.
Excellent little destination. I definitely recommend this hotel for anyone who is looking for a cozy yet hip stay. VERY PRIVATE!
For a celebration, we rented out all 16 rooms for the weekend and the owner (SOooo nice) basically handed over the keys. He left all the rooms open for us (even those that were unoccupied) and gave us full rein of the kitchen/bar area. Nothing was off limits. The pool and jacuzzi were open 24 hours (so if you felt like a midnight skinny-dip no one was stopping you)... just saying!
Some highlights-
-The bed was reason enough to go back. It was BEYOND amazing (definitely the best part of the room)!
-The air conditioner worked perfectly in our room (but other rooms didn't have the same luck).
-Aveda products were provided, which was a nice touch.
-Plenty of cute yellow striped beach towels around the pool.
-The staff put out the best "continental" breakfast I had ever seen! They even put out ice cold water pitchers with cucumbers and oranges. Talk about pampering!
-Beach cruisers were free to ride around on and it's very close to downtown (we took a $4 cab).
My only complaints would be-
-The TV's were kinda small
-parking is limited due to construction
-The shower in our room was tiny and needed a shelf
- the poolside area could use a little more shade
Despite those minor details, I loved it and would definitely stay again!
We just stayed in Room 25, which has a private balcony.
Let me just say, Room 25 is totally nudist friendly.
If you're a nudie cutie, book this room.
They have 2 sunbeds waiting for you.
I really wanted to like this place, but I have to agree with the reviewer that said it is a bit tired, the bathroom was not clean enough for me, and it needs some updating. It is a cool place with a lot of potential and the staff is lovely. And I'm not even that bothered by the noisy location.
Although I was debating 3 or 4 stars, I think 4 won out mostly due to the simplicity and hospitality of the property. What you may loose in service and amenities, you make up for in free breakfast, in room water, cocktail hour and no children cannon balling in the pool.
The hotel is set off of the main strip, but close enough to walk or bike a few blocks into town. The property is pretty small with single rooms or two story townhouses. The grounds are nicely shaded with plenty of palms and bushes. I think the most adequate description of our stay would be to compare it to staying at a friend's apartment while they are out of town. There is a mini kitchen in the courtyard of the property which is stocked with plastic bar ware, plates, utensils, a fridge with fresh fruit and a microwave. You can help yourself to coffee in the french presses or a wide selection of tea. Breakfast of cereal, bagels, fruit and yogurt is served every morning and a wine and sake cocktail hour runs from 5:30-6:30.
The pool is nicely heated, but still cool enough to escape the heat. You can mix up a batch of margaritas in your room and sip poolside. You might be the type that likes to order the fancy cocktails from the bar (which i am that type most of the time), but it was nice not to run up a $200 pool bar tab and just relax with your own concoction.
The hotel guests were a mix of mid-westerners and LA area residents. There were a few young couples in their late 20's and a few other groups in their 40's. Everyone was pleasant and enjoying their weekend get away.
The rooms were nicely sized with a couch in the corner for lounging and watching TV. Rooms had a fridge with complementary water and soda along with plastic martini glasses, cocktail shaker, wine and bottle opener.
Beds being my pet peeve, I was a little disappointed in the comfort of the mattress (too soft) and the pillows (flat synthetic). The sheets and down comforter were nice, but i think it's time for them to upgrade to a firmer mattress and down pillows.
The bathroom was pretty small, only one person at a time, please. The shower pressure was fine and Aveda bath products a plus. Some paint chips and cracked tiles, plus the loose toilet seat could use a little maintenance.
When posed with the question would i stay here again, i say yes. Part of me would want to stay at a "normal" hotel with food and drink available, but I grew to like the "do it yourself" feel. The rooms could use a little love in maintenance and upgrades. So if you're down to try something a little different and get away from the large properties, you should check out The Movie Colony.
I was looking for a chic, romantic weekend getaway spot to clean up after trudging through the dust and cacti of Joshua Tree, and this little re-done ultrahip 50's motel did not disappoint. Loved the attentive, caring front-desk service that is just personal enough but not all up in your business so you can relax in privacy too. Loved the evening cocktail hour, french press morning coffee, glass rock fire pit, DVD library, free cruiser bikes to borrow and cruise about town, AVEDA BATH PRODUCTS, fab minibar, down comforters... oh the list just goes on and on. The room was of the smaller, cozier size, but fit me and my 5'8 companion just fine.
And though we weren't expecting it, there was an actual movie star staying on premises, obviously on the down low, which was kinda cool for non-LA types like us who are easily impressed. I am not gonna say who, because it was clear she valued her privacy. And no, it was not Britney, ya'll. The mystery gal was actually really nice, and just carried herself like a regular guest, not all snobby and shit like you would expect. I think Movie Colony has that equalizing effect on everyone. Ultra cool but very low-drama at the same time. Definitely recommend it.
When we got to the hotel... we were greeting immediately and gave us a tour of the facility. The have happy hour every day at 5:30 with these mango? martinis, white/red wine or beer. They do also have a continetal breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 with french press coffee makers you can take to your room.
Now, we got the townhome style which is a definate since you have a private balcony.....I was even able to tan topless up there without the harrassment.. : ) wahoo.. no tan lines.... Their pool is always heated around 75 alll day and night and since it is open 24 hours....it's great to have a late night swim... Overall, we had an amazing time at this place and would definately come back to this hotel.
This was the first of the historic '50s-style properties to revive the mid-century design craze in the hip desert holiday mecca. Located in the shadow of the San Jacinto Mountains, it combines the classic architecture of designer Albert Frey with interiors that unite a sleek, light, Scandinavian look with glamorous retro accents. The sixteen guestrooms have travertine bars, stainless steel refrigerators, plantation shutters, Warhol prints, and private balconies or patios. Additional amenities include pillow top mattresses, DVD/CD players, telephone with private voicemail, plush bathrobes, a hairdryer, iron and ironing board, and wireless Internet access. A sunset wine hour is held each evening around a firepit near the pool. Between the ambiance and rates starting at more than $200 a night, the resort tends to appeal to LA area gay couples with plenty of disposable income.
nice small hotel that looks like a converted apartment apartment complex. as previously noted in the other reviews they get the details right on the money. the room was very well furnished and the bed very comfortable. one block from the main drag in palm springs. you can't go wrong.
i'm not sure what my 5 star hotel is but this is pretty close at 4.5.
right now parking is kind of limited because of the construction on the street.
I absolutely loved this place. I looked hard for the small details that could be improved upon, and there really weren't any. This small, boutique hotel has the look and feel of a spa. I stayed in both a patio room and a classic (had to switch rooms because of low availability on Labor Day weekend). The patio rooms open right up to the pool, had more windows with plantation shutters, were much more spacious, had a full tub, etc., while the classic rooms were smaller and had shower stalls. They still all had a unique, non-hotel look, with unusual art, woven seagrass carpet, mini bars with complimentary waters and snacks, matching white robes, complimentary DVD library in the lobby, free use of bicycles, etc. There is no restaurant on the grounds, but the continental breakfast served from 9-11 am (baked goods, yogurt, fruit, cereal, coffee, fresh juice) was great, as was the complimentary happy hour from 5-7 pm ("Dean Martinis," chips and pretzels). You can either serve yourself, or perhaps the owner Donald will pour drinks as he answers questions on the history of Palm Springs, of which he has a wealth of knowledge. I would love to return and splurge on the Frank Sinatra townhome. All of the townhomes looked super nice and also well worth the $. For the summer special rate of $99/night for the classic room, I felt like I was getting a peek into the life of a celebrity... but on the budget of their assistant.
