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Movie Colony Hotel
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
726 N Indian Canyon DrPalm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 320-6340
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
$115 for $150 Certificate
Linda C. said: "My sister and I just got back from our second trip to this place. It won't be our last. Miracle Springs is only a 2 hr flight from dreary Seattle and…" read more »
49 reviews for Movie Colony Hotel
Review Highlights
"The managers, John Michael and Juana, are amazing."
(in 11 reviews)
"Designed by the midcentury architect Albert Frey."
(in 3 reviews)
"I love the Mid-Century Modernism style."
(in 9 reviews)
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49 reviews in English
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Review from Chris C.
Los Angeles, CA
8/22/2011
My girlfriend and I usually stay at the Ace when we head out to Palm Springs. I love the rooms there but its become more and more crowded and the crowd has become ever douchier
Wanting something a little more laid back, we decided on the Movie Colony. Drove out from LA on Friday and met John Michael who checked us in. The rooms were great, the pool was quiet, the service was excellent.
I think some of the other reviewers need to understand that it's not meant to be a 5-star resort. What it is however is a great place for a weekend getaway, that is a really great value for rate. -
Review from Kevin S.
La Jolla, CA
11/20/2011
We usually stay at the colony palms down the street but decided to check this place out because it looked nice and had much cheaper rates. This is a great hotel if you want a clean no frills room in the heart of the city. Other benefits include complimentary wine and beer from 530 to 630 as well as complimentary continental breakfast. Free bikes are also available. No restaurant but I recommend 3 restaurants within easy walking distance: 1) purple palm, 2) jakes, 3) trio.
I was not impressed with the pool area but then again I am comparing it to the colony palms where the pool area and restaurant are really the attraction.
Overall a solid place with friendly staff. -
Review from Jerod R.
Long Beach, CA
6/8/2011
Hovering on 3.5 for me.
The bad: The rooms are made up of vintage desert mod furnishings, giving an air of uncleanliness. Stains, chips, ding, etc. Fairly sparse in deco as well. The price $219 for a patio room wasn't quite justified.
The good: The rooms and grounds are made up of vintage desert mod furnishings. Is that an Eames? Yes. Cool to be surrounded by it. Great free happy hour and continental breakfast. Super friendly and non-invasive staff. Central with free bikes to cruise around on.
If you can get a classic room for $99 this place would be a 5 for me. For $219 it's a 3. -
Review from Matthew E.
Oakton, VA
5/1/2011
My new wife and I booked all 16 rooms of the Movie Colony for 3 nights for our wedding. The perfect venue for anyone wanting a smaller, more casual wedding. The courtyard with the bar was great for the ceremony and we set up tables around the pool for the reception. The hotel has privacy with the walls, but still gets plenty of sunlight on the pool and the balconies. Walking distance to anything our guests wanted to do downtown.
John Michael was very helpful in assisting getting our guests booked at the hotel along with their room preferences. We will be coming back for anniversaries. -
Review from Britt G.
Laguna Niguel, CA
10/4/2011
This place has it all figured out. I coordinated a wedding there last weekend and it was so great. You can rent out the whole place for you and your guests. After the bride and groom left all the older people ended up in the pool while we were cleaning up and it was so fun. The managers, John Michael and Juana, are amazing! They pretty much give you the freedom to use the facility however you want for your event. I highly recommend it to people who want a stylish, private party in the desert.
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Review from Michael L.
Irvine, CA
12/13/2010
Stayed over the Thanksgiving holiday because we had passed by on a previous trip and had bad luck with PS hotels. As another Yelper said, picking a hotel in Palm Springs is really trying to pick the best out of a group renovated motels. The Movie Colony hotel is right there in that category.
While the photos look nice, the hotel is a bit rundown. The room didn't feel clean, and our neighbors upstairs sounded like they were in the room with us. We complained after the first night and our inability to sleep at all, and were credited for the night, but due to the holiday weekend, we were stuck there.
In addition, we received an email from the hotel 4 days before checking in, stating that there would be no maid service on Thanksgiving. When we read our initial reservation, it said no cancellations within 7 days of travel. We called the hotel to say that we had an issue with them cutting the service on Thanksgiving, especially since they were charging us the high, weekend rate for Thursday with no service, and wanted to still cancel. The man on the phone said it was too late to cancel because it was less than 7 days, even though we called as soon as we received their email. The guy (assuming it was the manager) wasn't very nice about it either. Frankly, he was rather snooty about it and sounded like the call was "bothersome" to him.
Although the woman at the front desk was very nice and helpful, we wouldn't stay there again. And so the search for a good, reasonably priced hotel in PS continues..... -
Review from Lolo M.
Los Angeles, CA
7/30/2011
S O motherfuckin S get me outta here! Unless my hotel room was the scene of a recent bloody crime, there is no reason for it to reek of bleach. A clorox hosedown on the cement floors does not a clean hotel room make. The crowd here is the type to eat cool ranch dorritos and bagels with cream cheese in the pool, rendering it unswimmable--totally unacceptable in 110 degree weather. In the morning, somebody hit the pool area with what else but more bleach and I, for the first time in my travel career, didn't yearn for a late checkout. P.S. If I die here it's either from inhaling bleach in my sleep or because the smoke alarm in our room, which had no battery, failed to alert me to danger. OR! Or! Maybe it's because the sad jazz/rock/Tracy chapman/Meatloaf mix by the pool made me jump. Wow, I'm getting upset. Maybe I should hop in the cold shower. Besides, there's no hot water anyway.
But hey, free continental breakfast and wine in the evening! You couldn't pay me in free bagels for life to come back here! I suggest they fix all the things that are unbearable about this place rather than make up for it in free sangria.
P.P.S. There are flies EVERYWHERE! -
Review from Sonia B.
Los Angeles, CA
8/20/2011
I recently spent three nights at the Movie Colony Hotel and used YELP reviews to help me make my choice.
In the past I had stayed at the Alexander Inn and the Korakia Pensione both are excellent by the way. However Iike exploring new places.
The Movie Colony Hotel front desk staff (in my case a youngish guy can't recall name but cool glasses) was very friendly when we arrived and helpful.
My issue with this place is for the money (especially low season, Summer) it was not that clean, little things you expect such as decent lounge chairs (their's were uncomfortable/ white/plastic/hot/sticky) a shower clean of the last person's soap (old soap bar on the ledge) and clean floors, it was not worth the expenditure.
I feel that despite it's apparent need for an upgrade and some deep cleaning this could have been a decent place but for the money not worth it. I would suggest the above two small inns and or try a more updated small Inn you may pay slightly more but this place is just not worth what you pay. -
Review from Victoria S.
Peoria, AZ
1/11/2011
I love the Mid-Century Modernism style. That was one of the reasons we chose it.
I was however not happy with the floor. it was painful to walk barefooted. it was like wicker rug.
No ventilation in the bathroom what so ever.
The gate by the pool was impossible to use.
Those were my only dislikes.
It was cute, but we will not be staying there again. -
Review from Gil I.
Camarillo, CA
2/8/2011
I was just at this hotel on the weekend of 2/7/11 for my birthday weekend. This room was booked for me and I had not heard of it before despite staying in PS plenty of times before. It was a pleasant surprise, I still am talking to friends and Fam about it!
We felt as though we were staying at a clean, pleasant, and comfortable relatives house without the hassle of dealing with the relatives!
We can not wait to go back! -
Review from nicole v.
Long Beach, CA
1/12/2011
After a busted hotel plan in Joshua Tree, my boyfriend & I decided to stay down in Palm Springs so we frantically tried to find a place to stay before having to meet up with a friend. After searching yelp & asking a friend where she had stayed in Palm Springs, we decided to check out the Movie Colony.
I had spoken to John Michael over the phone & he had offered me both a standard room & a suite. I told him I would call him back after discussing it with my boyfriend. We had stopped at the Hyatt & Todd had gotten the rates there & asked what I thought. I knew with the Hyatt you know exactly what you are getting & as much as I like knowing exactly what to expect, there's not much creative thought or "uniqueness" to a place like the Hyatt so I said let's just go look at the rooms at the Movie Colony - SO glad we did that! The Movie Colony was so cool!
If you want an old California, old Hollywood vibe - stay here! I think the property may be an old apartment complex that has been transformed into a boutique hotel, at least that's how it seems. You have 24 hour access to the heated pool & hot tub, which is great! They have a Happy Hour 5:30 - 6:30 where they offer beer & wine behind the little bar that in the middle of the property. This is also where they offer continental breakfast in the morning.
Seeing as they were doing some maintenance & bedding changes to their standard rooms, John Michael told us we could stay in the suite for the price of the standard room. We were sold! He didn't have to offer us that deal, but he did. He understood that the room would most likely go empty on a Sunday night so why not put us in there rather than have us go to the Hyatt.
We were very happy with our room! It had a nice open layout with two full bathrooms, a living room, kitchenette with sink, microwave, & fridge with great counterspace, & the bed - OH, THE BED! The best night of sleep I've had in months & months! Even better than the bed we slept in while in a upgraded room in Vegas last summer! I know some people were put-off by the wicker, jute carpeting but we loved it! I even said I'd love to have carpeting like that in our house someday. It was a little rough on bare feet, but I don't really walk around the house without, at least, slippers on my feet.
We weren't overall very impressed with the city of Palm Springs with its' early closing hours & high population of retirees [which we knew going into it] but we agreed that we would definitely go back to Palm Springs just to get away for the weekend & relax at this place. This was definitely the most excited I've been about a hotel in a long, long time - if ever. -
Review from Sara L.
Long Beach, CA
5/18/2009
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. -
Review from MAY J.
San Diego, CA
5/27/2009
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. -
Review from Lizzie S.
Updated - 11/6/2008
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 »
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Review from Nizaria D.
San Francisco, CA
11/7/2007
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.Listed in: Random Lodgeries
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Review from Don M.
12/1/2008
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. -
Review from DaveVivian K.
Long Beach, CA
4/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
this is a hotel you want to stay at if you are not in Palm Springs to party.
it is quaint, quiet, relaxing, clean - staff is very friendly and makes you feel at home. -
Review from Jacqueline D.
Los Angeles, CA
5/20/2011
The pictures on their website were clearly taken by a very good photographer but they're overselling the place it my opinion. It was generally nice, nothing fancy and very clean. I'd come here again as the price is very right. The hotel is generally quiet and the staff is extremely friendly. We stayed in the basic room and the bed wasn't as sturdy as what I was hoping. The bathroom wasn't planned space wise as well as I think it should have and the toilet seat was a little worn out in addition to some patched areas on the walls (is our room in the middle of construction?). I've stayed at nicer places but I've also paid a lot more. For the price this place is very good and I would come back. Keep in mind in Yelp terms 3 Stars is "A-Ok" which the hotel was, a-ok.
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Review from Anne E.
San Francisco, CA
4/5/2010
Overall loved the Hotel, but like one other person, want to give a shout out to John-Michael, who was the most gracious conceirge/host. I arrived three hours before the rest of my party, and he gave me a tour, and at the free happy hour, went out of his way to make my trip tremendous, by recommending hotels, restaurants, giving me a history lesson of the area, and overall just being a great employee.
Architect Albert Frey designed the hotel and it does have some cool history- both Frank Sinatra and Jim Morrison lived in a townhouse (I think number 25?) and you can reserve that room if you call ahead.
I stayed in a townhouse which was very large and quiet. The hotel has a boutique/old Hollywood feel about it and they do have some lovely touches like mid-century modern furniture and free happy hour/breakfast. I stayed for two nights,, and would have given 5 stars, except for some minor upgrades that the hotel needs, like very outdated televisions (and they had a lot of static), a few stains on the carpets, no stereos, basicaly no modern upgrades.
I would probably stay there again, but hopefully they do upgrade a few things so that they can compare with the other hotels with similiar vibes like the Viceroy. -
Review from Elyse K.
CA
6/3/2007 2 photos
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.Listed in: Palm Springs
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Review from Chloe S.
La Mesa, CA
6/19/2009
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. -
Review from Bella I.
Atlanta, GA
6/7/2007 2 photos
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. -
Review from lorie m.
Los Angeles, CA
6/11/2011
You you are going to be in Palm Springs ... you MUST stay at this hotel!
It's an amazingly awesome boutique hotel -- stylish, well maintained with personalized touches!
We've stayed at The Movie Colony a few times and loved it so much that we had our wedding there on Easter Sunday!
It is the perfect venue for a small ( 60 person ) wedding!
(Or any gathering for that matter!)
Aside from the stylish venue and proximity to the heart of Palm Springs... the staff at the hotel are AMAZING!
Juanna and John-Michael went above and beyond the call of duty when it came to helping us plan our event. They were very professional, sweet and wonderful to work with. It is rare to experience this level of service and professionalism without it seeming stuffy like at some high end establishments.
We also had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners, Donald -- he was very friendly and helpful too.
Our wedding guests were blown away by this gem-of-a-hotel!
And you will be too!
An extra bonus when you stay is happy hour daily ( a great opportunity to mingle with other guests) and in the morning they provide a wonderful breakfast spread! A great way to start your day!
Do yourself a favor and check out this hotel! Try to stay in one of the townhouses -- they are divine! -
Review from Philip I.
San Francisco, CA
12/26/2009
Picking a hotel in Palm Springs was the hardest part in planning our visit. In addition to the fact that there are no real "luxury hotels" in Palm Springs (i.e. all venues are glorified motels), reviews by fellow Yelpers varied from 1 to 5 stars for the same place, often including descriptions which felt conflicting. We stayed at both the Movie Colony (first 2 nights) and Colony Palms (3rd and final night) around the Holiday Season. A straight comparison is hopefully the best way to help other travelers make the right decision (note: this same review is posted for both hotels).
Movie Colony. We took the cheaper $150 king room which was rather Spartan i.e. no decoration, an old heater in the room, and a TV set my mom & dad ditched 10 years ago. The bed itself was nice and comfortable but don't expect the cleaning crew to make up your room. When arriving at the Movie Colony, you will need to self park around the corner and then carry your luggage in. The pool is basic. On the upshot, service was very nice and the staff puts out a basic (self-service) breakfast in the morning that includes fresh fruit. We did not stay a 3rd night because the room rate jumped to $250 and I already felt raped at $150 the two nights before..
The Colony Palms is really nice. Same here again, we took the cheapest room at $129 (+ $20 resort fee); this was an Expedia matched price. The room was nicely decorated, larger, very clean and overall tasteful, including a flat screen TV and ipod dock. The bath room had C.O. Bigelow toiletries. The Colony Palms offers valet and a nice & safe place to pull up when arriving. Whilst we didn't eat there, the hotel (sorry, motel) offered a full breakfast and dinner menu, and there's a bar in the back. The pool was somewhat larger (we did, however, not use it). Staff was a bit stuck up and nowhere as friendly as the Movie Colony.
All in all, the Colony Palms is definitely the way to go. It's cheaper and much, much nicer. -
Review from CliveJackson H.
La Jolla, CA
2/18/2009
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. -
Review from jane s.
Albany, CA
11/19/2009
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. -
Review from Christina N.
Hermosa Beach, CA
5/19/2010
Initially panicked because there was no availability at the Desert Riviera Hotel (my only other fabulous Palm Springs stay), I once again put my trust in yelp reviews to come up with a back up plan. Surprise, surprise, John Michael was a great help on the phone, and hooked us up with a discounted over the phone rate.
Although the facade emits an initially dark but swank feel, once through the lobby you get the airy and tucked away experience. We had a ground floor room by the pool at my request (it's where I'll wander to and from anyway, why not make it a short trip and ignore the stairs!). I was initially turned off by a sort of makeshift wall that connected the door to the room, but I'm very picky. As some have mentioned in previous reviews, the decor is minimal, but there were some cool photographs hung. There was a cleaning product smell when we first arrived - rather have it overly clean than kinda dirty - but a scented candle took care of that in a flash.
I love the feel of "old world" Palm Springs, and the Movie Colony gives you just the right amount of that with some modern twists. I think our favorite part of it is the 5-6pm gratis happy hour that managed to stray into the wee hours. My kinda spot! -
Review from Max S.
San Diego, CA
3/27/2011
I write this review during the wee hours of the morning not able to sleep because there's a late-night dance party going on in the courtyard downstairs for the second night in a row. We happened upon this hotel during a weekend when most of the hotel was taken over by a large group for a double birthday party which is probably tainting my review. The group was really nice and tried their best to accommodate and include us, but it would have been professional if the hotel had warned us prior to check-in that we should be expecting college-style spring break, and not a quiet secluded weekend in vintage hollywood stylings.
The website bills itself as a newly renovated mid-century modern boutique hotel. It does not feel newly renovated, and there's really nothing mid-century modern about our room. It's a plain box room with a broken lounge chair, a dresser that's far more thrift store than stylish, a bathroom that seems to be on the verge of falling apart soon, and pillows that feel like rolled up sweaters. It's unfortunately adding to our feeling of being in a college dorm room along with the mid-century people re-living their college days. There are not bicycles for use on the premise. It turns out they are all in the shop? The hotel did say that if we wanted to go rent bikes, they would deduct it from our bill. That was nice, but we never ended up riding bikes and we would have they were just available to take. There's no clock in the room which is a first for me. I kind of appreciate that because I'm on vacation, but I had to turn on my computer in the middle of the night to find out what early hour I wasn't sleeping at. The happy hour is Tecate and plain tortilla chips. I ended up feeling like the hotel was either not doing well financially, or trying to get by with the bare minimum to satisfy what they advertised.
To be fair, some of the other rooms look nicer at a glance. This room was all they had available and it happened to be their cheapest room. But at $159 a night, I guess I was expecting more.
I don't normally write salty reviews so I should say a few nice things. The people running the place during the day were really nice. The large group was fun during the day and made sure we had drinks in hand at all times. The location is great and really close to a lot of good restaurants. The pool is nice. The Jacuzzi was nice once we asked them to turn it up. I did like the vibe of the hotel itself. It's nice not to feel so regulated. The pool is open 24 hours and you're completely on our own between 7pm and 8:00am. That could have been a nice, but I get the feeling from our experience and other reviewers, that large groups come here to take advantage of this and party til the wee hours.
I would recommend this place if you like minimalist service presence or have a large group that likes to party without anyone sweating you. I would not recommend the "classic" rooms as they're unimpressive if you are expecting mid-century modern boutique. We probably wouldn't stay here again unless other places we would like to try were already booked and we checked to see if there were any large groups staying here at the same time. -
Review from natalie M.
Marina del Rey, CA
10/2/2011
My husband and I had our wedding reception at The Movie Colony Hotel. We stayed there a few days before our wedding, and then booked out the entire hotel for our guests during our wedding weekend. We don't even know where to start with the praise. John-Michael and Juana were amazing to work with...laid back and calm but totally on top of things. Planning a wedding is always a bit crazy, since there are so many different elements that need to all come together perfectly. John-Michael and Juana were easy-going, flexible, made sure that everything was properly taken care of, and made sure that we didn't have to stress about anything. We even got to meet the owner of the hotel, and he was just as great as his staff. The rooms are decorated in a cool mid-century modern design, they are clean and well-equipped. No, they don't have flat screen TV's or totally modern amenities, but who goes away to sit and watch TV all weekend (and the TV's they had worked just fine.) Housekeeping was great, our rooms were cleaned quickly and perfectly each day, and the pool/bar area was kept clean and tidy, which is not an easy feat when you have a large wedding party staying there all weekend. Each and every one of our guests raved about the hotel...it felt more like we were all staying at a friends house than a hotel...it was our little piece of Palm Springs paradise for a few days, and we all loved it.
We'll definitely be going back. The hotel has history and such a cool vibe, the room rates are reasonable, John-Michael and Juana are top notch-amazing, and we had the best weekend of our lives here! SO MUCH FUN!
This isn't a resort type hotel...it's a small boutique hotel with a staff that genuinely cares about their guests. Whether you're looking for a quick weekend getaway or planning a wedding reception, The Movie Colony is an awesome choice! -
Review from Jennifer F.
San Diego, CA
6/8/2008
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. -
Review from Anne V.
Boston, MA
3/23/2010
My review chiefly is to acknowledge the kindness of Concierge/Event Planner John-Michael. I had arrived about 7 PM on Friday evening 3/19
and a boisterous group was in house. I was on my own for a quiet
weekend without my husband and family. John-Michael was worried that
I would not be having the experience I wanted so he suggested if I were
game, to change hotels. I am flexible and I appreciated is honesty so he
found me a room for Fri/Sat night elsewhere on a busy weekend. I look
forward to staying there the next time I am in town (they don't typically
have rowdy groups, it was Renaissance Fair goers). -
Review from Cecilia B.
Los Angeles, CA
2/14/2011
I stayed at this hotel the other day and I think it's overpriced.
The walls are very thin too so you can hear pretty much everything that's happening in the room next to yours.
The one great thing that this hotel has is the staff. They are really friendly, eager to help, gave us nice suggestions on where to go, etc. -
Review from John G.
San Francisco, CA
11/21/2010
My partner and I frequent Palm Springs often and we thought we'd give Movie Colony Hotel a whirl since we're mid-century fans. BIG mistake!
The "boutique" hotel is small, cramped, and the rooms could use some updating (our bathroom was falling apart). If you're up for a fraternity or sorority party-like setting, then you certainly can't go wrong here. Yes, we shared walls with the loudest guests we've ever experienced (yes, adult sounds) and certainly folks who grew up in homes where slamming doors all night long was tolerated. Unfortunately we've left these years behind and tend to be more discerning when choosing a place to stay (yes, we moved up on the discretionary income scale too).
We canceled our reservation and checked out the next day. We won't be looking back. -
Review from Lauren S.
Los Angeles, CA
7/26/2011
First time in Palm Springs this weekend and I booked the Movie Colony per recommendation from a friend who is great at finding great, not to expensive boutique hotels. It was magical and I can't wait to go again.
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Review from Gourmet G.
San Francisco, CA
8/31/2005 2 photos
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.
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Review from Loraine I.
San Diego, CA
7/19/2011
This hotel was a nice change of pace. It was almost like being at home with extra amenities. It's well within walking distance of the main eateries, and had a complimentary cocktail hour. Adult only, is small and nice. The only negative was the pool and jacuzzi weren't very well maintained.
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Review from Teener H.
Santa Monica, CA
4/25/2010
I wish every business I dealt with had a John-Michael running the show. In fact, he should be the mayor or the good will ambassador of this town. This manager here at the Movie Colony Hotel is the icing on the cake. He sets an impeccable example of being totally professional, warm and involved in all the right ways. A+++
A wonderful, private feeling location, nice poolside, no kids, and a great outdoor evening sitting area with a modern fireplace. The breakfast was much better than the usual lame, gooey "food" that hotels try to pass off. The bagels and the muffins were bakery quality - not grocery store boxed. However, if you are a coffee drinker, you might not find theirs palatable. (?) In fairness to the Colony, I did not complain to the hotel about their (horrid) coffee.
We stayed in room 24 which was upstairs and had an excellent outdoor private balcony furnished with a table and 2 chairs under a covered roof . The balcony was large enough to accompany two chaise lounge chairs which were not under the covered roof (in the open air).. Very private. Get all your parts tanned. The room itself was clean. However, the mattress was in dire need of replacement as well as the headboard which was soiled and needed to be clean/replaced. The bathroom was surprisingly out of sorts with the rest of the hotel's decor, -needs remodeling, badly. Overall, I recommend this hotel and the few less-than-perfect things can easily be overlooked in exchange for the wonderful setting and great hospitality. -
Review from tundrah t.
Carlsbad, CA
8/17/2009
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. -
Review from Katie G.
Roslindale, MA
2/25/2009
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.
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Review from paul b.
Los Angeles, CA
12/19/2007
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.
