Hilton Palm Springs Hotel & Room #191 Review
Hello, my Polite Travelers.
Well, we finally made it to Palm
Springs, CA. It’s great weather, even in
early December. Palm Springs is a unique
place: quirky with a side of cinema history.
And even though it’s a tourist favorite, it feels homey and welcoming. There are numerous lodging options, but we
chose the Hilton Palm Springs Resort. We
stayed here four years ago and found it to be a mixed bag: a great layout, but
in need of some remodeling. Now, it’s a
tad better…with caveats.
Accessible Room #191
For the most part, this room is accessible:
a walk-in shower, plenty of grab bars, a fold-down shower seat, and a
low-mounted shampoo bar. Still, the
toilet is at regular height. Those with
mobility issues require taller toilets.
The bathroom sink is excellent, with counter space and no cabinets
underneath. Although I didn’t measure
the sink height, it appears to be adequate for wheelchair users.
The room is average, with space
between the sparse furniture, plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair or
walker.
So, on a sliding scale, this room
is average for the mobility impaired.
For those with other health
conditions requiring an accessible room, it’s best to choose a different
room or hotel. There are no blind or
deaf assistance aids.
For the rest of us, the desk
features enough outlets for electronics.
The room is equipped with the typical coffee maker, television, and
refrigerator. A microwave is available
upon request.
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The Dumb Television Saga
One of my biggest issues, though,
is the television. Grr… This Hilton provides a dumb terminal-style
television—definitely not smart. So,
there’s no chance of ‘casting’ subscription networks. Nor can one simply choose their favorite from
the television menu. Really? I realize it’s a minor issue for many. But for the older crowd, tired from a day of
sightseeing, we want to relax with our favorite show before bed—preferably with
a glass of wine.
It took two days for the
‘engineering’ department to provide a way to cast from my computer using an
HDMI cord. With my years of presenting
workshops, I’m familiar with this method, but the ‘HDMI Inputs’ weren’t easily visible. Typically, there’s a button on the remote
providing access. I have no idea why
they were hidden. Crazy.
Although I must admit, I found
all staff to be kind and attentive, even though they may be a bit slow to react
at times. Smiles all around; they are very
happy people.
Note: If you have this
issue, press the ‘function’ button on the bottom of the remote. Choose Support, then Source, and finally, the
inputs appear. Choose the HDMI input
that connects to your laptop. If that
doesn’t work, call for help. Supposedly,
this Hilton will receive smart televisions next year.
The Hotel
At first glance, this is a lovely
resort. The large open lobby features
the registration desk, a business center, breakfast/lunch restaurant, and the
evening bar,
which also serves a limited-choice dinner.
The food is passable. Drinks are
great.
It has an interesting layout,
somewhat like a square with a large pool, pool bar, and gardens in the
center. Many of the rooms feature patios
overlooking the pool. It’s a lovely
setting.
The issues I found are fairly
minor. The rooms need a touch of
renovation and repair—not much. The look
is a tad tired. Plus, in areas of the
hotel, especially our hallway, there’s a strong sewer smell. I reported it, but it appears not to be a
plumbing issue. Odd.
Like most hotels, especially
resorts, they feature free coffee and tea in their lobbies. Not here.
Strange. One can purchase a
cup-to-go in the restaurant. I find this
a bit cheesy for a hotel labeled as a ‘resort’.
A real standout is the fitness
center. It’s first-class with plenty of
machines and free weights. You’ll find
plenty of towels and water.
Will We Return?
No. Sure, it’s a prime location, just blocks from
the center of downtown Palm Springs. And
the staff is great. Still, there are too
many wonderful lodging options to try.
Coming up soon…Maui!
Stay tuned.
400 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California,
92262-6605, USA
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