Greg’s Getaway: Relaxing at the Luxurious Hyatt in Indian Wells

Nestled on 45 acres of lush garden acres of trees, ponds, and bridges, the 530-room Hyatt resort is a quintessential Palm Springs experience. – Photo by Greg Aragon

Nothing puts me in vacation mode like a big, luxurious hotel room overlooking a sparkling pool and a bunch of palm trees. And if the room is part of the Hyatt brand of hotels, and is located in an exclusive resort community like Indian Wells, then it is all just icing on the Molten lava chocolate cake.

My getaway to the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa began recently when a friend and I checked into a magnificent 5th floor penthouse suite overlooking said pool and trees. I should note that the suites here are so nice, that in 2013, President Xi of China stayed in one!

Decorated in soft, desert earth tones, our 945-square-foot modern penthouse suite came with a classy living area with a large sectional couch that can double as a sofa bed, a 47-inch wall-mounted flat screen TV, a dining room with seating for four, and a kitchen area with a granite wet bar and integrated refrigerator and a half bathroom.

The penthouse’s master bedroom is partitioned by French doors with etched privacy glass and features a comfy king bed, another large flat screen TV, an office desk area with free wireless internet and a wall of windows looking over Indian Wells. The master bathroom is also a work of art, boasting a huge sunken tub, frameless glass shower, and dual vessel sinks.

The interior of the room is definite luxury, but the highlight for me was the gigantic balcony overlooking the pool area, hotel grounds, and the gorgeous Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains in the distance.

When not lounging in the hip, jet set room, we were relaxing poolside or enjoying the rest of the hotel property. Nestled on 45 acres of lush garden acres of trees, ponds, and bridges, the 530-room Hyatt resort is a quintessential Palm Springs experience. Hotel highlights include seven swimming pools, including a water slide and adult pool with cabanas; tennis, biking, badminton, bocce ball, and table tennis facilities; four restaurants and bars; an 88,000 square-foot of indoor and outdoor function space; two world-class golf courses; private, lake-front villas; a Camp Hyatt kid’s club; and the full-service Agua Serena Spa.

Spanish for tranquil waters, Agua Serena is an oasis at the Hyatt. Replete with private garden patios, trickling fountains, and incredible views of the on-site lake and nearby mountains, the spa offers numerous treatments to rejuvenate the body and mind. My visit was highlighted by an hour-long deep tissue muscle rub that invigorated my whole body.

After the massage, I met my friend for dinner at Lantana Restaurant, the hotel’s signature dining spot. While sitting on the terrace, overlooking the golf course, we began our meal with fried calamari, with tempura breading, jalapenos and cilantro citrus aioli, along with a couple glasses of merlot from Napa Valley.

For our main courses we devoured wild caught seared sea scallops with herb polenta, pickled carrot and tomato jam; and a succulent, 12-ounce, grilled Tomahawk Pork Chop with cherry chutney and sautéed green beans. For dessert we split a memorable molten chocolate cake with liquid bittersweet chocolate truffle center and vanilla ice cream.

After dinner, the desert air cooled to around 85 degrees and we hit the pool and enjoyed a nightcap while wading in the refreshingly cool water. In the morning, we were back at Lantana’s for breakfast. This time, I experienced a tasty salmon frittata with egg whites, cream cheese and capers, and my friend had chorizo and eggs.

For more information on staying at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, visit: http://indianwells.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html.

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