Palm Springs Getaway

Looking for some low key luxury? You’ll find it at the Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage in Palm Springs.

This high-end oasis boasts mountain desert views and provides the perfect setting for a romantic long weekend or golf filled getaway. 

Poolside Carne Asada Tacos and Spicy Strawberry Margarita

With just over 240 rooms this Ritz Carlton leans a little more intimate than most. As expected, the service is incredible and with such few guests, they can fulfill that Ritz promise of going above and beyond.

If you are visiting for a romantic rendezvous, don't miss the adult only pool perched cliffside or the 90-minute couples massage at the spa.

Request a room on the first floor to enjoy your personal fire pit and make sure you ask for a window-side table at The Edge Steakhouse to soak in the infectious desert sunset.

Couples Lounge at the

If your schedule allows it, plan an ENTIRE day at the spa. We've experienced a lot of spas all over and this is one of our absolute favorites. The spa area features an expansive couple's waiting lounge with a waterfall pool and outside sunning area. Within each locker room, you'll find a steam area, small European plunge pools, aroma showers and all of the toiletries and supplies you would need for a mini makeover. We loved the experience so much that we bought the aroma infused shower head so we could get our daily Ritz fix at home.

If you decide to journey outside the resort you'll have plenty of areas to explore. Palm Springs, nestled in the Sonoran Desert, is known for its spiritual retreats, golf courses, and film festivals. It's also flooded with midcentury-modern architecture (à la Frank Sinatra) and happily serves as Hollywood’s hideaway located 100 miles southeast of LA.

Searching for a dinner spot? Ristorante Mamma Gina's was recommended to us from our friend Gennifer and it's a "Can't-Miss". Originating in Italy in 1956, Mamma Gina's has enjoyed its desert location since 1986. The authentic Florentine cuisine was impressive and filling. Save room for dessert and an after-dinner drink because you'll want to soak up the ambiance.

If you are planning a boozy lunch, our gold medal goes to Las Casuelas Terraza. A Plam Springs staple since 1958, this Mexican joint offers a casual environment and a street-side patio adorned with tiny birds and plenty of tequila.

But you don't have to just eat your way through Palm Springs... you can shop your way through it too! Its core shopping district along Palm Canyon Drive features vintage boutiques, mainstream stores, interior design shops and lots of local watering holes.

If you are looking to explore your adventurous side, the surrounding Coachella Valley offers hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. Not to mention the Coachella Music Festival held every April.

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (Coachella), is an annual music festival held near Palm Springs in Indio, California. The festival features musical artists from a variety of music genres, including rock, indie, hip hop, and electronic dance music, as well as art installations. The origin of the event traces back to a Pearl Jam concert in 1993 held to boycott venues controlled by Ticketmaster. Some past acts include Madonna, Drake, Lady Gaga, Guns N' Roses, DJ Khaled and of course Beyonce. Since the festival is so close to LA you’ll find the place swarming with stars trying to get that perfect Instagram shot and dancing the night away. So if celebrity hunting is your game, it's well worth a ticket to Coachella.

Now, if golf is more your speed check out a round at one of many top-rated courses in the area. The prestigious PGA West Golf Club flexes its proverbial golf muscle with six courses designed by some of the biggest names in the business, including Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer.

Our concierge booked us at Desert Springs Golf Club located at the JW Marriott right across town. This course was very playable and a ton of fun. With two courses to choose from it caters to players of all skill levels. Taylor Made rental clubs are available if you aren’t into dragging your sticks around.

No matter what you are looking for you can find it in sunny Palm Springs. We couldn't have enjoyed our stay more can't wait for our next trip.

For more travel information and recommendations check out my other posts!

Full Steam Ahead - My Favorite Travel Steamer

I am a wrinkle freak.  My worst nightmare is wearing white linen pants on a long car ride in the summer. So naturally I never leave home without my Downy Wrinkle Releaser.  But that will only go so far.  For bigger jobs my go to is the HiLife Travel Steamer.

The best part is that it is lightweight, portable and it’s hand held. It lasts 15 minutes with each fill up of water and has a 9 ft cord! (you know how sparse plugs can be in a hotel room) Slip it into your suitcase to easily smooth wrinkles and creases out of suits, dresses, and more.  It's so handy I use it daily at home too!

Check out the steamer HERE on Amazon. 

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Never Pick the Wrong Seat on a Flight Again

By the time you get to the screen to choose your seat assignment when purchasing a flight, you’re probably “over it”. After researching flight schedules, comparing prices, deciding to actually pull the trigger and making sure you spell your spouse’s middle name correctly on the personal information page – the last thing you want to do is fuss with which row is best.

But that’s a big mistake.

Choosing the wrong seat on a flight can really set a bad tone for an exciting getaway.

For instance, are you traveling with a gal who loves to lug around a giant purse (guilty) and will rummage through it no less than ten times during the flight to retrieve snacks, lipgloss, headphones or her cell phone? Well then the bulkhead seat is not for you.

Or how about if you are traveling with a child who has in the past been known to swing his little feet back and forth the entire flight? Then you better pick a seat with a little extra leg room. Or how about a seat with a TV in the headrest so Sponge Bob can do some of the babysitting and you can finally catch up on some “you time”.

But how do you know which seat is best for you? Well say hello to my little friend- Seat Guru. Accessible via app or online, Seat Guru allows you to get Seat Map Advice or Check a Flight Status with just a few clicks.

Simply input the airline, departure date and flight number (or departure/arrival cities) and Seat Guru will pull up the airplane you will be flying on. Along with the model of plane they have a detailed interactive seat map key that shows if the seat has a Good review, Be Aware rating or a Bad Seat warning. After clicking on a seat you will find a detailed description of features and amenities (power port, TV, extra leg room) or warnings (limited recline of seat, proximity to lavatory).

In the info section you will find details about the flight like if in-flight entertainment will be offered or if carry on rolling bags will need to be tagged and stored under the plane for the flight.

This tool is a great resource and is worth a look. I’m a girl that likes surprises but not when it comes to my vacations. So check out Seat Guru and let me know what you think!

If You’re Happy and You Know It… You’re Probably on Vacation

Travel Number One Mood Booster, According to New Survey

We already know that traveling can boost your sex life and help you lose weight, but a new study reveals it will also boost your mood.

(Exhibit A: the photo above taken at Little Palm Island located off Little Torch Key… If that isn’t happy, I don’t know what is.)

Priceline.com released their “Traveler’s Sweet Spot” survey last week, and more than half of respondents said that traveling improves their attitude more than exercise or shopping.

The survey of 1,005 U.S. adults, which Wakefield Research conducted on behalf of the travel booking site, also looked at what types of trips boosted people’s moods the most. Thirty-eight percent of men and 34 percent of women said romantic getaways were the best vacations. The next best mood-boosting trips were a family escapes (33 percent of all respondents) and retreats with good friends (23 percent).

The survey found that a trip doesn’t have to be long getaway to provide a boost. Four out of five Americans would rather take multiple, short getaways than one long vacation this year. Forty-four percent would like to take three to four trips this year to be happier, while nearly 10 percent would like to take seven or more trips in 2016.

“Research tells us that 44 percent of Americans frequently regret not being able to go on more trips, and the majority are not booking these trips due to travel costs,” said Brigit Zimmerman, senior vice president of Air and Vacation Packages for priceline.com.

Perhaps that’s why Americans left so many vacation days on the table yet again in 2015.

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This story originally appeared on Travel + Lesiure