Palm Springs

For this past 4th of July weekend my partner and I chose to head out to Palm Springs, Ca. Neither one of us is really into fireworks and the previous year we had taken a spur of the moment trip to Pala, Ca. We stayed at the Pala Hotel and Casino and enjoyed everything from the slots, to the pool, the food and most definitely the entertainment. Well into the pandemic, the world had only just begun to open up. Precautions were most assuredly a must, with temperature upon entry and masks that were required to be worn at all times unless eating or drinking only to be quickly placed back on the face. Our trip that year was so much fun and highly enjoyable but that is another story for another time. This time is Palm Springs and as luck would have it we were again near another casino.

Weather reports indicated that the heat was going to reach upwards of 111 degrees! It was around eleven in the morning when we took off. My partner and I lead a low carb and ketogenic lifestyle therefore he and I were making the attempt to "be good" so all the food we would need was packed in advance. I packed for us breakfast, lunch and dinner, and even included snacks. Half a dozen eggs, pack of low carb tortillas (carb counters from La Banderita), keto loaf of bread (Orowheat) a pack of sausages (Farmer Johns), a whole shredded rotisserie chicken, shredded carnitas, some streaks, ready made noodles (Miracle Noodle), dill favored sunflower seeds, pork rinds and all the, spices, olive oil and seasonings each meal was going to require. Needless to say I was very proud of us. Being the adults that we are, it is safe to assume we drink, low carb of course. Armed with a 24 pack of Michelob Ultras and the ingredients needed to make micheladas, well prepared didn't begin to cover our status.

Our stay was at The Float (formerly Tortuga del Sol). Located at 715 E. San Lorenzo, Palm Springs, Ca. 92264. This place is difficult to locate on a regular google search, and if you take to social media it gets as confusing. The spot was very obviously a different hotel before and the only way I even came upon it was a basic search on booking.com . There were only four reviews that had all taken place in June of this year and it was definitely going to be a gamble but the price and the amenities could not be beat. The room we would be getting would be large and it would come equipped with its own kitchen which was right up our alley. Upon pulling up the place is hidden behind a tall with a few gate to allow you entry on each end. The parking lot has the stalls also from end to end in a row. On one end you will see a door with various numbered lock boxes. Each lock box contains a key to your room based on the number on the box. The hotel itself runs based off contactless check in and check out. I found this to be brilliant during these post pandemic times. Communication is done via email and texting. I was given instructions in both when we arrived. Once we got our key from the lockbox through a given code we walked to the other end where there was another door. A different code for entry is required for that door and its a good idea to remember it as it will be the only way to get back in should you choose to go out. After all that you need to get ready for the reveal on the other side.

My partner and I were not at all ready for what our eyes were treated to. It is a hip and colorful wonderland of fun and relaxation. Walking in, to the right is a little pond and to your left the ice machine. Directly in front of you is a large family style wooden table. To the right side of the table is what I could only assume is their office with a CLOSED sign so we did not really venture there. To the left side of the table was an entrance to the pool which has at least four large pool floaties and noodles for guests to enjoy. The pool area has an abundance of seating options. Lounge chairs in a row with no covering for the sun worshipers and the most adorable two person cabana themed lounge chair complete with curtains that can surround the cabana and a thin thatched roof that served as shade. A small jacuzzi is on one corner and a connect booth accompanied by a ceiling fan is on the other end. The area is also equipped with firepit, and barbeque pit. As you walk further you will see more long wooden tables and along the entire perimeter of the property are the rooms. In front of each room there are at least two chairs and a small shelf next to sliding doors that have large bottles of hand sanitizer. Walking further from the pool is another covered area the has a pool table with even more seating, including a hammock. It was a unanimous hit with us and we had yet to view the inside of our room.

Entry to our room were French doors with the two outdoor chairs on each side. Using the key we walked into our gorgeous room. The first thin we saw was the bed. Directly in front of the bed was a drawer set and the television sat on top of that. The corner of the room nearest the the television had a big comfy leather chair. As you continue walking forward there is wall and against it that had a small dining table and two chairs on each end. Moving forward one can find a long closet to the left side of the wall and the bathroom directly in front of it. The bathroom is small but very functional with several small cubbies for toiletries and just above the toilet there is shelving for added materials. The shower itself also has a tub and the standard hair dryer came with our room. As you continue to walk forward, the end of the tour ends in the kitchen. Small stove, sink, fridge and counterspace. The kitchen is fully stocked with all the appliances and cooking materials one would need as well as another compact table and stools underneath it for added seating. Another door leading outside can also be found in the kitchen. Right outside that door is a larger trash can for ones larger messes if the two smaller ones under the kitchen sink are not enough. Overall I would have to say that is was so much more than we were expecting. I would also like to add that our room had air conditioning, a ceiling fan and a smaller area fan. I would say that it was perfect for our needs.

The first thing we did was bring in all our stuff and putting things away in the fridge to keep anything from going bad with the intense heat. my partner is one of the few people I know that can make an excellent micheladas. He whipped us up a pair of good ones and we went outside to explore our spot. Immediately drawn to pool table we set up for a quick game. All too soon we noticed all the cue sticks were taken down to the nubs and two of the five were cracked at the tip, no matter we made due with what we had and and set up for a game. No mistake about it the heat was unreal. No strangers to Las Vegas in the summer time, what we were experiencing was something on a whole other level. Sweating buckets through most of one game we chose not to continue with another game, instead we walked back to our room and got dressed for the pool as it was very very needed. A few more beers placed in a mini cooler we took, swimsuits firmly in place and we made our way to the pool, just a few feet in front of our room. Unlike other pools wealth hot weather equals ice cold freezing water, the temperature was perfect. My partner threw himself on a emoji shaped floatie and I scored a couple of pool noodles and with my beer in hand I was set for nothing but relaxation.

Pleasantly buzzed by the time we got out of the pool, but ravenously hungry, we grabbed our towels and cooler and back inside our well air conditioned room to cook up some dinner. For dinner I made a couple of steaks, asparagus and some caulimash with extra cheese and butter to give it that little kick into heaven. We were so hungry that we devoured that meal in record time. After filling our bellies, we showered and got ready to head out. Prior to our arrival, I researched the area to give me a sense of what types of activities we could do to pass the time. We are budget travelers, therefore our activities are either free or at a very low discounted prices. It has enabled us to experiences places and things that may have been overlooked if we elected to do so. On the other hand we both love a good casino and fortunately for us the Aguas Calientes Casino was a mile and a half away and we were most assuredly try to partake in some slot fun.

The Uber was called and we waited outside our room just chilling in the chairs by the front door with a shot from a pint of Jack we brought and another few beers. When the driver arrived we quickly went out to meet him and be taken to the casino. My partner and I have shared a long love affair with casinos, each visit to one is paired with a theme. one day we will only play slots with wheels. Other days will have an animal theme, women theme, old school, tv, music and movie themes and do our best to stick to our choice for the span of the day. For that first night our slots of choice were Lightning Links. Arriving to the casino we did a few laps around the gaming floor to see what was around. We grabbed some drinks and located our chosen machine and played a few spins. That first night was a fun and profitable one. Starting with twenty dollars we hit the bonus rounds a few times and made enough money to continue buying beers and having shots and enjoying every minute of it. A couple of hours later we went back to our hideaway in paradise and attacked the late night snacks before turning in for the night.

Our second day began bright and early because we wanted to beat the heat that would soon have the audacity to hit before noon. We did the Andreas Canyon Trail because we didn't really know what was out there and what better way to become familiar with a spot than to dive right into it. About a mile in length, also perfect because as I have mentioned, the heat was well on its way. I had hoped it would be open earlier because of the weather but no dice. Plenty of picture spots for the instagramers out there as well. The trail follows the canyon along the stream and for us it was perfect. Our next stop was the Moorten Botanical Garden. A lovely contained display of what the desert holds all in one location. so many different types of cacti. The spot is not very large but it is definitely a must see if you are ever in the area. After we explored the Garden we did a bit more walking around. Palm Springs has so much interesting art and architecture that simply walking and wandering around down the main strip of road will be a treat to the eyes.

Unfortunately we could not hang in the hot ass weather for too long and we zoomed back to our desert oasis. Since this was a trip solely for relaxation purposes and not one we had a set plan of attractions to visit like we normally do, there was no real impulse to be on the go constantly which is a completely different thing for us. Not feeling any need to fight the lazy, we just went with it. While my partner napped and recharged his batteries, I changed back into my swim suit, grabbed myself a beer and went out back in the pool. There was no one in there and I had it all to myself. With my iPhone handy I turned on one of my true crime podcasts and listened to the latest murder mystery while lazily lounging inside the pool need the step where a large umbrella hovered above me providing relief from the harsh sun. One episode quickly turned into two and two then followed a third episode. I was leaning against the edge of the pool with my eyes closed and all too soon I left something ice cold on my upper right arm and my eyes shot open. It was my partner bringing me a fresh beer like hero. I gladly took the beer and made my way out of the pool and laid out in one of the cabana-like lounge chairs. I stayed right in that spot till I was completely dry and in the span of the time it took to dry off and finish the beer, I made my way back into my room and was surprised to notice my partner had made us lunch which we again devoured like ravenous beasts. Following our meal I was suddenly tired so while I took a quick power nap my partner headed out for more beer and a trip to the bank. By the time he returned I woke up and got ready to head out into much cooler temperatures once again and made our way back to the casino to try our luck once again.

Like Deja vu, the Uber driver left us at the entrance of the casino and we proceeded to attain the same luck if not better as the night before. We enjoyed a great time of slot play, drinks and people watching that time flew by. Before we knew it the time was close to eleven at night. Deciding a night swim would be a great idea, we got another Uber and went back to our oasis, got dressed and grabbed our cooler with beers and went back outside. Back at our hotel, patrons we had believed to have vacated the hotel were suddenly out and about enjoying a refreshing night swim. I admit that I have never been poolside more than this past weekend and I admit there is something to be said about that type of rest and relaxation. The night was far more different than the solitary morning I had experienced earlier that day. Being much cooler after dark, brought out all the other guests at the hotel. It was lively and fun with everyone having a good time. We stayed in the pool that night as long as we could and then retired to our room for a very restful night sleep.

The next morning I received an email with instructions on how to check out, along with a discount for a next visit which we will absolutely be using. Getting out of bed and getting ready to go back home, we packed and cleaned up after ourselves and bid out desert oasis farewell for now. I highly recommend a trip out to Palm Springs. If you play your cards right a trip out there can be very budget friendly if you're well prepared for it. Taking our own food and drinks was most certainly a money saver. I would have wanted to be out and seen more of the town. There is already another trip in the works and we will be returning to our oasis. The difference next time will be a different time of the year when its not quite as hot as this time so we can explore the area more the way we usually do. This was our summer bum trip, filled with lots of naps and lounging out by the pool. Happy Travels.