Palm Springs, CaliforniaIndian Wells
Sands Hotel & Spa
Moroccan-inspired desert inn
Indian Wells Palm Springs, California
Renovated
2018
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Wellness SocialOutside the door
The house
Common Thread HotelsMoroccan-inspired desert inn
Palm Springs racquet-club glamour meets Marrakech riad, centering daily life around an intimate, palm-shaded courtyard pool.
“The Sands Hotel and Spa in Indian Wells was redesigned as a sultry Moroccan hideaway by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, designer to the stars.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Pink stucco walls, custom Moroccan tilework, and striped cabanas surround the central pool.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
It’s a thorough reimagining of the original 1950s-era Sands, updated by designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard into something very contemporary, whose mid-century references are conscious rather than inherited and whose Moroccan influence gives it a visual identity all its own.
Somewhere quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Indian Wells offers a quiet desert enclave, with Rat Pack-era piano bar The Nest right next door.
The rooms
Rooms feature gilded palm door knockers and Moorish tiles, with ground-floor patios opening straight toward the pool.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Curtained black-and-white cabanas line the heated pool and outdoor hot tub, with drinks served straight to the loungers.
The spa
Restaurant
The Pink Cabana
Mediterranean plates carry Moroccan spices, and the brass-trimmed bar mixes cocktails inspired by the historic Spice Route.
its owners looked to another desert, the Sahara, for inspiration, and the kasbahs of Marrakech—going all out with bright ceramic tiles and patterned textiles.
How it began
Designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard transformed the former 1950s roadside motel in 2018, trading desert nostalgia for North African pattern.
Palm Springs
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.