Embarc Palm Desert

Inspired by the region's heritage and desert landscape, the hotel offers a modernist take on Mission-style architecture, featuring exposed stone and massive adobe walls. The sand-colored interiors have leather furniture and southwestern artwork, while covered exterior arcades and terraces along the main building provide shady spots to lounge outdoors. The landscaping is impeccable, with meticulously maintained paths winding through native flora and fauna, accompanied by ever-present birdsong. Thoughtful touches like public bulletin boards, where guests are encouraged to post notes on everything from suggestions on local dining, to requests for tennis partners, foster a great sense of community.

Club Intrawest - Palm Desert is located 15 miles from the Palm Springs International Airport and about a 25-minute drive from downtown Palm Springs. There is a mall with a supermarket and a few restaurants within walking distance, but the main nearby attraction is the surrounding Desert Willow Golf Resort and its two 72-par, 18-hole courses (the Firecliff and the Mountain View), which guests can use for an additional fee. Other notable nearby destinations are Joshua Tree National Park, which is 35 minutes by car, and Coachella, about 25 minutes away.

These time-share "vacation homes" are two-story Mexican casita-style buildings with a red plaster exterior. They come in various sizes, from studios to three-bedroom apartments, each with excellent views of the golf course, pool, or mountains -- no parking lots or dumpster scenes here. Colorful interiors merge contemporary furnishings with a Southwestern palette and rustic wood framing. The living areas have comfortable couches and home entertainment systems with flat-screen TVs (there are also TVs in every bedroom). Full kitchens vary in layouts, but most have full-sized refrigerators and breakfast bars. Anything that's not stocked, from crock pots to a cup of sugar, can be borrowed from the front desk. Laundry rooms in each building have a washer/dryer and free detergent. The bathrooms come in a rainbow of colored tiles, with large walk-in rainfall showers and separate shower/tub combos. Some of the apartments have terraces with covered outdoor rainfall showers connected to the master bedrooms.

Golf carts shuttle members and guests to their rooms across the large, gorgeous landscaped grounds, which are full of nature trails and bike paths. The hotel even offers a weekly walking tour around the beautiful property to learn about the desert succulents and the local history from the head landscaper. There are also two tennis courts and a basketball court for those looking to stay active outside and the Desert Willow Golf Resort (owned by the city of Palm Desert) is adjacent to the hotel. A video game room, ping-pong, and pool tables can entertain the kids, and there's also a nursery for the little ones. The cute on-site movie theater does two showings each night. There are no restaurants or bars on the premises, but there are a few dining options and a supermarket a short walk away.A choice of four pools includes family-friendly options as well as a quieter adult-only sanctuary. The main pool is the largest and is accompanied by a pair of hot tubs and a kids' pool, all surrounded by a big sundeck covered by sail canopies. The other pools are smaller, but each has a hot tub and great cushioned sun loungers. The small fitness room is equipped with a few cardio machines and weight trainers, and there's also a large yoga studio with free yoga, Zumba, and aerobics classes daily.