Caliente Tropics Resort - Palm Springs, CA

I want to start by saying the staff was very friendly and helpful. The location is amazing and the outside is very nice and has a fun vibrant feel. The food and drinks were decent. Our room however was bad!! It had not been updated in over 20 years I'm guessing.Very outdated and run down! Dirty stained carpet, wallpaper bubbled and ripped, bed was hard, bathroom door had been kicked or punched in, floor lamp had at some point been knocked over the lamp shade was bent and the switch did not work, While using the sink the faucet handle broke off.Maintenance replaced it after several hours. Leaving the carpet underneath the sink all wet. The toilet handle had to be jiggled every time you used it or it would keep running water. The shampoo, conditioner and body wash dispensers in the shower were empty, Nothing else left in the room other than one tiny bar of hand soap. Shower head was very old and plugged up with hard water deposits. Caliente Tropics could be something really great with some updates to the rooms. Definitely more of a party place than a place to go and relax. Loud guests that were drunk and obnoxious.

The pool, restaurant and front desk are all 5 stars. I took one away because the shower was formidable and the WiFi disappeared completely. If the resort spent a little money replacing the shower heads and soap dispensers and towels, it would be five stars. Also extremely pet friendly with a large lawn that is savior on hot pavement days, which I super appreciated.

Just recently came to stay here, pictures looked great. Come out here all the time. As soon as I walked into the room it was disgusting stains on the carpet, curtains falling. It was boiling hot in there. Definitely don’t recommend staying here especially in the summer.

This place is Amazing, Awesome and family oriented. The staff is great, the service is fast and friendly. The pool and Jacuzzi are clean and comfortable. If you don't know, now you know..... K K. & Gina

I really wanted to like this place. I’m writing this review in hopes it helps the hotel improve and create a better experience for future guests. The Good: The hotel is clearly older, but ownership puts effort into keeping it looking nice. The landscaping is well-kept, the pool area is clean, and the outdoor furniture is in good shape. The pool is definitely the highlight and gives the property a charming touch. The Not-So-Good: The rooms have a strong musty smell that makes them feel more old than vintage. The staff is helpful but not warm or welcoming—no smiles, no personal touch, which is disappointing in a small hotel. One frustrating policy is that you have to go to the front desk to get pool towels, and you’re warned that you’ll be charged if you don’t return them. It feels petty, and policies like that can really take away from the relaxing experience guests are looking for. There was also no shampoo in the refillable containers, which made it seem like the room hadn’t been thoroughly checked or cleaned. The biggest issue for me was security. There’s a back entrance to the property that seems to be used by individuals as a shortcut, even walking through the grounds and asking guests for things. It didn’t feel dangerous, but it did feel unprotected and uncomfortable at night, especially with no visible security around. It makes you feel like your car can be broken into while you’re sleeping. We didn’t stay long. With a few simple changes, this place could be much better. I hope the owners take this to heart—it has potential, but the guest experience needs work.

This hotel was a great find. The rooms were clean and pool area was lovely. The staff were pleasant but Ritchie the sever at the weekend was what made this a 5 star review.. attentive and friendly to all guests while working on his own on a busy weekend. The management should fully appreciate that this one sever is what made this a 5 star review instead of a 4 star review.

Positive: The Reef Restaurant and Bar and pool area were really unique and the restaurant staff were very nice and attentive. The food and drinks were great! Liked the nostalgia of the hotel and the Reef bar/restaurant. Very unique. Negative: Carpet edges had obvious layers of dust. Walls, paint, wallpaper peeling and cracked. Sink clogged, Hairdryer old and not working, Wall socket by bed had no cover and wires showing. No weatherstripping on outside door. Room 216

Positive: That they have 2 different restaurants, one being Mexican the other very attractive Bar and Lounge area that serve delicious large portion plates! Very tropical theme. The food n both places very delicious! And I believe that the pool closes at 12:00 am. Negative: Outside Brands are not allowed in pool area such as Starbucks for example. The pool is very nice and clean, there were always lounge chairs available but they don?t let you listen to your own music unless your wearing EarPods, music they play is tropics!

Oh, where to start with Caliente Tropics Resort in Palm Springs? A throwback motor lodge from yesteryear. This place was the shit back in the day. Celebrities of the era would hang out at Caliente Tropics. Are the rooms old and odd? Yes. The shower knob janky making it difficult to find hot vs. cold? Yes. (Until you find the sweet spot and remember it). Weird, outdated carpet? Yes. Furniture that is so old, it is considered "retro" now? Yes, that too. Funky curtains that look cool, but don't do much against morning sun? Uh huh. Tile that is in desperate need of a deep clean, or better yet, replacement? Yup! Totally awesome tiki vibe? Hell yes! At Caliente, you're there for the resort style pool/Jacuzzi area! It is a huge pool area with a giant pool. Old school pool with an 8-foot deep end. Plenty of lounge chairs and tables with umbrellas surround the pool. The Reef Bar and Grill is steps away. My only complaint there would be for the iron-fisted lady working the pool. I get it, no outside food or drink and people are always looking to sneak it in, but c'mon lady! Maybe be a little nicer. There is no reason to stink-eye folks when they've done nothing wrong. Would it kill you to smile? Lighten up! The location is excellent, just a short drive or $7 Uber/Lyft away are great restaurants and bars and the killer Palm Springs nightlife. Service from Jose at check-in was great. The next day when I told the young woman working the front desk that we were out of shampoo and shower gel, she had maid service get to our room promptly. Sure, the room was far from perfect. Our travel companions' room was entirely different than ours but featured the same quirkiness and misgivings. Their mini fridge did not work at all. (Room 150, management). For the price point, the vibe and the pool, we would absolutely stay at Caliente Tropics again. In fact, our friends are already booked to return in November.

When I first enter a room, I make sure to check the locks. Of course, the very first thing I noticed was the strike plate on the door frame. It was completely unsecured, hanging on hollow screws, and the wood behind it was damaged. This was a major safety issue. The lock was essentially useless because if you pulled on the door with force while locked, it would break off. I took photos immediately and went straight to the front desk to report it. To their credit, the staff responded right away and offered me another room on the spot. It was technically an upgrade from a king to a two-queen room. However, the new room was absolutely filthy. There was leftover food/snack behind the lamp, excessive hair and dust built up on the bed frame, an old acrylic nail left on the furniture, and the toilet was leaking. It was clear this room had not been cleaned properly. I should have looked at reviews on Yelp first before booking. But again, those Expedia photos wowed me. They made the place look modern and clean. That was not the case at all. I had originally planned to check out on Sunday, June 29. Instead, I left early around 10:00 p.m. on Saturday night. I felt so uncomfortable and disgusted that I could not stay another night. I believe the man at the front even asked me if everything was okay. I told him, "I just cannot be in that room. It is just gross." I would have expected follow up questions to see what could have been done, but, no. What I experienced was neglect, both in terms of safety and hygiene. I would not stay here again and I do not recommend it.

We are currently here and I'll break down the good and the bad of the Resort. Good: 1. The pool area is fabulous. The pool is heated and the ambience is definitely mid century modern. The jacuzzi is fabulous. 2. Hawaiian music playing throughout the resort. Great touch. 3. Wonderful tropical view from room 226. Bad: 1. Check-in is listed as 4pm which is ridiculously late; however, we were able to use the pool while we waited. I asked the front desk for pool towels, and the clerk told me that none were available as they were all being washed. Come on? Really? The front desk cannot have a supply of pool towels to provide their paying guests? Pony up and provide pool towels. 2. When we arrived in our room, cigarette smoke permeated the entire room. No other rooms in the area we requested were available. We opened both windows and left the door open and it aired out some. Just be aware if you are super sensitive to cigarette smoke. 3. The worst experience is the continuing landscaping machinery. Landscapers started mowing the open green space in front of our room at about 9am. Then the leaf blowing started. After an hour of the leaf blower, I called the front desk. The man was unapologetic and said there is nothing he can do. FYI, he told me the landscapers come THREE times a week and can start at 7am. "They have other jobs to do elsewhere so they work early." I recommended they use a rake and a broom rather than a gas powered leaf blower. Or how about an electric leaf blower even if it's not as powerful as the obnoxiously loud gas blowers? Who wants to be at a resort with a leaf blower which is going on for 2 1/2 hours now. Why not landscape at noon until 4pm which is the check out and check in window? Use rakes and brooms like other resorts so you do not disrupt the peace and quiet guests are paying for? Be prepared for relaxing by the pool only to be annoyed for hours by a loud gas powered leaf blower...and then the front desk says, "There is nothing I can do." That's the absolute worst customer service response an employee can say.

This is my go to hotel to stay in Palm Springs during summer months because of the pool. It is always clean and not too crowded there is also The Reef Tiki bar which I love and they sometimes offer pool service, it depends if they are slow inside then the server will come out. Front desk agents are very friendly, Edna was there last time and she was very helpful a time before she also helped us with some lost and found items, she is great! The rooms are nice, 70s tiki vibe throughout. We usually stay in the parlor suite which has a little yard with bamboo and tiki lights, it super cute and nice to have and relax in the evenings. Keep in mind this is an older hotel the A/C is loud but it works great and bathrooms are outdated but it has everything you need. The location is great, walking distance to Kings Highway for breakfast and the Amigo Bar for drinks as well as Mr. Lyon's for an amazing dinner. On property like I mentioned there's the Reef for food and GREAT drinks (great happy hour menu) and Sanchos Mexican restaurant. If you stay here you don't have to drive anywhere and can have a relaxing weekend. Give it a try if you have never been!

Avoid this place at all costs! The cost absolutely did not justify the experience we had for only one night. While front desk staff was friendly when we checked in that is where the positives ended. Upon entering our room we were greeted with broken pieces of furniture, hair and stains on the bed, stain on the carpet, a broken mini fridge and the shower did not have a fan as evident by what looks like mildew on the ceiling. When we brought up our concerns the following morning at check out staff completely brushed it aside and said you'll get your $50 deposit back and I'll have the maids look at it. Absolutely horrid experience and would not recommend.

We love this Casino always welcoming, staff and management provides great customer service, clean, neat, . Everything about this casino is awesome and welcoming . I highly recommend this place

I'm surprised Caliente Tropics has 3 stars - I've stayed in many hotels over the years and for the standard historic roadside hotel / motel it's retained that wonderful history - and with great helpful staff and service. But beyond experiencing the tikivibe and having two restaurants and tiki bars to choose next to the pool, the staff were very helpful and the housekeeping is the best I have seen in a while. I appreciate the friendliness and service of the staff. So five stars for sure - It's a nice escape, and the view is wonderful too. Aloha

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde case this 2nd time around I came back to stay. *there were these 4 weird holes right above the mini fridge that just seemed outta place. *interesting odor when I first walked in so I just opened the bathroom window a bit to air it out. *there was a huge crack in the popcorn ceiling above my bed. *hair dryer was halfway ripped off the wall mount. *not even a half of TP on the roller. *the carpet was coming undone near the base boards. *there was loose tile where the carpet and tile meet in the bathroom and it cut me by the toe nail on it. *the wall paper was coming undone in certain areas. *there was no hot water *the turn knob of the shower was pretty much a tetanus shot waiting to happen. *i requested to not be by any stairs as I am a light sleeper & I was put directly in front of the stairs.

How could I not love a tiki-themed motel with an actual tiki bar next to the large warm pool with tropical music and moai? It feels like a mini vacation to Hawaii. This is my go-to Palm Springs hotel. Rates are low (relative to other nearby places); the rooms are old but clean and smell good. The "Suite" rooms have a couch and sitting area, which is nice for an extended stay. It's off the PS strip - so you may have to drive to shop or dine. I haven't tried the restaurant - hours have been inconvenient for me - but the bar is great (could use a bit more food variety. Desserts?). There are plenty of other nearby places to eat as well.

Cozy hotel with tiki ambience. Relaxing vibes by the pool and every room has a pool view. The bar serves up traditional rum drinks. Ordered a piña colada made with tequila and it was out of this world incredible! Plenty of seating around the pool but do come early in case the hotel is sold out.

Upon arrival Fri 3/28/25 @ 3:35 pm. the young lady working the front desk very inconsiderate and rude and threatened to cancel my reservation. wtf! At best she should be cleaning the rooms and not allowed to have interaction with the CUSTOMERS! I know I'm not the only dissatisfied customer that day. Upper management should take action to ensure that they don't lose their costumers. we definitely won't be returning. Sincerely Rob G.

I attended an annual TIKI CALIENTE event here a few years ago. I was a guest artist for one of the room parties and sponsors. I paid my entrance fee to the festival and participated in most of the activities. on one of the last days, my friend and I were robbed / mugged in the property and had her purse, car keys, my lap top and camera stolen out of her car while she waited in the driver seat. The thief opened the passenger door, reached in and grabbed everything he could while she dozed off. We reported this to the police, the hotel management and event staff. The police took the report, but the hotel staff showed no concern or inquired if we were OK. They directed us to the event promoter, even though the incident happened on their premises. The promoter also directed us back to the hotel. I later found out that the cameras in the parking lot were not actively working. Neither party showed any concern for what had happened to us. We were stuck in Palm Springs and had to pay for a lock smith to come out and make an extra key for my friends car. Aside from my elevtronics I also lost several items I had purchased at the festival including the festival mug that came with our high priced event ticket. Why am I posting this now? Most recently a friend of mine stayed at the hotel and shared some unpleasant incidents and the same lack of concern from the night staff. Or the day staff. Their experience was not as harsh as ours, but the overall customer service seamed to suck as much as ours did. As much as I love tiki, the event promoter for TIKI CALIENTE and the CALIENTE TROPICS staff DO NOT CARE about the well being of their guests. Both the promoter and the hotel had inadequate security the night of the event. Specially for an event of that magnitude.

Sorry this stay was very unsatisfactory. Our bathtub was over flowing taking a shower. Something that house keeping should have noticed while cleaning. The AC filter was so dusty it wouldn't cool the large room down. The mattress was so old and beaten down you feel the springs in your back. Our room door had crack you could see light through. I dad call me the front desk and tell they sent the handy man on sight to fix the tub. It's very outdated. We came from LA was too late to find a new hotel to stay in. You shouldn't have to feel disgusted in your own room. I called hotels com to ask for a refund and they had to call the hotel and they decided because they said they fixed the problem. Not cool.

My family and I have been visiting the Caliente Tropics since 2010. I love the hotel's style and the pool area is nice. However, I was really disappointed this weekend. The pool was dirty, and the rooms haven't been upgraded since I started coming in 2010. The sink was clogged, and the rug was dirty. I'm very disappointed.

Stayed here with my boyfriend over the weekend and booked through expedia which had 4.1 stars however the hotel was a total catfish. Pictures it looks alright but when we walked to our room it was so musty and outdated especially for the price. The ceiling had a ton of stains and the walls were filthy. Worse than a motel 8. Stay somewhere that your hard earned money deserves.

Getting there: From the 111 fwy, take it all the way down slightly past the bend and you'll see this hotel on the right side. Parking is available for hotel guests. Experience: I stayed at this hotel for one night when I attended Splash House after hours a few years ago, and it served its purpose. While it may not be the fanciest hotel, it was convenient for a short stay. The room was clean enough, and the staff was friendly. However, I did notice that the property could use some updating, as it felt a bit dated. The pool area was pleasant, and the location was decent for the event we attended, but I wouldn't necessarily choose it for an extended stay.

If you want to relax by the pool this is not the place to do so. Constantly being harassed by the woman who works inside of the Reef restaurant. Very demanding, not welcoming. The hotel staff is great, the room was nice. Our first time there and she does not make us feel comfortable coming back. Kept accusing a pregnant woman and a 70 year old woman of drinking alcohol while everyone around us had there own cups. All we had was water and even that she told us we can't have.

I've been coming here for the last 5 years and today I am convinced it will be my last. Starting with the same old lady waitress that works every weekend at the Reef restaurant next to resort. It never fails, she's always harassing the people at the pool. With the decrease of guests that I've seen over the years, she should be nicer considering we keep our tab open on our entire stay. The rooms are getting worse over the years. It's time to move on, good bye caliente tropics.

Investing in a new furniture and making sure that the place is clean when guest arrive at the hotel and also making sure that they are on top of things when the guest have complaints about the rooms being dirty. I actually did call the office to complain about this issue but according to the young man who was in the office he said that they had no supervisor in charge so I couldn't speak to anybody about it

do not stay here, saw bed bugs, horrible customer service, delapitated rooms, horrible beds, rooms smell like smoke, dirty . read all the other horrible reviews. this place is up for sale, no one cares. totally ruined our experience. manager jose could care less, no apologies. horrible customer service

The food is good in both restaurants, the drinks are ok . The rooms are not good , weeds in back private patio furniture destroyed ac was not good and frig never got cold enough the ice machines on site did not work . The bar staff were not friendly at all, the reef waitress never smiled . Front Mexican restaurant had really good food with friendly staff . The bartenders need to take lessons from the bootleger. Had I good time but would say one and done

I really liked the ambience of the tiki decor, the pool, the hot tubs, and the fact that it is pet friendly even though that of course costs more. In fact I have been staying here every year for about 5 years. This year I needed to change the date by one day and I tried to do that through Booking.com who told me to call the hotel and they promised that it would happen without issue, then I received an email saying they refused to change the date and that decision was final. So I booked the earlier date elsewhere one night, did my second night at Caliente Tropics, where I spoke to the manager. Caliente Tropics manager sent me to circle back to call Booking. I explained Booking said that permission was needed from Caliente, but noooo.....this person spat out the callous corporate one liner, expecting me to relay race back to Booking who would then send me back to Calliente. All for a one night date change during the holidays when it was obvious that renting the room was not a problem. They honestly could give a fuck because they'll always get an en flux of new tourists. If you like to be attended to stay at overpriced run down resorts and be attended to by sour corporate greed, I highly recommend Caliente Tropics. And the shower was broken.

I stayed at this resort this past weekend. Had the worst experience. The room smelled musty and moldy. It had very old carpet. When I layed down to sleep I saw blood stains on blankets and covers. The shower knob did not work so I was unable to shower. I went down to lobby and a young lady was going in circles on what to do. I told her can I speak to the room manager. She stated he was not available. She could not find us a room . She finally said if you like you guys can leave the property and I will give a full refund. That was not proper customer service. She should have taken the time to either call a maintenance guy right away or find us another room. She gave me a receipt which did not state the amount charged on my credit card. It just had a bunch of zero's. I emailed the hotel manager hopefully I will receive a response.

Absolutely looking forward to this stay... A long time coming, Nathan at the front desk was super helpful. Catching the last day of Tiki Caliente

This review is for three separate companies within Caliente Tropics Resort. 1. The hotel/resort. Nice grounds. Fun pool area. Good music. Comfortable and safe rooms. Older resort and grounds but it has a nice ambiance and atmosphere. Very tropical. My only complaint is that my brother, sister in law, and I were talking just outside our room and a staff member confronted us about a noise complaint. We weren't even loud. I guess people go to bed super early and don't like others laughing and talking. Oh well. I'm not a complainer so I cannot relate. 2. Reef. Great bar and food. Awesome atmosphere and ambiance. Fun vibes. Drinks are delicious and food is outstanding. Their fish & chips are so good. Their Loco Moco is fabulous. Highly recommended. 3. Sancho's. Good restaurant with a fun vibe. Food is really good. I got their Machaca. Really good. Service is great too. Good people. Fast and fresh. Just how I like it. I'd stay here again. Had a great stay. Good memories. Cheers!

I'm not big into the Tiki scene or the bar scene, but this motel is a great getaway for a few days! The on sight restaurant, Sancho's, is down right delectable! The TV got actual channels. I'm sure the pool is great, but I didn't swim on my stay. My only issue with this place was no wi-fi, well, they do have Wi-Fi, but being in Palm Springs it kept going down every time I tried to get online. But that's not their fault. Hence full stars.

Arrived around 5 PM to check in, only to find the lobby locked with another family standing outside, visibly upset and waiting in the heat. I decided to head to The Reef to wait for someone to open the lobby. I'm not sure if The Reef is affiliated with the hotel, but I was essentially ignored there, so I went back to see if the lobby had been opened--it hadn't. We ended up sitting outside in the heat until someone finally arrived to check us in, acting as if nothing was wrong and no one had been inconvenienced. When it was time to check out, the same issue occurred: the lobby was locked again, with no one in sight. As I tried to force my room card into the door, someone suddenly appeared from the darkness, unlocked the door, and took the cards. With so many hotel options in Palm Springs, this one is definitely off my 'revisit list.' The only positive aspect of my stay was the clean room. I don't recommend this hotel.

We had ( fully Pre Paid )room reservations to stay at Caliente Tropics . Despite the hotel's shabby exterior, the on-site , but separately managed , Reef Bar and Sanchos breakfast restaurant persuaded us to want to stay here . On our scheduled check in day ,I phoned to ask (on a Monday btw ) if there was any availability for an early check-in,&also mentioned the Yelp Check -in Offer that Tiki Caliente Tropics has posted? On their Yelp page ? Offering a free upgrade to a suite ? The rude desk clerk , (after trying to explain , at length , that Yelp was a "third party booking app" ? LoLs ? ) rather snappily gave us a long list of "extra charges " for early check in ($50 extra between this time and that time $30 extra for slightly later times and some other extensively worded jargon about needing a manager to "approve" the "room change ". This could only be done AFTER we were already there in front of them to "prove " the check in offer on your "third party reservation "(Third party booking seemed to be a big personal insult &issue for this desk clerk ?) "We will Need to see your app , your phone , your original reservation on "whatever app it was that you used " etc etc etc ..... to which I responded (and I quote) "just a little feedback .... That long list of "extra charges"& unwelcoming tone certainly is not at all hospitable sounding "... to which the receptionist responded tartly "finE .... The reservation is canceled... go thru your third party booking agent to get a refund" HOW UNBELIEVABLE AND RUDE ! I was Completely sideswiped , and aghast ! I literally begged that I did Not want to cancel. I in calm tones , apologized that I had upset her , and could I please just speak to a manager.... ? Since we two Are clearly misunderstanding each other & apparently need management approval? She REFUSED! "You don't need a manager because you don't have a reservation" was her young -person "flex", disguised as a reasonable resolution? Therefore, all I know for certain is that the receptionist's "final decision" was made by & enforced solely by the female desk clerk ,that was working on the morning of (1/16/23) . . .... I don't know if Alicia theGeneral mgr appoints such power to the desk clerk to "happily refund " on her whim alone ? Was the "full refund" questionable to Jose , the hotel manager? He took over TWO WEEKS TO REFUND US !? He certainly did not return my voice mail messages , reasonably -toned &voicing time -sensitive concerns about weather our "non refundable for no-shows room" was indeed being refunded ? Since the desk clerk was , in her own extensive explanation, "non -management" it seemed of concern that she would not be "authorized "to process our refund ? .... ( A legit customer service concern), considering her pronouncements of "not being allowed" to approve any room upgrade ahead of time or without "management" Andrew S ? in customer service ? If you care .... The hotel's rude "receptionist"just lost a return customer . I will be sharing my LoW opinion of this hotel's POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, with my Many "tiki culture loving" friends &I suggest boycotting any tiki event or convention held here.

Great pool, nice people, reasonable prices. PS usually overprice but this is reasonable. They allow dogs at $25 a night per dog

We didn't stay here but had drinks at The Reef with our two dogs on the patio. All of the staff was so nice and friendly, good service and really awesome drinks. We had the rum runner (totally spot on) and the Palm Springs punch, also so good. Can't wait to come back

The bad: the hotel is old as shit. The rooms are disgusting, the bathrooms are even worst. The coloring and design will take you back to the 70s. They really need a big renovation. Probably one of the oldest hotels I've ever stayed in. Thin walls. Hardwood floor, good luck staying on the bottom floor. The noise on the top floor was very loud, unless there was a rhino staying there. The good: Dog friendly! I love love love that they have a dog park and dogs are allowed in the pool area (not in the pool of course). It's just so nice to see beautiful dogs everywhere. All smaller dogs and all of them weren't aggressive. The pool was a nice perk. Plenty of chairs. The bar next to the pool was pretty good! The food was good but they don't go around the pool taking orders. You have to go there and order food and drinks and they require mask and sandals every time. We stayed here bc we attended a wedding close by and unfortunately all the other hotels were booked due to pride weekend. We probably would never stay here again. Just super old, need to renovate.

This hotel has a ton of potential, but is seriously overpriced for what it is. Room was $500 for the night and was nothing more than a glorified Motel 6. Our room had holes in the wall, stained carpet, wallpaper peeling off, stained sheets, walls had what appeared to be blood stains, particle board shelves falling apart, no privacy (had to use the clothes hangers to keep the curtains closed). On the plus side, the tiki bar "The Reef" was pretty cool and the food was good. The staff was friendly and the pool area was well kept. The attached Mexican restaraunt "Sanchos" should have its Mexican card taken away. We've had better food at Tacobell.

This was my 4th time staying at Caliente Tropics since 2017 or 18 . I gave a 4 star review just for the fact that it's an older property , however It's my go to spot when I stay in Palm Springs Alreafy looking forward to my next trip even though I'm not sure when that will be

What's great, the lush well landscaped grounds, huge pool and jacuzzi, new lounge chairs and open pool deck for lounging. The bad, the room was dated, dirty, noisy AC and randomly running toilet, frayed wall paper, gross carpet, and the weakest water pressure ever experienced! This is a 2-star motel at best. Check in was fine but dinghy low light lobby with bird cages and expressionless clerk was not a warm welcome. Got up to hike at 7:30, went to grab ice but was told the machine was in the gym, walk to the gym and it opens at 8am. Ice machine should be available 24/7. Used the vending machine for a $2.75 Sprite but got Aquafina instead. No food/beverage at the pool, you have to go Le Fern ($18.11 for a can of Sprite and a bottle of Modelo) or the Mexican restaurant onsite for the essentially the same order but $5 less. Either one was not super welcoming for pool guests. Would not stay again or recommend.

I left voicemail for the manager Jose on Sunday 5/26/24 and have STILL not heard back from Caliente Tropics about Nathan's erratic behavior and calling the police on us for his mistake. This place is extremely unprofessional

Always a great time! Nathan was great at check in! Can't wait for vacation to start! Beautiful property and fun people!

Ok. I'm not trying to make this long, just informative and educational, and maybe you'll find humor in it. The vibe of this place is totally cute, and it really has so much potential. That being said, there are certain things you expect in a hotel (even a motel) room that this place was all together missing. I'll save the best for last seeing as I'm not trying to write a book, but I definitely want to keep your attention on this review. This first thing is a clock.. alarm clock, if you will. Not just for the time or an alarm but for that nice, dim neon glow you get in your room from it when it's dark, that helps you see just enough to get you to the bathroom. NO CLOCK! The second thing is a telephone! Let's forget the fact that everyone has a cell phone for a minute, please. We (maybe not millennials or younger) can all appreciate picking up an actual receiver, ringing the front desk, asking for a late check out, or ordering a pizza! NO PHONE! The third and most important thing a room should have is hot water!!! In the sink and in the shower!! I don't expect to have to WALK to the front desk (because there was no phone to call with, remember?) to ask about the hot water... only to be moved to another room, the morning of check out, just to be able to shower! NO HOT WATER! Again, this is a cute place with lots of potential, but we will NOT be staying here again. Lots of luck to those who do.

I'm kind of obsessed with this place. It's a little dated but that's part of the charm. The location is great and the pool is large and not too crowded. Good hot tub. I love the relaxed retro vibe.

Just don't stay here. Horrible customer service. I went to check in and the girl at the desk was threatening someone to have them removed physically then the next person in line didn't bring back a couple pool towels and they were going to be charged for towels ..first time I've heard this. She said rooms not ready they will call me. We'll check in time comes and goes still no call. I go in to the lobby and two guys are there. I'm upset but not angry. I said check in is at 3 they said it's 4. See Google check in time It's 3. Regardless it's 4 o'clock. Then another guy comes out and starts staring me down. So 3 of them are trying to intimate me for zero reason. He said I cancelled your stay and I left.

We stayed in one of the renovated rooms. Yes this is a dated motel but it was clean and quiet. The staff is friendly and accommodating. The pool and bar area are super fun and provide a great vibe for the place. For the money we payed we were satisfied with the whole experience. The restaurant is also very good.

I knew I would like this hotel despite the poor reviews. Yes, the hotels rooms are old. There is west on the walls and dressers. But, the beds are comfy and the bathroom is clean. We got a suite for a reasonable price for our small family. The pool is heated and open until midnight. The restaurants are good. The bars are wonderful. The staff is happy and helpful. My kids really enjoyed the ping pong table and stretch of grass by the pool/ hot tub area. The ambiance of the hotel is also nice. The light tiki torches at sunset and okay realizing Hawaiian music as you swim. It was a perfect place to relax. If you are bougie, I would not recommend. But if you like vintage hotels with a little bit of kitsch stay here.

Recently stayed here & it has a cool Tiki theme, Elvis had been known to stay here. The receptionist was very nice & provided a lot of info for things to do in the area. The Reef bar attached is kinda overpriced for average, think frozen, food & drinks. They did let us check in early (which was appreciated), they charge for late check out. Our room was an average room, floor was water damaged but it was clean & had working AC. Which was very necessary for 118 weather. Cool experience, I'll probably try a different cool hotel next time in Palm Springs. ***Hey Andrew, thanks for the response. It worked out to check out at reg check out time. True regarding The Reef, cool themed bar but the drinks are overpriced. You do have a cool hotel, & the pool was clean & awesome. Enjoyed our time there.

Wow. Unfortunately this place has gone down hill! We have stayed here for the last many, many years for pride. The room now has no chairs to sit in and no dresser, this is not acceptable! Lunch at the reef yesterday was less then enjoyable- food was gross, dirty restaurant, it's always nice to see the staff touching people's food items with bare hands after not washing them, and picking stuff up off the floor and giving to customers, putting fruit in drinks with cub lean hands, wow is all I can say. won't be staying here again! Thanks for ruining what used to be a great thing!

"Would you like another?" As I paused to consider, I took a long sip of my mai tai and looked at the scene around me. The hotel pool was full of guests happily basking in the shallows, their plastic cups dotted with pineapples and cherries. Carved tiki heads stood at the gates to the pool, where beyond them the view opened to a spectacular mountain range that towered above the pool area. I nodded "Yes, please. I'm not going anywhere." The Caliente Tropics hotel was a wonderful place to spend a night, largely thanks to what is essentially a swim-up tiki bar. The Reef carries all the tiki favorites, as well as a few of their own spins on the classics. Spending an afternoon indulging in tropical drinks at the pool's edge was a highlight of our trip. The room itself was large and spacious, as we had booked a king suite. There is AC in each room, thank goodness, plenty of floor space, a solid mattress, and we had a very comfortable stay. The staff was awesome, high marks from us. Overall, a great price for a tiki getaway. You'll love The Reef.

Absolutely the worst experience caliente tropics, I've stayed at the tropics caliente for the last 25 years but never again, before arriving I was contacted by the front desk to confirm my stay since it was late I confirmed I'd be arriving late I got there at 3:30 am everything was fine until I noticed I had forgotten my wallet, I assured the front desk with photo I'd in my phone, a photo of my credit card, a photo of my passport and told them I could produce everything in the morning by means of funds and identification. I had stayed the previous week on Thursday sorry sir I will get in trouble if I allow you to stay, I told hi. I'm 150 miles from home its 330 am I'm tired, no sorry you'll have to leave ? So I left on my way home 4:00 am I was so mad at myself and front desk personal that I was losing my money and was insulted he didn't look up my history or look at my photos of my drivers license and credit card in my phone knowing I wouldn't sleep when I arrived home retrieved my wallet and headed back another 150 miles mind you now clocking in 450 miles when I arrived back at caliente at 830am I mentioned to the front desk what had happened he tore up my paperwork and said unfortunately your not going to be staying here canceled my reservations and said have a nice day ! WTF ? Now I was furious ! Absolutely the worst hotel experience I've ever had I will never stay at this incompetent dump ever again ! Come to find out upon talking amongst freinds that I know the owner, we went to school together I will try and contact her through social media im sure she's unaware of how bad desk people are handling her business !! I'm not trying to get something for nothing but situations like this can benifit your business by depending on the outcome, it's not exactly the season to be in palm springs in the middle of August 110` degrees but 25 year dedicated customer will never see or refer anyone to this average hotel !! And given the opportunity when this place comes to mind I will defer and speak truth to the problem !! NEVER STAY AT THE CALIENTE TROPICS ! INCOMPETENCE & UNHAPPY FRONT DESK PERSONAL !!

I love Caliente Tropics Resort! This is a great value in the area with a unique, Tiki theme, onsite dining and bar, and a nice pool and hot tub for relaxing. My understanding is that this resort has been revived, having fallen into disrepair years ago. The new owners have done a great job or bringing the life back into it, preserving or replacing the Tiki carvings, unique architecture, and setting up recreational areas. The rooms themselves don't seem to have gotten the upscale treatment yet, but at these reasonable prices, I wasn't complaining. Parking is close and easy. The motel setup made packing and unpacking a snap. The front desk was very helpful and accommodating. Plus, it looks fun! Sitting beside the pool beneath the palms and desert sky while Mai Tai's kept being brought to me was a wonderful way to spend a relaxing afternoon!

Nice place. I would definitely come back pool area is really chill. The tiki bar is crazy nice. They also serve food. Cool rockabilly vibe

In July, my wife and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary. We decided we wanted to go somewhere close, but far enough away that made it feel like we were on vacation. What better place during the summer than beautiful Palm Springs?? This was our 3rd recent visit to this wonderful Southern California city and we knew where ever we stayed we would be spending most of the time lounging at or inside the pool. My wife did her homework and found us a great deal at the Caliente Tropics Resort Hotel. Located right off the main drag, this place is everything you really need when staying in the middle of the desert. Clean rooms, Ice Cold A/C, 2 on site restaurants, one of which has a tiki bar inside (see my previous review of the The Reef), and a ridiculously amazing swimming pool and hot tub. Don't feel like getting out of the pool or up from your tanning chair? Poolside service from the Reef tiki bar will make sure your drink is never empty! It's a quick 2-3 minute drive from the downtown area where there are more bars, restaurants and shops till you can drop. Another 2 minute drive the opposite direction and there is an Elmer's restaurant (great breakfast) as well as a grocery store if you need. For the pool and tiki bar alone, we will definitely be coming back and staying at the Caliente Tropics Resort Hotel in the future.

The property was cute but management is wildly unfair and unprofessional. They charged my card extra for no reason and told me "your comfort is not my concern" by Nathan at the front desk. Ruined my vacation staying here...