Sands Hotel and Spa Youtube Video
Check out our stay at the Sands Hotel and Spa!
The Sands Hotel and Spa at a Glance
Rooms
46
Location
Indian Wells, California
Address
44-985 Province Wy, Indian Wells, CA 92210
Airport
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), 12.3 miles or 25-30 minute drive
Check-In
4:00 PM
Check-Out
12:00PM
Parking
Self-Parking is included in the cost of your resort fee
Hotel Restaurant
The Pink Cabana
Amenities
Spa in the Olive Grove
Hotel Group
Common Thread Hotels
The History of The Sands Hotel and Spa
The Sands Hotel and Spa has an interesting background. Originally built in the late 1950s, it was completely reimagined in 2018, becoming the first designer boutique hotel in Indian Wells. The redesign was led by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, one of Architectural Digest’s Top 100 Designers in the world. If his name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s worked with some serious A-list clients, including Kylie Jenner, Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian, Cher, and American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger.
In a Vogue interview, Bullard shared his approach to design, saying:
“I’m always inspired by travel. Travel is a never-ending source of color, shape, style, historic detail, and cultural exposure.“
For the Sands Hotel and Spa, Bullard drew heavily from Moorish design elements, which add a rich, cultural layer to the space. Developed by the Moors- a Muslim group who ruled parts of Spain and Portugal from the 8th to 13th centuries- this design style is defined by features like stucco, horseshoe and multi-foil arches, intricate tilework, geometric patterns, and serene courtyard gardens.
About Common Threads Hotel
The Sands Hotel and Spa is part of the Common Threads hotel collection, a group known for design-centric spaces that blend style with a sense of place. Their focus is on creating thoughtful, authentic experiences. Other hotels in the collection include The Prospect Hollywood in Los Angeles, Holiday House in Palm Springs, and Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa in Laguna Beach.
Our Stay at The Sands Hotel and Spa
Dates
May 26 – May 27
Type
Overnight Desert Escape
Room
Superior King
A Little Flashback to 2023…
Truth be told, this wasn’t our first time at the Sands Hotel and Spa… We had just wrapped up four dusty days camping at the Coachella festival. Frank Ocean had just performed his infamous headlining set (if you know, you know), and we were ready to rejoin the world of real beds and running water. The Sands Hotel felt like the perfect place to rewind after a long weekend of dancing in the desert.
We pulled up to the hotel, only to discover what looked like the aftermath of a major Coachella influencer event. I remember feeling a little out of place against the gloss and glamour of the hotel while we barely had a real shower in days. Check-in wasn’t quite ready yet, so we wandered down the street for breakfast while we waited.
Over coffee and bagels, I did a little social media sleuthing. Turns out H&M hosted a Coachella event at the hotel over the weekend with a star-studded guest list including the Emma Roberts and Zooey Deutch. Celebrity sightings are part of the Coachella scene, but realizing they had been staying at the exact same hotel we had just checked into made it feel like we had accidentally wandered into their world.
Setting the Scene in 2025
Mother’s Day was a couple of weekends prior and if you’ve ever worked in the restaurant industry, you know it’s one of the busiest, most chaotic days of the year. I’m a server and Tyler’s a line cook, so we are in the thick of it all weekend long. So by the time the weekend wrapped, this overnight trip was needed.
From San Diego to Indian Wells, Tyler took the wheel, while I happily claimed my spot as the passenger princess. As we wound our way through the mountains that encompass the Palm Springs valley, we watched the temperature climb to 80 degrees… 90… 100. All I could think about was changing into my bathing suit and spending the afternoon doing absolutely nothing by the pool.
The drive up to the Sands Hotel and Spa is a little unassuming. One minute, you’re passing shopping plazas, chain restaurants, and the usual desert sprawl. And just like that, the iconic pink building appears, almost quietly. Both times we’ve stayed here, I’ve had the same reaction pulling into the parking lot: Wait, is this it?
But then you walk up to the arched front door, lined with cacti and framed by the soft pink wall, and something shifts. This feeling that you’re about to step out of the real world into something special.
The Lobby
Walking into the lobby at the Sands Hotel and Spa feels like stepping into another world we’ve never quite seen before. You’re immediately hit with a burst of bold, black-and-white mixed patterns. You’d think it would clash but somehow it works. The design is unapologetic, yet playful.
Bullard explained his design choice, saying:
“When it comes to integrating the bold geometric patterns found in Islamic design into contemporary interiors, monochrome allows for the most versatility. If you have a lot of patterns, you can really limit the color, so you’re not distracted.”
We’re welcomed with a glass of Moroccan iced tea- sweet, minty, and refreshing- and exactly what we need after stepping in from the 100-degree desert heat.
After checking in, we lugged our suitcases upstairs, catching a glimpse of the pool on the way. It looked like an oasis with a glistening pool daring us to jump in. I was ready to just ditch the bags and head straight out. But when we reached our room, the golden palm tree doorknocker greeted us before we even stepped inside, and I had to take a pause.
The Room
The bold design carries into the hotel rooms and offers an air-conditioned escape from the Palm Springs sun. Our room featured a king-sized bed with a fun trefoil-style headboard wrapped in the hotel’s signature pink Moroccan pattern.
I found myself drawn to the artwork on the wall. A vibrant, retro Palm Springs poolside that practically radiated color and conversations. A quick reverse image search confirmed the artist: American photographer, Slim Aarons. His work perfectly captures the kind of timeless, socialite-luxury the Sands Hotel and Spa draws from, without taking itself too seriously.
Both times we’ve stayed, we’ve booked the Superior King because it comes with either a balcony or patio. Trust me- the outdoor space really adds to the hotel room experience. (Pro tip: go for the one with the patio if you can- it’s way cuter in my opinion.) One day, I want to splurge on the Junior Suite, which features an outdoor bathtub. It’s definitely on my bucket list.
The Bathroom
At the Sands, the bathroom is not an afterthought. Just like the lobby, the design here makes a statement. The shower is lined with black-and-white checkered tile that is eye-catching without feeling overwhelming. Soft pink walls, bohemian accents, and gold hardware pull it all together in a way that makes it feel elevated.
Similar to our stay at the Palihotel in San Diego, the Sands stocks their bathrooms with Diptyque products. The shampoos and shower gels fill the space with that unmistakable scent- sweet, summer peaches.
The Pool
After settling into our room we changed into our swimsuits and headed down to the pool.
Framed by towering palm trees, the pool felt like a hidden oasis tucked away from the desert heat. Pink daybeds lined the deck, packed with people soaking up the sun. They even provide SPF 30 and 50 for guests which is a thoughtful touch. If sunbathing isn’t your thing, the pool also offers shade with chic black-and-white cabanas and umbrellas, complete with water misters to keep you cool.
We found refuge under a cabana and didn’t hesitate to flag down the pool server to place our drink orders. Tyler went for a tropical rum cocktail, and I chose a coconut gin colada. Ever now and then, she’d hand out little treats like frozen grapes or shots of hydrating refreshers.
The Pink Cabana
The Pink Cabana is the onsite restaurant at the Sands Hotel and Spa. It is a Mediterranean-inspired, ingredient-driven restaurant with Moroccan flair. Designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, it channels a modern twist on the classic Palm Springs Tennis and Racquet Clubs of the 50s and 60s.
On our last visit, we enjoyed a delicious brunch here. While the dishes we loved aren’t on the current menu (which seems to rotate seasonally), that tells me they’re committed to fresh, innovative dishes. Since we’d already dined there before, we skipped a full meal this time- but still indulged in a platter of oysters by the pool.
Tyler, who works as a line cook and regularly shucks oysters, was genuinely impressed. So if a line cook’s stamp of approval counts for something, consider the oysters at the Pink Cabana a solid recommendation!
Overall Thoughts of The Sands Hotel and Spa
The Sands Hotel and Spa is made for one thing: lounging. And I mean that in the best possible way. You could easily spend the entire day drifting between sunny loungers and the pool, sipping cocktails, snacking on oysters, and just letting the time blur together. Maybe hop into the hot tub once the sun sets. It has everything you need to slow down, unplug, and escape the everyday hustle and grind.
If that’s what you’re looking for, then honestly, how perfect does that sound?
Both times we’ve stayed here, we’ve checked out thinking the same thing: Why did we only book one night!? So if I could give just one piece of advice, it would be this: book at least two nights so you can give yourself a full day to relax and unwind.