The Lodge at Rancho Mirage

Ratings: Baby/Child Friendliness: Romance: More about the ratings... Contact Information 68-900 Frank Sinatra Drive Rancho Mirage, California 92270 Phone: (760) 773-4444 Fax: (760) 773-9250 www.marriott.com

Guests can unwind by the luxurious pool.

This resort exudes an air of “desert casual,” despite its formal, turn-of the century styled decorations. Staff at the front desk and the public relations office are pleasant and down-to-earth at the Lodge at Rancho Mirage, although the laid-back attitude seems to make their service a little less than attentive; for instance, maids, servers, hotel operators and bellmen did not address me by my name as they did at many of the other resorts featured at this site. Attendants sometimes seemed reluctant to respond to requests. This hotel was previously the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage, and during my visit, food at their Club proved more ample, substantial, tasty, and diversified than at, for instance, the Huntington Ritz-Carlton. At the Club at the Lodge at Rancho Mirage, very comfortable, plush chairs and sofas provided quite adequate seating so that we did not need to hunt for a private spot, as at the Huntington. Here, the Club is located on the third floor and, like the others, offers five food presentations. Club access comes with its own concierge staff ready to specifically assist Club members. The staff will also assist with unpacking and storing luggage.

The resort consists of 240 guest rooms and includes twenty-one suites and thirty-one club rooms and suites, each with a private balcony and French doors that open up to views of the mountains, valleys or pool.

Health and Fitness:

• The Spa services include massages, body exfoliation, body wraps, facials, and ayurvedic services. The hotel's specialty is the Pancha Karma massage wherein two therapists perform a relaxing massage with sesame oil.
• The fitness center offers fitness classes and training but seemed in need of renovation at the time of my stay. The facility was better than some I've seen, but rather small and cramped and the cardio and weight machines were old and not in top condition. In the women's lobby bathroom, I found that all the locks but one were broken and used towels were lying around on the sink.

Additional Facilities:

• A tennis center with ten lighted tennis courts and a pro shop.
• Gift, jewelry, and apparel shops.
• A year-round heated pool and a Jacuzzi.
• Golf privileges at nearby desert courses.
• Mountainous walking trails.
• Jose Eber salon de Beaute; which features hair, nail, and makeup services.
• Conference facilities include a ballroom, which offers 8400 square feet of meeting space that can be divided into four separate rooms.

Dining:

• The Dining Room, winner of Mobil Four-Star and AAA Four-Diamond ratings serves a French Mediterranean cuisine. Four-course meals cost $75.00 and three-course meals are $65.00. This formal restaurant provides nightly entertainment.
• The Café offers continental fare including a Friday night seafood buffet, and a Sunday Champagne and Caviar brunch.

While this hotel was still the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage, it received various accolades, such as on the Condé Nast's Gold List for 2000 and the Mobil Four-Star and AAA Four-Diamond ratings. As the Lodge at Rancho Mirage, it is gaining recognition as well.

Baby / Child Friendliness:

• Refrigerators in rooms and laundry services are provided.
• Cribs are available.
• Baby-sitting is offered.
• The resort has a small kid's playground where kids can climb on structures over a large sandy area.
• Ritz Kids' Program was in place at the time of my stay. This is a complimentary, year-round program for children ages five through twelve staying with their parents at the hotel. It is designed specifically to give mom and dad a break. The program is offered daily from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a wide array of supervised activities overseen by two Ritz-Kids' Counselors. Kids also receive a box lunch.

Each day, the program follows a different theme of activities, therefore no two consecutive days will be alike.

Monday--Kids have the opportunity to be "Chef for a Day."

Tuesday--A "Nature Day" which includes a nature walk, Native American arts and crafts, and tennis.

Wednesday--A "Multicultural Day" where different cultures are discussed.

Friday--An "Etiquette Day" where children learn and practice table manners, decorative napkin folding, and writing creative thank you notes.

Other activities held during the week include swimming pool games, pottery making, scavenger hunts, face painting, botanical adventures, puppet shows, and storytelling.

• In my room, one electrical outlet was covered and a night-light was found in the bathroom. Parents should take it upon themselves to better baby-proof their room at this hotel. .

Romance:

The setting, the personal services available, and the Kids program--designed to give mom and dad free time from the children--all add to the romance potential of the Lodge at Rancho Mirage.

The Lodge at Rancho Mirage is uniquely situated on a 650 foot plateau in the Santa Rosa Mountains at the helm of a 900 acre desert wildlife sanctuary. Guests here enjoy the grand views of the Coachella Valley.

Understated elegance describes the resort's décor, which includes Persian rugs, Waterford chandeliers and custom brocade wall coverings. Alongside of this formality, I found the hotel to also maintain a relaxing ambiance in many ways.

My room was decorated in muted desert shades, mostly an off-white color, with classical and traditional décor. My view overlooked the resort's pretty gazebo and the expansive desert area of the Coachella Valley. The room contained marble bathrooms and antique-finish armoires with televisions. I found this comfortable elegance conducive to a romantic stay.