Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa, Indian Wells

Written by Elizabeth Bickford

The Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa, Indian Wells is one of my favorite locations for a great family getaway. I often recommend this property and I can’t express how much I love spending time here. This property offers a variety of activities for families and couples, and it is something that I wanted to share here again. There are five things that you can add to your trip to the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa, Indian Wells. This will elevate your get away to a true family vacation and not just a weekend getaway.

Cabana

We’ve all seen the cabanas at the Resorts, and I’m sure you’ve always wondered “Is it really worth it?”. When you were staying on a property like Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa, Indian Wells in the middle of the desert the cabana is something you want to try! The cabanas here include a tent with a fan and a TV with a Soundsystem. There are couches with dining areas and a large cooler where you can keep your drinks as well as the fresh fruit that is provided. In front of the cabanas there are five lounge chairs that are shaded with umbrellas, and this is perfect for watching the kids out in the pool or for just relaxing by yourself. The cabanas are in front of the sandy beach entrance of the pool. This means if you have your little ones - you can have them play in the sand while you are next to them in the lounge chairs. This is the only location that allows for that. Otherwise, you would need to bring your own small chairs or sit directly in the sand. The service to the cabanas is excellent and you will likely never find yourself without a drink in hand! This is a luxury addition to your stay, it comes with a price tag of $500 a day but if you have enough people in your group it really does make sense to allow yourself the in and out privilege of the space, alternatively you would need to have somebody holding your lounge chairs throughout the entire day.

Spa

Spa Esmeralda offers an experience that will elevate your stay to that luxury level! The spa offers private hot tubs and steam areas. In addition to the services rooms there is a quiet lounge where you can relax and unwind in peace and serenity. They also offer couples services and treatments. I recommend the massage with hot stones. In my opinion, that is one of the best ways to break up tension and feel cozy. Once you book a treatment you will have access to the rest of the amenities in the spa and if you can allot yourself a few hours it’s a great way to relax and take some time for yourself.

Desert Glow

If you have your kids with you, you will want to stop in to Desert Glow. This is a new attraction and arcade area inside of the lobby. The desert glow offers several claw machines games, a VR experience, some ride on arcade games, and a bowling alley. The kids will be able to spend a lot of time in this area - the games come at a small fee but not more than a typical arcade. I would also recommend checking out the escape room that is inside of the arcade. The escape room takes place every 30 minutes, and it approximately takes 30 minutes to complete. I was able to complete the escape room successfully with my 11 and 13-year-old, of course we did need a little help to get started as this was our first escape room! I think that the kids really enjoyed it, and it was a great way to work together! This will help step up your stay and create family memories!

CAVA

Dining at CAVA will elevate your experience at the resort. The chef is phenomenal, and you will not want to miss experiencing his cuisine. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining - I typically eat here for breakfast as there is a lot to enjoy. They offer a traditional breakfast menu as well as a breakfast buffet. The chef goes out of his way to make sure that you are enjoying your meal and the staff is beyond accommodating. I have not had a disappointing meal here and that is saying a lot! Be sure to make a reservation if you were looking to dine in the evening as that is a little bit busier. After dinner, walk out onto the adjoining patios and enjoy some of the family games like ping-pong or cornhole. Lastly, end the evening by the fire pit with your drink and take in the beautiful sites of the resort.

Room

If you want to take your getaway and turn it into a luxury vacation status, I recommend upgrading your room. I have stayed at the resort several times I’ve stayed in the standard double bedroom, the king standard room, and a suite with and without an adjoining room. in my opinion either of the suites are a great way to add a little something extra to your family vacation. The suites offer a living room area, including a dining space and a desk, that can allow you to break up where everyone is operating within the room. This is helpful when you are traveling with your family. When you have the adjoining extra room, it does help with the bathroom situation however the bathrooms are large and there is an additional vanity outside of the bathroom which helps with getting ready. I really appreciate that the suites have separate sleeping spaces which allows for you to close the bedroom door if you have someone in the family who’s going to be staying up later and watching television.

I was also very impressed with the room temperature controls. I never walked into the room feeling hot or stuffy it was always cool and inviting and it was very comfortable to sleep in. If you travel off-peak time that might be more budget friendly, and it might be a better opportunity to go ahead and add that upgraded room or additional adjoining room to give you extra space.

These are my five top suggestions for elevating your experience at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa, Indian Wells. However, there are some other things to mention. I recommend spending most of your time at the pool whether you’re in a cabana or not this is where you will want to be relaxing and enjoying the water and the different and unique conversation spaces set up around the pool area. Another thing worth mentioning is the property is located on a very well-known golf course and your family or those most interested in golf will appreciate being able to use those golf courses. Additionally, there are great activities nearby. If you do not want to stay on property throughout your entire visit, I would recommend visiting the living desert or heading into Palm Springs proper and experiencing all the great experiences that they have in their downtown area.

Overall, I have to say this is my favorite property for a family vacation in the Coachella Valley. It is unique and offers a lot of picturesque and lovely moments to create with your family. If you want to learn more about the property visit my other review on trekaroo.com or check out my reels for some more information of the resort.