Santiago Resort

Santiago suits gay men who want a well-run, sociable pool with meals included and a reasonable walk to the bars. It is the largest of its group, so it is livelier than Descanso but is not an event resort. Skip it if you want day passes and parties (Casa Oliver) or the quietest possible stay (Descanso).

Who stays here

Santiago calls itself “a private escape for gay men” and is not for guests under 18. The pool and spa are swimsuit-optional. Only overnight guests use them: the resort sells no day passes and does not allow unregistered visitors poolside without permission.

It opened in 1995 and was remodeled in 2015, according to Gloss Magazine, which called it the “OG” of the group that also runs Descanso and Twin Palms.

Where it is

The address is 650 E San Lorenzo Road, southeast of downtown and a few blocks south of the Warm Sands resorts.

• Arenas Road bars: about 1.2 miles by road, roughly a 25-minute walk.
• Palm Canyon Drive at Tahquitz Canyon Way: about 1.5 miles.
• Palm Springs airport (PSP): under 3 miles by road.

Bicycles and off-street parking are included. A car is optional rather than essential, which is the practical difference from its two sisters.

Rooms

There are 24 rooms in three types:

• King Room — sleeps two.
• King Suite — adds a built-in daybed for a third person.
• Deluxe Suite — ground floor, with a fireplace, daybed and private patio. It is the room for guests with a dog ($100 pet fee).

Every room has its own heating and cooling, a refrigerator and an in-room safe.

Costs and what’s included

A $24 daily fee covers:

• continental breakfast and the “Stay n Splash” poolside lunch;
• the always-open cantina;
• bicycles, Wi-Fi and parking.

On top of the room rate, add the daily fee, 12.7% room tax and $60 per night for a third person. Live nightly rates are shown in the resort’s booking engine. Booking takes a one-night deposit, refundable if you cancel 14 or more days before arrival. Guests may bring their own alcohol; the resort does not sell it.

What recent guests say

Tripadvisor showed 884 reviews averaging 4.9 in October 2026. Of the ten most recent, all stays from July to September 2026, nine were five-star. Repeated praise:

• staff;
• cleanliness;
• the pool;
• value from the included breakfast, lunch and cantina.

The exception was a two-star review from late July 2026. A plumbing leak reported by text late on a Saturday night got no response until the next morning, and the guests felt the follow-up was rushed.

That lines up with the published front-desk hours: the desk closes at 7 pm Thursday to Saturday and at 5 pm the rest of the week. Before booking, ask how overnight problems are handled.

How it compares

Choose Descanso instead for a smaller (16-room), quieter version of the same formula, if you don’t mind being north of downtown. Choose Twin Palms for the group’s newest rooms (opened November 2022) and a 12-person spa, farther south. Choose a Warm Sands resort such as Casa Oliver if being able to walk to Arenas Road in 15 minutes matters more than included meals.