The fiction behind the Parkercooked up by vasemaker Jonathan Adler in this makeover of the Givenchy Hotel & Spais that you are staying with your rich middle-aged aunt, Mrs. Parker, who has a 13-acre desert estate with two pools, two restaurants, a spa, and, nearby, a golf course. As befits the worldly Mrs. Parker, there's sisal on the floors and sea grass on the ceilings of the 144 rooms, as well as cubistic canopy beds, lamps shaped like horses, and needlepoint butterfly pillows. Schiaparelli-pink-jacketed men chat you up on the way to your room, whereupon Moroccan tea is served as a welcoming gesture. Meals are served either at Norma'sa diner that offers red-berry risotto oatmeal in an edible bowl and $1,000 lobster frittatas with ten ounces of sevrugaor at the more formal Mr. Parker's, a low-ceilinged, wood-paneled lair. The resort's particular brand of tongue in cheek is not for everyonebut then Mrs. Parker wouldn't have it any other way.
When to go: Palm Springs is a perennial winter getaway.
Which room to book: The Lanai Kings in the north building have private patios, overlook the pool, and offer the best value
Amenities:
Bar/lounge,
Gym,
Pool,
Spa,
24-hour Room Service,
Wheelchair-accessible