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So, How Bougie Does A $400 A Night Days Inn Feel?

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Days Inn Palm Springs

Days Inn Palm Springs Is How Much?

I was in Palm Springs, California recently, where the sun shines warmly and the foodie scene is a happening thing. Besides a day spent up in Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree, my nights were split between the Days Inn and the Hyatt.

When I’d booked, cash prices for the Days Inn Palm Springs had already risen over $300. Crazy. It’s a Days Inn! By the time I arrived, the hotel was asking over $400 per night before taxes. I guess this is Palm Springs around college spring break?

Thank goodness for Wyndham points. I just needed a place to stay. But at that price point, what is everyone getting for their $400+ per night at the Days Inn Palm Springs? It has to be amazing, right?

The Typical Fantastic Days Inn Room

The nicer-than-average front desk was exactly as expected, maybe better. It was small and spartan, but it was sparkling clean and the staff were great. Already winning.

The room was exactly what I’d expect for a Days Inn. At least they’re consistent. Uncomfortable bed, worn furnishings, and a bathroom layout anyone would be happy with.

a couch in a room

a microwave on top of a refrigerator

a bathroom with a white sink and a bathtub

The wall A/C barely kept the temperature in the upper low 70s. In March. You don’t need to be comfortable in midsummer, do you? Nah. Bring on the heat.

a air conditioner in a room

Then there is the $4 Dasani water. High-end hotels sell you $4 water, which the Days Inn Palm Springs clearly is at $400 per night. Low-end places usually just have a vending machine (which the Days Inn Palm Springs has as well, oddly).

Days Inn Palm Springs

No Breakfast Is Better Than Garbage Breakfast

In the morning I asked the front desk if they offered free breakfast. The “no, we don’t” answer surprised me. I’d thought this was a staple of the Days Inn? Pre-packaged pastries, oatmeal, and yogurt are integral to the Daybreak Cafe in my experience. Whether or not one wants them is a different matter.

But wait. There is an onsite restaurant, which maybe makes this a 3-star Days Inn?? This could be good.

The setting is nice, and the service was quick. But then I was served burnt hash browns at Palm Springs prices. I guess I should have passed. There aren’t a ton of places open before 8:00 AM, though, which is absurd.

At Least There’s a Decent Pool

If you have a hotel where it’s nice and sunny, you better have a decent pool. This is one area where the Days Inn Palm Springs shines. The pool is large, and I has a tiny, shallow kiddie pool, plus a hot tub. Not a bad place for family fun.

This aspect still makes the Days Inn Palm Springs a fine choice for the budget traveler staying on Wyndham points. And only Wyndham points. Because the budget traveler can’t afford the $400 per night price tag.

Days Inn Palm Springs Pool

Crazy Good Award Value? I Guess?

When you only spend 13,500 Wyndham Rewards points per night for a hotel going for $400, you certainly get an excellent award value. Nearly 3 cents per Wyndham point is amazing.

Situations like this reveal the absurdity of the metric. If this same Days Inn was going for $67 per night, I would pay cash. And it would be worth it. Going for $400 per night? I’ll use those points.

But it’s still a Days Inn.

Final Thoughts on the Days Inn Palm Springs

This obviously isn’t your typical review. Setting the humor aside, it wasn’t a bad stay, and I find the hotel worth 15,000 Wyndham points per night (or 13,500 points with a Wyndham Earner card), given it’s facilities and location.

Was it a great stay? No. Would I consider it again? Yes. But not at that ridiculous price point. A $400 per night Days Inn isn’t all that much different than a $72 per night Days Inn, it seems.

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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Ian Snyder
Ian Snyder
After igniting his passion for award travel while planning his honeymoon, Ian now enjoys using points and miles to see the world with his wife and three internationally adopted kiddos. He loves dissecting loyalty programs to find maximum value. His goal is to demonstrate that extraordinary travel is possible for the ordinary family.

Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

10 COMMENTS

  1. We love visiting our friends and family in Palm Spring. I was surprised you were not told about Elmer’s for breakfast. Amazing food, priced reasonably and they open for breakfast at 6 AM.

    • The hotel just pushed their own restaurant. Wish I would have found that on the map! Would have considered anything with a sit-down breakfast and not just a coffee shop. Will keep it in mind for next time.

  2. I don’t really care that much about about Palm Springs. Been there only twice (1989, 2004). Would I return? Maybe. But not if a Days Inn type is charging $400 per night. Who said crime doesn’t pay? Too bad the owner wasn’t arrested for grand larceny.

    • Some will care, some won’t. Destinations aren’t for everyone. They’ll certainly keep some people away with such an eye-watering price.

  3. I live full-time in Palm Springs. Anytime between October and Easter will be outrageously expensive. Palm Springs is not the place for budget travelers. The average single family home price is now $1,200,000. And you don’t get a lot for that price.
    Additionally, the numerous music, golf and tennis festivals here raise rates exponentially. We’ve lost a great deal of these budget hotels and they’ve become boutique properties. I live near the Ritz Carlton where I see daily rates FROM $900 regularly (standard rooms).
    The summer tends to be somewhat cheaper, but it will be 110 plus every day. Now with Disney building their mega development here, prices will probably go up.

    • Crazy! I know California is expensive, having lived here all my life. But I had no idea it was that expensive specifically in Palm Springs.

      Bummer they’ve lost the budget side of travel. But maybe that is what the town is going for.

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