Review: Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas in Palm Desert, California

I’m on my fourth lap in the lazy river at Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas in Palm Desert, California, cruising along in a float that looks like a donut.

Up ahead, also in donut floats, are my wife, my five-year-old daughter and my father. Elsewhere, my tween daughter is lounging with my mom in a cabana. I’m totally mellowed out — a 450-foot loop will do that — but I’m also thrilled because this multigenerational trip that I organized is off to a fantastic start.

Family Fun at Grand Hyatt Indian Wells 

Traveling in groups always poses the challenge of making sure a destination has enough amenities to keep everyone happy, and a multigenerational trip is the ultimate test.

We rolled up to Palm Desert with six in our “fam-tourage”: my parents, who are in their 70s; my wife and me (ages redacted); a too-cool-for-school tween; and a rambunctious five-year-old. At check in, I was unsure whether everyone would have their version of a nice weekend getaway, but the property — which underwent a $64 million property-wide renovation in September 2024 — ended up being the perfect destination.

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Like any resort in the California desert, the heart of the property must be its pool, and Hyatt spared no expense here. Nicknamed HyTides, it’s a literal oasis, featuring the largest waterpark in Greater Palm Springs, with nine expansive pools that offer something for everyone. The lazy river is a hit with all ages, and my youngest also loved the splash pad and kid-friendly waterslide.

My older daughter took my dad down both 30-foot-tall waterslides (150 feet in length) multiple times and he grinned like a little kid as he shot out of the tubes. My mom enjoyed resting in the shaded daybed and ordering from the poolside cafe, getting the falafel wrap, which she found delicious. A thoughtful touch is that the hotel staff bring an ice bucket of water to each daybed, and there are water stations all around the pool area.

The Villas

All 531 accommodations here were revitalized during the recent renovation. We stayed in one of the two-bedroom, 1,500-square-foot luxury villas, which came with a private entrance; a shared living room; and a private backyard with a hot tub, grill and dining set up. (Some villas have plunge pools instead of hot tubs, so depending on what time of year a client is traveling, they may prefer one over the other.)

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The living room was a nice place to gather, allowing the bedrooms to remain private. My mom, who’s a light sleeper, woke up refreshed each morning while my tween put the spacious bathroom to good use while getting ready.

On-Site Dining

For its restaurants, the resort collaborated with chef Angelo Sosa, who has opened restaurants in New York and Phoenix, to remake their menus in the spirit of the Southwest.

Tia Carmen is the property’s upscale restaurant, and its expansive menu easily satisfied the six of us. The highlights were the family feast platters, which come with a main, seasonal vegetables and market potatoes. We chose two: the lamb barbacoa (a lamb shank cooked in banana leaf adobo with perilla leaf, pina asada and caviar as accoutrements) and the bone-in short rib (braised Wagyu rib with pickled onions). My mom, who doesn’t have a large appetite, couldn’t stop eating the short rib, while my dad loved wrapping the lamb in the minty perilla leaf. My older daughter continued her tradition of ordering fancy burgers (this one was Mishima Reserve Wagyu beef with smoked gouda) and my youngest enjoyed her tried-and-true chicken tenders.

Other dining options include Carmocha, the resort’s sports bar, which may seem daunting with kids but ended up being a hit with the whole family thanks to its variety of small plates, such as grilled Norwegian salmon and chicken katsu. There’s also a lobby marketplace with grab-and-go food and drink, Vista Square Kitchen for easy poolside eats and Palmadoro’s, a converted Airstream, serving pizza and Italian bites poolside.

Gone Golfing 

What trip to Palm Desert would be complete without golf? The area is renowned for its world-class courses, and my dad and I played two: Indian Wells’ Celebrity Course, connected to the Grand Hyatt, and the Firecliff course at Desert Willow, a short drive away. 

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Both were challenging yet manageable for me as a newer golfer, as well as for my dad, a lifelong player who has lost some distance over the years. And clients shouldn’t be intimidated by the heat. We teed off at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to avoid the hottest time of the day, and each course had helpful amenities such as water and ice stations every few holes. Indian Wells even equipped their carts with misters and fans. My dad and I played comfortably, adding another memory to our golf history together.

The Hyatt also offers tennis and pickleball, a game lawn, frisbee golf, bike rentals and a 30,000-square-foot spa called Agua Serena. For kids, there’s a daily rotation of activities that includes chalk art, sack races, tie dye, bracelet making and even a watermelon eating contest. And for clients who travel with their furry friends, the Grand Hyatt is also dog-friendly.

For our two-night trip, the Grand Hyatt had almost too much to do; it was effortlessly easy to please everyone. For those traveling in larger groups, it has to be near the top of the must-visit list.