The Hacienda at Warm Sands is a gay resort in Palm Springs, California. A long-standing favourite of discerning gentlemen from all over the world, The Hacienda has been celebrated in a number of gay and mainstream travel publications, and the more than 650 five-star reviews left by guests on TripAdvisor demonstrates an alignment between the press and the public. We had the pleasure of catching up with Maurice Minno, the co-owner of the resort, to find out more about its legendary status.
Nestled in an impressive physical setting complete with 180-degree views of the encompassing San Jacinto Mountains, The Hacienda boasts landscaped grounds offering a beautifully-lush tropical environment and housing an array of impressive facilities. From this location, the resort delivers a guest experience like no other, with its uncompromising personal services being lauded for helping those who stay here for a luxury gay vacation to discover something truly special in the process – themselves!
As Maurice explained: “We have one driving core value which is to assure that every guest on every stay at The Hacienda has a unique and truly memorable experience that they will forever treasure and cherish.” He continued: “Our staff are professional service experts who provide attentive, outgoing, caring, and personalised services for each of our guests.” The team take extra care to ensue this service remains unobtrusive while offering a personalized curated selection of ‘Hacienda Moments’ throughout a getaway.
Just one example, of many, involves two long-time guests of the resort who are devoted to their dogs. Although the couple adores the time spent at The Hacienda, they miss their four-legged friends terribly when away. Well aware of this, thanks to countless conversations with the couple, staff gave them an unforgettable moment by finding pictures of the pups from the pair’s social media pages, having them printed, mounted into frames, and displaying them in their suite. As you can imagine, the couple were overwhelmed with emotion.
Remarkably, this was just the beginning of what is an ongoing Hacienda Moment, as the team continue to take these photos out of storage and place them around the rooms of whichever suite the couple books for their return stay. It is the level of detail inherent in this service – and the surprise and smiles this brings – that sees guests dream of their next getaway at The Hacienda and eagerly anticipate the next Hacienda Moment. In this way, the resort is unequalled in its offerings and continues to set a new standard for service.
“Before guests arrive, many call ahead and request specific foods, beverages, flowers, and other special amenities, which we will have waiting for them in their room for the moment they arrive.”
A big part of how the company achieves what is an unprecedented level of service excellence in Palm Springs is through the one-to-one guest-room-to-staff ratio it offers, which is rivalled only by some of the most luxurious five-star-plus hotels on the planet. For instance, the resort is proud to offer a ‘Pillow Menu’, a choice selection of comfy pillows it has been delivering now for more than 15 years. As a part of this diligent process, ALL return guests also join the ‘Pillow Club’, which sees their first name embroidered on a decorative pillow.
Even when guests are not being treated to this signature service, the tranquil surroundings of The Hacienda allows them to leave their troubles at the front gate and step into an unspoilt world of private luxury. Be it the tasteful water features dotted throughout the grounds, the 10,000ft2 of patios and walkways lined with tiles from the Mexican city of Saltillo, or its grand outdoor fireplace, the resort’s exterior spaces all perfectly complement the desert landscape that Palm Springs is internationally renowned for.
Moving indoors, The Hacienda retains this lavish nature through its suites, which are widely recognised as some of the largest in Palm Springs and all come complete with a separate bedroom, and open-plan kitchen/bar, and a spacious living and dining area. The jewel in the resort’s crown are the Grand Deluxe Suites, which are set just off the east pool – one of two pools at the resort – and comprises approximately 900ft2 of space. Amenities include a two-man shower, a private patio at the rear, and a large gas fireplace with a hood.
Regardless of which suite a guest stays in, The Hacienda promises it will be pristine, with the attention to the detail the resort is famous for. Every suite also includes a complimentary continental breakfast for each of the mornings a guest is at the resort, followed later in the day by a lunch spread of gourmet sandwiches, salads, and wraps served either in a guest’s suite or by the pool. Rounding out lunch is a glass of wine, freshly brewed iced tea, or refreshing lemonade.
Not only can guests feel good during their time at The Hacienda thanks to this all-embracing service taking care of their every need, but they can also relax more knowing they are staying at a resort where environmental sustainability is key. Over the past 12 months alone, the resort has taken the necessary steps to eliminate single-serve plastic water bottles from the premises and has also implemented other sustainability programs.
“Our guests recognise and enthusiastically support on focus on making a positive impact on the environment through sustainable practices.”
Celebrating the 25th year of owning and operating The Hacienda this year, co-owners Maurice and his life partner Jim are incredibly proud of the reputation this gay resort in Palm Springs has built on the back of its commitment to be the best. Highlights from the past 25 years include hosting some truly magnificent same-sex wedding ceremonies at the resort – many of which were even performed by the interim mayor of Palm Springs – and building a hotel with a 60% guest-return rate that also welcomes plenty of first-timers every day.
Standing as the perfect combination of exclusivity, sophistication, and comfort, The Hacienda at Warm Sands is more than just a luxury gay resort – it is an experience that is sure to stay with guests for the rest of their lives. With this in mind, it is our pleasure to recognise The Hacienda at Warm Sands here as the Best Luxury Gay Resort 2025 – North America.
Contact Details
Contact: Steve Siehl, General Manager
Company: The Hacienda at Warm Sands
Web Address: https://thehacienda.com/
