Blissing out at a spa always gets gold stars on any vacation. But get Zen-perfect treatments and healing waters from naturally heated mineral springs in a relaxed but undeniably luxurious desert setting, and the experience goes downright platinum. That’s what you get at this hillside retreat on 77 palm-shaded acres in Desert Hot Springs, roughly 10 miles north of Palm Springs.
While there’s a full fleet of mud baths, massages, clay wraps, and salt rubs, Two Bunch Palms is also known for its alternative therapies. Sign up for a shamanic healing session (with a resident shaman), take a “sound bath” with gongs and Tibetan singing bowls, or feel the beat with drum-circle therapy. Then head to the Grotto, where Desert Hot Springs’ famous mineral water rushes out of the ground at more than 150°F and flows into a massive rock-lined pool. Leave your cell behind in this “no phone” zone.
Legions of famous faces have visited Two Bunch, but one of the most legendary is gangster Al Capone, who is rumored to have built the first structure here in 1928. Local lore says he dug a secret tunnel so he could get out fast if his enemies showed up. You can rent the Capone Suite, a charming stone hideaway with stained-glass windows, or bunk in one of 70 elegantly appointed rooms and suites. The choices range from vintage-hip in the older Grotto rooms to ultra-chic in the quad of Casa Blanca adobe suites, which sit below a man-made lake brimming with koi and turtles. Two Bunch’s bohemian vibe means that pretensions are few, so you can wear your comfy Two Bunch bathrobe anywhere on the property, including in the light-filled restaurant, serving gourmet food with a healthy twist.
