One is called Kel and three go by Al. How long does it take for all four to lose their inhibitions and have way too much fun taking photos by the pool?

Answer: Three Strawberry Gin Fizzes, two Desert Rose Margaritas, and one Watermelon Splash. And a whole lotta sisterly confidence-boosting, ’cause that’s what baes are for. 

It’s been raining in LA and I’m on Day 25 of quarantine. My September escape to the desert with three of my best gals seems ages ago, and I yearn for the days of shared straws, overlapped limbs, and fresh guacamole. One of the perks of being forced to stay indoors is having the time to post blogs I always meant to finish. Now is as good a time as any to reminisce about the days Before, and inspire daydreams of your next SoCal vacay when we finally reach the days After.

Day One: Mid-Century Chic

When Allie said her friend Jason wanted to hook us up with a two-night stay at the V Palm Springs, the rest of us YAAAAASSS-ed in the group thread with fantasies of playing influencer for a weekend. Actresses we may be—Allie, Alex, and I met on The Lying Game, and you might know Kelen from Big Little Lies (just realized that’s a lot of liars)—but none of us have an Instagram full of hotel views with #ad in our captions. Although we’re all totally game. 

We arrived at the V on a late Sunday afternoon, greeted in the Mid-Century lobby with retro hotel keys and...stipends! For free food and drink! If you’re wondering if this blog is about four bougie in-and-out-of-work actress friends who somehow got a free vacation without enough Instagram followers to quite justify why, let me assure you, yes, that’s exactly what this post is about. Back to our shameless excitement over free food and drinks.

Two bottles of chilled rosé awaited us in our minimalist pool view rooms, eliciting merry cheers as we swung on the macrame-style patio swings. Alex and Allie claimed one of the double-queen bedrooms and Kelen and I discovered we’re both neat freaks in the other, hanging our sundresses in the closet and organizing our beauty products on the glossy white bathroom countertop. Who cares if we’re only there two nights? Influencers prettily arrange their cleansers and deodorant for just one night’s stay.

Yelp told us Las Casuelas Terraza was the go-to place for al fresco Latin fare. The 1920s casita serving “the best Mexican food in the Coachella Valley” is family-owned and happily accommodated our mixed dietary requests, including gluten-free, dairy-free, and meat-free options. Yours truly ordered cheese enchiladas with rice and beans. Classic and delicious. On our evening stroll back to the V, we stopped at El Mirasol Cocina for a nightcap of THE BEST strawberry margaritas I’ve ever had. Seriously, it was like drinking the squished-out slush of a pink Otter Pop, but with a decidedly adult kick. That these margaritas are only a stone’s throw from the V makes drinks at El Mirasol a must if you stay at the charming motel-turned-hotel. And you really should, because the beds at the V are comfortable, the bathrooms sparkling, and the ambiance upbeat, but off the beaten strip. Perfect for those times when you don’t want to party, but you still want to feel included. 

Day Two: Poolside Shenanigans

Monday morning found us eating breakfast at Cheeky’s, home of the Bacon Flight. Yes, the Bacon Flight: a sampling of bacon strips boasting flavors from apple cinnamon to Korean BBQ. I think the blackberry jam one was my favorite. We did our best not to gorge ourselves on Cheeky’s scrumptious pancakes and tater tots because a tummy full of carbs is the last thing you want when you’re about to do a photo shoot. In bikinis.

Part of our free stay deal at the V was to post photos of us enjoying the hotel. (Like real influencers, guys!) I think it’s safe to say they got their money’s worth because the girls and I practically had the pool to ourselves and proceeded to take way, way too many photos. I was excited to use my Samsung Galaxy’s voice-activated shutter feature, yelling out, “Capture!” every five seconds above the bossanova music—and likely annoying the few other guests who were there, probably trying to work on their tans in peace. But we were having fun! And my girlfriends and I never drink and take selfies in public, which was basically our job that day, so yes, we would like to use our stipend for one more round of Coconut Mojitos, thank you. And chicken tenders. Here are some of our silly pool pics…

As I said, we had too much fun. 

Sunset found us napping in our rooms before drinks at High Bar, one of the sexiest rooftop lounges I’ve ever seen, followed by gourmet pizzas at Brickworks. Our indulgent day ended with plans to use the rest of our stipend for a poolside brunch the next morning before heading home.

Day Three: Check Out

The bacon-fried rice, ya’ll. Topped with a fried egg. That’s what you need to order for breakfast when you stay at the V, because it is the yummiest Asian fusion meal I may have ever had. Unfortunately, I was too busy enjoying it to remember to take a picture. Just trust me. It’s good.

We checked out of the V Palm Springs thanking the hotel staff for our lovely time. If ever you find yourself in need of a Southern California getaway, this conveniently located desert-chic oasis has everything you’ll need for a memorable Palm Springs vacation. Plus, it’s very affordable—I know I got to stay there for free, but rooms start at only $99/night!