America – August/September 2012 – Part 1

Apologies for the delay in posting recently, been very busy as well as suffering from post-holiday blues!  Having saved up for months and months, me and my amazing wife went on holiday to America.  I won’t bore you all with how fantastic it was (it really was fantastic!), instead I’ll focus on the naked adventures we had:

 

Living Waters Spa, Desert Hot Springs

After checking out Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon we picked up our hire car and drove West towards Los Angeles (via an overnight stop at Living Waters Spa).

When booking the accommodation (email, couple of telephone calls) we were sent our booking confirmation with a note at the bottom that said ‘no check-in after 5.00pm’.  At the time of booking we thought nothing of this and it was only as we were still an hour away from our destination (at about 4.30pm) that we thought anything of it.

Surely there would be someone there to let us in?

How can they say no check-in after 5.00pm?

What if you arrive on a late flight?

Arriving at 5.30pm excited at the prospect of enjoying the ‘award winning European-style clothing optional spa’ we were greeted by a locked door.  No sign, no note, nothing.  Having knocked on every door we could find, we started to panic.  The sun was going down and we had nowhere to stay.  Fortunately, we found a public payphone at a local supermarket (where, incidentally, they sold the biggest sandwiches I’ve ever seen!) and managed to get hold on a member of staff.  After explaining why we were late we arranged to meet back at Living Waters to check in – it felt like being back at school again!

We were shown to our en-suite room (with fridge and microwave) and left to get on with it, before heading back to the supermarket to pick up food for the evening.

Back at the motel and with the food and wine flowing, we were able to relax at this lovely place.  The view from the motel is amazing, especially at dusk.  There were two other couples booked in but they were both out for the evening so it felt like the whole place was ours – total bliss!  Enjoying the pool and hot tub whilst looking up at the stars was an amazing experience I’ll never forget.

After a good nights sleep (the 10 hour round trip to the Grand Canyon really takes it out of you!), we made our way to the breakfast room.  A selection of cereals and bagels was available as well as a help-yourself-as-much-as-you-want range of beverages through-out the day.

In the heat of the sun, we sat and read, took leisurely swims, sat in the mineral-fed hot tub and watched a hummingbird feeding from the plants in and around the pool.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this place, just remember to turn up on time!

For more information, click here

 

** Photography is not allowed inside the motel, but I had to sneak a couple for this blog!**