The *NEW* Sands Hotel & Spa

look is filled with chic, thoughtful touches. If you're looking to save money on decor for a wedding look no further, this hotel IS the decor and our photos turned out spectacular. More than just being photogenic, this place just has good karma. You walk in and immediately feel good, and our guests have been going on and on about how much they enjoyed staying there. The second reason we chose Sands (and what ended up being key to our experience ) was the manager there named Olivia. Olivia knows her sh*t and is the most organized, thoughtful person you'll work with. We met with so many other venue managers in the area who seemed completely scattered or downright snotty. Olivia is neither of those things. She knows how to run a tight ship while making the process relaxing and fun. She made ALL the difference in the event, and the volume of typical venue headaches we avoided because of her is huge. The last, and truly most spectacular reason this venue was amazing came down to the staff and service. When you stay at Sands, you feel like family. The staff are so kind, so attentive, and the service is first class. The food available at the Pink Cabana is also ludicrously delicious, and our guests raved about how good the dinner and snacks were at the event. My husband and I are big foodies with a shameless interest in good wine and this was available in spades at the venue. We can't say enough good things about this place - if you're thinking of staying for a vacation, or hosting a memorable event, this is the place for you. I would dare to say there isn't another place in the desert you could find as special as this one.

s appeared like a mirage in the desert! We were lucky enough to book the last weekend buy-out they had for Fall 2019 and it worked perfectly with our schedule. The size of the Sands was ideal for our wedding size because we wanted our 120 guests to be onsite for three days and wanted a full buy-out. The layout of the Sands could not have been more perfect. From the moment I set foot on the property I knew it was where we would be married. The on-site Olive Grove makes for the most beautiful ceremony backdrop with mature olive trees providing a gorgeous natural canopy and the existing pavement walkway making a ready-made aisle that leads to the picture perfect desert-pink backdrop! The pool is perfectly situated as the focal point of the property with gorgeous lush landscaping and surrounded by 47 guest rooms which includes an amazing two-story suite, perfect for getting ready throughout the weekend. Then there's the Pink Cabana, the onsite restaurant and bar that opens with double sliding glass doors onto the pool area only separated by two fire pits and a winding walkway. This made for the ideal hang out between events and the perfect cocktail hour and reception location! Because the site is so well though out, our events flowed naturally from one phase to the next! This is sometimes forced at other venues leaving your guests to question their next move, but not here! If I haven't already sold you by now, let me just layer on the fact that the Sands staff is A+++++ ! Starting with Olivia Prescott the on site event planner and Sales Director. This is NOT HER FIRST RODEO and she expertly guides you through every little detail over the months of planning with a friendly demeanor and a sense of urgency that makes you wonder "am I her only bride?!". I have a background in hospitality, event planning, and food service, so when I tell you I was more than critical about the levels of service, you can trust that I'm telling the truth. This team knocked it out of the park! The food was delicious and served hot, the drinks were beautifully garnished and served fast, and all of the staff was polite, attentive and courteous. Our guests left feeling like they had a luxurious vacation and were wowed by all of the details. I can't thank the Sands team enough for helping us create the magic that made our wedding weekend a joy for both us and our guests!

t felt totally at ease throughout the entire process thanks to Olivia Prescott (Director of Sales). She is knowledgeable about local vendors and beyond accommodating and turned our wedding day into a dream wedding weekend that beyond exceeded our expectations. Olivia is also VERY responsive throughout the entire planning process and always on top of things - she thinks of every detail and more! Along with our wedding, the Sands also hosted our Friday pool party and set up a bar by the pool, as well as a Sunday breakfast buffet by the pool. Every guest could not believe how delicious every meal and drink was throughout the entire weekend! During our tasting you sit down with the Pink Cabana’s sommelier and discuss wines and help create your signature cocktails! We and all of our guests did not want the wedding to end and the venue was beyond accommodating by extending the reception. And the venue itself makes a STUNNING backdrop - so many incredible photos!

Sands Hotel is beautiful, serene, and so unique; an easy choice for a beautiful wedding setting. But it was Olivia's commitment to her work, her clients happiness, and her unparalleled work ethic that made our decision to get married there a no-brainer. She was completely transparent about costs and what the hotel included, which we found very hard to find. She also was genuinely excited for our wedding, our crazy ideas for the party, and our marriage. We spent countless hours on the phone with her discussing things, and no detail was too small or mundane for her to help with. Olivia e-mailed and called us back so promptly; she was the much needed brains behind our event, especially considering the fact that we had never planned an event. Olivia has over 20 years of experience, which shows in the incredible work she does. But what is unique to Olivia is that she shows 110% excitement and enthusiasm about each event she puts on, which in my opinion is rare considering her lengthy career and likely thousands of weddings she has been a part of. Through our wedding process, Olivia became a dear friend of ours. We connected with her on a personal level and she was actually a huge part of our weekend and celebration. She made us feel at home at the hotel, and treated us like family each time we came. We feel so lucky to have met & worked with such a truly special person. It is emotional to even write this review because she was the one cheering us on, and the one who had our back during every twist and turn. She was not just part of our wedding, but our year of excitement leading up to our marriage. We got lucky in meeting her, but we aren’t letting her go just because our wedding is over! We also want to thank the entire staff at the Sands Hotel & Spa, who were also extremely kind, accommodating, and fun! Molly, the sommelier, was so helpful in picking out the perfect wines and drinks for our crowd. She was behind the scenes making the entire meal perfect! The food was another standout moment for our guests; everyone was blown away by the tasty dishes! Paula was absolutely lovely and kind each time we came to the hotel. & The woman at the front desk screamed when she saw us during our first look; an adorable moment we will never forget! Thank you Olivia & to the entire staff at the Sands, you guys are so amazing and we will never forget what a special weekend you threw for us! We love you!

ds and family, and this was the perfect venue for our vision of a weekend-long pool party. We absolutely could not have dreamed up a better place to get married. Olivia and her staff are unbeatable -- they work so hard, are so friendly, and there to anticipate your every need. So many of our wedding guests commented to us that they were blown away by the service. The staff was communicative, and everyone had a can-do, flexible attitude that made things go incredibly smoothly. As just one example, we had a pile of lost-and-found items at the end of the weekend, and they were so kind as to ship us a giant box so that we didn't have to fly it home ourselves. We barely felt the need to decorate because everything is already lavishly designed with a glamorous mid-century Moroccan theme. It's the definition of Instagram-worthy. And the hotel is still basically brand new, having opened in March 2018. Every detail is modern, tasteful, and functional. (Note that they don't have desks in the rooms, but that's because you should be out by the pool, not on your laptop!) The food and drink selection from the hotel's Pink Cabana restaurant is fantastic by any big city standards, and the quality held up, even for our big party of ~185. Everything from the crab beignets to the tuna skewers to the specialty cocktails to the turmeric granola parfaits were outstanding. People rarely rave about wedding food, but they did about ours! The layout of the hotel is also fantastic for a no-worries wedding. We did a Friday afternoon pool party, the Saturday ceremony and reception, and the Sunday brunch, all at the hotel. Most events and casual hanging out for the weekend happened poolside or by the fire pits outside of the restaurant. But the ceremony took place in the tucked-away olive grove, which made it feel very special. The spa is also jaw-dropping, covered in mirrored mosaic pieces, and this is where the ladies got ready. Even if you're not in the market for a wedding venue, the Sands is a luxurious treat for a stay of any length. Everything about it is welcoming and relaxing. And one more bonus -- you can bring your (small) dog! We'll be back to celebrate anniversaries, and just to say hello. The team and the space is truly extraordinary, and I cannot recommend the Sands enough.