Last fall (2003) saw completion of a $400,000 renovation that included new furnishings, wall treatments, bathroom updates and many additions. "It's basically a new look for new season," says Haber.

Sweeping views of Mt. San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains and surrounding desert landscape notwithstanding, The Ingleside Inn provides a tranquil spot to relax or explore Palm Springs. While town has morphed into a sophisticated tourist destination since Hollywood discovered it in 1930s, quaint charm of a "village" is still intact. Staying at Ingleside Inn is like staying at a friend's country estate.

The landscaping on two and a half acres of manicured grounds is old and lush in a way that you won't find in a new development. The main house (it's so comfortable, it's hard to think of as an inn) sits in a garden setting behind wrought-iron gates. The narrow front driveway often hosts a limousine, a Rolls, or a Bentley. Many of antiques that decorate thirty suites, mini suites, and villas came with property when Haber purchased it years ago.

We're staying in Lily Pons room, so named because diva came to visit for a weekend and stayed on for 13 years. This Louis XV room in pale gold has a king-size bed and French doors leading to a patio edging a semi-private grassy yard. As I settle in, I notice a faint, pleasant aroma of wood smoke from past fires on crisp desert evenings in wood-burning fireplace. Our bags are stored in two separate walk-in closets, where I imagine Lily Pons' party dresses lined up on hangers. An interesting (and practical) design touch is that in bathroom green towels are provided with a note that they can be used when removing makeup.

Leaving our room to explore nooks and crannies of grounds, I notice a woman reclining in a lawn swing, reading a book. Facing fountain in center of garden, she's epitome of relaxation.

The pool area is surrounded by lawn, and an outdoor ceramic bar provides self service ice tea and ice water all day. It all looks so unlike any hotel pool area I've ever visited that I feel like I'm really in host's back yard.

Haber isn't shy about admitting, "I don't like to travel." He sees questioning look on my face and adds, "I'm a creature of comfort. Give me a good book and let me lay by pool."

This leads to a book discussion. Haber says he reads only non-fiction, typically biographies. Over years, he says, "Palm Springs became literary capital of world." He names two major writers who live here: Herman Wouk and Sydney Sheldon.

The Inn's General Manager, Armida Pedrin, is an example of

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Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Editor – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

William S. Burroughs —

The stone-faced grandson of inventor of Burroughs Ten Key Machine, William was destined to live his life according to his own rules where he strongly emphasized need for personal freedom and nonconformity.

Throughout his life, aside from writing, Burroughs never really seemed to work, since his endeavors were financed by his wealthy Midwestern family.

He was an intelligent bookworm who graduated from Harvard by studying literature and anthropology. William, who experimented with various lifestyles, was an avid gun fanatic and frequent drug user. He had a fascination with gangster underworld, and often when he was out in public, was sharply dressed in a business suit and fedora. In addition, he was a frontiersman who traveled extensively and lived on cutting edge of society everywhere from Chicago, Colombia, Morocco, Paris, London, New York, New Orleans, Mexico, and Texas, until he "retired" in Lawrence, Kansas in 1981.

As he traveled, he preferred to settle into a motel and use it as his base camp for writing some of his numerous often shocking and highly idiosyncratic books. Hence, his aforementioned quote about his creative spirit being unleashed while staying in a hotel room.

On a beautiful evening with a full moon slowly rising over low Desert Hot Springs sky, Kim and I pulled our MINI into barely identifiable, yet full hotel parking lot. The only building moniker, a small grouping of white letters saying, "Hotel" signified to us where we were.

The Beat Hotel is at end of a residential street and is surrounded by empty plots of land complete with natural desert landscaping. Upon ringing doorbell, we were warmly welcomed by owner/curator, Steve Lowe, and were given an extensive tour of his labor of love.

Throughout tour, Steve recalled numerous memories he had of William S. Burroughs from his years knowing him. He explained history of his extensive collection of Burroughs artwork, pictures, manuscripts, and memorabilia. As Steve departed us for evening, we were on overload from countless facts about godfather of Beat Generation. So, we dropped off our bags at our very hip room, and each grabbed a complimentary glass of wine from library and went perusing Beat Hotel's funky lounge, and outdoor pool area.

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Don and Kim Tatera, Jetsetters Magazine Editor – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com