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2009 Best of the Valley

Best Services
Best Car Wash
Elephant Car Wash

1. Elephant Car Wash. Yes, there's brushless washing, hand washing, auto detailing, etc., but attention goes beyond that. A few weeks ago, the manager noticed the band of white paint scrapes on the corner of my dark green, front fender, after the basic exterior wash. He wiped them off with a solvent just to make it look better, gratis; 71490 Hwy 111, Rancho Mirage; 346-3538.

2. Cathedral City Car Wash, Cathedral City

3. Executive Car Wash, Palm Desert

Best of the Rest: Airport Quick Wash, Palm Springs; Palm Springs Auto Wash, Palm Springs; Red Carpet Car Wash, Palm Desert; La Quinta Carwash, La Quinta; Grand Prix Car Wash & Detail, Palm Desert; Desert Car Wash, Palm Springs; Harv's Car Wash & Car Care, Palm Desert


Best Dry Cleaners
Escalade Cleaners

1. Escalade Cleaners. This three-year-old dry cleaning establishment is in the advance guard of environmentally sound practice, relying solely on the Green Earth nontoxic cleaning system. Even if you're not embracing the cause (and why aren't you?), this is good news for your clothes. They don't shrink and they don't fade nor turn yellow, which can happen with processes that use perc, a petroleum-derivitive that's chemically akin to kerosene. They offer same-day service, too; 72790 El Paseo, Palm Desert; 776-1906.

2. Regal Cleaners, Palm Springs

3. Desert Discount Cleaners, valleywide

Best of the Rest: Ballys Cleaners, valleywide; Roadrunner Cleaners, valleywide; Classic Cleaners, Palm Desert; Rancho Mirage Cleaners, Rancho Mirage; Country Club Cleaners, Palm Desert; Valet Cleaners & Laundry, Palm Springs; La Quinta Cleaners, La Quinta

Best Pet Boarding
The Grand Paw

1. The Grand Paw. If you need a place to park your pet while taking a couple of days off, this is a nice vacation for Fido or Romeo the Cat. There are spacious condos complete with televisions (Animal Channel, anyone?), lots of healthy treats and food, as well as daily exercise and play sessions. There's also doggie day care and training available for busy animal parents who only want the best for their woofer; 51750 Jackson St., Indio; 398-9900; thegrandpaw.com.

2. VCA Desert Animal Hospital, Palm Springs

3. Canine Spa Pet Hotel, Cathedral City

Best of the Rest: Palm Springs Animal Hospital, Palm Springs; VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital, Rancho Mirage; Village Park Animal Hospital, La Quinta; In The Doghouse, Palm Springs; Valley Kennel, Indio; Desert Dunes Animal Hospital, Palm Desert; Park A Pet Lodge, Whitewater


Best Quick Massage
All About Massage

1. All About Massage. Their massage therapists must have at least 500 hours or more of training. You can chose Advanced Custom Massage, Relaxation, Therapeutic, Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Hot Stone, as well as pregnancy- and youth-appropriate sessions. Further, who among us has not dearly longed to remain right where we are, drifting off into perfect sleep, when that blissful 50 minutes is up? All About Massage offers outcall service for the entire family through their sister company, Desert Massage Associates. The therapists come to your home, office, condo or resort guest room, just as they've been doing here in the valley since 1991; 74125 Hwy 111, Palm Desert; 346-7949; allaboutmassage.com.

2. Spa Las Palmas, Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, Rancho Mirage

3. Massage Envy, Palm Desert

Best of the Rest: Jay McEachern, Serenity Massage, Palm Desert; Longevity Massage Service, valleywide; Michael's Mobile Massage, Palm Desert; Spa Blend (mobile), Palm Springs; Spa at Spa Resort Casino, Palm Springs; La Quinta Healing Arts, La Quinta; The Well Spa, Miramonte Resort & Spa, Indian Wells

Best Shoe Repair
La Plaza Shoe Repair

1. La Plaza Shoe Repair. Aside from the quality of their work, this shop carries an endless selection of shoe inserts to maximize your comfort, shoelaces and shoe-care supplies, including colored creams, polishes, three-types of suede brush and even those little flannel cloths for the best finish; 128 La Plaza #B, Palm Springs; 416-2202.

2. Super Service, Bermuda Dunes

3. Desert Shoe Repair, Palm Springs

Best of the Rest: All three businesses receiving votes are listed


Best Spa
Spa Las Palmas

1. Spa Las Palmas. The therapists are the spa's secret weapon. Seven have been here since the spa opened in 1999. All have to have at least 500 hours of hands-on bodywork and they go through three interviews and perform two hands-on practicals to join the staff. Once hired, they're taught to really listen to guests, and then to translate guests' needs into customized treatment menus; 41-000 Bob Hope Dr., Rancho Mirage; 836-3106; rancholaspalmas.com.

2. Spa Desert Springs, Desert Springs, JW Marriott Resort, Palm Desert

3. The Well Spa, The Miramonte Resort, Indian Wells

Best of the Rest: Spa Terre at Riviera Resort, Palm Springs; Spa at Spa Resort Casino, Palm Springs; Two Bunch Palms, Desert Hot Springs; Sunstone Spa, Agua Caliente, Rancho Mirage; Spa La Quinta, La Quinta Resort, La Quinta; Spa Esmeralda, Renaissance Esmeralda, Indian Wells; Aqua Serena Spa, Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, Villas & Spa, Indian Wells

 

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