blatino oasis
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS BLATINO OASIS?
Blatino Oasis is a retreat and getaway (not a pride event) for gay and bisexual men of color started in 2007.
The event offers a variety of activities to include an art reception, welcome reception, film screenings, dance parties, live music performances, celebrity guests, awards ceremonies, erotic entertainment, spa and yoga services, white party brunch, vendors, scenic tours and more! See tabs above for event details.
HOW MUCH WILL MY TRAVEL COST ME?
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Your air travel cost are dependent on where you live and when you decide to purchase your ticket. This is up to you and the airlines. We can only advise that the sooner you purchase your ticket(s), the less the cost. Click here to book your flight.
For Palm Springs air carriers Click here.
CALIFORNIA TRAVELERS
Southern California
Driving From L.A. is a quick 2 hours or less (longer if you plan to leave L.A. Friday during commute hours). L.A., travelers can also take the Amtrak Train for about $40 or less each way from the LAX Union Station or Westwood UCLA Station .
Northern California
We recommend that Northern Cali travelers choose the 40 minutes flight from the Bay To Palm Springs. However, if you decide to drive, it will take approximately 7 hours to get to Palm Springs. Bay Area attendees will find the best flights out of San Francisco with great deals on Virgin America, Alaska Airlines, and United. Make your reservations early or your ticket from Northern California can be pricey . check prices!
Note To Last Minute Travelers From Northern Cali: Just in case you are a last minute type of guy, and discover that all flights into the city of Palm Springs are sold out or way too expensive, you can also try to fly into Ontario California (Southwest or see Kayak) and catch a shuttle bus to Palm Springs or rent a car and drive (about 45 minutes) to Palm Springs.
​NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS​​​​​​​​
We recommend that you all fly directly into Palm Springs (preferably during daylight) to get the full dramatic effect of the desert's beauty. If you find that flights directly into Palm Springs are sold out or the ticket prices are high, another option is to fly into Ontario California and catch a shuttle bus to Palm Springs or rent a a car which is a quick 45 minute drive to Palm Springs.​
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FLUID TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
If you plan to only bring a carry-on, please be aware of carry-on fluid requirements to include the size of containers with fluids in them i.e. bottles of cologne, lotion, toothpaste and the requirement that these containers be able to fit in a clear zip lock bag. Click here for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) travel requirements.
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HOW MUCH ARE THE HOTELS?​
​Blatino Oasis has multiple host hotels - See hotel tab above for all hotels & rates.
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PASS INFORMATION
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Please see the "Passes" tab above for all pass prices.
NOTE: All Passes Are Available For Pick up on Friday, May 3, 2013, between 4pm-7pm at our welcome reception at the Saguaro hotel. If you are unable to make it to the reception, your pass will be available for pickup at the kick off party at the event pass desk. Be prepared to show your I.D. for confirmation. You should also bring your paypal confirmation email in print or digital form just in case there are any issues.​
Refund / Cancellation Policy For All Pass Purchases for BLATINO OASIS 2013:
After January 31st 2013, refunds will not be valid or honored if cancelled
or if you fail to show-up for the event. See the tab above for pass prices and to purchase passes.​
NOTE: All Canyon Club Hotel residents must purchase the Resident Event Pass unless you purchase a Weekend or VIP pass​. If you have made reservations at our clothing optional hotel, you (and each resident guest) must purchase a pass for this hotel by January 31, 2013, or you will lose your room at this hotel. Please do not make reservations at Canyon Club Hotel if you don't want to purchase the resident pass.
What Is Included With My Pass?
For the 2013 season, VIP's receive all events on our events page, except for the water park.
Weekend Pass Holders will have access to all events on our event page except for the brunch, the film screening, and the water park.
Please see our event page to view event schedule.
Do I Have To Purchase A Pass To Attend Blatino Oasis?
​​If you are a resident of the Canyon Club hotel YES, if not No. Passes are primarily for individuals wanting the VIP experience or who prefer a weekend pass so they won't have to wait in long lines and like the convenience of knowing that event access is paid for in advance. Individual event pricing for the 2013 season range from $20-$35.
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For Canyon Club Residents, Blatino Oasis charges a "Resident Event Fee" for each resident of the Canyon Club because, some of our main events are at this venue and due to the design of the hotel, we must charge each resident a minimum fee to cover the cost of events happening at this property over the weekend. We remind all individuals who plan to reserve a room at the Canyon Club Hotel that just because you are a resident at this hotel, does not mean that you will get into our events at Canyon Club for free. If you don't want to pay this fee, do not reserve at the Canyon Club hotel.
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WHO ATTENDS BLATINO OASIS?
​Predominantly adult (18+) men of color (mostly Black & Latino) of all ages, however men from other ethnic groups also attend and are welcome!
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ARE WOMEN ALLOWED?
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Yes BUT Not at all events. Women may attend any events outside of the Canyon Club Hotel which is our clothing optional hotel. The Canyon Club is a private clothing optional hotel for men only. Events at this location are specifically designed for men who are seeking to socialize with gay and bisexual men in a clothing optional environment. Again, women are welcome to attend all events except those held at the Canyon Club Clothing Optional Hotel.
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COUPLES
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We have been pleasantly surprised to learn that a large number of our attendees have been couples and we encourage more couples to join us each year for a sexy and romantic California escape.
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AGE RESTRICTIONS​
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For all Canyon Club Hotel events you must be 18+ with proper I.D.
For all nightclub events you must be 21+ with Proper ID.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX!​
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AFFORDABILITY OF PALM SPRINGS
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​While Palm Springs has been the playground of Hollywood's rich and famous for decades, you'll find national food chains as well as reasonably priced restaurants to balance out the big-ticket spending you can do in the city's gourmet eateries. And just 20 minutes away, you can find some of the most amazing shopping outlets with everything from Guess to Gucci. Simply put, Palm Springs is a place where you can spend as much or as little as you like. You can also find every type of lodging under the sun in Palm Springs from budget rooms in the $60 range to sky's-the-limit priced suites at well over $300 per night . We however, recommend that you lodge at our host resorts.
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WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO IN PALM SPRINGS?
In addition to our events, visitors will also be able to shop along beautiful ​Palm Canyon Drive, or at upscale outlets, dine at world class restaurants, see Vegas style shows, gamble at the Spa Resort Casino downtown or Fantasy Casino, take a tram ride to the top of southern California's highest peak, go ​horse back riding​, take a balloon ride, get wet at Soak City ​water park or take a celebrity home tour and so much more!
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HOW SHOULD I DRESS?​​
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Palm Springs has a very warm to hot climate year-round so pack light. Palm Springs is a one bag trip. There really is no need for any heavy clothing in this desert oasis. Maybe you should pack one light jacket just in case we are wrong but we doubt it. Typically during the later spring months, the absence of humidity provides a comfortable dry heat. Very light casual clothing, thin pant, shorts or bathing trunks are recommended. Nudity, at our clothing optional hotel Canyon Club, is also an option.
​​​SUN BLOCK IS A MUST NO MATTER THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN!​​
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Vaseline should never be used on your skin during the daytime period in the desert sun!
Cocoa butter may be used if it contains a sun block, when you are out in the sun.
You must use a sun screen to protect your skin whether you plan to hang out in the sun a lot or not. The desert sun does not care if you are light or dark skin, it will burn you. Do not use cocoa butter as a sun screen, unless it includes an SPF of at least 15.
The sun protection factor or "SPF" of a sunscreen indicates the time period you can stay in the sun without burning based on your skin complexion.
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Recommended SPF
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| Skin Type | 1 hr | 2 hr | 3 hr | 4 hr | 5+ hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Very Fair / Extremely Sensitive |
15
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30
|
30
|
45
|
45
|
| Fair / Sensitive |
15
|
15
|
30
|
30
|
45
|
| Fair |
15
|
15
|
15
|
30
|
30
|
| Medium |
8
|
8
|
15
|
15
|
30
|
| Dark |
4
|
8
|
8
|
15
|
1
|
Note: Reapply sunscreen often, especially after swimming or sweating.
The year-round average daytime temperature is 87 degrees, and Palm Springs prides itself on having 344 humidity-free days of sunshine annually.
HYDRATE....HYDRATE...HYDRATE!
Alcohol is not a substitute for water. Often at festival events, people drink a lot of alcohol beverages but very little water. Beware though, the dry heat of the desert (with little or no humidity) will easily dehydrate you, so drink lots of water. Temperatures in May can range from 70 degrees at night to the mid 90's+ during the day, typical desert weather and very comparable to Las Vegas. The daytime heat is why private clothing optional resorts and spas abound in this desert Oasis. So please be careful.
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​PARKING & GROUND TRANSPORTATION
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Palm Springs is a very compact city. Hotel Saguaro and Canyon Club hotel are about 5 minutes between by car.
PARKING
Saguaro Hotel has a huge parking lot so parking for events at this hotel will be no problem.
Canyon Club hotel has lot parking for residents only. Guest should find street parking. Most street parking is free over the weekend. If you are not a resident of Canyon Club, please do not attempt to park in the lot . If you are not a resident and you do park in the Canyon Club lot, your car will be towed.
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CAR RENTAL
Should you decide to rent a car (click here), gas won't be a problem because you could drive to everything over the weekend and still have a half a tank of gas left or more, that's just how close everything is.
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SAGUARO HOTEL SHUTTLE SERVICE
The Sequaro hotel also has shuttle service, just check at the front desk. You should also click this shuttle service link to arrange a taxi or a shuttle if you will not be renting a car or if the hotel shuttle is not readily available. Saguaro also offers its residents the option of using the in-house bicycles, but reserve them early because they are popular (760) 323-1711.
SUN BUS
The Sun Bus also runs along the strip and is a good affordable option as well. Just $1.00 each way or $3.00 for an all day pass. Medicare or ADA card .50 cents each way or $1.50 for day Pass. Click here for info and schedules.
VIA PEDICAB
Passengers are cycled around the city in a carriage. Click here to make reservations.
ARE CAMERA'S ALLOWED?
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Blatino Oasis is aware that technology has made it very difficult to prevent video recording. However, we ask that attendees not record nudity of non-performing or non-entertainer nudity. Blatino Oasis has our own team of photographers and videographers for this event. We appreciate your cooperation.
We are all adults and are sure that some people will be having sex during Blatino Oasis, just as they do at most gay events, and this is a good thing!
However, it is our hope that you will always "wrap it up" and play safe by using condoms every time. Our partners at the Desert AIDS Project​ will be on hand, just as they have been for 6 years, to provide information and resources to help you make safer sex choices during our event. We also recommend that prior to coming to Palm Springs, you get a complete health and STD screening (HIV, Meningitis, Hepatitis, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, etc.) from your physician or at your local free clinic at least two weeks prior to attending, so that you know your health status. We want everyone to leave Palm Springs relaxed, rejuvenated, happy and healthy! For more info, please visit the CDC Gay Sexual Health Page by clicking here, or the "Testing Makes Us Stronger" by Clicking here! Stay Strong, Stay Healthy, Stay Safe!​​​