The greater Palm Springs area, known as the Coachella Valley, covers a wide swath of developed desert from Palm Springs to Indio. Except Downtown Palm Springssurrounding areas such as Rancho Mirage, Palm Desertand LaQuinta are all filled with a good variety of accommodations at all price levels. Visitors should keep in mind that a car (or using Uber or Lyft) is practically necessary to get around. The city’s ever-expanding airport (PSP) serves several U.S. and Canadian destinations with direct flights, making it a good arrival method compared to the sometimes busy 100-mile drive from Los Angeles. Visitors should also keep in mind that the vacation destination gets very busy during holiday weekends and during the annual Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals (both take place in April).
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Where to stay for luxury
For true luxury you have to venture outside the city of Palm Springs, at least as far as Rancho Mirage. Just 10 minutes further down CA 111, The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage sits on a promontory, overlooking the entire valley. It is one of the few hotels in Palm Springs with a great view. The hotel has two restaurants, Edge Steakhouse and State Fair, whose seasonal menu focuses on local ingredients and ingredients. Of course there’s a great spa and a truly spectacular pool and patio out the back, also overlooking the Coachella Valley. The service is personal and great, as expected from the luxury brand.
If you go around Palm Springs for about 35 minutes LaQuinta, near the Indian Wells tennis court, you’ll find the chic La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. The large resort is probably the area’s best luxury accommodation, with multiple pools, a golf course, a great spa, several restaurants and Waldorf luxury and service. Several times a year, the luxury hotel organizes the Waldorf Drive program, where guests have the opportunity to take guided tours of the area behind the wheel of new Lamborghini models.
If you want to combine luxury with an enthusiastic crowd and lots of loud music, the Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs has some really nice suites. Apart from the music, frequent concerts and funky style, the hotel is right in the center of downtown Palm Springs, making it easy to walk everywhere, even in the heat of summer. Book one of the hotel’s enormous Rock Star Suites for the ultimate luxury stay. The 1,500-square-foot suites look like a musician’s apartment, complete with Pearl Jam memorabilia and a dining table with room for six of your friends. The suites have spectacular bathrooms with special bathtubs that vibrate to the music playing on the room’s sound system.
Where to stay: Mid-range
Palm Springs has a large stock of newly built, mid-sized chain hotels, driven by the strong development of the surrounding areas. Many of the city’s hip, retro boutique hotels also fall into the mid-range category, as their roots as 1950s and 1960s motels limit their luxury options. The hip Ace Hotel and Swim Club is a thoughtful, stylish interpretation of a classic mid-century motel, reimagined as a modern boutique hotel. Think rustic chic, but done on a luxury budget. There are two swimming pools, one more lively than the other; a popular spa; an on-site Stumptown coffee roaster; and a trendy restaurant. The 176-room hotel embraces its kitschy past – it used to be a motel in Westward Ho with an attached Denny’s. Her in Palm Springsbut you need a car or a bicycle to reach the city center.
The Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel is located in the Tahquitz Canyon, approx a three-minute drive from the center. It’s a nice, reasonably priced property, set back from the street, with more of a resort feel. It is clean and well managed, perhaps a little more so than other hotels in this price range. Their DATE restaurant pays tribute to the area’s long history of growing date palms. The menu also uses locally sourced dates in many dishes. The outdoor pool is the largest in Palm Springs and the poolside restaurant is open late for night swimming.
The Hyatt Palm Springs is right in the center of the city, making it a great base for exploring the city on foot. The all-suite hotel also has some of the largest rooms and suites in Palm Springs. Each room has two 42-inch flat-screen TVs and a marble-filled bathroom with a Jacuzzi spa tub. The suites also have full kitchens. Foodies will enjoy SHARE, the hotel’s small kitchen restaurant, and there’s also HooDoo, a larger, chic lobby cafe.
The Colony Palms Hotel is a beautifully renovated historic property that offers a more luxurious experience than its price suggests. Classic touches and details in the rooms and common areas have been retained, giving the hotel a glorious old Hollywood atmosphere. The location is perfect, a few short blocks from downtownand the hotel’s restaurant, the Purple Palm, is considered one of the best in the city. Try to get a casita room as they have their own patios.
Where to Stay on a Budget
Palm Springs is unique in that many of its budget hotel options are quite close to the main shopping and dining streets of Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive. The Best Western Plus Las Brisas Hotel is located directly on Indian Canyon, within walking distance of downtown Palm Springs. The budget accommodation adds to its value with free Wi-Fi and a free breakfast with an extensive menu, including an omelette station. There is also a swimming pool and fitness center.
Another great cheap option is the Triada Palm Springs, Autograph Collection. The independent hotel is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. The rooms are suites (some are full casitas), with kitchens, and the property is beautifully laid out with a luxurious resort feel. The location is great too, right on Indian Canyon, about a five minute walk from the center. Breakfast is included in the room rate.
For a clean, simple room or suite in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, the Baymont Inn & Suites Palm Springs delivers. Add free WiFi, two pools and free breakfast, and for the price it’s an excellent deal. The hotel is located directly on Indian Canyon Drive, steps from the downtown shopping district. Like most hotels in the area, parking is also free.
Where to stay for families
The abundance of all-suite hotels in the greater Palm Springs area, most in the mid-price range, means families can get two full rooms (bedroom and living room with a sofa bed) for space and privacy. The WorldMark Palm Springs is a part condo, part hotel complex, with large units and plenty of amenities. Even the studio units are spacious and all have full kitchens. For families, there are several pools (one with a little lazy river) and hot tubs, a movie theater, a game room, and a laundry room. The WorldMark is centrally located, right on Indian Canyon Drive downtown.
The expansive Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa is inside Palm Desert, about 20 minutes from PSP or 30 minutes from downtown Palm Springs. The family-friendly resort sits on 240 acres, including a 27-hole golf course and Splashtopia, an on-site water park. There are five restaurants, 25 tennis courts and a huge 20,000-square-foot spa with 26 treatment rooms. Kids will love the lazy river, water slides, and cliffside hot tub, and parents will find some sanctuary in the separate adults-only pool. If all the on-site activities aren’t enough, there is a large Westfield shopping center (with shops, restaurants and movie theaters) just across the street. The brand’s Omni Kids Crew program means kids get a backpack full of activities upon arrival (and milk and cookies on the first night of a stay, upon request)
Where to stay for romance
Take a short drive (about 20 minutes from the PSP airport) to Desert Hot Springs for a romantic stay at Two Bunch Palms. The spa and luxury boutique hotel, said to have been Al Capone’s former desert retreat, has villa-style accommodations and several natural hot springs and mineral spring pools and baths. There is a world-class spa and Essense, a restaurant with a special wellness menu. Its remote location in the desert gives it a very private, secluded atmosphere, perfect for romance.
For a truly beautiful lakeside experience, try The Chateau at Lake La Quinta. This hidden gem features an impeccably designed and decorated boutique hotel right next to a tranquil lake. It feels like a European bed-and-breakfast, with warm, personal service and just a few rooms and suites. They also have a wonderfully romantic restaurant called Melange, with the best food in the valley and romantic tables overlooking the lake. At night, the other buildings around the lake (private luxury homes and villas) have lights, creating a beautiful outdoor dining scene.
related questions
Which airport does it serve Palm Springs
Palm Springs is served by one airport, Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), which is located about 3 miles (5 km) from downtown Palm Springs.
You can find cheap flights to Palm Springs International Airport through Swati Travel. Here are some indicative prices for one-way flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Palm Springs (PSP) on Swati Travel for the dates of September 20-27, 2023:
- American Airlines: $50
- Delta Air Lines: $60
- United Airlines: $70
Please note that these prices are subject to change and may not be available on all dates. To find the best deals, it is always best to book your flights in advance.
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