Where to Stay in Palm Springs

Our Favorite Hotels in Palm Springs

• 5-star: Kimpton Rowan
• 4-star hotel: ARRIVE
• 3-star: Zoso • Saguaro
• Best resort: The Ritz-Carlton
• For couples: Fleur Noire
• For families: Omni Rancho Las Palmas

a large palm tree in front of a large building

Best Areas to Stay in Palm Springs

Southern Californians refer to the Coachella Valley, known as the Desert, which encompasses towns along Highway 111 from the cities of Palm Springs and Indio. The valley also includes locales like Rancho Mirage,Palm Desert,La Quinta,Indian Wells, and Desert Hot Springs. Palm Springs is the most famous of the desert municipalities surrounded by golf courses, tennis clubs, and palm trees, providing ideal winter getaways.

Located approximately 110 miles from Los Angeles and 135 miles from San Diego. Palm Springs has an International airport (PSP) situated a few miles from downtown, with direct flights from many American and Canadian destinations. Another choice if you are flying is Ontario Airport (ONT), located around 70 miles west of Palm Springs, which has a wider range of flight options and very frequently, cheaper flights.

Palm Springs is best known for its numerous luxury boutique hotels and spas, landscaped golf courses, top-notch restaurants, stylish “Desert Modern” architecture, and its legendary dry, desert climate with seemingly endless sunny skies.

a train that is going down the tracks

Set between the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains and Joshua Tree National Park, the Greater Palm Springs and Coachella Valley region actually encompasses nine cities – Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, and Coachella – each offering their own collection of experiences and accommodation options. The valley extends for 45 miles from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea, connected primarily by Highway-111 (known for much of its length as Palm Canyon Drive or Palm Desert Drive), and the faster Interstate-10, which runs parallel about four miles to the north.

Palm Springs started developing in the early 20th century as a health resort for fashionable tourists drawn to the dry climate and hot springs in the region. Today well-heeled visitors still come for “The Season”, the comfortably warm period between January and April when all the major golf and tennis tournaments are held. In recent decades Palm Springs has also become a major LGBT hotspot with its own major Pride festival in November and Dinah Shore Weekend, the world’s largest lesbian event, held every April.

Palm Springs is mainly home to expensive boutique hotels and luxury resorts, but accommodation can surprisingly be affordable in the summer (May to September) – if the heat can be endured. Alternatively, there are inexpensive motel chains strung along I-10 and Hwy-111, but these are often poor quality. The best hotels are not focused in one neighborhood, and great lodging is easily found ranging from budget to luxury throughout the Desert.

The Best Places to Stay in Palm Springs & Coachella Valley

a patio area with tables, chairs and umbrellas

Best Areas in Palm Springs & Coachella Valley for…

  • The best neighborhood to stay for first timers is downtown Palm Springs.

    • Remaining in the core of Palm Springs makes the most sensible choice for first-time guests to the Coachella Valley: it`s the largest, liveliest metropolis in the region, with a wide selection of lodging, the best dining establishments, and vibrant nightlife. It`s also inside walking distance or a brief drive to some of the valley`s biggest attractions: Palm Springs Art Museum, the hikes and palm-filled gorges of the Indian Canyons, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway,Palm Springs Air Museum, and the largest concentration of the renowned “Desert Contemporary” architecture. Downtown is unquestionably the best area to stay if you’re touring Palm Springs without a car.

  • Most Romantic Neighborhood: Uptown Palm Springs
    With its clear desert skies, cocktail bars, spa pools, boutique hotels, and old Hollywood glamour, the Coachella Valley, in general, is a magnificent place for a romantic escape, but some neighborhoods stand out. Our favorite is Uptown, home to some of the region’s most luxurious boutique hotels – discreet, adults-only hideaways like ARRIVE Palm Springs and Fleur Noire are perfect for couples. The main drag, North Palm Canyon Drive, is lined by hip indie shops that are great for browsing, and a host of inventive restaurants and cocktail bars.
  • Top Neighborhoods for Nightlife: Downtown Palm Springs and Palm Desert
    The nightlife scene in downtown Palm Springs primarily revolves around pool gatherings and outdoor cocktails, as much as live performances and nightclubs. Some of our favorite places include the pool bar at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club (as well as the hotel’s Amigo Room) and the rooftop pool High Bar at the Kimpton Rowan Hotel.Copa Nightclub is a reliable place for dance celebrations, while the Tonga Hut boasts a classic tiki bar. Downtown also has a vibrant LGBT community anchored by institutions such as Hunters Palm Springs. The area of Palm Desert comes closely to Palm Springs, with a string of nightspots within stumbling distance on El Paseo and Palm Desert Drive. We enjoy the late-night Desert Fox Bar and cozy Little Bar, which also serves superb cuisine. The Hotel Paseo is considered the best hotel in the vicinity.
  • Most suitable areas for cuisine and eateries: downtown Palm Springs and Indio
    Downtown Palm Springs is hard to beat again when it comes to eating (though adjacent Uptown features a more innovative line-up of restaurants), with more variety than anywhere else in the Coachella Valley. Along with stalwarts of the scene such as Johannes and Tropicale, there are hip restaurants such as Juniper Table,Rooster and the Pig, and Tac/Quila,Copley’s on the former Cary Grant estate, and old Sinatra hangouts such as Johnny Costa’s Ristorante and Melvyn’s. At the other end of the Coachella Valley, the city of Indio offers a completely different experience, and much cheaper menus: authentic Mexican food is knocked out at Tu Madres Cantina & Grill, and at no-frills taco joints such as El Tranvia in nearby Coachella, while authentic Chinese food can be found at spots such as CIE Sichuan Cuisine.
  • Premier Districts for Shopping: Uptown Palm Springs & Palm Desert
    Uptown Palm Springs is renowned for its independently owned shops, selling anything from mid-century furnishings to high fashion items and original cocktail glasses to specialized books. North Palm Canyon Drive is the primary strip: standout choices include retro wear at Iconic Atomic, eclectic gifts, publications, and home decor at Just Fabulous,The Shag Store, dedicated to 1950s pop art pioneer Josh Agle, and Trina Turk`s signature boutique. Over in Palm Desert, the strip named El Paseo is another walkable shopping district, offering everything from collectibles at Maison Felice to jewelry at Leeds & Son.
  • Safest Areas of Palm Springs & Coachella Valley
    The more upscale communities of Indian Canyons, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, and Cathedral City are especially safeguarded areas. Downtown and Uptwo Palm Springs are generally protected, but as with any busy tourist destination, keep an additional watch on your valuables when exploring, and exercise caution at night.
  • The Palm Springs and Coachella Valley areas deemed unsafe for travel due to crime or unrest.

    • Regarding safety, there are some uneven areas of North Palm Springs, sections of Cathedral City, and Desert Hot Springs.

The 8 Best Places to Stay in Palm Springs & Coachella Valley for Tourists

1. Downtown Palm Springs

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“(62)”” “

Traveling outside the city, even for just one day, allows one to explore the beautiful Neckar Valley landscape. Carved out by twists in the Neckar River cutting through the hilly Odenwald region, the valley is lined with quaint villages connected via riverside walking paths and bicycle routes. Traditional German culture fills the atmospheric valley, with hilltop castles, medieval lanes, churches, and architecture reminiscent of Brothers Grimm fairy tales. The most scenic stretch runs 38 miles between Heidelberg and the ancient imperial city of Bad Wimpfen, now a spa town. Wimpfen`s well-preserved historic district contains medieval architectural gems such as the Blue Tower, part of a former castle. Small towns like Hirschhorn and Eberbach offer narrow lanes to explore on the route to Wimpfen. Scenic gorges like Wolf Gorge and Margaretenschlucht feature striking sandstone formations. The romantically situated Hornberg Castle provides another scenic stop. Deeper hiking and biking into the Odenwald forests and orchards reveals more market towns. Notable areas include the bizarre `Odenwald Rock Sea` rock formations near Lautertal-Reichenbach, the outdoor Odenwald Freilandmuseum showcasing rural life, and preserved old towns in Miltenberg, Walldürn, and Michelstadt.

2. Uptown Palm Springs

a white refrigerator sitting on the side of a street

Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District – centered around North Palm Canyon Drive, broadly between Vista Chino and Alejo Road – lies just north of Downtown, a revitalized neighborhood best known for its independent stores, ranging from vintage fashion to modern art. After nightfall, the district becomes one of the region’s premier dining strips, led by establishments like Eight4Nine,Workshop, and Sandfish Sushi. In the 1920s this area was known as Las Palmas Business District, but from the 1970s many companies closed, leaving empty buildings and bricked up storefronts. Regeneration began in the late 1990s, with local, independent designers paving the way – Trina Turk opened her fashion boutique here in 2002. Today you can still see classic landmarks like the Liberace House and Richard Neutra-designed Kaufmann House (both private homes). One of the region’s biggest attractions, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, is a 10-minute drive from here.

3. Rancho Mirage

a beach with palm trees and palm trees

About 10 miles southeast of Downtown Palm Springs, upscale Rancho Mirage is known as “Playground of the Presidents” thanks to its connections with former US leaders (Gerald Ford was a resident, and his wife established the Betty Ford Center here in 1982). It is most renowned for its exclusive golf clubs (13 at last count) and lavish hotels (the Omni features its own 100-foot waterslide), but there are several other attractions deserving of inspection. Children will take pleasure in the hands-on exhibits at the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, as well as the star-viewing programs at the Observatory, part of the Rancho Mirage Library. Historic 1960s estate Sunnylands is usually open for tours, while shoppers can explore The River, a mall arranged around an artificial oasis with fountains and waterfalls.

4. Palm Desert

a large white building with palm trees

Two miles east of Rancho Mirage (and about 12 kilometers from downtown Palm Springs), Palm Desert is another affluent area packed with many golf courses (it has been referred to as the “World`s Golf Capital”) and lavish resorts. Since the 1980s it has also developed as a major commercial and shopping hub thanks to the boutiques on El Paseo, the very walkable “Rodeo Drive of the Desert”, as well as open-air shopping at the Gardens at El Paseo and the region`s only indoor shopping center, the Shops at Palm Desert. Palm Desert also boasts an array of tourist attractions that nearly match Palm Springs: the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens,Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden, the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, and the McCallum Theatre.

    Opting to lodge at one of the highest rated hotels near Times Square is one approach to making your trip extra remarkable. This location is one of the most popular areas in NYC, and there are plenty of activities centered around Times Square suitable for all ages. Therefore, if you want to stay close to lively surroundings, I’ve compiled a list of the top lodging choices near Times Square.

5. Indian Wells

Two miles east of Palm Desert, Indian Wells is the most affluent city in the Coachella Valley, as is evident from the many pristinely-kept mansions, lawns, and gated communities (and lack of chain restaurants). It is also renowned for its luxury resorts and golf courses (namely the renowned Indian Wells Golf Resort and Players Course), but also for its high-profile events and festivals, especially the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament held in March. It additionally hosts the prestigious Desert Town Hall Lecture Series each spring and the Indian Wells Arts Festival in April. Families can explore the refined Village at Indian Wells shopping center and Shots in the Night, a glow-in-the-dark golf experience hosted by Indian Wells Golf Resort.

6. La Quinta

The adjacent city towards the east of Indian Wells is La Quinta, which grew around the exclusive La Quinta Resort in the 1930s. The hotel remains operational and merits checking out, even if only for a beverage at Morgan`s in the Desert. There isn`t much else to the city, though as always golf courses dominate (20 at last count), such as renowned PGA West and The Quarry at La Quinta. Renowned golf star Arnold Palmer was a local resident and owned a restaurant here. The restaurant can be found in Old Town, a Spanish colonial-themed open-air shopping center, also home to a weekly farmers` market (Sundays) and celebrated La Quinta Brewing Co.

7. Desert Hot Springs

Located on the north side of Interstate 10, 12 miles north of downtown Palm Springs, the relaxed city of Desert Hot Springs is best known for its hot and cold mineral springs, with much of the water piped directly into local hotels and resorts. Enjoying the high-quality mineral pools and spas in the city’s boutique hotels is the strongest reason to visit since there is not much else to see or places to eat and drink. The primary attraction is the fanciful Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, designed similar to a Hopi pueblo and former home of the “father of Desert Hot Springs”, Cabot Yerxa.

8. Indio

A few miles east of La Quinta lies relatively low-key Indio, which in contrast to its neighbors has a distinct emphasis (though it still boasts 13 golf courses), especially when it comes to fresh date orchards and citrus markets. The Shields Date Garden Store & Café remains one of its biggest attractions, along with the extremely sweet date shakes and other date-related snacks served on site. The Coachella Valley History Museum claims to incorporate the sole date palm museum in the world. Foodies also come to Indio for its authentic Mexican cuisine, especially tamales – the Indio International Tamale Festival is held here every December. Indio is best known for hosting the annual Coachella Festival every April and the Stagecoach Festival one week later at the same venue, the Empire Polo Club. (Book hotels for Coachella months ahead.)

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Airbnbs in Palm Spring

a patio area with a pool table and chairs

I’m not very familiar with Airbnb rentals in the Palm Springs area. For most visitors, I think a hotel is the better choice. But I can vouch for this house (pictured above), within walking distance from downtown Palm Springs.

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Welcome to my travel website! I’m Mary Howard, an American who has been exploring the world full-time for 8 years.

Together with my husband, Intan, we often find ourselves in our second home, Bali, but our adventures take us to exciting destinations all over the globe.

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