Our favourite places to stay in Palm Springs
- 1/11
Our favourite places to stay in Palm Springs
If you’re dreaming about the California desert, check in to our pick of the ultimate Palm Springs hotels.
Around a two-hour drive east from Los Angeles and four hours south of Las Vegas, Palm Springs is a great destination to combine with another place in the USA's Western regions, or simply head there to explore and relax during a sunny city break.
The Sonoran Desert dwelling has long been a favourite of film stars, escaping the attention in Hollywood for some peace and palm trees. The city has mid-century architecture and vintage shopping is high on many visitors’ agendas. The boutiques along Palm Canyon Drive are the perfect place to start.
There are many golf courses for anyone hoping to tee off, as well as hot springs and spas further proving why it’s such a tonic for Hollywood stars. The surrounding mountains make an ideal setting for some scenic hikes – or follow the trails on a bicycle or on horseback. The Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert, home of the famous festival, is equally spectacular, as is the Joshua Tree National Park.
One of the best hotels in Palm Springs is Ingleside Inn, long-beloved of Hollywood – so much so that Frank Sinatra kept his preferred table reserved and Debbie Reynolds wanted to buy it.
Classic motel-style retreats that have received a makeover include the fabulous Fleur Noire, where single-storey buildings are arranged around the pool and rosé flows at the speakeasy.
Read on for our favourite Palm Springs hotels to visit this year…
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort © Werner Segarra Photography Inc - 2/11
1) JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort is a 25-minute drive from the centre of Palm Springs, lined by palm trees and populated by flamingos out in the Palm Desert. The resort features a lake, outdoor pools, tennis courts and a golf course, as well as a spa with a saltwater pool and its own bistro.
There’s plenty to keep you busy within the confines, but once you’re ready to venture out, Downtown Palm Springs and Indian Wells in the Coachella Valley await.
Werner Segarra Photography Inc - 3/11
2) Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel
Unlike many hotels in Palm Springs, Kimpton Rowan isn’t a restored version of an old favourite, but rather was purpose-built in the centre of the city, with views of the surrounding San Jacinto Mountains.
At the restaurant, the finest Californian wine and ingredients can be enjoyed after the sociable hour in the lobby at 4pm, where guests have a drink with the staff. It’s also perfectly positioned for hikers hoping to set off to explore the Tahquitz Canyon. Other activities on offer include shopping for vintage treasures in Downtown Palm Springs.
Laure Joliet - 4/11
3) Margaritaville Resort
With a name that includes a classic cocktail, Margaritaville Resort in Palm Springs is a perfect holiday playground. It’s part of a chain that has outposts all over the USA, as well as in Central America and the Caribbean. This one took over a Fifties resort to the north of the city a few years ago.
The facilities include the playfully named 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar, where margaritas (and other drinks) flow, two swimming pools and an oasis of a garden with palm trees and rose bushes. There’s also a spa with a Watsu pool, hair and nail salon, and 18 treatment rooms, plus cabanas to relax in afterwards.
Julie Soefer - 5/11
4) Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa
Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa is supersized America at its best, with a staggering 530 rooms, a spa with 21 treatment cabins and various surrounding golf courses. The coast may be a way off, but you’ll be able to cool off at the landlocked Salton Sea.
It’s an especially good Palm Springs hotel if you’re travelling with children, since the resort has its own waterpark, with various slides and, of course, its own lazy river. All of the guest rooms have a balcony or patio, plus there are villas with plunge pools and barbecues.
Courtesy of the hotel - 6/11
5) DoubleTree by Hilton Golf Resort
As we’ve hinted at, Palm Springs is an excellent destination for golfers and at this DoubleTree by Hilton outpost, there’s a 27-hole course for a neighbour. Guests can also get active at the Olympic-size swimming pool or the estate’s tennis courts. To fully appreciate the San Jacinto Mountains, book one of the rooms that overlook them. Some have a balcony or patio with a fire-pit.
The resort is in Cathedral City, within the Coachella Valley and in the wider Palm Springs area. The drive to Downtown Palm Springs shouldn’t take much longer than 10 minutes.
Courtesy of the hotel - 7/11
6) Fleur Noire
A rose in the middle of the desert, Fleur Noire is an adults-only boutique hotel with a classic, mid-century decor and a little French flavour thrown in, with low-slung buildings set around the pool – guests can choose to stay in regular rooms, or a bungalow or casita.
There are colourful (and yes, botanical) murals by renowned Santa Monica artist Louse Jones, flamingo-shaped lamps and a speakeasy with a thing for champagne rosé – along with chintzy parasols by the pool, ceiling fans and tiled floors. It’s located at the northern tip of town, which makes it a great base for accessing the hiking trails.
Booking.com - 8/11
7) Ingleside Inn
Palm Springs has a hallowed relationship with Hollywood stars, providing an A-list escape in the desert for decades now, but few hotels here are as glamorous as Ingleside Inn. Frank Sinatra kept a table at Melvyn’s, and other famous faces checking in over the years have included Elizabeth Taylor, Clark Gable and Greta Garbo.
The golden-age getaway is as decadent as ever, with staff members who have plenty of stories to tell. Don’t miss a glamorous meal at Melvyn’s, where the waiters wear tuxedos, seafood towers are served and certain dishes (steak Diane, baked Alaska) are set alight table-side.
Booking.com - 9/11
8) Hotel Paseo
Travelling back in time to the glorious Fifties is a regular occurrence in Palm Springs and Hotel Paseo, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, is no exception, with a 1955 red Cadillac in the lobby setting the tone. There’s also an Airstream Cruiser right by the pool. The walls are graced by more contemporary artworks.
The hotel has lots to ensure guests are having a good time, from a shuffleboard and pool table to a putting green. You’ll also be able to enjoy some yoga or borrow one of the free bicycles on loan to explore your surroundings.
Smith Photography - 10/11
9) Miramonte Resort
A short drive south of Palm Springs and just north of Indian Wells, Miramonte Resort is in the shadows of the Santa Rosa Mountains and just off Route 111. The peaceful setting includes 11 acres of gardens, with citrus trees and eye-catching sculptures.
It may be in the Californian desert, but the decor (and menu for that matter) would feel perfectly at home in the Mediterranean. As you may have gathered by now, Palm Springs is a destination that’s big on golf – if you’re hoping to tee off, there’s a handy 36-hole course next-door.
Couresy of the hotel - 11/11
10) Villa Royale
In the south of the city, Villa Royale has been welcoming guests since 1947. The Spanish-style retreat has terracotta roofs, whitewashed walls and a lush landscape. It’s adults-only, so you can be sure of a peaceful atmosphere.
More Spanish influence can be found at the tapas restaurant, where the small plates can be accompanied by some potent cocktails. Nods to the region’s Hollywood heritage come in the form of the portraits of stars such as Lana Turner.
Courtesy of the hotel
