Photo: Patrick Pelster · CC BY-SA 3.0Where to Stay
A practical guide to the best hotels in Palm Springs by area, budget and style, from midcentury boutique hotels and adults-only inns to resorts with pools.
Choosing the best hotels in Palm Springs starts with deciding what kind of stay you want, because the city is famous for its small, design-driven hotels as much as for its resorts.
Downtown and the Uptown Design District put you within walking distance of restaurants, shops, bars and Thursday night VillageFest, while the Movie Colony, Warm Sands and South Palm Springs offer quieter inns with pools and mountain views.
Bigger resorts with golf and spas spread across the rest of the Coachella Valley, in Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and La Quinta.
Palm Springs hotels range from restored 1950s motels and Mediterranean-style hideaways to stylish new builds and casino hotels. Almost every hotel has a pool, and many are adults only, so check the policy if you travel with children.
Prices peak in high season, from about October to April, and especially during Modernism Week, the film festival, Coachella and Pride, while summer brings big discounts along with the heat. Check resort fees and parking when you compare rates.
The best hotel in each category, if you just want to book.
| Category | Our pick | |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Parker Palm Springs | Check Price |
| Couples | Korakia Pensione | Check Price |
| With a View or Rooftop | Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs | Check Price |
| Family-Friendly Hotels | Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa | Check Price |
| Luxury Hotels | Parker Palm Springs | Check Price |
| Boutique Hotels | Sparrows Lodge | Check Price |
| Spa Hotels | Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs | Check Price |
| Budget & Value Hotels | Summer stays | Check Price |
📍 South Palm Springs
A playful luxury resort with interiors by Jonathan Adler, lush gardens, pools, a spa and the restaurant Counter Reformation. In 2026, it added padel courts. It is one of the most famous hotels in the desert.
Book Now📍 Tennis Club
A romantic, Mediterranean-style hideaway made up of historic villas near downtown, blending Greek and North African influences, with gardens, pools and mountain views.
Book Now📍 Downtown
A rustic-chic, adults-only retreat in a restored 1950s property, with about 20 rooms around a pool and the Barn Kitchen restaurant. It is a favorite for a quiet, design-minded stay.
Book Now📍 Movie Colony
A restored 1930s hotel with a glamorous pool, lush gardens and the Michelin-recommended Colony Club restaurant. It sits in the historic Movie Colony, a short walk from downtown.
Book Now📍 Downtown
A modern hotel in the heart of downtown, with the city's first rooftop pool, the Michelin-recommended rooftop restaurant 4 Saints and Juniper Table for breakfast and lunch.
Book Now📍 Downtown
Opened in October 2024 along Palm Canyon Drive, this new-build hotel spans two and a half city blocks, with bungalow-style rooms, pools, the Levantine restaurant Lola Rose and the lounge Bar Issi.
Book Now📍 South Palm Springs
A converted 1960s motel with a laid-back, retro style, a lively pool scene, a diner and a bar. It is popular with younger travelers and groups of friends.
Book Now📍 Downtown
A downtown boutique hotel with apartment-style suites of one to four bedrooms, full kitchens and balconies, a resort-style pool and the Baja-inspired restaurant Maleza. It is a good option for groups.
Book Now📍 Tahquitz River Estates
An adults-only boutique hotel on a few acres of gardens, with three pools, bikes for guests and the restaurant Del Rey. It is a short drive from downtown and highly rated by guests.
Book Now📍 South Palm Springs
A stylish retreat with spacious rooms and bungalows, three pools and gardens. It is a member of Design Hotels and a classic choice for a relaxing stay.
Book NowLocation matters in Palm Springs because walking in the heat is hard and the city is spread out.
Downtown is best for walking to restaurants and bars, the Uptown Design District for shopping, the Movie Colony and the Tennis Club area for quiet inns near the center, and the rest of the valley for golf and big resorts.
Walk to restaurants, bars, the art museum and VillageFest.
Design shops, restaurants and smaller hotels.
Historic hotels and quiet streets east of downtown.
Charming inns at the foot of the mountains, close to downtown.
Small resorts, many catering to LGBTQ+ travelers.
Resorts and inns near the canyons and golf courses.
Luxury resorts and Sunnylands.
Shopping on El Paseo, resorts and the Living Desert.
Golf and tennis resorts, closer to Coachella.
Desert cabins and rentals near the national park.
Palm Springs is a classic romantic getaway, with adults-only inns, private pools and gardens, and sunsets over the mountains. Look for packages with spa treatments or dinner, and ask for a room facing the mountains.
A Mediterranean hideaway near downtown.
A rustic-chic, adults-only retreat.
An intimate, adults-only midcentury resort.
Gardens, pools and an adults-only setting.
Glamour in the Movie Colony.
Playful luxury and a spa.
Private bungalows and gardens.
Old Hollywood romance and a piano lounge.
In Palm Springs, the best views are of the San Jacinto Mountains, which glow at sunset. These hotels offer rooftop pools, hillside settings or rooms facing the peaks.
The city's first rooftop pool, with mountain views.
Hillside views over the valley.
Gardens at the foot of the mountains.
Pools with views of the mountains downtown.
Pools with mountain views.
A pool framed by palm trees and peaks.
Many Palm Springs inns are adults only, but larger hotels and resorts welcome families with big pools and space to play. Check whether parking and resort fees are included.
A family water area with a lazy river and slides.
A big pool and spacious rooms downtown.
Suites with kitchens for families.
A central location next to the cultural plaza.
A relaxed hotel with a pool and a diner.
A colorful, casual hotel with a pool.
Houses with private pools for larger families.
Palm Springs luxury is about design, privacy and service rather than high-rises. These hotels combine stylish rooms, beautiful pools and excellent restaurants and spas.
Playful luxury with a spa and gardens.
Hillside luxury above the valley.
A new luxury hotel downtown.
Historic villas and gardens.
A glamorous historic hotel.
Bungalows, pools and gardens.
Boutique hotels are the soul of Palm Springs, from restored midcentury motels to Mediterranean inns. These are some of the most characterful.
Palm Springs was built on its hot mineral spring, and spa days remain a big part of a stay. Book treatments in advance, especially in high season.
Steps from the Spa at Séc-he and its mineral pools.
A full-service spa in lush gardens.
A hillside spa above the valley.
An intimate spa at a midcentury resort.
A large resort spa in Rancho Mirage.
Palm Springs can be expensive in high season, but there are ways to save. Summer brings big discounts, and chain hotels along East Palm Canyon Drive and in nearby towns often cost less.
Rates drop sharply from June to September.
A colorful hotel with good rates.
A small hotel with a central location.
Chain hotels and motels with lower prices.
Avoid weekends and big events for better rates.
Lower prices a short drive away.
Downtown is the most convenient for a first trip, with restaurants, bars, the Palm Springs Art Museum and VillageFest within walking distance. The Uptown Design District, just north, is a close second, with design shops and some of the best restaurants.
Yes. Many of the small inns and boutique hotels, such as Sparrows Lodge and Villa Royale, are adults only, and several resorts cater to LGBTQ+ travelers. Families should look at larger hotels and resorts with family pools, and check the policy before booking.
Stay in Palm Springs for walkable restaurants, nightlife, midcentury architecture and the Aerial Tramway. Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and La Quinta are better for large golf and spa resorts, and closer to Coachella in Indio.
Many do, along with parking fees at larger hotels. Check the total price, including taxes and fees, before booking. Small inns are more likely to include parking.
Families often choose larger hotels with big pools, such as full-service hotels downtown, or the Omni Rancho Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage, which has a family water area. Check that the hotel welcomes children, as many inns do not.
Prices rise in high season, from about October to April, and peak during Modernism Week in February, the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January, Coachella and Stagecoach in April and Palm Springs Pride in November. Summer offers the lowest rates.
