Destinations The 10 Best Hotels in Palm Springs of 2024 Choose from our list of editor-loved properties and T+L award winners. By Alesandra Dubin Alesandra Dubin Alesandra Dubin is an LA-based lifestyle writer and editor. As a veteran digital journalist, she's covered travel, food, parenting, and more for over 15 years. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy, and countless other online and print outlets. An avid traveler, she often trots the globe with her husband and their twins. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @alicedubin. Alesandra holds a master's degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on April 11, 2024 We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: The Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows Beyond 350 days of sunshine per year, there are so many reasons to visit Palm Springs: sparkling pools, mid-century architecture, world-class events, arts and culture, and a thriving food scene (to name merely a few). It’s one of my favorite destinations in the world, and I have made multiple pilgrimages to the desert each year for the past two decades. Ready to plan your next trip to paradisiacal Palm Springs? Read on to discover the best hotels and resorts in the region: from boutique gems to sprawling resorts, there’s something for every type of traveler. Our list includes properties at a range of price points. Some are kid-friendly, all are pet-friendly, and many offer bikes for guests to tool around town. A Southern California-based and -bred travel writer, I curated this list filled with my own favorites, plus expert recommendations from Travel + Leisure editors, contributors, and readers, along with winners from our World’s Best Awards and It List. Ace Hotel & Swim Club Stephen Kent Johnson Book Now Also available to book at Hotels.com What We Like The Ace has an overall cool vibe but still feels accessible, with a fun pool scene and delicious (and even healthy) fare at King’s Highway. What to Consider Some of the details here favor form over function (as a light sleeper, I question the choice of white window coverings against the desert sun). Even in a city full of cool hotels, the Ace stands out for its coolness factor. Formerly a mid-century desert modern Westward Ho with a Denny’s, the property is now a 179-room hotel and spa, where I’ve spent many memorable stays, from high-season festivals to low-season hangs by communal firesides. Here there are two large pools and a spa; the pool scene is lively but not obnoxious, with DJs spinning for events and holidays. King’s Highway restaurant offers excellent California fare in a diner environment, and the next door Amigo Room is the perfect spot for an after-dinner — or daytime — drink. The hotel is within biking distance of downtown. The Details: Location: Downtown Palm Springs (South End)Distance From Airport: 3.3 milesAccessibility: Accessible rooms availableRates: From $136Parking: Free self parkingPet Policy: Permitted under 25 pounds with a fee of $25 per day per pet.Resort Fee: Yes Sparrows Lodge Sparrows Lodge Book Now Also available to book at Hotels.com What We Like This low-key property in a restored 1950s-era Hollywood haunt is all-around vibey. Borrow a Sole townie bike to ride around town. What to Consider There are no TVs or phones in the rooms, and only two guests are permitted in each room. Originally opened under the name Castle’s Red Barn in 1952 by MGM actor Don Castle and his wife, this property was one of the original resort getaways for Hollywood types in the mid-century age. And it still has that chic, cool energy; I can attest, having swirled around its pool for elite Coachella parties. Now completely restored, this low-key adults-only resort is marked by just a simple hand-painted sign bearing two sparrows. The rooms, communal barn, fire pit, and vegetable garden, all have a chic rustic vibe. And there’s an on-site art collection with works by Ruscha, Kelly, Katz, and Baldessari. The 20 rooms have exposed beam ceilings, concrete floors with inlaid pebbles, and plush pillow-top mattresses with luxe Italian linens. Bathrooms feature rain showers, and many use horse troughs as unique bathtubs. Most rooms have private patios. Sparrows Lodge scored World’s Best Awards in 2022 and 2023. The Details: Location: South Palm SpringsDistance From Airport: 2.8 milesAccessibility: Accessible rooms upon request, access to all public areas, chair lift available at pool and jacuzzi.Rates: From $219Parking: Free self parkingPet Policy: Dogs under 40 pounds are welcome, must be leashed outside guest rooms, $100 per stay.Resort Fee: Yes “This is a fun, rustic spot where you can dine in a barn or an outdoor garden, mingle with other guests in the pool or hang on your private patio. It has a cool story that dates back to 1950s Hollywood, but this iteration feels very modern.” –Nina Ruggiero, Senior Editorial Director The Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows The Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows Book Now Also available to book at Hotels.com What We Like This chic and walkable adults-only hotel is organized around a central pool, which makes for a convivial atmosphere. What to Consider The hotel is in a residential area and restricts noise between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. I was one of the first guests to stay at this ultra-chic property when it opened in 2007 — though mobster Al Wertheimer opened its first incarnation in 1936 and it was once a saloon, speakeasy, and Hollywood haunt for the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Marilyn Monroe. In its current incarnation, it’s a boutique hotel property spread over three acres and organized around a sparkling central pool. Rooms feature mosaic tiles, colorful fabrics, Frette linens and robes, and many have fireplaces and claw-foot bathtubs. The Purple Palm restaurant sits right off the pool and the spa was recently redesigned. Colony Palms also made it onto our It List in 2022. The Details: Location: Design DistrictDistance From Airport: 3 milesAccessibility: Accessible rooms availableRates: From $238Parking: Yes, $35Pet Policy: Two dogs up to 40 pounds for an additional fee of $150 per pet, per stay.Resort Fee: Yes “Easily walkable to downtown, this palm-lined oasis is the perfect place to relax in Palm Springs. A celeb hangout since the 1930s, it's the type of spot Frank Sinatra would (and did) escape to from the bright lights of Hollywood. It was fully renovated in 2021, earning it a spot on T+L's 2022 It List. I stayed in the unforgettable 3,500-square-foot Hermann Residence, a private villa with its own backyard and Jacuzzi, but the rooms and bungalows offer just as much desert glamor on a smaller scale.” –Nina Ruggiero, Senior Editorial Director Holiday House Zeke Ruelas Photo Book Now Also available to book at Hotels.com What We Like The resort fee at this ultra-chic and walkable hotel includes continental breakfast plus the use of bicycles. What to Consider There are no TVs or phones in rooms, each room accommodates a maximum of two guests, and the whole property is non-smoking. Originally opened in 1951, this 28-room downtown boutique hotel was styled by interior designer Mark D. Sikes and the team behind sister property Sparrows Lodge. The mid-century-influenced design elements all center around Gio Ponti-inspired tilework in the bar, where I enjoyed a lively brunch drinks date with my husband. An impressive collection of artwork throughout the hotel includes works by David Hockney, Roy Liechtenstein, Herb Ritts, Alex Katz and Mr. Brainwash. There’s a communal atmosphere in the common spaces, and rooms feature Waterworks bath hardware and oversized showers, custom textiles, curated artwork, excellent selections in the mini bars, and Cowshed bath amenities. A simple continental breakfast is included in the resort fee, with homemade bread and pastries, fruit, yogurt, granola, cheese, and charcuterie. This property landed on our World’s Best Awards list in 2022 and 2023. The Details: Location: Downtown Palm SpringsDistance From Airport: 2.5 miles from PSPAccessibility: Accessible rooms are available.Rates: From $164Parking: Yes, free and available.Pet Policy: Dogs under 40 pounds are welcome (on a leash outside of guest rooms) with a fee of $100 per stay.Resort Fee: Yes Dive Palm Springs Dive Hotel Book Now Also available to book at Hotels.com What We Like This petite boutique hotel features whimsical touches (including a repurposed Parisian elevator cage from the belle époque) in its unique rooms and suites. What to Consider This small hotel is located near the convention center, but the area isn’t super walkable. Located in Deepwell Estates (near the Palm Springs Convention Center), this hotel is as boutique-y as they come, with just 11 rooms. Inspired by the French Riviera of the 1960s, this property is only for the 21-and-up set. King rooms feature rattan beds covered with Belgian linen atop Tuft and Needle mattresses, plus furniture from Serena & Lily, Anthropologie, and L.A. designers, and rainfall showers and touch-lit mirrors. Fashion illustrator Gabriella Fash created original wall murals and most rooms include an outdoor patio with an oversized daybed. The dreamy La Reve room has a queen-size brass bed plus custom wallpaper and a ceiling mural by Christian Lacroix. And the two-bedroom Paris suite transforms a 1919 belle époque brass and copper elevator cage from Paris into a queen bed. The Details: Location: Deepwell EstatesDistance From Airport: 2.6 milesAccessibility: Room 9 is available with a king bed. There’s designated parking in front of the lobby with ramp access.Rates: From $254Parking: Yes, ample self parking.Pet Policy: Dogs up to 35 pounds each are welcome with a deposit of $250 per stay.Resort Fee: Yes “Palm Springs is full of boutique hotels, and I've been to many of them. There's definitely a certain formula: one level, rooms surrounding a pool, bougainvillea-covered outdoor common areas. Dive fits that mold, but its chic St. Tropez-esque design makes it memorable. Truly, there may be no one doing better things with rattan.” –Nina Ruggiero, Senior Editorial Director Avalon Palm Springs Avalon Palm Springs Book Now Also available to book at Hotels.com What We Like This property is the perfect size – not too large or too small – and it’s easy to get around but with plentiful on-site amenities. Plus, the views around the main pool are Instagram gold. What to Consider While the property is technically family-friendly, you will get looks if your kids are being boisterous anywhere except the designated family pool. (We were once asked gently to relocate there — and the staffer kindly comped a round of drinks for our troubles.) After one of my first visits to this property, I was so smitten with the whole vibe (in its former incarnation as the Viceroy) that I designed my wedding decor and motifs around it. I’ve been back many times since, and it always feels like home — the boutique hotel is somehow both impeccably manicured but also down to earth, with 70 Spanish-style lodgings, including studios and 13 private villas, with a residential feel nestled among three pools. Estrella spa and Chi Chi Restaurant round out the full suite of offerings. The Details: Location: DowntownDistance From Airport: 2.8 milesAccessibility: Accessible room categories include premium king studio and one-bedroom suites.Rates: $137Parking: Valet parking is included in the resort fee for one vehicle per room. Additional cars will be charged $20 per night per car. Self-parking on the street is also available.Pet Policy: Dogs are welcome with a $100 one-time, non-refundable cleaning fee (per pet). Two pets maximum with a maximum weight of 45 pounds per pet. With every pet stay, Avalon donates 10 percent of the pet fee to the Best Friends Animal Society.Resort Fee: Yes Parker Palm Springs Parker Palm Springs Book Now Also available to book at Expedia.com What We Like The vibe at this high-design hotel feels sophisticated and posh, but I found that my twins were warmly welcomed here even when they were toddlers. What to Consider The $50 resort fee is higher than most, and it doesn’t include the $45 daily valet parking. This mid-century gem is gorgeous and photogenic, with cheeky interiors designed by Jonathan Adler and a dramatic cinder block entrance wall that sets the scene for visual delights throughout the verdant property. The Parker features two pools (one for adults and one for families with kids) as well as two restaurants, a spa, salon, tennis courts, and fitness center. Accommodations range from standard rooms to spacious villas. The Details: Location: Araby Cove area (South Palm Springs)Distance From Airport: 2.7 milesAccessibility: Accessible rooms with king or two double beds available.Rates: From $319Parking: Yes, valet only at $45 per day.Pet Policy: Pets are permitted with a fee of $200 per night per pet.Resort Fee: Yes Booking Tip If you’re traveling with kids, ask for the corner room on the second floor of the main building; it’s got plenty of room to spread out. “This Jonathan Adler-decorated hotel is what I’d want my villa in Palm Springs to look like — if I had one, that is. There wasn’t an area on the property that didn’t beg for photos to be taken, and there were little delights everywhere from a “Lemonade Stand” outdoor bar with a spot for an impromptu pétanque game to s’mores by the fire at night. The room itself was light and airy, sprinkled with accents from the acclaimed designer, and I still dream about the mirrored bathroom — best selfies ever! — with the most luxe array of toiletries including Hermès soap, Le Labo shampoo, Bulgari lotion, and even Aesop mouthwash.” –Morgan Ashley Parker, Associate Editorial Director, Commerce JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa Taylor McIntyre / Travel + Leisure Book Now Also available to book at Hotels.com What We Like This sprawling, family-friendly resort has a lively atmosphere, and plenty of amenities including golf and mini golf, tennis, a spa, and even an on-site arcade. What to Consider This family-friendly hotel may not appeal as much to visitors without kids (use the spa pool with a treatment or day pass for a child-free experience). Not every traveler is looking for an intimate boutique hotel experience, and this expansive Marriott checks the boxes for those seeking a full-service stay and a convivial atmosphere with tons of options to entertain the whole family. Mine thoroughly enjoyed our spring break stay here, and that’s a tall order for my ever-harder-to-please tweens. The lush grounds feature peaceful waterways with a flock of flamingos, plus a lake on which guests can take serene boat rides. There are six restaurants offering a range of cuisines including the Japanese steakhouse Mikado, multiple pools, two championship golf courses, a tennis center and volleyball courts, and a jogging path. We enjoyed on-site activities like tie-dying T-shirts and organized lawn games. There’s even a large-scale on-site arcade that my kids (and OK — I, too) spent hours in and absolutely loved. The massive 38,000 square-foot spa has 48 individual treatment rooms and expansive co-ed spa areas great for a date day or girls trip; try the Mind Sync vibrational wellness chairs, too. The Details: Location: Palm DesertDistance From Airport: 11.5 milesAccessibility: Accessible rooms and it’s a Certified Autism Center-designated propertyRates: From $237Parking: Self parking is included, or valet parking is $45 per night.Pet Policy: New as of April 2024, pets are now permitted with a non-refundable pet fee of $150 along with a $20 daily cleaning fee. Special dog amenities are given upon check-in.Resort Fee: Yes Saguaro Palm Springs The Saguaro Hotel Book Now Also available to book at Hotels.com What We Like This super colorful hotel is so fun to look at and photograph, with a great Mexican restaurant and opportunities to score great deals. What to Consider The pool scene can be overwhelming, especially when holiday weekends bring DJs and a packed crowd. You will not find serenity (or a good spot around the pool) on these dates. I’ve come here for everything from Coachella to bachelorette parties to date weekends with my husband; its rainbow-hued exterior and interior decor details are so fun and Instagrammable, and reasonable entry-level price points are available even sometimes in higher seasons. (You’ll occasionally find a deal under $100 here even as hotel room rates are soaring overall.) The Mexican restaurant and bar El Jefe has both a fun scene and delicious menu of tacos and more. Each colorful room has a private balcony or patio. The Details: Location: Deepwell EstatesDistance From Airport: 2.6 milesAccessibility: Accessible guest rooms are availableRates: From $87Parking: Self-parking only. One car is included in the resort fee; additional cars are subject to a $15 nightly fee.Pet Policy: Dogs are allowed with a $50 fee and a signed waiver.Resort Fee: Yes Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Laure Joliet Book Now Also available to book at Hotels.com What We Like The Kimpton is eminently walkable and features the only rooftop pool in Palm Springs. What to Consider The downtown location can mean a noisy experience, and the pool is small compared to others in the desert. With its downtown location anchoring the shopping and dining district The Block, this centrally-located hotel is easy walking distance to a variety of dining, shopping, and culture options, not to mention hiking trails. At seven stories tall, it’s a towering structure amid the desert’s low landscape, and features the city’s only rooftop pool and cabanas. It also features the Michelin-recommended 4 Saints restaurant and other all-day dining options. All 153 airy, bright rooms and suites have either mountain views or private balconies. New in spring 2024 are six pickleball courts on site; play for guests is included with the resort fee. The Kimpton also landed on our World’s Best Awards list in 2021. The Details: Location: Downtown Palm SpringsDistance From Airport: 2.4 milesAccessibility: ADA-accessible rooms available with single king or double queen bedsRates: From $389Parking: Yes, complimentary valet and self-parking for hotel guests (included in daily resort fee).Pet Policy: No pet restrictions; pets of all sizes and types stay for freeResort Fee: Yes Know Before You Go It can get pricey during high season High season in the Desert runs from December through April, and peak season can cause prices even for otherwise affordable hotels to soar exponentially. It also means vacancy rates are low, and on-the-spot bookings can be practically impossible during events like Coachella. So be sure to plan ahead and book far in advance. (Better deals are available in the summer season, for instance, when temperatures swelter.) Consider renting a car Palm Springs can be hard to get to without a car. And having access to one makes it much easier to get around, especially if you’re looking to visit nearby destinations like Joshua Tree National Park. (But if you’re staying right in downtown Palm Springs and plan to remain local, biking around town is feasible, and many hotels rent bikes as well.) The weather varies dramatically by season Though Palm Springs gets about 350 days of sunshine per year, it’s not always warm. Don’t expect pool weather in the winter, and bring layers as the desert nights and mornings can be cool. In the summer, temperatures regularly far exceed 100 degrees, and you’ll want to be prepared with plenty of SPF and water. If you’ll be heading up into the mountains during your stay, expect dramatically cooler temperatures at elevation. (I once enjoyed a hearty Christmas eve snowfall atop the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway with my family — a priceless, and cold, memory.) How We Chose These Hotels Alesandra Dubin is a travel and lifestyle journalist raised in and currently based in Southern California. She’s traveled to Palm Springs and its environs multiple times annually for two decades. The hotels on this list were chosen based on her own experience, expertise, and research as well as the firsthand accounts of Travel + Leisure editors and other contributors. Many of these hotels have also been voted into their respective categories in the World’s Best Awards by T+L readers. All of our hotel recommendations also align with our T+L Hotel Values. Edited by Sophie Mendel Sophie Mendel Sophie Mendel is a Commerce Editor at Travel + Leisure with Dotdash Meredith where she assigns, edits and publishes the product reviews and recommendations that help guide travelers toward the best shoes, apparel and accessories for their needs. Sophie has traveled to 50 countries and has lived in five, and is bilingual in English and Spanish. She has more than five years of experience as a writer, editor and copywriter. learn more Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit