Planning a trip to Palm Springs? Great choice!
This sunny desert city is the perfect backdrop for a getaway. Its pool hotels really offer that “I’m on vacation” feeling, but how do you pick the right one?
That’s where we come in! There are three main areas of Palm Springs to choose from, and in this blog post we’ve broken down each one so that you can choose the area that suits you best. And of course, we’ve got top-rated hotel picks for every budget.
Whether you want a spacious resort or a boutique hotel with vintage shopping right on your doorstep, we’ve got you covered. Let’s get into it!
Don’t miss out!
Our Top Choice
This is the area and hotel we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP!
Our FAVORITE area to stay in Palm Springs is Downtown. Everything is within walking distance, making it easy to explore Palm Canyon Drive, shop, dine, and soak up the city’s atmosphere.
For a stylish stay, The Dunes Hotel is our top pick. This beautifully renovated 1960s hotel blends retro Palm Springs charm with modern comforts, and the mountain-view pool is the perfect place to relax.
- Our Top Choice
- Overview of the Best Areas to Stay in Palm Springs
- Important Tip
- Where to Stay in Palm Springs
- Top Activities to do in Palm Springs
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Hotels on booking.com
- Renting a Car in the USA
- AIRALO e-SIM Up To 15% Off With Code "DTRAVEL15"
- What’s an eSIM?
- The Services We Recommend
Overview of the Best Areas to Stay in Palm Springs
Palm Springs is fairly easy to navigate, but where you stay will make a big difference to the feel of your trip. Some areas are better if you want to walk to restaurants and bars, while others are more about relaxing by the pool with clear mountain views.
For most first-time visitors, Downtown Palm Springs is the easiest choice. You’ll be close to Palm Canyon Drive, which is where you’ll find tons of restaurants, shops, bars, and galleries, plus the Palm Springs Art Museum and Downtown Park. If you want to minimize driving once you arrive, this is the area to choose.
Just north of Downtown, Uptown Design District is a great option if you want something a little cooler, with more of a boutique vibe. We love the mid-century modern style here, and the hotels tend to be smaller with more personality. Meanwhile, South Palm Springs is quieter and more spread out, with more of a resort-style feel. It’s best if you want to switch off and relax, but you’ll want a car.
As for getting around Palm Springs, taxis and rideshares do work well for short stays, as it’s easy to use Uber and Lyft to hop around town. However, I would definitely recommend renting a car if you’re staying in South Palm Springs, or if you’re planning to explore Indian Canyons, Joshua Tree, or nearby desert towns – basically beyond the main central strip!
- Downtown Palm Springs – Best for first-time visitors – This is the easiest area to stay in Palm Springs if you want restaurants, bars, shops, galleries, and Palm Canyon Drive right on your doorstep. The Dunes Hotel is a great pick here, with a fun mid-century feel and a handy downtown location.
- Uptown Design District – Best for boutique hotels – This is the area for vintage shopping, smaller hotels, and that cool Palm Springs design feel. The Skylark is a solid option with a heated pool, hot tub, and mountain views.
- South Palm Springs – Best for resorts & a quiet stay – This is the best choice if you want pools, mountain views, and a more spacious, resort-style base. A PLACE IN THE SUN Hotel is a bright hotel offering self-catering studios, bungalows, and villas.
Important Tip
Multiple Palm Springs trips have taught us that this city doesn’t reward spontaneity when it comes to planning. The good places get snapped up months in advance, leaving the overpriced and underwhelming options for last-minute travelers.
The sweet spot for booking Palm Springs accommodations is 3-4 months out—enough time to secure good rates but not so far ahead that you’re locking in plans excessively early.
Where to Stay in Palm Springs
Downtown Palm Springs
BEST FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS
Pros
- Easy to explore on foot
- Close to restaurants, bars, shops, galleries, and the main Palm Canyon Drive action
- Best choice if you want to minimize driving once you arrive
Cons
- Can get busy, especially on weekends and during events
- Hotels can be more expensive than staying further out
- Not as quiet or resort-like as South Palm Springs
Downtown Palm Springs is where I’d stay if I were visiting the city for the first time. It’s the easiest all-round base because you’ll have restaurants, bars, shops, galleries, and lots of the main attractions right on your doorstep.
This is where you’ll find the main stretch of Palm Canyon Drive, which is the heart of the action in Palm Springs. It’s also close to the Palm Springs Art Museum, Downtown Park, Forever Marilyn, and tons of great places to eat and drink. So if you want to wander out for coffee, browse shops, grab dinner, and then stroll back to your hotel, Downtown makes life very easy!
It’s also the best area if you don’t want to drive too much once you arrive. Palm Springs is still a desert city, so you may want a car for day trips to places like Joshua Tree or Indian Canyons. However, if you’re mainly here for pool time and just enjoying the bars, shopping, and galleries, Downtown is super convenient.
The only real downside is that it can get busy, especially on weekends and during big events – during Coachella, for example. But for most visitors, I think the convenience is absolutely worth it!
Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel – $$$
Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel is one of the best high-end stays in Downtown Palm Springs, especially if you want a bigger hotel with resort-style facilities. It’s close to the convention center, and within easy reach of Palm Canyon Drive, so you get a very convenient location without being right in the busiest part of the strip.
The big draw here is the pool area, because this is Palm Springs and the pool matters! There’s also a restaurant, bar, fitness center, hot tub, and plenty of space to unwind between sightseeing, shopping, and dinner plans.
Prices usually start at around $200 USD per night, but they can climb above $350 USD during busy weekends, festivals, and peak season.
If Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel is fully booked, Casa Cody is another beautiful option with more boutique charm. It’s the oldest operating hotel in Palm Springs, with two pools, mountain views, and a more historic feel.
La Serena Villas is also gorgeous if you want something more romantic and high-end. It’s an adults-only boutique hotel with private villas, a pool, spa, and a gorgeous cocktail patio, so we think it’s the ideal place to treat yourself.
The Dunes Hotel – $$
The Dunes Hotel is our top pick in Downtown Palm Springs. It’s a vintage 1960s hotel that’s been given a fresh mid-century modern update, so you get the retro Palm Springs feel without compromising on comfort.
And the location truly cannot be beaten! You’re in Downtown Palm Springs, with restaurants, bars, shops, and the main Palm Canyon Drive action close by.
However, there’s still a pool with mountain views and plenty of lounge areas, so this is somewhere you can switch off rather than just a bed for the night. Prices generally start at around $175 USD per night.
Another good Downtown option is Palm Mountain Resort & Spa. It’s just steps from Palm Canyon Drive and has a temperature-controlled pool, spa treatments, and an ideal location for checking out the area’s shops, restaurants, and galleries.
Orbit In is also worth checking if you want something more boutique and retro. It’s a small adults-only mid-century hotel with a true vintage Palm Springs feel, with fun touches like vinyl players in the rooms and a pool area with a tropical vibe.
Best Western Plus Las Brisas – $
Best Western Plus Las Brisas is an ideal budget-friendly option if you want to stay right in Downtown Palm Springs without going for one of the more expensive boutique hotels. It’s only a short walk from shopping, restaurants, and nightlife, so you’re still in a really convenient spot.
This one is more practical than flashy, but it offers a lot for the price. There’s an outdoor pool, free parking, free Wi-Fi, and breakfast included, which can make a big difference if you’re trying to keep costs down in Palm Springs.
Prices often start at around $135 USD per night, but they can rise quickly during peak dates.
If Best Western Plus Las Brisas is unavailable for your dates, Old Ranch Inn is another lovely option to consider. It’s an adults-only boutique hotel in the historic Tennis Club area, with a pool, mountain views, and easy access to Downtown.
Hotel Zoso is also a great spot to check out if you want something livelier. It’s right in the heart of Downtown Palm Springs, with a fun pool area and the city’s best nightlife close by!
Uptown Design District
BEST FOR BOUTIQUE HOTELS
Pros
- Great for boutique hotels, vintage shopping, and mid-century style
- Still central, but usually calmer than Downtown
- Lots of cool coffee spots, restaurants, galleries, and design stores nearby
Cons
- Less convenient for classic Downtown sightseeing
- Hotel prices can still be high, especially in peak season
- You may still want a car or rideshare for exploring beyond Palm Canyon Drive
Uptown Design District is a great place to stay if you want something stylish and central, but a little calmer than Downtown. It sits just north of Downtown along North Palm Canyon Drive, so you’re still close to the main Palm Springs action, and there’s a big focus on Desert Modernism here. If you’re most excited to see the city’s iconic mid-century architecture, you’ll fall in love with this area straight away.
We love that Uptown still feels central, but it’s not quite as full-on as Downtown. You’ve got coffee shops, restaurants, galleries, and boutique hotels nearby, so there’s plenty going on, but the whole area feels a little more sophisticated, with a bigger focus on design.
It’s also a great choice if you want a smaller hotel rather than a big resort or chain property. As you might expect, a lot of the stays here lean into that classic Palm Springs look, with pools, palms, clean lines, and mountain views. Basically, if your dream Palm Springs trip involves vintage shopping in the morning and pool time in the afternoon, Uptown Design District is a very strong choice.
Just bear in mind that it’s not quite as convenient as Downtown for sightseeing. You’ll need a car or rideshare apps for anything beyond Palm Canyon Drive.
Alcazar Palm Springs – $$$
Alcazar Palm Springs is a gorgeous high-end pick if you want a boutique hotel right in the Uptown Design District. It’s a small, stylish hotel with a clean modern feel, mountain views, and a really peaceful pool area. It’s a true Palm Springs escape!
There are only 34 rooms, which helps it feel more personal, and the hotel is part of the same little hospitality family as Cheeky’s and Birba, so you’ve got good food and drinks close by. There are also bikes available, which is a fun bonus if you want to explore the area without driving.
Prices usually start between $200 and $300 USD per night, but can climb higher during peak season and busy weekends.
Another stylish option in Uptown is Casa Palma Hotel & Bungalows. It has a very Palm Springs feel, with spacious white bungalows, two pool areas, a spa, and a fresh boutique look.
ARRIVE Palm Springs is another great choice if you want something more social. It’s an adults-only hotel with stylish rooms, a poolside restaurant and bar, and lovely cabanas, as well as firepits for the cooler desert nights.
The Skylark – $$
The Skylark is a wonderful hotel in the Uptown Design District that delivers that retro Palm Springs motel feel, but with enough modern updates to make it comfortable. And, best of all, it won’t break the bank!
The hotel has a heated outdoor pool, hot tub, mountain views, and a relaxed desert feel, which is exactly what we want from a Palm Springs stay! It’s also still close to restaurants, coffee spots, and vintage shops, so you can enjoy the Uptown vibe without feeling isolated from the action. Prices often start around $180 USD per night.
If The Skylark is booked for your stay, The Twist Palm Springs is another fantastic option nearby. It has a bold modern design and apartment-style rooms, so it works well if you like to self-cater.
Fleur Noire Hotel is also worth checking if you want something more boutique and playful. It’s a 21+ hotel with floral-inspired rooms, a sparkling pool, complimentary breakfast, bikes, and a secret rosé bar hidden behind pink doors. How cool does that sound?
Los Arboles Hotel – $
Los Arboles Hotel is a good budget-friendly option if you want to stay in Uptown without paying top boutique hotel prices. It’s small, colorful, and has more personality than a basic chain hotel, which is exactly what you want in Palm Springs.
The big bonus here is that El Mirasol is on site, so you’ve got a well-loved Mexican restaurant and bar right there. There’s also a pool and hot tub, plus free parking, which is always helpful if you’re renting a car. Prices often start around $150 USD per night.
If you prefer having extra space and a home-like feel, Desert Vacation Villas is worth considering. The property offers spacious villas with full kitchens, private patios, a pool, and beautiful desert mountain views just minutes from downtown Palm Springs.
The Cactai is also worth a look if you want something small and modern. It has apartment-sized rooms, some with kitchens or patios, plus a pool and free off-street parking, so it’s a good shout if you want a bit more space.
Why We Book Hotels on booking.com
Booking.com is a trusted online booking platform for hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and boutique stays around the world. We’ve been using Booking.com to reserve our accommodations for over a decade, and we keep coming back for a few key reasons:
South Palm Springs
BEST FOR RESORTS & A QUIET STAY
Pros
- Best for pools, mountain views, and a more resort-style stay
- Easy access to Indian Canyons, Moorten Botanical Garden, and golf
- Quieter and more spacious than Downtown or Uptown
Cons
- Less walkable than Downtown and Uptown
- You’ll probably want a car or rideshare
- Not as convenient for nightlife, restaurants, or shopping on Palm Canyon Drive
South Palm Springs is a great place to stay if you’re craving a true desert escape! It’s quieter and more spread out than Downtown or Uptown, with larger resorts and hotels that offer gorgeous mountain views and more space to switch off.
This is where we would stay if our main goal was to relax, swim, and enjoy that classic Palm Springs resort feeling. It’s also a strong choice if you’re planning to play a lot of golf or visit Indian Canyons and Moorten Botanical Garden. And for architecture fans, it’s a good base to explore some of the quieter residential areas and admire Palm Springs’ iconic mid-century homes.
The trade-off is that South Palm Springs is not as walkable. You won’t have quite as many restaurants, bars, shops, or galleries right on your doorstep, and you’ll probably need a car or rideshare to get around.
That said, if you’re more interested in mountain views and pool time than being in the middle of the action, this area makes a lot of sense. Downtown and Uptown are better for first-time visitors who want to walk everywhere, but South Palm Springs is perfect if you want somewhere calmer.
Villa Royale – $$$
Villa Royale is one of the best high-end picks in South Palm Springs, especially if you want a romantic, adults-only boutique hotel with a real desert hideaway feel. It’s stylish without feeling too flashy, with Spanish-inspired design and mountain views.
There are multiple pools, a restaurant, and a cozy bar, so you’ve got everything you need for a slow, sunny desert stay. I’d book this one if I wanted something more intimate than a big resort, but still polished and special enough to feel like a treat. It’s also a great choice if your ideal Palm Springs day involves pool time, cocktails, and very little rushing around.
Prices usually start around $250 USD per night, but they can climb much higher during peak season and busy weekends.
La Maison Hotel is another lovely adults-only option nearby offering a charming and intimate stay just outside the busier downtown area. It has a peaceful courtyard and a more traditional boutique feel, so it’s a good choice if you want somewhere quiet and personal.
If you want something stylish and design-forward, Azure Sky Hotel is a gorgeous option. It’s an adults-only boutique hotel with a pool, hot tub, mountain views, and a very calm atmosphere.
A PLACE IN THE SUN Hotel – $$
A PLACE IN THE SUN Hotel is a restored mid-century boutique hotel with extra-large bungalows and studios set around a heated pool and spa. It has that classic Palm Springs feel, but it doesn’t feel over the top!
The hotel sits in the midst of an acre of private palm-tree gardens, which gives it a really peaceful atmosphere. I love that it feels more like a little desert compound than a standard hotel. It’s the kind of place that works well if you want space, privacy, and pool time.
Prices often start around $200 USD per night, although they vary a lot depending on season and room type.
If A PLACE IN THE SUN Hotel isn’t your style, Dive Palm Springs Hotel is another beautiful option to consider. It has a dreamy, French Riviera-inspired feel, with a pool, garden, and fire pit, and it’s close to several international restaurants.
Named after the famous song, the Hotel California really is a lovely place! We love its leafy pool garden and barbecue area, and the fact that they offer free bikes so you can cycle through nearby neighborhoods and check out Palm Springs’ iconic architecture.
The Saguaro Palm Springs – $
The Saguaro Palm Springs is one of the most recognizable hotels in Palm Springs, thanks to its bright rainbow-colored exterior and huge pool area. If you want something colorful and playful, this is the one.
This is not the quietest hotel in South Palm Springs, so I wouldn’t book it if your dream trip involves lots of peace and quiet. But if you want a lively pool and bold design, The Saguaro can be a great choice. There’s also a restaurant, day spa, and poolside daybeds and cabanas, so it’s set up well for a sunny and social stay! Prices often start around $150 USD per night.
If The Saguaro is fully booked, Little Paradise Hotel is a lovely alternative with incredible reviews! It’s a smaller and quieter property, so it’s ideal if you’re looking for a more peaceful, adults-only stay.
Best Western Inn at Palm Springs is another practical option nearby. It has a heated pool and jacuzzi, plus a free breakfast and a great location super close to the Moorten Botanical Garden.
Top Activities to do in Palm Springs
Now that you’ve found the perfect place to stay, it’s time to start planning your adventures! Palm Springs has so much more to offer than resort pools and golf courses. We found that mixing a few guided tours with time to relax was the perfect way to experience everything from the city’s fascinating history to the incredible desert landscapes surrounding it.
Here are our favorite things to do in Palm Springs:
- Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway – Escape the desert heat on this scenic tram ride into the cool San Jacinto Mountains. The views over Chino Canyon are incredible, and once you reach the top, you can enjoy hiking trails, observation decks, and a completely different side of Palm Springs.
- Explore Joshua Tree’s hidden backcountry by 4×4 – Venture far beyond the park’s paved roads on this exciting off-road adventure through some of Joshua Tree’s most remote landscapes. You’ll visit hidden viewpoints, climb giant rock formations, and discover places that most visitors never get to see, all with an expert guide leading the way.
- Discover Palm Springs’ Hollywood history – Step back into the golden age of Hollywood on this private sightseeing tour through Palm Springs. From celebrity homes and historic neighborhoods to fascinating stories about the Rat Pack and the city’s glamorous past, it’s a fun and relaxed way to experience the destination beyond the resorts.
- Journey into the San Andreas Fault – See one of the world’s most famous fault lines up close on this small-group Jeep adventure through dramatic canyons and desert landscapes. Along the way, you’ll learn about earthquakes, visit a historic Cahuilla village, and even discover a beautiful palm oasis hidden in the middle of the desert.
- Hike in Joshua Tree National Park – This private hike is one of the best ways to experience Joshua Tree, with a knowledgeable guide tailoring the route to your interests and showing you the park’s hidden highlights. You’ll also learn about the unique desert ecosystem and fascinating history that make this national park so unforgettable.
Related Read: Need help planning your trip? Our 3-day Palm Springs itinerary includes a detailed day-by-day guide to the city’s top attractions, restaurants, and nearby adventures.
Renting a Car in the USA
The United States is a vast country with diverse landscapes, from bustling cities to scenic national parks. While public transportation exists in major cities, renting a car is often the best way to explore the country’s wide-open spaces and hidden gems.
We always book with Discover Cars and can’t recommend them enough. It’s super easy to compare prices, check company ratings, find the right vehicle for your needs, and add affordable full coverage insurance. If you want a full breakdown, check out our Discover Cars review here.
Tips for Renting a Car in the USA
What You Need to Rent a Car in the USA
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Thanks for reading!
Palm Springs may be famous for its sunshine, pools, and mid-century modern style, but there’s so much more to this desert escape than just relaxing by the water. Between the lively downtown streets, stylish boutique hotels, incredible mountain views, and easy access to adventures like Joshua Tree and Indian Canyons, it’s a destination that’s easy to fall in love with. Whether you want to be in the heart of the action or wake up somewhere peaceful with desert views, you’re sure to have an unforgettable stay.
Before you pack your sunglasses, be sure to check out our other USA travel guides for more itineraries, hotel recommendations, and destination inspiration. We’ve also linked some of our favorite articles below to help you plan your next adventure. Happy travels!
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The Services We Recommend
From hotels to guided tours, we only recommend services we know and trust. Here are our recommended partners so you can explore Costa Rica with confidence.
