Palm Springs, a picturesque oasis in California’s Sonoran Desert, is a culturally refined haven with a laid-back attitude that has made it a much-desired destination for almost a century. Home to the rich and famous, the city’s unmatched extravagance juxtaposes its otherwise barren surroundings. Promising year-round sunny weather, the province is particularly renowned for its award-winning golf courses, epicurean delights, eccentric art scene, mid-century architecture, and unrivaled natural wonders. Adding to the city’s charisma is a collection of Palm Springs resorts that have developed a niche in the hospitality sector by offering immaculate service, superb facilities, and region-specific immersive experiences, guaranteeing a memorable vacation.
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Best Palm Springs Resorts at a Glance
- Best All-Inclusive-like Palm Springs Experience: Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel
- Best Girls’ Getaway Palm Springs Resorts: Fleur Noire Hotel
- Most Unique Palm Springs Resorts: Sparrows Lodge
- Best Adults-Only Palm Springs Resorts: Arrive Palm Springs
Table of Contents
Palm Springs Resorts – Best Of
Best All-Inclusive-like: Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel
Palm Springs, California
Kimpton Rowan enjoys a truly exceptional location. Close to the airport, the city, and at the foot of the San Jacinto mountains, guests are only a short distance from some of the best hiking trails, the casino, and downtown’s electrifying nightlife.
However, the 153-room retreat impresses with its contemporary design aesthetics and barrage of extras that push the boundaries of boutique luxury to a new level. When staying in one of the elegantly decorated en-suite rooms, you can indulge in on-site facilities like the rooftop pool and bar with stunning mountain views, sunrise coffee service, evening social hour, complimentary bicycles, and an honor bar.
Gourmands especially will love Rowan’s in-house restaurants, the picturesque 4 Saints, and the charming Juniper Table, known for its bite-sized Mediterranean fare.
Best Girls’ Getaway: Fleur Noire Hotel
Palm Springs, California
Fleur Noire brightens up the dullness of the dessert using hyper-flamboyant floral-themed accents throughout the property. These larger-than-life murals act as vibrant breaks in the architecture and art installations that excite the eyes.
Unquestionably one of the most visually stunning boutique hotels in Palm Springs, Fleur Noire clinches to the gorgeousness of French design but overlaps it with a hint of planned kitsch elegance through elements like pink Keurig machines and bird-themed lampshades in the bedrooms.
Step outside, and the merriment of the ambiance amplifies in the communal areas. The clubhouse has a pantry and loungers, while the heated pool and several fire-pits are perfect for the slightly cooler desert evenings. Although there is no shortage of colorful experiences here, we simply cannot get over La Boisson. Fleur Noire’s cute-beyond-dreams champagne rosé bar hides somewhere on the property, behind a couple of pink French doors.
Most Unique: Sparrows Lodge
Palm Springs, California
The 1950s barn was where the Hollywood elite once loved to party when visiting the city. Refurbished while keeping its originality alive, the 20-room Sparrows Lodge carries forth its former legacy by providing a contemporary abode with pastoral touches.
At what is one of the best adults-only boutique resorts in Palm Springs, you can expect to luxuriate in a homey ambiance thanks to amenities like air conditioners, pillow top mattresses, rain showers and steel bathtubs in the en-suites, and private patios. Curated art, rustic furniture, exposed beams, bare-rock walls, and travel-inspired decor further accentuate the inviting character of the rooms.
Our favorite bit? There are no TVs in the bedrooms, encouraging guests to make the most of the common areas, such as the pool, tennis courts, and hot tub, or take one of the bicycles and head out to explore the city.
Best Adults-Only Resort: Arrive Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Arrive might be an adults-only resort in Palm Springs, but that doesn’t take away from all the juvenile excitement guests can experience during their stay here.
The pool is undoubtedly the lifeline of the complex, the best place to sunbathe, loll in individual cabanas, dine by the water, or warm up your soul around the outdoor fire-pits come evening. If competitiveness comes naturally to you, challenge a fellow guest to a game of table tennis or bocce. Irrespective of who wins, celebrate with a scoop of ice cream at the resort’s parlor or an exotic cuppa at the Cartel Coffee Lab.
The infectious vibrancy of Arrive transfers from the outside to the inside as you enter the guest rooms. A mix of bright, artsy wallpapers and curated furniture give the spaces a lively persona. At the same time, conveniences like Apple TV, complimentary WiFi, mini fridge, luxury amenities, and room service boost the comfort level of the pet-friendly abodes.
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Other Stunning Palm Springs Resorts
L’Horizon Resort & Spa
Palm Springs, California
With guests at L’Horizon needing to be at least 21 years old, one can live in a tranquil aura at the resort, no matter the time of the year you visit. That the 1950s property, constructed by William F. Cody and now owned by designer Steve Hermann, is steeped in definitive Palm Springs architectural ethos is only the icing on the cake.
The real flavor of the resort lies in its gorgeous pool, in-house restaurant, and the 24 bungalows that come with modern-day creature comforts. Motorized curtains, Apple TVs, iPod speakers, indoor-outdoor rain showers, and bespoke mid-century furniture help create inviting abodes, each with an individual personality.
However, should you wish to be a part of Hollywood royalty, book Room 10, the bungalow where Marilyn Monroe stayed when visiting the residence’s original owners.
Azure Sky Hotel
Palm Springs, California
Even with the arid desert’s expanse, Palm Springs can sometimes come across as a busy destination devoid of the serenity one occasionally desires during holidays. For such an occasion, Azure Sky Hotel, right next to the San Jacinto mountains, comes to the rescue.
The 14-room property is one of the best resorts in Palm Springs, placing you close to the city’s liveliness while allowing you to relish the delights of a lush private cocoon. Accentuating the experience of the stay at Azure Sky is the classiness of the desert architecture integrated with stylish room interiors that include floating beds, wooden accent walls, kitchenettes, private patios with hammocks, and en-suites.
However, it is the spacious common areas that truly caught our eye. The communal fireplace, glamorous pool area with loungers and a bar, and the plush lobby, big enough to accommodate all guests, are ideal places for relaxing and socializing.
La Serena Villas
Palm Springs, California
Mountain views guaranteed, La Serena Villas is a centrally-located Palm Springs resort promising ineffable romance amidst a cozy setting.
A 1933 construction, the refurbished hotel offers 18 guests rooms boasting boutique elements like walled private patios with fire-pits, benches and claw foot tubs, parquet flooring, poster beds, beamed ceilings, and kitchens as well as walk-in showers and dual vanities in the en-suites.
You’ll also find a full-service spa and a pool on this lush property that spreads over an acre of land. The hotel’s Spanish-themed restaurant Azúcar serves a limited but delicious menu featuring Californian essentials like cauliflower risotto, watermelon salad, fish tacos, and the Angus burger. And if not in the mood to “sit down,” you can always enjoy a scenic meal as you laze around the rooftop lounge above the eatery.
La Quinta Resort & Club
La Quinta, California
An ought-an-ought retreat in the truest sense, La Quinta spreads across 45 acres, adjoining the Santa Rosa mountains. A beloved family-friendly retreat, 781-room La Quinta is a favorite due to its proximity to the venue of the Coachella festival. Additionally, it offers some of the best facilities in the Valley, ranging from numerous outdoor pools, a spa, and tennis courts to shops, golf access, and five thematic culinary options serving a variety of cuisines.
The extravagance of the resort extends into its accommodations. Whether staying in the Spanish-styled casitas, the spacious suites, or the luxury villas, comfort remains the prime focus.
While the interiors pay homage to late-mid-century design, we recommend booking one of the more exclusive rooms like the Pueblo Suite with a private pool or the Whirlpool Casita, which has a private jacuzzi, a patio, and a fireplace.
The Saguaro Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
The Saguaro Palm Springs embraces the 1960s free spirit accentuated by an artist-centric atmosphere centered around the main pool, where everyone eventually congregates to have a fun time.
Eclectic to the bone, the resort’s rooms are dynamic enclosures decorated using hip customized furniture, mood lighting, organic bath products, 50” HDTVs, and iPod docking stations. Moreover, you can choose between abodes that offer pool, mountain, courtyard, or city views, all of which come with private patios.
The in-house El Jefe Desert Cantina captures the eclectic temperament of the resort and serves fresh Mexican delicacies and bespoke cocktails. And when it comes to relishing the desert aura, nothing beats time spent by the pool in one of the private cabanas with butler service, a mini fridge, a TV, and lounge space.
Avalon Hotel & Bungalows
Palm Springs, California
The Avalon epitomizes the Californian lifestyle with its dreamy yet inherently cultivated, Spanish-inspired contemporary suites and bungalows.
Each of these 70 alcoves is a private escape within the desert sanctuary, exuding a regal atmosphere while evoking a feeling of purity using muted color tones. Highlights of the rooms include gas-burning fireplaces, extra living spaces, marble vanities in the en-suites, hypo-allergic down pillows, and private patios.
However, for an extra dose of relaxation, you can always head to the hotel’s Estrella Spa or lounge by one of three pools interspersed across the complex. With food being an integral part of any memorable holiday, Avalon indulges its guests with Chi Chi, a relaxed poolside eatery serving an array of comfort bites you can pair with Champaign.
Ingleside Inn
Palm Springs, California
Only a few steps away from its sister property, the Avalon Hotel and Bungalows, Ingleside is an adults-only refuge close to Downtown Palm Springs and in the shadow of the San Jacinto mountains.
Listed amongst the best Palm Springs resorts, the Inn basks in the glory of old-world Hollywood, embracing the design and feel of a mid-century Spanish hacienda. The 30 casitas further the fashion quotient by keeping the interiors authentically retro while adding modern touches to suit new-age travelers. Browse the different room categories, and you’ll come across charming features like terracotta tiling, poster beds, French doors leading to walled patios, velvet sofas, plush armchairs, and contrasting lay sleek black bathroom fittings.
When you pull yourself away from the rooms, Ingleside lures you with its calming pool deck. Only to entice you later with modern renditions of Californian classics at Melvyn’s, a restaurant that once hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando.
Dive Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
It doesn’t get any more intimate and oh-so-chic than Dive Palm Springs, the 11-room, adults-only, Saint-Tropez-inspired boutique residence.
Wallowing in quaint dessert meets beachside creativity, the rooms and common spaces of the hotel feature cane furniture, wooden flooring, beamed ceilings, and eye-catching light fixtures. Adding a sense of fun and frolic to the setting are the colorful bathrooms with rain showers, bright furnishings, vintage-style fridges, as well as thematic murals or Christian Lacroix wallpapers on the bedroom walls.
Of course, the 1960s aura that the resort imitates would not be complete without a place to lounge under the glorious sun of Palm Springs. A necessity that Dive’s refreshing Libott pool, 12-person hot tub, palm-tree lined garden with a koi pond, daybeds, and cocktail bar fulfills to everyone’s satisfaction.
The Paloma Resort
Palm Springs, California
Bright colors that pop, eclectic murals, and a hip Spanish bohemian vibe doused in desert zeitgeist engulf every nook and corner of The Paloma Resort. Among the most vibrant Palm Springs resorts, a stay here involves total immersion into a vivid setting. The hotel’s outdoor pool acts as a keystone feature, as does the in-house tapas restaurant Sol y Sombra, housed in an original 1930s Adobe.
Furthermore, all the room categories at Paloma follow the loud design style with elan, leaving their individual mark on the hotel’s identity. Spacious and packed with comfort-providing furniture, they have conveniences like Keurig coffee machines, dining areas, tablets that work as TV remotes or can help with restaurant reservations, and free WiFi.
In our opinion, the most desired spot on the property remains the Citrus Suite poolside cabana with a full kitchen, posh seating, and an extra-large TV.