9 Best Hotels - Palm Springs
Palm Springs is a warm-weather playground with lots of choices for delicious food, gorgeous pools, and a focus on art and design.
Just a quick drive from Los Angeles - Palm Springs is an easy weekend trip. While you’re here, Joshua Tree beckons with its peaceful and inspiring desert landscape.
Now all you have to do is choose a place to stay!
No worries! We’ve been to Palm Springs many times and think these are the best hotels in Palm Springs:
Korakia Pensione
Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, the Korakia Pensione is one of the most romantic places to stay and is very popular amongst couples and honeymooners.
It’s split into two different properties - one with style cues taken from the Mediterranean and the other from Morocco.
When you enter the Moroccan Villa, you’re greeted by a rose petal filled fountain and lovely courtyard. The Mediterranean Villa has more of a Greek Island feeling.
Every room is distinctly styled, with some having full kitchens and wood-burning fireplaces. The Casablanca Studio has white-washed walls and its own semi-private patio.
Both villas have a wonderful saltwater pool surrounded by stylish loungers and offer complimentary bike rentals to explore the town.
The Parker Palm Springs
If you want a tranquil, pastel-laden resort, The Parker is one of the top hotels in Palm Springs!
With interiors crafted by Jonathan Adler, the hallways fizzle with eye-catching carpets. In the rooms, the lamps come shaped in horse carousel splendor, the accent pillows are embroidered with palm trees, and a carefully curated mini-library of colorful paperbacks art books adorn each room.
There are lots of open spaces here, so it’s great for families!
In addition, a mix of products from L’Occitane, Bulgari, and Hermes will conjure the spa lover in you.
There’s a fire pit outside for those cozy rendezvous and a gleaming pool set to a very comfortable 98.6 degrees.
We recommend requesting a room in the North Building, as each one has a small outdoor terrace complete with a hammock.
Arrive Palm Springs
Located in the uptown design district, Arrive Palm Springs is the brainchild of Ezra Callahan. She fused quirky tech features with gorgeous mid-century modern design and accented the property with hip communal hang-out areas.
With all of the indulgences of downtown Palm Springs mere blocks away, the property has a decidedly oasis-like atmosphere, with beautiful views of the San Jacinto Mountains from the bar, restaurants, and poolside courtyard.
The rooms are arranged around the pool with open-air lounge areas, fire pits, and huge flowing cabanas.
Ultra-natural tones of rusted steel and cherry wood accentuate the surrounding desert, with butterfly roofs angled to mirror the undulating contours of the rolling mountains.
Contemporary splashes of color dot the interior, with patterned walls and slick angular furniture. It feels less like a resort and more like a trendy boutique.
It’s also one of the top rated hotels in Palm Springs!
Colony Palms Hotel
Old Hollywood meets boho chic at this celebrated outpost of subtle opulence in the desert.
Originally dubbed the Colonial House with Spanish-styled tendencies, it first took shape in 1936 by owner Al Wertheimer, who was a reputed mobster and member of the nefarious Purple Gang.
But even though the gentlemen of ill-repute are long gone, you can be sure the glamour of this gorgeous Hollywood throwback remains.
A marvelous Moroccan style facelift by “Million Dollar Decorator” Martyn Lawrence Bullard has guaranteed the property a spot as one of California’s premier luxury and most popular hotels.
The on-site Colony Club Restaurant is the place to see and be seen, serving re-imagined classic California fare. Choose the main dining room, or dine al-fresco with exquisite views of the pool and mountains.
Villa Royale
One of our favorite hang-outs in the city - Villa Royale is where screenwriter Irving Shulman came up with the idea for Rebel Without a Cause. This is where the muse for his twinkly, albeit bad-boy protagonist Jim Stark (played by James Dean) emerged from the hotel pool.
No stone is left unturned to get you in the mood at this exquisite adults-only property.
Set on 3.5 acres of private grounds, the adjoining courtyards contain pools and fountains dispersed seductively among the Mission-style villas.
We especially loved the extra touch of the aroma of Danish oil in our retro-designed villa, quite possibly the remnants of the housekeeping staff polishing the lathed-framed sofa. Our polished-ply-clad bed was the very definition of slumber-comfort. A fully stocked mini-bar completed the scene.
L'Horizon
Everything you’d expect from a quintessential SoCal hotel is here – the mountains, the desert, the mid-century architecture, a killer pool, and classic Hollywood history.
Elegant and unassuming, the vibe harkens back to the 1950s but has been lovingly restored by owner and celebrity interior designer Steve Hermann.
With only 24 bungalows and one residence, each feels like a private oasis, and each bears a sleek design with comfortable, fluffy bedding in a relaxing space.
The fact that you’ll be sleeping on 600 thread-count Frette sheets only adds to the allure.
When you’re done rolling around in exquisite splendor, relax in the shower with Le Labo’s famous Santal 33 bath amenities.
It’s worth noting that L’Horizon doesn’t just pay lip service to mid-century interiors – as is evident in the stack of design books in each bungalow. Tech touches such as motorized curtains, Apple TVs, and iPod speaker systems integrate the classic interiors with the conveniences of today.
Sparrows Lodge
Much like many other Palm Springs properties, this lodge has lived many lives before its most recent incarnation as a beautifully-restored retreat.
With only 20 rooms, it’s the sort of place where the saltwater pool isn’t so much a party scene as it’s a serene spot to work your way through that ever-growing stack of magazines.
Instead of a trendy restaurant, indulge in “the barn,” a communal area serving intimate breakfasts, and exquisitely rustic bar hangout later in the day.
True to form, there are no digital distractions in the rooms; only Swiss Army blankets, rustic furniture, and soothing rain showers. By night, guests can expect to gravitate to the fire pit for drinks and great conversation.
Avalon Palm Springs
With its fruit-bearing trees, clipped gardens, dazzling sunshine, and meticulous spa facilities, the Avalon boutique resort is glamour reimagined.
Located at the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains, the property is low-key, yet glamorous. The staff is unobtrusive while attentive and welcome you like Hollywood elite.
Studio room 106 was a particular favorite of the actress Ann Miller.
The one-bedroom suites have a patio or balcony, with either a second bathroom or full kitchen for when you simply cannot show your face in the restaurant. Poolside, choose from three outdoor dipping spots, each in a different courtyard.
Estrella Spa offers his and hers therapies, massages, and facials.
Holiday House Palm Springs
When the occasion calls for an adults-only oasis of boho cool, look no further.
The space is gleaming with pop art, bold textiles, and more splashes of blue than the Caribbean.
Arrive to a welcome glass of rosè, then keep the spirit flowing with a well-stocked mini bar once you stumble into your room.
With one of the best pools in the desert, a shuffleboard court, citrus trees, and mountain views, holidays rarely look this cool.
Your room is guaranteed to be warm and perky, with crisp white and blue design accents. We especially love Room 2 – in a prime location by the pool.
But then there is the ground-floor suite with its private entrance, fireplace, and spacious living room. We just can’t decide.