The 15 best hotels in Palm Springs

This is the perfect romantic resort. With Lush Mediterranean and Moroccan vibes dotted all around, you won't even feel like you're in Palm Springs. The first thing you'll see is Korakia's distinct keyhole-shaped grand entrance. In the main courtyard area, there are citrus blossoms, olive trees, oleander bushes, date palms, bougainvillea vines, gorgeous Moroccan fountains and a stone waterfall. A popular spot with actors, writers, producers and photographers, it has been named one of the "sexiest hotels in America". The villas were built in the 1920s and '30s, and later modernized. But you'll still find antiques and handmade furniture in every room. Oh, and there are two heated pools too, what doesn't this hotel have?

Stay in the middle of the action at the Rowan, a modern hotel that opened in 2017. Located on a prime corner of downtown, you can walk to the best restaurants, bars, and shops in no time. You can't beat their rooftop pool’s views of the nearby mountains, and you won’t hate the water misters that keep things cool in the desert sun—an adjacent bar tops it off with summer party music and plenty of seats for lounging. Don't miss their daily happy hour in the lobby when they serve complimentary beer and wine. Afterward, you can visit their rooftop restaurant, 4 Saints, for contemporary American fare and 270-degree views of downtown and the San Jacinto Mountains. Pets owners will be thrilled that their fur babies are not only welcome at the Rowan, but greeted with open arms and full water bowls.

Dive Palm Springs is the modern retreat we all need from life. Offering four-star accommodation in the form of suites—check out the orchard suite complete with a hot tub—overlooking the gardens from various sun terraces. The pool is the ideal sunning spot before heading out to the nearby cluster of restaurants, cafes, and bars to tickle whatever you fancy. Cheers to that. 

The Palm Springs Ace Hotel, housed in what was once a Motel 6, is a party destination for hip young travelers heading to the desert. They’ve got all the accouterments, from a photo booth and retro macrame in the lobby to record players and vintage magazines in the rooms. There are also fancy robes and decked-out walking sticks for guests to use during their stay, which means that as the day goes on, more and more guests look like hippie cult members running around with hoods and canes. And it is a bit of a cult—the guests here are die-hard, looking to see and be seen by the pool, out on beach cruiser bikes or in the decent (but a little overpriced) restaurant, King’s Highway (which used to be a 24-hour Denny’s). The hotel offers $20 day passes ($30 on weekends) for pool use, which gives non-guests access to the scene: parties and live music often grace the grounds. The Ace is almost so hip that it’s becoming a caricature of itself—if you’re down to party all night with trendy 20-somethings, this is your spot, but the more sophisticated (or relaxed) traveler might look elsewhere. Unless you want to relive your youth? Go on, you only live once.

Come to Sparrows Lodge and you can have a true digital detox. There are no phones or TVs in any of the rooms, which means you can truly switch off from the rest of the world. Once you get tired of being inside, come to the poolside where there is a hot tub and plush lounge chairs for ultra relaxation. One of the highlights is a beautiful communal barn that was restored from its 1952 structure where Bewitched’s Elizabeth Montgomery was reportedly married. It functions as a bar, restaurant, and general hang-out spot! 

Guests will want to sit and stay awhile in Miramonte's charming olive grove patio, just off the main lobby, which has fire pits and a bocce ball court with views of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Guests are encouraged to roam this Mediterranean-style property to pick their own citrus fruit, which is highly recommended. The bougainvillea-covered resort has three pools —including a salt-water pool—a citrus and chef's garden, and more than 200 guestrooms, suites, and villas. Miramonte underwent a property-wide renovation last year and added fun activities like yoga classes, live music on the weekends, and electric bike rentals. Don't miss out on a visit to their WELL Spa for a day of relaxation that includes a seasonal treatment like the Precious Gemstone Facial, and build-in time for the steam room afterward. Their onsite restaurant Citrus & Palm delivers Mediterranean-style cuisine like white fish saltimbocca, vegetable tagine, and lamb lollipops, plus grilled halloumi cheese and assorted dips like hummus and baba ghanoush. Opa!

You may recognize this historic gem from the reality show The Bachelorette (Clare Crawley's season) that was filmed during the height of lockdown. The massive property spans 45 acres and has a whopping 41 swimming pools. It has a mix of guestrooms and villas that look out toward the Santa Rosa Mountains and are lined with palm trees and colorful blooms. As the longest-running resort in the Palm Springs area, La Quinta underwent a massive restoration project in 2014. Today, the sizable Hilton Curio property includes golf and tennis facilities, spa and fitness centers, and several restaurants. Twenty6 is a great option for breakfast, particularly if you enjoy eggs benedict or huevos rancheros. 

At Casa Cody, you can stay two blocks away from the main drag of downtown Palm Springs while still feeling like you're a world away from the hustle and bustle. This historic, charming property is the oldest operating hotel in Palm Springs, founded in the 1920s by Buffalo Bill's cousin, Harriet Cody. You'll find peace and quiet here, thanks to the shelter of tall hedges and protective gates. All the rooms are well-appointed with Southwestern decor and new-age amenities, and the property is brimming with various citrus trees. The hotel serves a light complimentary breakfast each morning with items such as croissants, bagels, and gourmet granola, as well as evening tea by the pool. 

When it comes to hotels, this lot at Hilton sure knows what they’re doing. Who could have guessed? They’ve got quite the Palm Springs setting here—right in the midst of things, with the San Jacinto Mountains as the backdrop, and with some of the area’s best restaurants and coffee shops close by. And if you want to explore a little bit? Just jump on the Hilton Palm Springs’ shuttle bus and set out for some discovery. If you’re staying at the hotel (and why not?) then the pool area is a doozy, with a decent size pool and plenty of space for lounging under the Palm Springs sun. Plus there’s a very good spa on site as well as some high-quality places to eat and drink, and the service is every bit as honed as you’d expect. Highly recommended.

If you’re looking for something a little more intimate from your Palm Springs stay, this hotel is absolutely one of our top picks. It’s a small yet perfectly formed little oasis in the heart of uptown Palm Springs, with some of the best service of any hotel we’ve visited here. Free bikes, a great outdoor pool, impeccably comfy hammocks and super-cute breakfast boxes show the dedication to hospitality evident throughout this hotel, each combining as a lovely complement to gazing out at San Jacinto Mountain a few miles away. 

Parrot Heads rejoice! Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs is a 16-acre property located just a few miles from the downtown area. Thanks to its size, the hotel can accommodate large parties—and weddings—without feeling congested, and it makes the most of its sprawling space with not one, but two pools. The hotel lobby houses a signature "blown-out flip-flop" in the form of an oversized sculpture, plus their trademark chandelier made from margarita glasses. An upbeat playlist is streamed throughout the property, and thankfully (for variety's sake) includes a mix of hits that aren't exclusive to Buffett. The property is pet-friendly (they even have designated pet relief areas), while humans can keep themselves busy at the on-site restaurant, fitness center, spa, and fire pits, (there’s even a shop that sells branded merchandise for mega-fans). But chances are you'll spend most of your visit parked next to the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar by the pool, drinking frozen daiquiris and yes, margaritas, too.

Making the drive out to Palm Springs always lulls us into a dreamy, carefree stupor—and this intimate spot only adds to the town’s glitzy appeal. Originally built by mobster Al Wertheimer in the 1930s (the pantry had a secret door leading to a brothel), the hotel has come a long way in its near-90-year history. Today, the rooms are luxurious without being over-the-top, while the thick greenery will make you feel like you’re tucked away in a rustic Spanish hacienda (even though the town’s main drag is a block away). The tree-shaded pool gets lively on the weekends, but never out of hand—and the downstairs speakeasy-style restaurant, Purple Palm, makes for a classy dinner spot after a day of bikini lounging. We think you'll like it here. A lot.

The Saguaro is way less cheesy than it looks. A bright, color-blocked facade and blue bedrooms with lime furniture (yes, we said lime) and purple carpeting might sound like a designer’s worst nightmare, but somehow this place pulls it off. The hotel is massive, but the amenities are plentiful, the staff is friendly, and the spa and pool are extra nice (though they do blare poolside music rather loud). The food is nothing to write home about, but there are plenty of other Palm Springs restaurants in town to keep you satisfied. If you’re here over the weekend, it may feel a little Jersey Shore-ish, with lots of bachelorette parties and booze-fueled bros, but the place is set up so you can mostly avoid anyone you don’t care to see—or for that matter, hear.

The first thing you'll notice when checking into L’Horizon is just how peacefully quiet it is. With its 25 delicately appointed bungalows and its sumptuous open-air spa, the property bills itself as Palm Springs’ only luxury boutique hotel. And you kind of have to believe them. The design is razor-sharp: private outdoor showers and copper-hooded fireplaces add a homey touch, while the floor-to-ceiling windows flood each room with light. Steve Hermann, an accomplished Hollywood-based designer, has overseen the project, which explains the discreet, CEO-meets-desert-Maharaja vibe. The infinity pool is another highlight, with unobstructed views of the San Jacinto Mountains and the wide, blue California sky.

Sometimes you just need a place to stay without the fuss and frills, and Hotel California does a pretty great job of that. What it lacks in designer amenities, it makes up for in homey, unpretentious charm. Don’t feel like dining out? There’s a full kitchen for guests with all the utensils you’ll need to blend your own date shakes or fry up an omelet in the morning (there are also two grills outside—BBQ by the pool, anyone?). Since there are only 14 rooms (plus a two-story townhouse with a private balcony), foot traffic through the lush courtyard, which is surrounded by towering banana palm trees and serenaded by a gurgling fountain, is minimal. Ditto for the guest lounge, which serves coffee and fresh fruit all day.