The Most Family-Friendly Hotels in Palm Springs

When you’ve got a 1.5 acre (0.6ha) pool at the heart of your resort, you really don’t need to worry too much about entertaining the kids. Palm Canyon is dominated by the swimming area, which has a giant rock formation, waterfalls and a sun deck. There’s also a cave with a whirlpool spa, water slides for children and adults – plus a grotto. The hotel is located just south of Palm Springs, with lots of trailheads for great hikes nearby, including the South Lykken, Garstin and Earl Henderson – try the latter for a great scramble up to stunning Seven Sisters Falls.

The Desert Classroom two-night, midweek package for families at Palm Mountain provides kids with an activity workbook, including scavenger hunts for desert flora and fauna, history lessons on Palm Springs and more. Included are tickets for the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, a fantastic family-friendly local attraction. With a convenient location just off Palm Canyon Drive, the resort offers a pool with a terrace, misters to keep you cool, a pretty courtyard, a hot tub and fire pits.

This large resort hotel near downtown has a great deal for families. The Family Flexcation enables digital nomad families looking for a change of scenery for their work, school and play schedule to take advantage of daily picnic lunches and a Kids Creativity Kit to keep the little ones occupied. The rooms have marble bathroom countertops, mini fridges and coffeemakers. If you’re planning on spoiling yourselves, there’s a choice of suites with mountain, city or pool views, a private patio leading onto the pool or Executive and VIP choices.

It may look like a giant orange spaceship, but the Marquis Villas Resort has plenty of amenities to keep the kids busy – from basketball and tennis courts to a barbecue area and pool table. There’s also a children’s pool and hot tub, and an outdoor heated main pool. The resort is conveniently located for downtown Palm Springs, as well as attractions such as the Palm Springs Art Museum and Aerial Tramway.

If all you want to do is kick back by a pool and let the kids run wild, Rancho Mirage is a great option. There are two pools to choose from, as well as a luxury spa with holistic therapies and indigenous ingredients. The location, up in the hills on Frank Sinatra Drive a short trip south of Palm Springs, offers jaw-dropping views across the Coachella Valley. It’s worth being a little removed from the city for a desert-oasis feel and great hiking right on your doorstep.

Perfect for families, the two-room suites here have two queen beds, a sofa bed, a seating area and patio or balcony. This Hilton is within walking distance of Old Town La Quinta, 40 minutes by car from Palm Springs. The resort city offers great views below the Santa Rosa Mountains. There’s a meditation suite and boutique shop at the Spa Hibiscus, with hot stone, deep tissue and signature massages on offer, as well as various body wraps and soaks. Free cooked-to-order breakfasts are served daily, plus there’s a complimentary evening reception.

There’s plenty of water-based fun for the kids at Triada Palm Springs, with the Mente Pool & Spa, Alma Pool and whirlpool to choose from. There’s also horseback riding, mini golf and bike rentals nearby. This luxury hotel in the Movie Colony District has three wings, each with their own design and decor. Famous former guests Elizabeth Taylor and Howard Hughes lend their names to two of the special rooms in the hotel.