The Best Resorts in Palm Springs, California

The one- and two-bedroom condos at Desert Isle of Palm Springs all have easy access to the pools around which they’re arranged, and there are hot tubs to enjoy as well. The pool and common areas combine a real desert oasis feel – think rocks and cacti – with verdant lawns. All the condos come with a kitchen and private balcony or patio to enjoy views of the San Jacinto Mountains. The Agua Caliente Indian Canyons hiking trailhead is within walking distance.

If golf is what you’re after, the Oasis Resort is right between two courses – Seven Lakes Country Club and Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort. It’s a great place to stay if you enjoy tennis, too, with five courts and eight outdoor pools in which to cool off after a match. You get a living area and kitchen with your air-conditioned studio, plus a barbecue and patio area. Check out the classic Araby hiking trail nearby or just stroll in the manicured grounds amid all those swaying palm trees.

You get a lot for your money at Marquis Villas Resort, superbly situated downtown just steps from the strip and near the Agua Caliente Casino and the Palm Springs Art Museum. There’s a heated outdoor pool, tennis and basketball courts, a pool table, fitness center and barbecue area. There’s also a hot tub and a children’s pool for the kids. The Statue of Lucille Ball and the Village Green Heritage Center are both within walking distance.

It’s all about the chill at Two Bunch Palms, a wellness-centered resort built on a spot where a settler is said to have discovered natural springs in 1857. Those low-sulfur, lithium-rich waters now feed sunken pools; chill in those or in a grotto, or on a hammock strung between a pair of palms. If you find yourself in need of refreshments, head to Twine, a communal tea and wine tasting room, which also serves grab-and-go food and cocktails.

This 140-room resort is well situated just off Palm Canyon Drive, the main drag through downtown Palm Springs. Misters by the chilled outdoor pool make sure you never overheat lounging on the terrace, and there are fire pits and a hot tub for when it cools down in the evenings. Sunburn Rescue & Repair and Golfer’s Massage are two of the special treatments available at the spa for the experienced desert vacationer. The spa only uses organic products that haven’t been tested on animals.

Head south out of Palm Springs on Route 111, and in about half an hour you’ll reach Miramonte Indian Wells. You’ll get sweeping vistas of the Santa Rosa Mountains rather than the San Jacinto, but the beauty is the same. You’ll have a choice of hot, cool and quiet swimming pools, and there’s a great round of golf waiting for you at Indian Wells Golf Resort if you take the shuttle service. After a night sampling the local craft beers, try a Coachella Sunrise to wake you up – citron vodka, banana liqueur and orange and pineapple juice.

There’s a great Polynesian vibe at Caliente Tropics, with lots of hand-carved tikis and colorful cabanas by the pool. It used to be known simply as the Tropics when it was a popular hangout of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack in the 1950s and ’60s. Libations at the Reef Bar include a great version of the daiquiri, the Reef Daiquiri, with elderflower liqueur and Bayou Silver Rum. The kalua pulled-pork sandwich is not to be missed either.

L’Horizon claims to have hosted Hollywood royalty like Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable, plus several US Presidents. It’s not hard to picture a movie star perched on one of the private patios at the 25 mid-century modern-style bungalows, which also have outdoor showers, marble baths and vintage furniture. There are three acres (1.2ha) of grounds, and it’s adults only, with all guests 21 or over.

The Palm Canyon Resort is all about the 1.5-acre (0.6ha) pool around which the rooms are arranged, with a giant rock formation, waterfalls and sun deck. There are also grottos, a whirlpool spa in a cave and spectacular waterslides for both adults and children. Other amenities include patio dining, a poolside bar, a fitness center, air-conditioned indoor basketball and volleyball, an adult lounge, a dry sauna and massage, billiards and a games room. It’s also nicely tucked away just south of the city, with lots of trailheads for great hikes nearby.