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Planning the perfect vacation can be overwhelming, demanding hours of planning and research just to make sure you’re picking the perfect area to book your accommodation. We know from experience that you’ll be deciding if you need a place with a kitchenette or if a mini-fridge will do. Of course, you’ll need to know if there’s free wifi or if the family intends to bring the family dog; you’ll need to find a pet-friendly place in a pet-friendly neighbourhood.
Then comes the decision on whether you’d like a hot tub, a heated outdoor pool or both. If you’re the outdoorsy type, you’ll be looking for a place that’s close to the hiking trails in the San Jacinto Mountains. Or you may be a festival-goer who’s dreaming of partying poolside under the luxurious cabanas at an after-party. If so, you’ll need to know how close you are to all the trendy hotspots and nightlife.
To save you some time and help you book your stay in the area best suited to you, we’ve created this guide with all the highlights and information you’ll need on where to stay in and around Palm Springs.
The areas we’ll cover are:
- Downtown Palm Springs
- Desert Hot Springs
- Indian Canyon
- Rancho Mirage
- Palm Desert
Let’s get started!
Palm Springs
We broke the Palm Springs area down into two separate neighborhoods to give you the best idea of the makeup of this iconic desert resort town. If you’re a first-timer in the area, we recommend booking your stay in one of these areas to make sure you’re close to the action and get a true feel for the city. When in Palm Springs, you’ll notice a broad demographic of travelers from Canadian retirees escaping the cold in the north to European vacationers appreciating the architecture and design and young Americans searching for the perfect pool party. Whatever brings you here, young or old, we’re sure this glitzy town has exactly what you came for.
So let’s dive in!
Downtown Palm Springs
An A-list celebrities playground with an emphasis on art and design, the downtown neighborhood of Palm Springs is a mid-century modern feast for the eyes. You’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to the time period of The Marvelous Miss Maisel or Mad Men. If that’s not dreamy enough, you’ll love the designer boutique street shopping on Palm Canyon Drive, where you can stroll along from store to store with the sunshine on your face and stop in at swanky little cafes to grab a coffee or cool beverage as you go.
With a prolific reputation for vibrant nightlife, this area is the main hot spot for opulent pool parties. Most pool parties occur during the Palm Springs high season from January through April, where world-renowned DJs and entertainers are flown in for major events like the Palm Springs Film Festival and Coachella and Stagecoach Festivals in January and April. However, as the popularity of Palm Springs grows as an international vacation destination, there are parties to be found any time of the year.
Getting around town is easy too; with its compact size, you’ll be able to either walk around on foot, grab an Uber or ride the public bus system called BUZZ.
The Mesa
This community was one of the first gated communities founded back in the 1930s. An upscale neighbourhood nestled along the San Jacinto mountains base and is only a 7-minute drive to downtown Palm Springs, making it a top choice for families with children who want more time by the pool and mountain views. People love it here for the architectural diversity of homes built with a Spanish flair and the retro mid-century modern buildings. The Mesa is a beautiful place for your dream desert getaway. Many famous people have called this place home, including Clark Gable, Sonny Bono and Suzanne Somers, just to name a few.
Desert Hot Springs
This town, a part of the greater Palm Springs area, is a world-class health and wellness destination with some of the world’s best natural mineral hot springs, desert landscapes and breathtaking mountain views. Traveller’s the world round flock here for wellness and relaxation retreats. If you’re looking to spend ample time in spas, receiving treatments to recharge and feel renewed, you could not come to a better place. It’s also home to the popular Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, a four-story pueblo and homestead built by Cabot Yerxa, an explorer and artist, filled with artifacts from his explorations. It’s a whimsical and quirky attraction that delights even the youngest traveller.
Rancho Mirage
The greater Palm Springs area is another upscale resort town built around world-class golf courses with 5-star dining and outdoor activities. Rancho Mirage offers hiking and nature trails through the San Jacinto Mountains and is pet-friendly with multiple dog parks and paths where your four-legged best friend is more than welcome.
If you’d like to take in a theatrical show during your trip, then you’ll want to check out the Rancho Mirage Amphitheatre. With shows playing during the evening, you can be wined, dined and entertained all under the expansive starlit desert sky.
Other attractions in the area include:
- Sunnylands Center & Gardens
- Children’s Discovery Museum
- The River at Rancho Mirage
- Butler Abrams Trail
- Rancho Mirage Country Club
- Viva Cigar Lounge
Indian Wells
Found along the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains is the city of Indian Wells. Only a 20-minute drive from the International Palm Springs Airport makes it a desirable location for tourists wanting to be close enough to the amenities of Palm Springs but far enough away to enjoy desert life away from the glitz and glam.
Golf Courses in Indian Wells are :
- Celebrity Course
- Indian Wells Golf Course
- Players Course
It is also home to the world’s largest combined men’s and women’s tennis open. With its state-of-the-art tennis venues and clubs, it is widely known as a tennis paradise. If you’re looking for a relaxing desert and mountainside vacation with ample opportunities for outdoor activity and close proximity to downtown Palm Springs, this is a great choice.
Palm Desert
Located in the center of the Coachella Valley, this Southern Californian vacation getaway features world-class golfing, shopping and dining all under the California desert sun. Some of the best ways to tour the city are biking and hiking in Indian Canyons or taking a jeep tour around the San Andreas fault line. Some of the top Palm Desert attractions you’ll want to see are:
- The Living Desert Zoo & Garden
- El Paseo Shopping District
- Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert
- The Street Fair at College Of The Desert
- San Andreas Fault
After time spent exploring the wilderness or shopping till you drop, you’ll want to check out some of Palm Springs’s best dining experiences. We recommend visiting a restaurant like The Mikado Japanese Steakhouse for fine dining, and Hula’s at Palm Desert voted one of the best BBQ restaurants in the area.
Final Thoughts
Palm Springs is truly a desert and mountainside paradise. With all that Palm Springs has to offer, it’s easy to see why people all around the world come here for the sun, shopping, world-class golfing and perusing the wide array of art galleries, design and architecture museums and vibrant nightlife. We hope that this guide has helped you choose which neighborhood will be the best for you, whether you’re a retiree, a honeymooner or a family on your yearly getaway.
Whichever you choose, there’s one more thing we have to mention….pack lots of sunscreen – you’re going to need it!
