With its midcentury modern architecture, desert landscapes, and almost endless sunshine, Palm Springs offers a vacation experience like no other—along with a range of luxury hotels to suit every kind of traveler looking for an upscale stay. Whether you’re after an intimate, adults-only retreat, a family vacation for the books, or a golf or tennis break with friends, you have plenty of options. Here are some truly special Palm Springs hotels for a memorable trip.
Parker Palm Springs
Ideal for: Finding striking design and secluded gardens (and possibly the occasional celeb)
The Parker is perhaps the quintessential Palm Springs spot. Once owned by Western star Gene Autry and designed by Jonathan Adler, it’s a true desert icon hidden behind a dramatic white wall 10 minutes south of downtown. The lobby is a must-see-and-be-seen space, with all glass sculptures, statement neon signs, and a big circular fireplace; rooms are as playfully designed as they are comfortable.
Norma’s is a favorite for brunch—always order the warm mini donuts—while the treatments at the Palm Springs Yacht Club spa can last for 90 minutes or a full day, depending on your needs (and your wallet). To maximize privacy, only hotel guests are permitted to meander among the property’s palm trees and hedge tunnels to discover pools, firepits, hammocks, and places to play croquet and pétanque.
Korakia Pensione
Ideal for: Slowing down for a few days in a peaceful sanctuary
This Moroccan- and Mediterranean-inspired escape was built as a private home by painter Gordon Coutts as an homage to his life in Tangier. It’s hosted many notable guests over the years, including Winston Churchill (check out the cozy Churchill Suite, with a wood-burning fireplace). Guests in any of the individually designed 28 villas and rooms can enjoy this calming, chic property by walking among gardens filled with citrus blossoms and bougainvilleas, or taking a dip in one of the two heated saltwater pools.
Ingleside Estate
Ideal for: Soaking up Old Hollywood glamour
This adults-only Spanish Revival estate is just a block from Palm Springs’ main strip, and it oozes history. Elizabeth Taylor, Salvador Dalí, and Marilyn Monroe are among the stars who have spent the night here since it opened in 1922—and modern-day guests can follow in their footsteps among the tranquil courtyards hidden behind tall hedges. Each of the 30 rooms reflect the classic Spanish style of the desert (think terracotta-tiled floors and rich, dark-wood trims), but each tells its own story. A martini at Melvyn’s Restaurant and Casablanca Lounge is a must. Frank Sinatra’s favorite spot celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025 and it continues to top best bar lists for its extensive wine list and inimitable atmosphere.
Thompson Palm Springs
Ideal for: Seeing and being seen in the heart of downtown Palm Springs
The Thompson Palm Springs became the talk of the town when it opened in 2024. The hotel occupies several blocks of prime real estate on North Palm Canyon Drive, offering easy walkable access to downtown’s sights. Inside, 168 white-walled rooms, many with generously sized private balconies, honor the city’s midcentury modern aesthetic.
Lola Rose is a great place to take the city’s pulse; the second-floor restaurant and bar complex includes a number of spaces to hang out inside or outside, with enviable views of the strip. It serves up innovative cocktails like a baklava old-fashioned alongside a feast of Mediterranean delights including hummus, kofte, and mezze plates.
Casa Cody
Ideal for: Relaxing in a Palm Springs’ landmark
Founded in the 1920s by Buffalo Bill’s cousin Harriet Cody, this is the oldest lodging in the city—and its current custodians keep the story going, with historic photos, artworks, and talks. The Adobe House sleeps four and combines the building’s original 1900s structure with modern touches (including a private alfresco bathtub). Rumor has it that Charlie Chaplin once performed inside. All of the cottages, rooms, and suites promise Spanish-inspired comfort and are filled with vintage artworks. Casa Cody was renovated in 2021 and is part of the Casetta Group, which also owns Hotel Marina Riviera in Big Bear Lake and Malibu’s Surfrider. Dogs and kids are welcome.
Terra
Ideal for: Engaging in some singular wellness rituals
The boutique Terra hotel is one of Palm Springs’ newest options (it opened in January 2025) and it’s all about wellness. The spa features a “desert healing circuit” where guests move from a Himalayan salt sauna to a cold plunge, a rain room, and Ayurvedic-inspired treatments. A restorative cocktail menu, meanwhile, includes ingredients like magnesium, marine collagen, and blue spirulina. Each of the 13 rooms comes equipped with Loftie, a bedside device that offers breathwork, meditations, and a gentle alarm system.
Villa Royale
Ideal for: Perusing art and enjoying Spanish cuisine
Villa Royale dates back to the 1940s, and this intimate retreat retains much of its original mid-century charm. But it’s no throwback: a recent renovation saw updates to the rooms, grounds, and restaurants. The dramatic, green-hued lobby sets the scene at this adults-only spot, with stylish furnishings and original oil paintings. As night falls, guests move to the vinyl booths of the Del Rey restaurant to enjoy tapas dishes in a chic space lined with prints by David Bailey and Damien Hirst.
L’Horizon
Ideal for: Recharging in an impeccably designed adults-only sanctuary
Several U.S. presidents, including Nixon and Reagan, have stayed at this legendary hotel, which comprises dozens of bungalows with private patios and outdoor showers dotted among a peaceful few acres. Rooms have been conceived by famed designer Steve Hermann and feature pine wood ceilings, marble bathrooms, and Italian furniture. The result is a masterpiece of understated luxury.
Sparrows Lodge
Ideal for: Casting modern cares aside for a few days of reflection and relaxation
Historic Sparrow’s Lodge is a place of quiet charms; there are no TVs, phones, or guests under 21 at the former Hollywood getaway, which started life as a Castle’s Red Barn in the 1950s, opened by MGM actor Don Castle and his wife Zetta. Instead, guests enjoy simple pleasures: roaming the vegetable garden, perusing fine art, and chatting by firepits. The menu at the Barn Kitchen celebrates California’s bounty in a rustic setting—think shrimp ceviche with pickled Fresno chile or grilled avocado with basil garlic confit—while a massage tent invites in the sounds of birds and fountains and the smell of desert sage.
Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel
Ideal for: Swimming at the only rooftop pool in town
The seven-story Kimpton Rowan is Palm Springs’ tallest hotel and it capitalizes on its stature with a rooftop pool and bar that command spectacular views of the valley. The adjacent 4 Saints restaurant, meanwhile, serves up a range of delights from land and sea, including lamb chops and lobster ceviche, which can be paired with fine wines or craft cocktails. In guest rooms, neutral tones and floor-to-ceiling windows allow the desert setting to shine. Added bonus: Guests are allowed to bring their own pets, regardless of size, weight, or breed, at no extra charge.
More luxury hotels in Greater Palm Springs
Palm Springs is just one of the nine cities in the Coachella Valley. There are several top hotels a short drive from downtown, in Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, and beyond.
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
Ideal for: Taking a gondola ride among palm trees and fountains
This 884-room hotel in Palm Desert, a 30-minute drive from downtown Palm Springs, has one very distinctive feature: an indoor/outdoor lake offering gondola rides. The resort also boasts 10 restaurants, five outdoor pools, and two championship golf courses among its 450 acres of well-maintained desert landscape. The resort fee covers mini golf, bike rentals, fitness classes, and access to the driving range.
Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage
Best for: Making memories as a family
The newly renovated Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage brings all the brand’s trademark classic luxury to a spectacular desert setting. It's set on a hilltop above the valley floor, so the views are quite something, whether you’re tucking into some dry-aged greater Omaha prime at The Edge Steakhouse or relaxing in the adults-only Vista pool. Kids, meanwhile, can have fun at the Air Pool—or during a day at the immersive Ritz Kids club while their hardworking parents hit up the spa’s digital detox wellness hour.
Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas
Ideal for: Having fun, fun, fun in the sun
This one’s for the families that like spending time in water. The huge waterpark has splash pads, dueling waterslides, and lazy rivers. There are 531 rooms here, including 39 suites and 43 villas, and plenty for guests to do. Borrow a beach cruiser and tour the resort’s 45 acres, take a Jeep or hot-air balloon tour of the region, or try Shots in the Night, the hotel’s neon golf experience, where you can send LED-charged golf balls to inflatable targets amid lights and lasers. It’s also next door to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, home of pro-level courts as well as the BNP Paribas tournament in March.
La Quinta Resort & Club, a Curio Collection by Hilton
Ideal for: Swimming, playing tennis, and golfing
This sprawling resort numbers 41 (yes, 41) swimming pools across its 45 acres, including a family pool, a lap pool, and an adults-only pool, and a range of private places for a dip by the casitas and suites. It also encompasses five golf courses, 21 tennis courts, eight pickleball courts, and seven restaurants. The hotel is just 5 miles from the Empire Polo Club, which hosts the annual Stagecoach and Coachella festivals in late spring, making it the perfect choice for some post-fest recuperation. Opt for a room with a private, outdoor fireplace for cozy nights under the stars.