HOTELS
PARKER PALM SPRINGS
4200 EAST PALM CANYON DRIVE
PALM SPRINGS
A desert icon, the Parker started life as a Holiday Inn (California’s first!) but was transformed by legendary designer Jonathan Adler into Palm Springs’ inaugural five-star resort in 2004. Boasting stellar eateries, an 18-hole golf course, an award-winning spa, three pools, pétanque and croquet courts, and 13 acres of impeccably manicured grounds, the property still offers the utmost in luxury today. As such, it has become a stomping ground for Hollywood’s elite, with everyone from Drew Barrymore to Liam Neeson to (perhaps most famously!) Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie checking in for some upscale R&R.
★★★★★
JW MARRIOTT DESERT SPRINGS RESORT & SPA
74-855 COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE
PALM DESERT
Surrounded by huge lakes, which guests can tour via manned gondolas, the JW Marriott provides a resort experience like no other. Boasting an incredible 450 acres, the lodging is unbelievably massive, with 884 rooms, seven restaurants, two golf courses, three pools, a Starbucks, a putting green and a myriad of shops. It’s like Disneyland in the desert! Even if you don’t book a stay, the hotel is a must-see for its grand scale and overall spectacle alone – especially during the holidays. Each Christmas, the property truly comes alive with a smorgasbord of activities for children such as story time with Santa, cookie decorating and games galore. Bonus – the hotel is also a filming location! It was here that Jesse Spano’s dad got married on “Saved by the Bell.”
★★★★
THE WILLOWS
412 WEST TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY
PALM SPRINGS
A hidden gem, The Willows is one of Palm Springs’ most unique and extraordinary lodgings. The boutique, adults-only, 17-room property is situated in two adjacent former private residences that have been reimagined as intimate and luxurious accommodations. With tasteful guest rooms, three-course breakfasts served daily against the backdrop of a striking 50-foot waterfall, and hors d’oeuvres offered aside a roaring fireplace each night, the site is more of a home away from home than a hotel. I recently had the pleasure of spending Christmas on the premises, and it was a magical experience. The location, just a block from Palm Springs’ main drag, also can’t be beat!
★★★★★
KIMPTON ROWAN PALM SPRINGS
100 WEST TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY
PALM SPRINGS
The Rowan is one of the few spots on this list where I haven’t actually stayed the night, but I have spent a considerable amount of time on the premises, dining at the many restaurants/lounges and enjoying cocktails at the rooftop bar. And I can honestly say it is an absolute delight! Though undeniably pricey, the property is downtown Palm Springs’ most upscale full-service hotel with a slew of amenities to offer. And its location at the heart of pretty much everything couldn’t be more prime! You can’t go wrong with a stay here.
★★★★
INGLESIDE ESTATE
200 WEST RAMON ROAD
PALM SPRINGS
One of Palm Springs’ most intimate, serene, and tranquil properties, this 30-room, adults-only boutique hotel is a genuine landmark. My husband and I actually got engaged at the property in 2009 and have returned several times since, with each stay seemingly better than the last. Boasting gorgeous grounds, a 24-hour pool and hot tub, and a stellar onsite restaurant and lounge, the Ingleside is the place to stay when you want to get away from it all. As such, it has become a Hollywood haven, hosting everyone from legendary crooner Frank Sinatra to Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, who honeymooned in Room 148.
★★★★
KORAKIA PENSIONE
257 SOUTH PATENCIO ROAD
PALM SPRINGS
It is hard to describe this Morrocan-inspired boutique lodging in words other than to say it is absolutely magical. My husband and I once checked in for a brief two-day staycation and wound up extending our reservation to a full week as we just couldn’t bear to check out. The Korakia has that effect. Stunning, peaceful, with grounds begging to be explored and not a TV nor phone in sight, at Korakia you can check in and truly check out. Be sure not to miss the classic movies shown each evening al fresco in the tranquil courtyard.
★★★★
CASA CODY
175 SOUTH CAHUILLA ROAD
PALM SPRINGS
This hotel has history in spades! Initially established in the 1920s by Harriet Cody (cousin of Buffalo Bill), Casa Cody is Palm Springs’ oldest operating lodging! Intimate, serene, and stunningly gorgeous, with amenities including two pools, a hot tub, grassy expanses, gardens, an onsite bar/restaurant, and the most charming rooms and suites, the property is an absolute gem! Be sure to ask for a tour during your stay for an up-close-and-personal glimpse of its many notable sites, including one of the original Olympic cottages from the 1932 games!
★★★★
TRIADA PALM SPRINGS
640 NORTH INDIAN CANYON DRIVE
PALM SPRINGS
Oozing Hollywood history, this spot started life as a private home before becoming the Ambassador Apartment Hotel in 1939 and welcoming such guests as Lana Turner, Elizabeth Taylor and Tyrone Power. In 2014, it was revamped by Marriott into the Mediterranean wonderland it is today. While chock full of amenities, including three pools, two bars, a restaurant, and a gym, the place remains intimate with a boutique feel. One of my family’s favorite staycation spots, we’ve spent many a weekend at Triada, enjoying the plush rooms and gorgeous grounds.
★★★
THE VELVET ROPE
120 WEST VEREDA SUR
PALM SPRINGS
Teeming with Old Hollywood glamour, this newly reimagined adults-only boutique lodging was masterfully designed by David Rios, who was also behind the iconic Trixie Motel. Featuring nine suites, each with its own distinct Tinseltown personality, The Velvet Rope is stylish, sexy and utterly chic. Offering highly personalized service, a plethora of elevated touches, and the glittering onsite Bar Valerie, a stay here is truly luxe!
★★★
TWO BUNCH PALMS
67425 TWO BUNCH PALMS TRAIL
DESERT HOT SPRINGS
A bit removed from most Coachella Valley attractions, this 77-acre, wellness-inspired, adults-only retreat is known for being an exclusive haven. Legend has it the place served as a hideaway for Al Capone in the 1920s, but today, you’re more likely to find a bevy of A-listers on the premises. With upscale amenities like prime spa services, a stellar vegetable-forward eatery, a gym, two healing mineral pools, a lap pool, a grotto, a yoga dome, a lagoon and a multitude of tranquil tucked-away corners, Two Bunch Palms offers a desert experience like no other.
★★★★
OMNI RANCHO LAS PALMAS RESORT & SPA
41000 BOB HOPE DRIVE
RANCHO MIRAGE
Planning a desert getaway with children? Omni Rancho Las Palmas is the spot I’d book. Boasting a two-acre Splashtopia water park complete with a lazy river, a pool, two waterslides and a man-made beach, this lodging is kid-friendly in all the best ways. The sprawling 240-acre resort has plenty for adults to enjoy, as well, including a golf course, a spa, four restaurants, a bar, two additional pools, stunning grounds, a fabulous gift shop and one very memorable “Beverly Hills, 90210” connection.
★★★★
THE RITZ-CARLTON, RANCHO MIRAGE
68900 FRANK SINATRA DRIVE
RANCHO MIRAGE
The Ritz is one of the desert’s premier properties! Situated atop a 650-foot bluff, the views of the surrounding area are unparalleled – as are the amenities, which include four restaurants, a gym, multiple pools and a truly luxe spa. They say you get what you pay for, and a stay here is definitely an exclusive experience. As such, the place has welcomed quite a few celebrities like Katharine McPhee, Robert Herjavec, and Justin Bieber. Most famously, the hotel hosted the much-watched nuptials of OG Bachelorette Trista Rehn and her pick, Ryan Sutter, back in 2003.
★★★★★
HOTEL PASEO
45-400 LARKSPUR LANE
PALM DESERT
A newer and thoroughly welcome addition to the desert scene, Hotel Paseo is situated in one of the best locations in the area, just steps from the tony El Paseo shopping district. But there is plenty more to be had! Featuring thoroughly modern and whimsical décor, the property is hip and trendy in all the right ways, with amenities including the stellar onsite eatery Larkspur Grill (which also made my dinner list), a fitness center, a putting green, a café, a pool, daily outdoor yoga, and comfortable rooms.
★★★
RENAISSANCE ESMERALDA RESORT & SPA
44400 INDIAN WELLS LANE
INDIAN WELLS
My favorite part about this hotel is its wide array of culinary options, with everything from pizza to burgers to tacos to sushi available via four onsite eateries. My family (a disparate bunch when it comes to food) stayed here a few years back and would grab nightly takeout from whichever restaurant struck our fancy before meeting in the central cocktail lounge, The Place, to dine together. We spent three nights at the hotel and were never bored with our food choices once! Additional amenities (all of which are bar none!) include a coffee bar, a spa, a pool with a sandy beach, two tennis courts, a gym, and a family game center complete with an escape room.
★★★
TOMMY BAHAMA MIRAMONTE RESORT & SPA
45000 INDIAN WELLS LANE
INDIAN WELLS
This spot, newly reimagined by the Tommy Bahama lifestyle brand, is, simply put, stunning! Sunsets are especially gorgeous on the sprawling central patio, which sits nestled under a canopy of lantern-strung olive trees overlooking the main pool. With dramatic mountain views, lush grassy expanses and towering palm trees at nearly every turn, it is easily one of the area’s most gorgeous lodgings. The resort also boasts two additional pools, an award-winning spa, the popular Grapefruit Basil restaurant, and multiple bars – all of them outfitted with Tommy Bahama’s signature island stylings.
★★★★
SANDS HOTEL & SPA
44-985 PROVINCE WAY
INDIAN WELLS
Every square inch of this adults-only boutique hotel has been styled to within an inch of its life – but in the best way possible! A relative newcomer, the one-time timeshare was reimagined by designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard in 2018 into what is easily the Valley’s most Instagrammable hotel. Accented with romantic silver, green, and blush hues, the lodging is major #décorgoals! Amenities include The Pink Cabana restaurant (featured in my lunch section), bucolic grounds, an ethereal spa, 46 chic rooms and a pool lined with inviting daybeds. The neighboring Nest restaurant (a must-visit spot listed in my cocktails section) can get a little lively at night, so if you are seeking a quieter stay, ask to be placed on the opposite side of the property.
★★★
LA QUINTA RESORT & CLUB
49-499 EISENHOWER DRIVE
LA QUINTA
Easily my favorite Coachella Valley hotel, the La Quinta Resort was built in 1926 (before the city was incorporated!) and is teeming with history. A longtime playground for the rich and famous (Frank Capra even wrote “It’s a Wonderful Life” on the premises!), the 45-acre property boasts 785 rooms, many of which are standalone casitas situated around lush courtyards, four restaurants, a café, 23 tennis courts, 41 pools, 53 hot tubs, six shops and five golf courses. Despite the grand size, the lodging feels intimate and private. While the rooms do need some updating, the hotel’s undeniable ambiance, history, and charm more than make up for that fact. The La Quinta Resort is a true desert treasure!
★★★★
THE CHATEAU AT LAKE LA QUINTA
78120 CALEO BAY DRIVE
LA QUINTA
This hidden gem (most locals don’t even know it’s there!) sits perched overlooking the 25-acre man-made Lake La Quinta. While small (the boutique lodging features 24 rooms, each with a lake view), the site is not short on amenities, which include an onsite restaurant (listed in my cocktails section), a sprawling lawn, a pool, a jacuzzi and a charming light-strung patio outfitted with a fire pit and plenty of spots for lounging. Thoroughly idyllic, the property, which was voted “Best of the Best” boutique hotel in La Quinta by Palm Springs Life magazine, is often booked out for weddings, so stays should be reserved far in advance.
★★★★