Where to Stay in Palm Springs: My Favorite 7 Hotels and Areas in 2026

Luckily, we picked a really good place to stay in Palm Springs, and I really think the location made a huge difference in how much we enjoyed our weekend here.

We could walk to a bunch of restaurants from our hotel, and they also had free bike rentals, so we could just hop on a bike and be downtown in about 10 minutes. It made getting around so easy, and we barely felt like we needed the car while we were exploring Palm Springs.

After spending a long weekend here, I’d actually say that where to stay in Palm Springs matters a lot more here than in many other places. The hotel itself makes a difference because you’ll probably want somewhere with a pool and that classic Palm Springs design, but the location matters too. Being able to walk or bike to restaurants, bars and downtown just makes the whole experience so much better.

When I was researching where to stay in Palm Springs myself, I was definitely a little overwhelmed. There are so many different hotels to choose from, and a lot of them even look fairly similar at first glance which makes it kinda hard to pick one.

To make things a little easier for you guys and save you from going through all that back-and-forth yourself, I put together this guide to the best areas and best hotels in Palm Springs, including where I stayed myself and what I’d choose if I came back.

Where to Stay in Palm Springs – My Experience (Quick Answer)

When I book a hotel, there are obviously a few things that are important to me: location, price and the actual quality of the hotel. I’m always trying to find the best mix of all three, and I think we actually nailed it with The Skylark Palm Springs.

The hotel is located in Uptown Palm Springs, and it had pretty much everything I wanted. It was recently renovated, we had a huge and super comfortable bed, the room was beautiful, and then there was a big pool and hot tub outside. They also had free bike rentals, which ended up being one of my favorite things about staying here.

The whole place also just looked the part. You know what I mean? If I’m staying in Palm Springs, I want the hotel to actually feel like Palm Springs, and The Skylark definitely had that vibe.

We couldn’t really walk into downtown from the hotel, where you’ll find most of the restaurants and bars, but we could easily bike there. And to be honest, I actually preferred that. Riding a bike through Palm Springs is so much fun, and it only took us about 10 minutes to get downtown.

The other thing I absolutely loved was the location next to Vista Las Palmas, which is one of my favorite neighborhoods for checking out all the incredible mid-century modern houses. We could basically walk or bike straight from the hotel into the neighborhood and start exploring.

So, when it comes to value for money, I have to give The Skylark a 10/10. For what we paid, the hotel, pool, bikes and location were just a fantastic combination.

My Top Areas in Palm Springs California

Uptown Palm Springs

We stayed in Uptown Palm Springs, and I actually really liked it. It wasn’t nearly as busy as downtown, but there were still plenty of good restaurants and coffee shops basically right around the corner.

But what I really loved was that we could also just walk straight over to some of the most incredible mid-century modern houses in Palm Springs. The Vista Las Palmas neighborhood was literally right around the corner, which made exploring the architecture super easy.

So for me, Uptown was kind of the perfect middle ground. We had restaurants, coffee shops, bikes and all the architecture right around us, while also getting a slightly quieter atmosphere and better value than staying directly downtown.

Downtown Palm Springs

Downtown Palm Springs is a lot of fun, I have to admit it. There are so many restaurants, bars and cafes around here, and the whole area feels much livelier than Uptown.

If I was planning a more outgoing, food-and-drinks-heavy trip, I’d probably stay downtown.

And to be fair, there’s one very practical reason I’d choose it too: if I’m planning on having a few too many cocktails, I’d much rather be able to walk back to my hotel instead of having to worry about getting a bike or calling an Uber.

So if nightlife, restaurants and being right in the middle of the action are your priorities, downtown is probably your best bet.

South Palm Springs

South Palm Springs is in some ways pretty similar to Uptown. It’s generally a little quieter and can be a bit more affordable than staying right in downtown, but there are still plenty of restaurants, shops and other things around.

My favorite Mexican restaurant, El Mirasol, is right here, and I can highly recommend it if you’re into Mexican food.

You also have really easy access to the Indian Canyons neighborhood, where you’ll find some beautiful mid-century modern houses, including the famous pink door at Villa Sierra.

And if you’re more interested in hiking and getting out into nature, South Palm Springs is also a really convenient base for exploring Indian Canyons itself.

Rancho Mirage

I know Rancho Mirage isn’t technically part of Palm Springs. It’s its own city, but I still wanted to include it because I’m sure some of you are coming to the Palm Springs area specifically because you want to stay at a proper resort.

Rancho Mirage is only about a 15-minute drive from downtown Palm Springs, and this is where you’ll find some of the big resort-style properties, including places like The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage, The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa and JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. These are the kinds of places where you can basically spend your entire weekend at the resort. We’re talking huge pools, golf courses, restaurants, spas and plenty of space to just relax.

My 7 Favorite Hotels in Palm Springs

1. Del Marcos Hotel // Coolest Hotel in Palm Springs

One of my favorite hotels in Palm Springs purely based on the design is the Del Marcos Hotel.

I know I’ve probably said this about 100 times by now, but I really love that classic Palm Springs look, and Del Marcos Hotel absolutely nails it.

The whole building has that old Hollywood, mid-century modern vibe that I was looking for when I came here. The rooms are decorated really well, the architecture itself is super unique, and then you’ve got a really cool pool area that just looks like the perfect place to spend an afternoon.

I personally would absolutely stay here. It was a little more expensive than The Skylark, where we stayed, so it didn’t quite fit our budget for this trip. But if I come back to Palm Springs with a little more money to spend, Del Marcos is definitely on my list.

Click Here for Prices & Availablity: Del Marcos Hotel

2. The Skylark Palm Springs // This Is Where We Stayed in Palm Springs

The Skylark Palm Springs is where we actually stayed, and it ended up being one of my favorite hotels from our entire trip in California.

What I really liked was that it had that retro Palm Springs look and feel, but it wasn’t overly upscale or fancy, which meant it was still really affordable for us.

Our room was great. We had a huge and super comfortable king-size bed, and the views from the room were awesome, especially around sunset.

Then there was the huge pool and hot tub outside, which we obviously made use of immediately on the night we arrived.  The breakfast was decent too, but my favorite part of staying here was probably the free bike rentals.

Being able to grab a couple of bikes and ride around Palm Springs made exploring so much more fun, especially because we were staying close to neighborhoods like Vista Las Palmas.

Click Here for Prices & Availablity: The Skylark Hotel

3. Dive Palm Springs Hotel // Best Overall Hotel in Palm Springs

Dive Palm Springs is, at least in my opinion, one of the coolest hotels in Palm Springs.

When I’m staying somewhere like Palm Springs, I want the hotel itself to feel like ‘Palm Springs’. I want that old Hollywood, retro California kind of vibe. I don’t want to stay in some generic hotel room that could basically be anywhere in the USA.

And Dive Palm Springs is pretty much exactly what I’m looking for.

The hotel has a beautiful pool area, hot tub, sun terrace, fireplace and all these cool little retro design details. It’s quirky and has plenty of personality without crossing over into a weird, overly themed or tacky territory.

I actually wanted to stay here myself, but Dive is a little more upscale than where we ended up staying, so it was outside my budget for this trip. But if I had a little more money to spend, I absolutely would’ve stayed here.

Click Here for Prices & Availablity: Dive Palm Springs

4. The Dunes Hotel Palm Springs // Best Budget Hotel in Downtown Palm Springs

In my opinion, The Dunes Hotel Palm Springs is probably the best budget-friendly hotel if you specifically want to stay in downtown Palm Springs.

I definitely noticed that a lot of the hotels in downtown Palm Springs can get pretty expensive simply because of the location, so I think The Dunes is a really good option if you want to stay in the middle of everything without completely blowing your budget.

The hotel itself is definitely a little more basic, but you still get a pretty large pool and even a hot tub. The rooms are modern and clean, but they’re also very much no-fuss. There’s nothing wrong with them at all, but you’re getting what you need and not much more than that, if that makes sense.

And honestly, I think that’s perfectly fine. If you’re coming to Palm Springs to spend your days exploring the city, checking out all the mid-century architecture, going to restaurants and bars, and seeing all the sights, I’d much rather save some money on the hotel and spend it on the actual trip.

Click Here for Prices & Availablity: The Dunes Hotel

5. La Maison Hotel

La Maison Hotel is another really cool adults-only hotel in Palm Springs, but here you get a completely different vibe from somewhere like Dive or The Skylark.

Personally, when I’m in Palm Springs, I want all the colors, quirkiness and retro design that make the city so unique. But I also know that’s not necessarily what everyone is looking for.

La Maison reminds me much more of some of the hotels I’ve stayed at in Santa Barbara. It has more of a rustic, Spanish Revival-inspired feel, with a really beautiful and slightly more traditional design.

You’ve got a beautiful pool area, really nice rooms and a much more peaceful atmosphere than some of the busier hotels around downtown. From everything I’ve seen, the service here is also supposed to be fantastic.

So while it wouldn’t necessarily be my first choice personally, I want Palm Springs to look like Palm Springs, I can absolutely see why a lot of people would prefer this style.

Click Here for Prices & Availablity: La Maison Hotel

6. Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs

From what I’ve seen, Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs is probably the most upscale and luxurious hotel right in downtown Palm Springs.

It’s in an awesome location, basically right between the Palm Springs Art Museum and the main strip downtown, so I walked past it quite a few times while I was exploring the area.

The design here is much more stylish and upscale than the colorful, quirky retro style you get at some of the other Palm Springs hotels on this list. It’s not necessarily what I personally look for when I’m in Palm Springs, but I can absolutely appreciate how nice it looks.

They also have bike rentals, which I love because getting around Palm Springs by bike is such a great way to explore the city. From here, it’s also really easy to ride over to Vista Las Palmas and check out all the incredible mid-century modern architecture.

But the real highlight for me has to be the rooftop pool and bar. It just looks incredible up there. I honestly can’t think of many better ways to spend an afternoon in Palm Springs than sitting by the rooftop pool, having a beer or cocktail, and looking out over the mountains and valley.

Click Here for Prices & Availablity: Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs

7. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa // Best for a Full Resort Experience

I’m usually not someone who recommends the big hotel chains. Whenever I write a “where to stay” guide, I tend to focus on the more unique hotels because, let’s be honest, you can find a Hyatt, Marriott or Hilton in pretty much every major destination.

But I wanted to include JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa because it represents a completely different kind of Palm Springs trip.

This isn’t really about staying downtown and walking to restaurants, checking out mid-century houses or exploring the city by bike. This is about the resort experience.

And there are a bunch of huge resorts and country-club-style properties around the Palm Springs area, with golf courses, massive pools, spas, restaurants and basically everything you need to spend an entire weekend without leaving the property.

The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa is a great example of that. And if that sounds more like your kind of vacation, I’d also look at some of the other big resorts around the area, including The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage and The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa.

Click Here for Prices & Availablity: JW Marriott Desert Springs

FAQs About the Best Places to Stay in Palm Springs California

What Is the Best Area to Stay in Palm Springs?

I personally really liked Uptown Palm Springs, where we stayed. It wasn’t too busy, but we still had plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars around, so it felt like a great middle ground. That being said, Downtown Palm Springs is also a fantastic option, especially if you want to be within walking distance of as many restaurants, bars and shops as possible.

Is Palm Springs Walkable?

Parts of Palm Springs are definitely walkable, and it’s also a really fun city to explore by bike. However, the city is fairly spread out, so you can’t necessarily walk everywhere.

If walkability is important to you, I’d definitely recommend staying in Downtown Palm Springs. That way, you’ll have plenty of restaurants, bars and shops right outside your hotel.

Is Palm Springs Expensive to Visit?

It definitely can be, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of affordable hotels, budget-friendly restaurants and completely free things to do around Palm Springs.

Of course, you also have some super luxurious resorts where you could easily spend a small fortune. So ultimately, it really depends on what kind of trip you’re planning and how much you want to spend.

What Is the Best Luxury Hotel in Palm Springs?

If you’re looking for a luxury hotel right in Palm Springs itself, I’d go with Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs. It’s in a great downtown location and has a gorgeous rooftop pool and bar.

But if you’re happy to stay a little further outside the city, there are some incredible luxury resorts around the area, including The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage.

What Is the Best Cheap Hotel in Palm Springs?

My favorite budget-friendly options are The Dunes Hotel Palm Springs, which has a fantastic downtown location, and The Skylark Palm Springs, where we actually stayed.

I thought The Skylark was particularly good value for money, especially considering the pool, hot tub, free bike rentals and overall retro Palm Springs atmosphere.

Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Palm Springs

I think Palm Springs is such a fantastic weekend getaway, especially because there are so many cool and relatively affordable hotels to choose from.

I was suuuuper happy with The Skylark Palm Springs, where we stayed, but there are plenty of other amazing options too. Ultimately, I think it comes down to one main question: Do you want to stay downtown and be within walking distance of everything, or are you happy staying a little further out?

That’s probably the biggest decision to make when choosing your hotel.

For me, the design and overall vibe of the hotel were also a huge part of the experience. I wanted somewhere that actually felt like Palm Springs, with all that retro, mid-century modern character.

Either way, I don’t think you can go too wrong with any of the hotels I’ve included in this guide. Just figure out what kind of experience you’re looking for, pick a hotel that fits your budget, and enjoy your time in Palm Springs.

I hope this guide on where to stay in Palm Springs California gave you a good idea of my favorite areas and hotels and made choosing where to stay a little easier!

Check Out My Other Palm Springs Guides

The Best Restaurants in Palm Springs: My Favorite Food Spots

Coffee Shops in Palm Springs: My Top Cafes & Coffee Spots

Is Palm Springs Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

3 Days in Palm Springs: How I Spent 72 Hours here

Things to Do in Palm Springs: My Favorite Activities

Where to Stay in Palm Springs: The Best Hotels & Areas

How Many Days in Palm Springs Do You Need? My Honest Review

The Best Time to Visit Palm Springs: My Seasonal Guide

Where to See Cool Houses in Palm Springs: The Best Mid Century Modern Homes