City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Address: 1850 Smoke Tree Lane
17. Sundance Villas
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (760) 325-3888, (800) 455-3888
Address: 303 Cabrillo Rd.
Description: Located in the city’s north end, in a quiet residential area, Sundance was originally built as time-shares and private homes. It’s a sprawling gated compound of 19 spacious two- and three-bedroom villas with enclosed courtyards, private pools and spa, and such homelike amenities as gas barbecues, two-car garages, washers, and dryers. Sundance also offers tennis and a large community pool. For a family or group of friends who want to stay a while and have all the comforts of home—or homes if taking down a block of accommodations—this is an excellent value. The only drawback is that the homes are about two miles from downtown so a car is a must.
18. Viceroy Palm Springs
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (760) 320-4117, (800) 670-6184
Address: 415 South Belardo Rd.
Description: Formerly the Spanish Mission-styled Estrella Inn, the 66-room Viceroy is a collection of bungalows, suites, and rooms built around a beautifully landscaped, sprawling property with three courtyards and pools. The bungalows date from the 1930s and have been redone in a glamorous, rather over-the-top “Hollywood Regency” style heavy on mirrors and a color scheme of black, white, and yellow. The small spa and fitness center are sparkling and modern, and the Citron bar/restaurant is a local favorite for evening drinks or desserts. It’s located in the Tennis Club area, just a block from downtown.
19. Villa Royale Inn
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (760) 327-2314, (800) 245-2314
Address: 1620 South Indian Trail
Description: This Mediterranean-style compound once was the estate of a Palm Springs old-timer. Re-imagined and rebuilt by a Palm Springs City Council member who had been a Hollywood set designer, it’s an unexpected bit of whimsy in the desert. The 30 rooms and suites are each decorated in the style of a different European city or region, and no two have the same theme. Several courtyards, fountains, and garden areas, plus a charming poolside bar and the award-winning Europa Restaurant have made this a favorite for romantic getaways. Rates include full American breakfast.
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Address: 412 West Tahquitz Canyon Way
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Address: 32-250 Bob Hope Dr.
22. Best Western Las Brisas
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (760) 325-4372, (800) 346-5714
Address: 222 South Indian Canyon Dr.
Description: On busy Indian Canyon Drive near downtown, this property renovated in 2008 is an affordable step above a basic motel all set down in a downtown-convenient spot. Rooms are sparkling clean and roomy, with light desert colors. Refrigerators, flat screens, and coffeemakers in every room, free American breakfasts, and a well-priced lunch make it a good choice for budget-minded travelers and families who want a little something extra. The Las Brisas also offers a pool, lounge, and restaurant. You won’t find many value chain national brands sporting such a cool Mediterranean look, either.
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Address: 50-777 Santa Rosa Plaza
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Address: 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway
25. Hilton Palm Springs Resort
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (760) 320-6868, (800) 522-6900
Address: 400 East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Description: Following a renovation several years ago of the public space, all guest rooms, and its main dining room, this property remains a mainstay of downtown digs. The pool is one of the most convivial in town, with a well-run pool bar and a good central location. The hotel has 266 rooms and 71 suites as well as a concierge, restaurant, lounge, business center, fitness center, massage salon, and gift shop. Rooms are oversize and offer all the amenities you’d expect in a midlevel city hotel, from good TVs to high-speed Internet to balconies or patios. As in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location.
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Address: 285 North Palm Canyon Dr.
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Address: 9003 Shadow Ridge Dr.
28. Palm Court Inn
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (760) 416-2333, (800) 667-7918
Address: 1983 North Palm Canyon Dr.
Description: A good spot for families and budget travelers, the 107-room Palm Court is, at one mile away, a bit far from the center of town, but it offers a wonderful mountain view, good basic rooms, and one of the best rates around, period. Rooms include microwaves and refrigerators, and the hotel has a large pool with a Jacuzzi and a children’s wading pool, wireless coin-op laundry, and an exercise room, and there’s a diner-style restaurant next door with a few Cuban items on the menu.
29. Residence Inn Palm Desert
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (760) 776-0050, (888) 236-2427
Address: 38-305 Cook St.
Description: Located close enough to the Interstate to be easily accessible and far enough away so traffic is not a bother, this is a great property for business or leisure travelers. The hotel has 130, 600-square-foot studios and 800-square-foot suites, each with full kitchen. Beds and linens are home-grade and you even get a choice of foam or feather/down pillows. Being a Residence, buffet breakfast is included, as is complimentary beer and wine later in the day. There’s a beautifully landscaped pool on-site. The University of California/California State University complex is kitty-corner from the hotel and that’s the back nine of Desert Willow’s stellar Firecliff Course just over the fence. A gym, tennis courts, and putting green round out the deep offerings.
30. Spa Resort Casino
City: Palm Springs, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (760) 778-1772, (888) 999-1995
Address: 100 North Indian Canyon Dr.
Description: Originally built in the 1960s as the first development on Indian-owned land, the Spa has undergone a series of needed and effective transformations over the years, morphing from a basic hotel into a stylish, bustling hub for locals and visitors. Part of the draw is the world-famous spa, built around the city’s original hot mineral springs, and fitness center. The pool is one of the largest and most social in town, and the neighboring casino brings a touch of Vegas to downtown Palm Springs; visitors who remember the tentlike casino of not long ago will be amazed at how the new casino is reminiscent of Sin City’s Green Valley Ranch or Red Rock Resort. A half-dozen eateries—buffet, deli, cantina, noodle and sushi bar, cafe, and steakhouse—round out the offerings.