Palm Springs, a virtual oasis in the desert, is a popular winter destination for vacationers, particularly golfers. The city has a beautiful winter climate that attracts visitors from all over North America from November to April. Located in a valley between mountains, Palm Springs has extremely hot summers and warm winters. This desert hot spot has long attracted an upper end clientele including some of the rich and famous. Consequently Palm Springs hotels offer a great variety of choices from top end luxury hotels to economy rooms.

Some of the more upscale hotels in Palm Springs include the luxury Le Parker Meridian Palm Springs, a sprawling 13 acre complex in the desert with indoor and outdoor pools, restaurants, rooms and villas, and the Mediterranean style Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn. This quaint Palm Springs hotel was built in 1924 and features only 8 rooms, each done in its own unique style. Also of note are the Riviera Resort and Spa with beautiful mountain views and a pool ringed by palm trees, and the luxury boutique resort and spa, Viceroy Palm Springs.

Palm Springs offers many things to see and do. Golf courses abound here in the desert, as do spas. The near by mountains are a great place for hiking and to escape the heat. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes visitors from the city to the top of Mount San Jacinto at 8,600ft/2,600m. This is a unique experience where visitors get on the tram at the hot desert floor and get off in the cool mountain air where trees flourish and you may even see snow depending on the time of year. There are a number of trails for walking and hiking that circuit the area.

Another wonderful attraction is the Palm Springs Art Museum, formerly the Palm Springs Desert Museum, which features modern and contemporary art. The museum has evolved over the years from a desert museum to a strong art museum. The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum is also an interesting place with information on the Cahuilla peoples.

The downtown area of Palm Springs is very pleasant with shops and restaurants. During the hot summer months some establishments spray fine mist from the roofs to cool people walking down the side walks or sitting on outside patios. The air is so dry that the mist is just enough to cool you down and not get you wet. Palm Springs hotels can be found along this down town strip as well. Almost all hotels in Palm Springs have an outdoor pool, even the budget places.