DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Golf Resort Palm Springs

If securing the resort's coveted pool spots is your goal, you'll have to get a jump on staking out real estate. On weekends, chaises facing the stunning San Jacinto Mountains are taken not long after breakfast, as are the private cabanas. At night, couches surrounding the fire pit fill up quickly and large groups settle into the whirlpools. And you may have to wait your turn for a game on the irresistible, gigantic chessboard straight out of "Alice in Wonderland." The lobby is eye-catching, with a mod fixture hanging from a gilded ceiling and an all-marble reception desk, although seating areas flank the front entrance and aren't long-term hangout territory. The restaurant is done in dull neutrals and has cookie-cutter furnishings, but the bar and cafe's lounge has chic Hollywood Regency-style chairs. The best bet is to sit at tables al fresco and take in the views. Guests range from business travelers to couples and families looking for moderate accommodations and a beautiful landscape for outdoor recreation. 

The resort is nestled in the Coachella Valley off Highway 10 in Cathedral City. It's about a 15-minute drive to downtown Palm Springs, where you'll find restaurants, bars, shops, and the Palm Springs Art Museum. Palm Canyon is just under a half-hour from the hotel and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is about a 20-minute drive. For the kids, the popular Wet n' Wild water park is about a 10-minute drive south. Palm Springs International Airport is also about 10 minutes by car. If you're in town for the world famous Coachella music festival, plan on about a 30-minute drive to the Empire Polo Club in Indio. Los Angeles and LAX can take anywhere from two to hours to reach, depending heavily on the area's notorious traffic. 

The resort's renovated rooms are contemporary and streamlined. While a few fun details such as geometric carpeting and bronze headboards with a subtle sheen liven up spaces, decor is otherwise bland. Pullout sofas and seating areas with sleek nesting coffee tables are included in rooms above the standard level. Corner suites have separate living rooms, second bathrooms, and larger balconies with loungers. All units have private balconies or patios and most look out over the pool area and mountains. If stellar views are a must, make sure you aren’t given one of the 40 units that partially face the parking lot. Rooms are outfitted with large flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf coffee, mini-fridges, desks, dining tables and chairs, and irons and ironing boards. There are no minibars, and expect to get charged for bottled water. Bathrooms have a higher-end appeal with double sinks, abstract metallic wallpaper, and bathtubs with wide ledges for Crabtree & Evelyn products. 

Top features at The DoubleTree are all out back. There's an Olympic-size swimming pool, two whirlpools, a fire pit and couches, and a chessboard big enough for humans to step in as pawns. Rows of loungers are shaded by umbrellas and private cabanas are available. The restaurant offers a continental breakfast buffet which doesn't come included. The spread is a full breakfast buffet with hot items and a la carte options. Southern California-inspired cuisine dominates lunch and dinner menus. The bar and cafe have a light bites menu plus everything from coffee drinks to handcrafted cocktails. Both offer outdoor seating that looks out to the pool area. Room service and a 24-hour minimart are the other dining options. The word golf is part of the resort's name but it's a little misleading, as the surrounding 27-hole course belongs to the neighboring Palm Desert Country Club. A path on the property connects to the club, which is about a three-minute walk away. The obligatory resort fee covers green fees and access to the club's full-service spa. The resort has a 24-hour gym, but equipment is limited.On-site parking is covered by the resort fee; there's no valet parking or shuttle service to the airport or downtown. Using the public computers and printing is free at the business center. Wi-Fi that's free throughout is basic; high-speed internet access will set you back a few bucks a day. The hotel also has pet-friendly rooms (for a fee).