The Palm Springs Hotel

Completely refurbished in 2014, the Palm Springs Hotel is a former motel that holds its own among the slew of hip midcentury properties in the area. The cool white streamlined facade of this single-story building hints at the style to come once you’re buzzed inside. The lobby is decked out with swinging mod furniture like tufted armchairs in navy blue velour and a gray leather sofa, complemented by a wood grain reception counter and shag rug. Modernistic paintings of Hollywood stars add an artistic touch, while hanging vintage Tungsten light bulbs provide mood lighting. The atmosphere is unpretentious and relaxed, drawing vacationers on weekend getaways, and though the pool and hot tub are open 24 hours, this isn’t a party hotel. Guests tend to appreciate the low-key poolside scene and keep the noise level down.

The Palm Springs Hotel is just a four-minute drive from the center of town, in an area where several other hotels are located. There are many restaurants and eateries within easy walking distance, as well as a few shops and convenience stores. Nearby attractions include the Palm Springs Art Museum (a six-minute drive), the Palm Springs Air Museum (a nine-minute drive), the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (an 11-minute drive), and Indian Canyons (a 17-minute drive). Palm Springs International Airport is a nine-minute drive away. The city's convenient free trolley service, the Palm Springs Buzz, runs Thursday through Sunday and stops across from the hotel. 

Named after celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Paul Newman, the generously sized guest rooms at the Palm Springs Hotel are pleasantly light-filled thanks to their large windows, stark white walls, and pale gray marble-effect floors. Furnishings like fleece blankets and matching headboards in brilliant blue or bright orange add bursts of color, while retro accents like shaggy rugs, vintage table fans, and wire cage light fixtures are stylish additions. Simple contemporary-style furniture is kept to a minimum: a narrow desk and chair and folding luggage rack save space, though some guests complain that the vanity drawers and hangers on coat hooks provide insufficient storage. Bathrooms are also amply sized, fitted with half-door walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads, but some have tiny impractical sinks. All guest rooms have 48-inch flat-screens with Apple TV, JBL OnBeat sound docks, and free Wi-Fi; Keurig coffeemakers and mini-fridges are handy extras. Many of the rooms have semiprivate patios with privacy screens between neighboring patios. The Frank & Dean King Suite is the most luxurious, featuring extra perks like a separate living room, two flat-screen TVs, and a clawfoot bathtub.

The Palm Springs Hotel is a mid-range property that's short on features. Its biggest downside is the absence of an in-house restaurant and breakfast, which is included at almost all mid-range properties in town. Management tries to make up for this by having free snacks -- fruit, chocolate, granola bars -- and hot drinks available in the lobby area throughout the day. A selection of wines, beer, cocktails, and other drinks are also available for sale here. The hotel's crowning glory, however, is the outdoor swimming pool set among palm trees and commanding a spectacular view of the mountains. Open 24 hours, the pool is heated to 85 degrees year-round, and there are plenty of deck chairs and bright orange umbrellas for lounging by the pool. The adjacent hot tub is heated to 104 degrees, and both the pool and the hot tub are beautifully illuminated at night. Next to the pool and surrounded by orange chairs, the round cement fire pits are a popular spot for evening cocktails. There's free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, and plenty of free parking on-site.