Vagabond Inn Palm Springs

The Vagabond Inn is a low-frills budget hotel that offers more in the way of function than style. The three-story beige building features a flat roof and outdoor hallways in the style of a classic motel. Mountains are visible in the distance from the outdoor pool and from many rooms. The small lobby is bright and spare, with generic and basic decor, including a tiled floor and a long reception desk in shades of white and gray. The space is mostly useful for check-ins, though there's a display of brochures and postcards, a dated computer for guest use, and two wicker chairs beside a large window. The breakfast room is the only other common space and is pleasant enough, with a light-wood bar and clay-colored tile floors. There's also outdoor covered seating beside the pool, at round tables with tropical-patterned plastic covers. Overall, the property has an '80s-motel vibe, but it's clean and decently maintained. Most guests are middle-aged and older couples looking for a budget-friendly place to stay close to the center of Palm Springs. 

The Vagabond Inn sits on busy South Palm Canyon Drive, the southernmost end of Palm Spring's main street before it turns east. The surrounding area is home to many other hotels, and there are several restaurants and stores within walking distance. The hotel is about a five-minute drive from the heart of downtown Palm Springs, or about a 20- to 30-minute walk. Regional destinations are in driving distance, like Joshua Tree National park (50 minutes away) and Coachella (35 minutes away). Palm Springs International Airport is an eight-minute drive, and it's about a two-hour drive to Los Angeles. 

The Vagabond's 120 guest rooms face the mountains or pool. The majority of rooms include one king-size or two queen-size beds, but a Family Room is also available, as are connecting rooms, and suites with full kitchens. All options feature generic motel-style decor that feels a little '80s: loud floral bedding, wood-laminate furniture, dark wall-to-wall carpeting, and beige walls with floral borders. Despite some wear-and-tear, rooms are clean and well-maintained. They're also conveniently equipped with microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers in addition to ironing facilities. Some rooms still have old tube TVs, while others have been updated to 40-inch flat-screens. Wi-Fi is free, though can be spotty. Bathrooms are neutral but functional with shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and free toiletries. Guests tend to find the air-conditioning efficient, but there's no individual temperature control. Some guests complain of thin walls, and ground-floor rooms may get noise from the pool, so light sleepers should consider bringing earplugs. 

The hotel's main extra property feature is a pretty decent heated outdoor pool and hot tub surrounded by a host of plastic lounge chairs and a few umbrella-covered tables. As a bonus, the pool area also has a nice view of the nearby mountains. The hotel serves a free continental breakfast in "BJ's Snack Shoppe" (though the space can get pretty cramped, especially toward the end of breakfast hours, and in poor weather when there's no outdoor seating). The breakfast is decent but carb-heavy with a selection of cereals, pastries, and breads, in addition to coffee, hard-boiled eggs, and make-your-own waffles. Parking and Wi-Fi are free, and the hotel accepts pets for a reasonable extra fee. But the hotel has no gym or full restaurant.