2 Best Hotels in La Quinta, Palm Springs and the Desert Resorts

Old-world French design, contemporary style, and luxe creature comforts make this lakeside inn a good choice for those who want intimate, upscale lodgings near La Quinta's main attractions. Rooms range from deluxe to bungalows, and all have a private or semi-private balcony or patio. Some have fireplaces. Order a cocktail from the bar, nab a seat by a firepit, and watch the swans and turtles swim in the lake before a fine-dining feast at the on-site restaurant, Mélange.

Opened in 1926 and now a member of the Hilton's Curio Collection, the desert's oldest resort, a 45-acre oasis, feels like a small town made up of expansive lawns with quiet, flowery spots to sit and myriad adobe casitas, suites, and villas. (Coincidentally, it is one of only two resorts in America with the city named after it.) With 23 tennis courts, eight pickleball courts, 41 pools, 53 hot tubs, five restaurants that pride themselves on partnerships with local farms and visiting wineries, five world-class golf courses, and a 23,000 square-foot spa with a trendy recovery-focused treatment menu, every guest, no matter their interests, will be able to find something to keep them occupied. Historic rooms have interesting backstories involving 12 presidents, titans of industry, and famous folks like Charlie Chaplin, Tom Hanks, and Barbara Streisand. Newer two-story units showcase mineral-color tiles, individual swimming pools, fireplaces, stocked refrigerators, and fruit-laden orange trees.