Best Hotels for Families in Palm Springs
I can’t even count how many times my family visited Palm Springs when we were kids. We’d make the two-hour drive from Orange County, via Highway 74 ~ making a pit-stop at Aguanga for their amazing vanilla cones. Then, we’d spend ALL our time in the pool…coming back water-logged, happy, & smelling of chlorine! There are amazing family hotels all over the desert, but it may surprise you that the best budget options are in Palm Springs proper. Hotels with more amenities for kids though, tend to be in other desert cities. Here are the “Best Hotels for Families in Palm Springs!”
The pool scene at the Hyatt Regency in Indian Wells is MAJORLY kid-friendly….with some “adult” pools sprinkled in.
In a Rush? Here are the Top Family Hotels by Palm Springs:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grand Hyatt Indian Wells (SEVEN Pools) – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ JW Marriott Desert Springs – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Caliente Tropics Resort – Click here for rates & availability
Great Family Hotels in Palm Springs
Best Family Hotels in Palm Springs
The Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel pool area. Photo: Tripadvisor.
- Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel ($$) = Affordable Hotel in Walking Distance to Downtown Palm Springs: This isn’t the most luxurious hotel in town ~ but the location is AMAZING…just a mile from the Palm Springs Airport, & 2 blocks from downtown. Kids Will Love: Their cozy outdoor fire pits + night swimming (pool is open until 10PM here). Check prices on Booking.com here.
- Caliente Tropics Hotel ($) = Mid-Century Tiki Chic on a Budget! This is another great affordable choice ~ leaving you more money for Tram rides & the Living Desert. Caliente has more of a *vibe* than the Renaissance, with a cute tiki bar on-site, & a hipster-feel. My friends stayed here with their two kids, & the girls loved cartwheeling in the grassy area by the pool. Kids Will Love: The tiki-theme + warm outdoor pool.
Caliente Tropics has a tropical-tiki feel ~ with rooms often under $100/night! Photo: Caliente Tropics.
Best Family Hotels in Palm Desert & Rancho Mirage
Best Family Hotels in Other Desert Cities
The JW Marriott Desert Springs is a GREAT hotel for families ~ we came here a lot as kids!
- JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa ($$$) = MASSIVE Hotel with Three Pools + Kid’s Club: This was a hotel we went to a LOT as kids: we even ice-blocked on their golf course at night! Kids under 15 golf for free, & there are two 18-hole golf courses to play. Take your pick of THREE pools ~ one just for kids. There’s also badminton, basketball, bocce ball, Frisbee, horseshoes, soccer, & volleyball available (all included in your Resort Fee)…so LOTS to do!! Kids Will Love: The wide variety of activities offered + 12,000-ft arcade & game room. Check prices here.
- Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa ($$$) = Water Park with Slides + Lazy River = KID HEAVEN: We came here a lot as young kids: it was one of our favorite spots. You’ve got a 100-foot waterslide, cliffside hot tub (that adults can sneak away to), a Lazy River, sandy beach, & calmer, more adult pools. If you’re looking to spend most of your time by the pool: this is a great choice. Kids Will Love: Riding the water slides & meandering around the Lazy River….
The Omni’s dueling water slides are fantastic for kids.
The Lazy River at the Omni…great for adults too!
Check prices at family-friendly Omni Rancho Las Palmas on Booking.com.
Best Hotels for Families in Indian Wells
Best Family Hotels in Indian Wells with GREAT Pools
Renaissance Esmeralda’s sandy beach is amazing for young kids. Photo: Locale Magazine.
- Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa ($$$) = HUGE Outdoor Pool with Sandy Beach + Kid’s Club + Outdoor Movies: This is one of the prettiest pools in the desert: & its sandy beach is a great place for toddlers to wade into the water without fear. There are no slides here (go to the Hyatt for slides), but there is a popular Kid’s Club called “Camp Oasis” for all ages, & their big-screen “Dive-In” movies are a major hit. Kids Will Love: Free bike rentals + amazing outdoor pool & beach + DIY-Juice Bar at Cava Restaurant. Check prices here.
- Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa ($$$) = Water Slide Heaven with SEVEN Pools!! Staying here is almost like staying at a Water Park: with dueling water slides & a wide variety of kid-friendly pools make this a phenomenal family-vacation spot. There’s also “Camp Hyatt” Kid’s Club, a game room, basketball, Foosball, croquet, & bike rentals. Kids Will Love: The massive water slides + endless amount of pools to explore.
Some of the SEVEN pools at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells. Photo: Hyatt.
Take a trip on the Hyatt’s Lazy River. Photo: Palm Springs Life.
Best Hotels for Families in Palm Springs
That’s a wrap on my favorite hotels for families in the desert. If you’re looking to get out & about to places like the Aerial Tram, check out Viator’s top tours for Palm Springs…
xoxo Noelia
Read Next: Best Bike Trails in Palm Springs
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I’m organizing a trip for several moms + kids to Palm Springs later this month, and I’m wondering which of these resorts do you think best balances fun for kids AND fun for us moms too? Thanks, Abby
Hi Abby, thanks for your comment. I’d probably go with one of the Indian Wells resorts, with the Renaissance slightly edging out the Hyatt. You’ve got fun dining for adults here, plus you’re close to the Nest & the Sands Hotel ~ which has the AMAZING Pink Cabana restaurant. With the kids in camp, you ladies could pop over for a lovely lunch, or simply stay on property and enjoy some spa time, tennis, etc. Hope that helps!