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, often going the “back way” ~ & 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, & entirely 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 elsewhere. Here are the “Best Hotels for Families in Palm Springs!”
The pool scene & water park at the Hyatt Regency in Indian Wells is MAJOR kid-friendly….but with some “adult” pools sprinkled in.
Overview of Great Family Hotels in Palm Springs
Best Family Hotels in Rancho Mirage & Palm Desert
- JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa ($186+/night) = MASSIVE Hotel with Multiple Pools + Kid’s Club: This was another hotel we went to a LOT as kids: we even ice-blocked on their golf course at night! Kids under 15 golf for free here, & there are two 18-hole courses…or take your pick of 3 pools ~ one just for kids. There’s also badminton, basketball, bocce ball, Frisbee, horseshoes, soccer, or volleyball available (& included in your Resort Fee)…so LOTS to do here!! Kids Will Love: The wide variety of activities offered + 12,000-ft arcade & game room.
- Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa ($234+/night) = Water Park with Slides + a Lazy River = KID HEAVEN: We used to come here a lot as kids ~ & it was one of our favorite spots. In terms of pools: it doesn’t get much better than this. 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 & cool rocky-cliff setting is magic for children.
Best Family Hotels in Indian Wells
- Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa ($203+/night) = HUGE Outdoor Pool with Sandy Beach + Close to El Paseo & Living Desert: This is one of the prettiest pools in the desert: & its sandy beach is a great spot for toddlers to wade into the water without fear. There are no pool slides here (go to their neighbor the Hyatt for that), but there is a very popular Kid’s Club called “Camp Oasis” that’s a hit with all ages, & their big-screen “Dive-In” movies are another major hit. Kids Will Love: Free bike rentals + amazing outdoor pool & beach + DIY-Juice Bar at Cava Restaurant.
- Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa ($235+/night) = Water Slide Heaven with SEVEN Pools!! Staying here is almost like staying right at a Water Park: dueling water slides & a variety of pools that cater to kids make this a phenomenal family-vacation spot. There’s also “Camp Hyatt” Kid’s Club, a game room, plenty of outdoor activities offered ~ such as basketball, Foosball, & croquet….+ bike rentals. Kids Will Love: The massive water slides + endless amount of pools to explore.
This aerial shot gives you a good idea of how much there is to explore at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells. Photo by Hyatt.
Best Family Hotels in Palm Springs
- Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel ($135+/night) = Affordable Hotel within Walking Distance of Downtown Palm Springs: This isn’t the most luxurious hotel in town ~ but it’s location is AMAZING…just over 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).
- Caliente Tropics Hotel ($74+/night) = Mid-Century Tiki Chic on a Budget: This is another affordable choice ~ leaving you more money for Aerial Tram rides & entrance fees to popular water park Wet n’ Wild. 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 their huge grassy area that flanks the pool. Kids Will Love: The tiki-theme + warm outdoor pool.
Caliente Tropics has a lush, tropical-tiki feel ~ & with rooms around $100/night, this is a fantastic *chic* budget option. Photo by Caliente Tropics.
Best Family Hotels in Palm Desert & Rancho Mirage
1. JW Marriott Desert Springs ($186+/night), in Palm Desert
This is the hotel we ALWAYS looked forward to visiting when we were kids! From the flamingos to the huge pool, to taking their “gondolas” around the lake & over to delicious Mikado’s restaurant: there’s SO much for kids to “oooohhh” & “AHHH” over here! And the JW’s two championship 18-hole golf courses (kids under 15 play for free) & world-class spa will keep adults happy. Kid’s activities including soccer, volleyball, Frisbee, & basketball ~ plus a Kid’s Club, so you definitely get your money’s worth from the Resort Fee here.
Check prices at the JW Marriott Desert Springs here.
The JW Marriott is a huge hotel with a massive pool area overlooking their golf course ~ a GREAT place for families.
A 12,000-ft arcade is just one of the many things that sets the JW Marriott apart as an amazing kid-friendly desert resort.
2. Omni Rancho Las Palmas ($234+/night), in Rancho Mirage
My childhood memories include a lot of nostalgia for this hotel, which is now called the Omni Rancho Las Palmas. It’s quite possibly the best pool for kids in the desert, with its meandering “lazy river” AND 100-foot water slides! What more could a kid ask for??! There’s also a sandy beach here, a cliff-side hot tub, & an adult’s-only pool called the Azure Pool.
But my guess is: even adults will enjoy the lazy river here….not just the kids : )
The Omni in Rancho Mirage is famous for its “Splashtopia” pool & kid-friendly paradise….lazy river included!
Best Hotels for Families in Indian Wells
1. Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa ($203+/night)
Indian Wells offers two of the best family hotels in the desert: one of which is the massive Renaissance Esmeralda Resort. Their outdoor pool features a sandy beach, making it a great spot for younger kids in particular, as they can safely wade in & out of the pool without a scary drop-off. For adults seeking more quiet, their spa also features a calm indoor pool, where you can escape the crowds. Kids will love their “Camp Oasis” where they can play games & meet new friends, & their big-screen outdoor “Dive-In” movies are a major HIT.
Check prices at the Renaissance Esmeralda here.
Not only do you have beautiful mountain views the Renaissance Esmeralda pool area ~ you’re also just a few miles away from popular El Paseo & the Living Desert Animal Park.
The sandy beach is amazing for young kids. Photo by Locale Magazine.
Lounge on your balcony at the Renaissance & enjoy pool & mountain views…
2. Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa ($209+/night)
There are SEVEN pools at the Hyatt Regency in Indian Wells. Yes, seven. And these aren’t just any old pools: your kids can hop on dueling water slides & race each other to the bottom…or while away the day in their Lazy River. This is more “Water Park” than regular pool area (although they do offer quieter *adult* pools too). There’s also a spa, golf course, three restaurants, lounge, & pool bar here to wet your appetite. All rooms have balconies ~ upgraded ones offer mountain views & separate living areas.
For a true upgrade, ask about their villas: which feature butler service, courtyards & gardens, hot tubs, & fire pits.
Take a trip on the Hyatt’s “Lazy River…” Photo by Palm Springs Life.
If this view appeals to you: this is one of their Mountain View Villas. Photo by Hyatt.
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
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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!