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Boutique hotels in Palm Springs

Holidays in Palm Springs, United States

Palm Springs Overview

United States

Desertscape
Desert Modernism
Desert life
Back to the future

Surrounded by the stark beauty of the desert and the snow-capped peak of San Jacinto, the lush green golf courses and tree-lined boulevards of Palm Springs make it the perfect urban oasis.

The city’s endless supply of sunshine made it a winter playground for the rich and famous in the Fifties, when life was lived with a putter in one hand and a martini in the other; the exploits of its former Rat Pack residents have passed into legend. Palm Springs’ world-apart atmosphere is accentuated by its fabulous collection of mid-century Modernist architecture – in the style’s '50s heyday, even the most humdrum building merited a futuristic fin or space-age spoiler, to help propel it still further into the future. In recent years (thanks largely to the efforts of former mayor Sonny Bono), the city has recaptured its swing – and not just on the golf course.

Perfectly Palm Springs

Palm Springs has been home to stars such as Liberace, Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra; the residents even demonstrated that noble Californian tradition of electing stars to public office and once had Sonny Bono as their mayor. So it seems appropriate to join Celebrity Tours (+1 760 770 2700) for a whirlwind rubbernecking look around the city – including the chance to eyeball some homes of the city’s famous residents, past and present.

Local knowledge

Taxis
From Palm Springs airport, order a cab from Airport Taxi (+1 760 321 4470) or Yellow Cab (+1 760 345 8398); your hotel can arrange taxis for you if you need a ride anywhere local.

Tipping culture
Tipping is always expected in restaurants; 20 per cent is not unusual, and it’s easy to calculate by doubling the amount of tax on your bill. You should tip a dollar for every drink at the bar, too. A few spare singles to dole out to bus-oys, bellhops and chambermaids is a good idea, too.

Packing tips
Don’t forget to pack your golf clubs; it’s a very serious matter in this town and the courses here come with some of the most beautiful backdrops in the world.

Recommended reads
Palm Springs Modern: Houses in the California Desert by Adele Cygelman; Rat Pack Confidential by Shawn Levy.

Cuisine
The dining options in Palm Springs are as diverse as anything you’d find in Los Angeles – you can have anything, from sushi to steaks. There is a strong Mexican influence here, so it’s worth sampling the enchiladas and tortillas. Local wines are produced in the Temecula valley, about an hour southwest of the city, and are certainly worth a try (www.temeculawines.org). California has some great wine-producing regions, including Sonoma and Napa Valley.

Currency
US dollar.

Dialling codes
Country code for the United States: 1. Palm Springs: 760.

Do go/don't go
Palm Springs has sunshine and balmy temperatures year-round, which is what makes it such a popular winter destination; the population almost doubles during these months. If anything, summer temperatures are too hot, with temperatures way above one hundred degrees.