Luxury holidays in Indian Wells

Nestled amid the rocky Santa Rosa Mountains in the Coachella Valley, Indian Wells teams polished country-club manners with dramatic desert looks. Once a stop on California's Gold Rush trail, it was in the boom of the 1950s that Indian Wells really took shape. Sprawling country clubs, palm-lined boulevards and low-slung Mid-Century Modern homes sprang up where there was once little more than desert scrub, giving the city a resort-like atmosphere that went down well with the rich and famous. Like its neighbour Palm Springs, Indian Wells is the kind of place that Hollywood moguls and former presidents come to spend a little downtime, lounging on clipped lawns that soak in the sun almost every day of the year.
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When to go

Winter is the most popular time to visit, when temperatures hover around the mid-20s. Summer is best avoided unless you like sweltering heat.

Getting there

  • Planes

    Most international jet setters fly into Los Angeles, then make the two-and-a-half hour drive to Indian Wells. The other option is to fly into Palm Springs, which can be reached directly from LA, San Francisco and New York JFK. It takes about half an hour to drive from the airport to Indian Wells. The Smith24 team can arrange your flights and transfers; call anytime.

  • Automobiles

    Unless you’re planning on sticking to the center of town, having your own set of wheels will come in handy, as the distances between nearby towns and cities make driving essential (and the heat makes walking uncomfortable).