The best hotels to stay at for Coachella and Stagecoach

As if built for the yearly festivities in the Coachella Valley, this former Motel 6 is a bona fide party destination for hip young travelers heading to the desert. This well-trodden hideout has all the accoutrements, from a photo booth and retro macrame in the lobby to record players and vintage magazines in the rooms. There are also fancy robes and decked-out walking sticks for guests to use during their stay, which means that as the day goes on, more and more guests look like hippie cult members running around with hoods and canes. And it is a bit of a cult—the guests here are die-hard, looking to see and be seen by the pool, out on beach cruiser bikes or in the decent (but a little over-priced) restaurant, King’s Highway (which used to be a 24-hr Denny’s). The hotel offers $20 day passes ($30 on weekends) for pool use, which gives non-guests access to the scene (and the parties and live music that often grace the grounds, particularly during festival season). The Ace is almost so hip that it’s becoming a caricature of itself—if you’re down to party all night with trendy 20-somethings, this is your spot, but the more sophisticated (or relaxed) traveler might look elsewhere.

The Saguaro is way less cheesy than it looks. A bright, color-blocked facade and blue bedrooms with lime furniture and purple carpeting may sound like a design worst nightmare, but somehow this place pulls it off. Maybe because it’s so pleasant to be here. The hotel is massive, but the amenities are plentiful, the staff is friendly and the spa and pool are quite nice (though they do blare poolside music rather loud). The food is nothing to write home about, but it’s Palm Springs, so no one arrives expecting five-star fine dining anyway. If you’re here on the weekends, it may feel a little Jersey Shore-ish, with lots of bachelor/ette parties and booze-fueled bros, but the place is set up so you can mostly avoid anyone you don’t wish to lounge near.