The 14 best family-friendly hotels in Palm Springs

The fun of the Tommy Bahama brand is infused into every inch of the décor of Miramonte Resort & Spa. Citrus groves and olive trees surround the beautiful grounds of this newly opened resort, and an expansive, renovated spa has a myriad of desert-themed treatments for you to indulge in. The Chika Palm pool has luxurious cabanas for you to rent for you and the family, along with a poolside bar that offers a variety of snacks and cocktails. Two bocce ball courts will keep the kids entertained, and their signature restaurant, Grapefruit Basil, will satisfy everyone’s appetite.

The mood? New, fresh, and just a touch of trendy.

Location perks? It’s surrounded by other resorts, so you’ll experience plenty of quiet tranquility, but if you need any amenities, a small shopping center with a grocery store and fast food options is nearby.

Budget range? Mid, but beware of holiday or special event weekends.

The resort is so big, everything from golfing and spa-going for the adults, to a waterpark and newly opened gaming cabana with arcade games for kids, is available. There’s a signature restaurant, casual café, sports bar and poolside eateries that leaving the resort won’t entirely be necessary unless you’d like to explore. If so, a shopping center across the street from the resort offers casual dining options, downtown Palm Springs is only short 20-minute drive away, and plenty of attractions for the kids, like the zoo, observatory and more, are easily accessible.

The mood? Both adult and family-friendly, quiet in the evenings and busy with any number of events during the day.

Location perks? Across the street from a shopping center and several restaurants, a short drive from the freeway and fine dining destinations. 

Budget range? Pricey, but can be manageable depending on the time of year.

The Westin Rancho Mirage is one of the most family-friendly resorts in the desert. Parents and children alike will find amenities as diverse as a giant swimming pool with water slides, an arcade, special activities and excursions. An adult-only swimming pool with its own bar offers cocktails and snacks poolside. A 24-hour gym features Peloton bikes, a world-class golf course and tennis courts are available for enthusiasts, and adults can catch some quiet time at the wellness spas, where everything from massages to facials and body scrubs are available with reservations. Oh, and your furry friend is always welcome.

The mood? One of the most family-friendly resorts in the area. No crazy parties, just PG-rated fun.

Location perks? Plenty of supermarkets are nearby, in case you’re looking for in-room snacks, the area is a serene respite and you’ll rarely, if ever, experience a traffic jam.

Budget range? Medium to high, it’s much more reasonable than those downtown Palm Springs resorts, but plan accordingly.

Before we begin: these villas are in Palm Desert, not Palm Springs itself. However, they’re only a short drive to downtown Palm Springs and they’re an excellent choice for a family trip in their own right, which is why we’ve included them here. Decked out in happiness-inspiring bright colours, the rooms have useful kitchenettes for early bird brekkies to midnight snacks (and everything in between). Entertainment-wise, there’s an outdoor pool, bicycle rental, tennis and basketball courts and a ‘teen den’ area with video games and crafts. Looking for a day trip? The Southern California Zoo is just five miles away.

Mood? A bright and buzzy atmosphere.
Location perks? Knott’s Soak City Water Park is a twenty-minute drive from the villas.
Budget range? Pleasingly affordable prices for a family of four.

The Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa is another just-out-of-town option that we included because it ranks so highly as a family-friendly choice. Located in Indian Wells (famous for the tennis tournament), this four-star resort has four superb swimming pools with water slides, plunge pools and shallow ends for little ones. Keep everyone amused with bikes-to-hire, table tennis (or actual tennis), golf games and regular water park sessions. They also offer kids’ outdoor play equipment and a selection of board games and puzzles. And for the adults? Sauna time and massages in the spa beckon.  

Mood? A proper ‘family’ holiday for the kind of kid who loves a water slide (or two).
Location perks? Just three miles from the Living Desert Zoo Gardens. Definitely worth a visit!
Budget range? Can get pricy, but it’s a really top-notch family choice.

Sometimes what makes a hotel perfect for a family isn’t the flashiest array of facilities or the longest list of activities for under-fives. Sometimes, it’s just more about an attitude, an energy and a décor scheme that doesn’t constantly leave you on edge every time your child reaches for a snack/colouring pens/juice. Enter The Saguaro: this is a hotel that does things in bold, bright colours, has a great pool, ample outdoor space and a super fun Mexican street food restaurant. Need we say more? It’s a really great choice, this one.

The mood? Fun – for all the family.

Location perks? Get some greenery in your life with a trip to the Mooren Botanical Garden nearby.

Budget range? In the middle.

If you want a family-friendly hotel that’s also super luxe and exciting for adults, consider the Ritz-Carlton at Rancho Mirage. Surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, the hotel boasts two lovely pools, one of which is for all-ages, the other adults-only. There’s also a kids’ club and a games room, as well as activities like horse riding, cycling and hiking. There’s a family-friendly bar/kitchen and a steak restaurant with kids’ meals on the menu. We think this place would really tick the boxes for a holiday with young-ish teens (13-15 years), providing the right mix of independent time and good ol’ wholesome fun.

Mood? Beautiful and sophisticated, but still welcoming to families.
Location perks? Gorgeous scenery provided curtesy of the Santa Rosa Mountain Range.
Budget range? Prices to match a five-star establishment.

‘Margaritaville’ might not sound like somewhere suitable for the under-21s but this unpretentious and fun resort has plenty to offer vacationing families. The generously-sized rooms and suites come with refrigerators and coffee machines (always necessary when travelling with children). They’re also pet-friendly if you also need to bring Wolfie. The Come Monday Café is happy to welcome families for an American-style breakfast, with kids meals also available. Both outdoor heated pools have shallow ends and are open to all ages throughout the day, plus you can get board games and puzzles for those moments when you’re all out of ideas for what to do next. In terms of ‘me-time’, there’s a wonderful spa specialising in Balinese, Thai and Indonesian beauty and relaxation rituals.

Mood? Upbeat fun particularly suitable for families with kids pre-teen and above.
Location perks? Book a hiking or jeep tour of and set off from just around the corner of the hotel.
Budget range? Good prices for a four-star resort.

OK, so the rooms might be just a little too beautiful and white to make you truly consider taking the super-young here, but the Ace Hotel and Swim Club has plenty to recommend it as a family hotel (we think image-conscious teenage girls might particularly like this one). There are two excellent, outdoor swimming pools, with pool toys and sun loungers available, along with a nice garden area and an outdoor fireplace. Kids meals are available, there are fences around the pool and cots are available for free (additional kids best come with a modest extra cost). And when you get a moment to yourself, you can head to the spa.

The mood? All about the pool.

Location perks? If you’re looking to visit a park or a museum, well then you’re in luck with this location.

Budget range? Edging upwards but still a pretty solid price.

The Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel is one of the only hotels in the area to have its own dedicated kids pool, complete with fun swimming pool toys. It’s thoughtfulness towards younger guests also extends to two family-friendly restaurants offering American and international cuisine, and a kids’ buffet. There’s opportunities for bowling and playing tennis, although both activities happen off-site. But maybe while your other half is supervising that, you could go check out the on-site spa for a treatment or two, no?

Mood? It’s all about the pool.
Location perks? A family-friendly hotel that is also in the heart of Downtown.
Budget range? You might be in for a pleasant surprise…