Palm Springs has a way of getting under your skin. The mountains turn purple at dusk. The pool is always the right temperature. The cocktails arrive without you asking twice. And the mid-century architecture — all flat rooflines, glass walls, and atomic-age geometry — makes every Instagram shot look effortlessly cinematic. But with dozens of boutique hotels, historic resorts, and design-forward inns competing for your attention, knowing where to actually stay is the real challenge.
Enter Reddit. In threads across r/PalmSprings, r/travel, and r/solotravel, travelers who have genuinely spent their weekends here have built a remarkably consistent consensus on the best places to rest, relax, and soak up that desert sun. No sponsored content. No PR talking points. Just honest, hard-earned opinions. Here are the five hotels that Reddit keeps coming back to — again and again.
1. The Parker Palm Springs — The Full Desert Experience
If you want Palm Springs to fully absorb you — body, soul, and Instagram feed — The Parker Palm Springs is the hotel Reddit locals point to first. Designed by Jonathan Adler on a sprawling 13-acre property, The Parker is equal parts playful and luxurious, with a visual personality that feels distinct from anything else in the desert.
Redditors consistently rave about the nautical-themed Estrella Spa, the lemonade stand that materializes poolside like a mirage, and Mr. Parker's restaurant for dinner — a candlelit room that feels like dining inside a whimsical art installation. "The Parker is Palm Springs the way Palm Springs is supposed to feel," wrote one r/travel commenter. "It's not just a hotel — it's a whole vibe."
The property is sprawling enough that it feels like its own world, which is the point. The pools are exceptional, the croquet lawn is genuinely fun, and the design details reward the curious guest who looks closely at every corner. Best for guests who want a complete, immersive resort experience without leaving the property.
Reddit Verdict: "Worth every penny if you embrace the full experience." | Best For: Couples, design lovers, special occasions
2. Korakia Pensione — The Adults-Only Bohemian Retreat
Few hotels on the Palm Springs Reddit circuit generate more genuine enthusiasm than Korakia Pensione, a Mediterranean-inspired adults-only property tucked just steps from downtown. Originally built in 1924 as the studio and home of Scottish artist Gordon Coutts, the property sprawls across two adjacent villas with whitewashed walls, mosaic tilework, and a resident cat named for a film star.
What Redditors love most is the unmistakable personality — no two rooms are alike, each decorated with an eclectic mix of Moroccan lanterns, hand-painted furniture, and vintage textiles. The pools are stunningly beautiful, and the poolside drinks service has fans who return annually. "Korakia is the only hotel in Palm Springs where I felt like I was actually somewhere," wrote one repeat guest on r/PalmSprings. "It has soul."
The walkability to downtown restaurants and the Drag Race on Thursday nights is a practical bonus, and the adults-only policy keeps the vibe sophisticated and peaceful. Rooms book out fast for festival weekends — plan well ahead for Coachella, Stagecoach, or Modernism Week.
Reddit Verdict: "My favorite hotel in California, full stop." | Best For: Adults-only escapes, creative travelers, boutique hotel enthusiasts
3. Colony Palms Hotel — Old Hollywood Glamour Meets Desert Cool
Colony Palms Hotel earns its Reddit reputation through a combination of location, design, and one of the most breathtaking pool areas in the entire Coachella Valley. The 57-room property blends its original 1930s Spanish Colonial architecture with mid-century modern updates, creating an aesthetic that feels authentically Palm Springs rather than trend-chasing.
The 65-foot saltwater pool — framed by swaying palms and backdropped by the San Jacinto Mountains — is genuinely one of the most beautiful hotel pools in Southern California, and Reddit users know it. "The pool at Colony Palms should be on a postcard," wrote one r/travel user. "We spent two full days barely leaving it." The Purple Palm restaurant is a consistent favorite for both hotel guests and locals seeking a well-executed breakfast or lunch.
Colony Palms sits within easy walking distance of Palm Canyon Drive, making it ideal for guests who want property beauty combined with real downtown access — something not every Palm Springs hotel can claim. The service receives consistent praise for being warm and attentive without being intrusive.
Reddit Verdict: "The pool alone makes it worth it." | Best For: Style-conscious travelers, couples, anyone whose vacation plan is mostly poolside
4. The Ingleside Inn — Quiet Old-School Elegance
For travelers seeking a quieter, more intimate Palm Springs experience — the kind that feels like the 1960s celebrity hideaway this city once was — The Ingleside Inn has been the consistent Reddit recommendation for years. Originally built in the 1920s as a private estate, it has hosted everyone from Marlon Brando to Salvador Dalí, and the old-money glamour is still very much intact.
The property is small by resort standards — just 30 villa suites set around lush gardens and a serene pool — which creates an atmosphere that is private, unhurried, and genuinely removed from the weekend hustle. "The Ingleside is what Palm Springs felt like before everyone discovered Palm Springs," wrote one r/PalmSprings regular. "It's elegant without being stuffy."
Melvyn's Restaurant on-site has a devoted following among locals for its continental menu and piano bar, a throwback experience that Redditors describe as "charmingly anachronistic in the best possible way." The location is walkable to downtown without being in the middle of it — a meaningful distinction on busy Saturday nights.
Reddit Verdict: "Perfect for a quiet, grown-up Palm Springs weekend." | Best For: Couples, older travelers, anyone craving classic mid-century elegance without the party scene
5. Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs — The Social Hub
Every city needs a hotel that functions as a social scene, and in Palm Springs, that hotel is the Ace Hotel & Swim Club. Set in a beautifully restored 1960s motor lodge on the eastern edge of downtown, the Ace leans hard into its mid-century bones while layering on the kind of programmatic energy — live music, food trucks, pop-up market nights, DJ sets — that makes it feel like a destination within a destination.
The pool scene here is legendary, and Reddit users are unanimous: it's the best poolside social atmosphere in Palm Springs, full stop. On a sunny Friday afternoon, it hums with the kind of effortless, diverse crowd that the city does better than almost anywhere in California. The on-site King's Highway restaurant is consistently praised for its Southern-inspired comfort food, and the outdoor bar hosts regular events that draw both guests and locals.
"The Ace isn't the most luxurious hotel in Palm Springs, but it might be the most fun," summarized one r/travel commenter. Rooms are clean and well-designed but intentionally simple — because the real living happens outside. For solo travelers, groups of friends, or anyone who wants their hotel to double as a social venue, it's the clear Reddit choice.
Reddit Verdict: "The best pool scene in the desert. Full stop." | Best For: Solo travelers, friend groups, social butterflies, Coachella weekenders
Quick Comparison: Which Palm Springs Hotel Is Right for You?
| Hotel | Best Vibe | Downtown Walk? | Adults-Only? |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Parker | Immersive luxury resort | No | No |
| Korakia Pensione | Bohemian, intimate, soulful | Yes | Yes |
| Colony Palms | Old Hollywood poolside glamour | Yes | No |
| The Ingleside Inn | Quiet, classic, elegant | Yes | No |
| Ace Hotel | Social, lively, mid-century cool | Walking distance | No |
Palm Springs doesn't do mediocre hotels — even the most modest properties here have a story, a pool, and a strong sense of place. But the five above are the ones Reddit keeps returning to because they deliver something the algorithm can't manufacture: a genuine feeling that you're exactly where you're supposed to be, cocktail in hand, mountains glowing gold, with nothing more urgent than deciding whether to order another round.
Pro tip from Reddit: Always check shoulder season rates. Spring (March–May) and fall (October–November) offer dramatically cooler prices with perfect 80–90°F weather. Peak summer rates drop significantly too, though triple-digit heat is only for the boldest sun worshippers.