Palm Springs is a hip oasis for gay travelers with signature LGBTQ events like Pride in November and Dinah Shore in September, a five-day lesbian music festival. But don’t fret if you can’t make it to any of those events. Palm Springs is still a fun town for gay travelers on any given day. Go hiking in the desert, visit the farmer’s market, check out the latest restaurant openings, or party in the gay bars and clubs along the buzzing E. Arenas Road.
Ready to come and play in Palm Springs for your next Gaycation? Here's a list of some fabulous Palm Springs gay resorts.
Travel Tip: Summer and mid-week travel offers the best room rate values.
Uptown Palm Springs Gay Resorts
Descanso Resort
Descanso Resort is a new, fully remodeled property with 16 well-appointed rooms and suites on two levels. The vibe here is comfortable and non-fussy. The style combines midcentury modern with more current luxury touches. Amenities include a large swimming pool, heated outdoor spa, fire pit, an outdoor shower, bikes, a relaxing guest lounge, and other well-appointed common areas. Enjoy the cantina with its complimentary snacks and beverages. Or the “Stay and Splash” poolside lunches and Weekend ‘Wine O’Clock’ Happy Hour, which are complimentary. And for those fun-loving eco-gays, the resort also has electric vehicle chargers on the property.
Descanso is the sister property of Santiago Resort, another popular Palm Springs vacation getaway for men in South Palm Springs.
Canyon Club Hotel
This clothing optional gay men's resort includes 32 rooms, eight with private patios and eight with full kitchens. Although located in the Uptown Design district with access to many shops and dining options, downtown is a short walk. Amenities include a steam room and a dry sauna. The resort offers excellent sunset views of the San Jacinto mountains. The vibe is a free-spirited atmosphere where gay men can let loose and be themselves.
Warm Sands Gay Resorts
Desert Paradise Resort
This is a fun 12-room boutique clothing-optional resort situated in the historic Warm Sands neighborhood and within walking distance of an array of spirited gay bars and upscale restaurants. With gay culture in mind, the owners designed the resort suites to pay homage to popular gay icons like Judy Garland, Bette Midler, and Madonna, just to name a few. Each room has a painting of its namesake hanging on the wall, a California King bed, and a large shower. They cater to guests who prefer a more laid-back, relaxed environment. They make it easy for you to meet other guests if you so choose.
Once you check in, take a walk around the property — an exotic, tropical oasis with 19 fountains and two koi and turtle ponds. Then, take a dip in the heated pool or Jacuzzi near the fireplace.
Vista Grande Resort
This Palm Springs gay men's resort in the Warm Sands neighborhood is one of the first gay clothing-optional resorts in Palm Springs. It boasts 28 guest rooms, including studios with kitchenettes, one and two-bedroom apartments, and a 2-bedroom with fireplace and kitchen. The property includes two pools and a sizeable 18-man jacuzzi. For discerning gay travelers, their secret garden sanctuary is a place to celebrate life, love, and personal freedom every day. Continental breakfast is included.
El Mirasol Villas
Relax at this Spanish-style Palm Springs gay men's resort in the Warm Sands neighborhood. All 15 rooms have King beds, some with kitchens and private patios. There are also one and 2-bedroom suites with separate living rooms. Enjoy the warm sunshine and views from the clothing-optional pools. The gardens are charmed with the sounds of the fountains to relax and create a sense of peace. A complimentary expanded continental breakfast is served daily in their comfortable Lanai, and refreshments are available all day. Amenities also include a 10-person hot tub and steam room.
INNdulge Palm Springs
This popular and well-known Palm Springs gay men's resort is in the heart of Warm Sands, where clothing is forever optional. Rated Excellent (5 stars) by TripAdvisor several years running, INNdulge features recently remodeled rooms and suites surrounding a 24-hour heated saltwater pool and a 12-man Jacuzzi. It includes a complimentary breakfast and nightly BYOB social hour to relax and mingle with other guests. For extended stays, the resort also offers an on-site guest laundry.
Hacienda at Warm Sands
The Hacienda at Warm Sands received LUXlife Magazine's award for the Best LGBTQ resort hotel in North America. They may be small, with nine suites, but they are large in amenities and service. Their hospitality is intended to calm, relax, renew, indulge, and, most importantly, unobtrusively pamper you – all. Select from a pillow menu with six unique selections. Services include a personal assistant concierge who can stock pre-ordered items for pre-arrival. All rooms come with an expanded continental breakfast and artisan-inspired lunch.
This Palm Springs gay resort features extensive grounds with lush foliage and Southwestern plantings, 10,000 feet of Saltillo-tiled patios and walkways highlighted by a Japanese water feature and a large multi-tiered gurgling fountain, two large swimming pools, a jetted in-ground spa, and an adjacent fireplace.
South Palm Springs Gay Resorts
Triangle Inn
The Triangle Inn is a historic property. It was the first commercial property built by Hugh Kaptur, one of Palm Springs’ more notable mid-century modern architects. He built it in 1958 as the Impala Lodge.
The resort has eight rooms, most equipped with a full kitchen and dining room. One is a two-bedroom suite for larger groups who want to be together under one roof. A generous breakfast is served poolside each morning, and afternoon mixers provide the perfect setting for meeting fellow guests and making new friends.
Santiago Resort
Santiago boasts 23 rooms total in three types: king room, king suite, and deluxe suite. You will be treated to excellent services delivered by an extraordinary staff. The resort features a fabulous set of property amenities like a large heated swimming pool, an outdoor heated spa, and a mist cooling system. There is an on-site electric vehicle charger, and Townie bicycles are available to explore the neighborhoods. A complimentary breakfast is included along with their "Stay n Splash" poolside lunch featuring sandwiches, salads and wraps. The Cantina is always open for complimentary refreshments.
Trixie Motel
You may have seen the new show, Trixie Motel, on the Discovery+ channel. She and her partner David purchased the Coral Sands Inn located in the Uptown Design District just behind the popular 1501 Uptown Gastropub. It was built in 1953 and retains all of its original charm. They have transformed it into the seven-room, one-of-a-kind bubblegum pink Trixie Motel. She has expanded her business empire right here in Palm Springs and shared the experience of transforming the property into her brand on Discovery+.
Room themes include Queen of Hearts, which boasts a heart-shaped bed. The Yeehaw Cowgirl suite comes with a custom-made velvet horseshoe bed and a pink, brown, and blue cow print accent wall. Other themes include Malibu Barbara, Flower Power, Plink Flamingo, and Atomic Bombshell.
LGBTQ Friendly Stays
Sometimes, we are asked for a list of LGBTQ-friendly hotels. You are traveling with a family, have kids, or are just getting away with a group of friends. We are here to confirm that all the hotels and resorts in Palm Springs are LGBTQ-friendly! In fact, the Human Rights Campaign releases its Municipal Equality Index every year, ranking all the policies localities have put together and their positions for LGBT people. Palm Springs has a perfect score – going as far as protecting transgender and gender-nonconforming residents with gender-neutral restrooms. Come as you are and feel safe wherever you choose to stay, play, or dine.
Whether you're looking for a party or a place to unwind and relax, a Palm Springs resort is perfect for you. So come and discover why this sunny village is such a popular destination for gay travelers from all over the globe.