Secret: Summer in Palm Springs offers the Best Values

Palm Springs Summer Deals – From Pool Parties to Nightlife – We’ve Got You Covered!  

By Barbara Beckley

It’s true! The best getaway values on everything are in Summertime Hip Palm Springs. When the temperatures rise, the prices plummet – and enjoyment soars!

From happening hotels and romantic inns, cocktails and parties by the pool, café society restaurants, luxurious spas, talked-about attractions, and sizzling nightlife – summer is a great time to visit Palm Springs, especially if you’re on a budget.

Summer Accommodation Deals – Pennies on the Dollar

While summer is a high season for many cities in the U.S. coming out of their cold or rainy season, summer is the slow season for Palm Springs. That also means summer offers the lowest room rates of the year—even lower if you can get away Sunday to Thursday, as weekends can still be quite busy. And lower still if you vacay with friends and family since most rates are for the room, so sharing reduces your cost even more.

Budget Price – Under $100

Let’s start with finding Palm Springs summer deals on a budget. Sonder manages two properties in Palm Springs, Sonder The Cole on North Palm Canyon and  Sonder V Palm Springs in the south. You can expect room rates below $100 for these properties in the summer. Palm Mountain Resort can go for over $300 a night on any weekend in April, with a Sunday – Thursday stay in the summer; enjoy a great rate and stay right downtown in the heart of the city. Everything is walkable. Other properties generally under $100 per night include The Infusion, Caliente Tropics, and 7 Springs Inn & Suites.

Medium Range – $100 – $200

Enjoy Palm Springs summer deals at one of our many hip, cute, and cozy resorts. The iconic midcentury Orbit In will take you back in time yet offer modern amenities. The popular Ace Hotel & Swim Club is an oasis of comfort with room to move. The property includes two pools, a refined roadside diner, and a relaxed hideaway desert bar. Margaritaville combines a midcentury aesthetic with a casual-luxe island feel. This large full-service resort, built in 1958 and modeled after Las Vegas hotels, is family-friendly. Other resorts unique to Palm Springs include Les Cactus in the Warm Sands neighborhood, The Twist, the adults-only Fleur Noire Hotel, and the 11-room Dive Palm Springs inspired by the French Riviera of the 1960s.

Premium Palm Springs Summer Deals – $200+

If you want to go big, take advantage of the summer rates and experience what usually might be out of your price range. Perhaps the lux Parker Palm Springs. Or a high-rise room with a view of the Kimpton Rowan Hotel. Villa Royale has been a fixture since 1947 and is an endlessly hip, eclectic mix of old California architecture with updated, stylish vintage furnishings. The romantic and historic Casa Cody is the oldest operating resort in Palm Springs and continues to offer its original charm but with new modern amenities. Close by is Holiday House Palm Springs, which was named one of Travel + Leisure’s Top 500 Hotels in 2022.

Redeem Those Reward Points

Don’t forget Palm Springs’ more prominent brands, like the Hilton, Renaissance, and Best Western, are tucked around the city with their offers and reward programs.

Summer = Less Crowds

Fewer people means fewer lines and easier access to top attractions. Forget timed entry. Arrive when you please and take all the time you want to enjoy Palm Springs’ world-class attractions.

For the art lovers, the Palm Springs Art Museum is one of SoCal’s finest, housing a vast collection of top 19th, 20th, and 21st century works. Dale Chihully, Andy Warhol, Henry Moore. Contemporary California, classic Western, Native American, Mesoamerican, Mexican, European modern art, and Palm Springs’ claim to fame – American mid-twentieth century architecture.

Tip: On Thursday nights, admission is free year-round, from 5 – 7 p.m.

The Palm Springs Air Museum is home to one of the world’s largest collections of static and flyable warbirds from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and superstar planes, including the two newest: Walt Disney’s private plane, the 1960s Grumman Gulfstream known as “The Mouse.” And the stealth fighter Lockheed Martin F-11 A Night Hawk “Black Devil.” See them all up close and personal. Climb inside some. Experience a flight simulator. Shop for cool aviation souvenirs. Best of all – book a personal flight in one of these legends and experience the thrill firsthand!

The Livin’ is Easy – Dining

Summer is ideal for dining out in Palm Springs. Schedule meals when you prefer and be seated when you arrive – a little waiting. Use the summer to explore Palm Springs’ diverse and unique culinary scene of independent and chef-owned establishments. Enjoy your favorite cuisine and experience new flavors.

Special Menus

Some restaurants introduce special prix-fixe menus with discounted prices. It’s always a good idea to check with the restaurant directly or visit their website for the most up-to-date information. Kaiser Grille offers a Sunset Dinner from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. LuLu California Bistro has an early bird special menu from 3 to 5 pm. Close by on Palm Canyon is Zin American Bistro, which offers an early dining 3-course menu from 3 to 4:30 pm.

Fewer Lines at Popular Eateries

Reservations at these restaurants can be tricky, but summer is a great time to sneak in and enjoy. Bar Cecil is one of those that’s been sold out since it opened (pronounced sessel). It is a homage to Cecil Beaton, a Renaissance man who was an equal part rebel and aristocrat.

Farm in La Plaza is an enchanting dining experience that feels like the South of France with its garden-like patio. Paul Bar is a hidden gem. Don’t be afraid of what you see from the outside; you’ll be completely transported to another place when you enter. Spencer’s at the famous tennis club can also be tough to get in on short notice, and we recommend reservations. It’s soaked in quintessential Palm Springs style.

They Don’t Take Reservations

Now, you can avoid those long wait times. Cheeky’s is very popular, and there always seems to be a line for breakfast. Sherman’s Deli is an old-school kosher-style deli that is one of the eating highlights of Palm Springs. They make their corned beef in-house. Bring your appetite! Rick’s Restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and is very popular with locals. Billy Reed’s is another Palm Springs institution that opened in 1975. The décor is distinctively antique, with lots of oak and stained glass. Great for families are larger groups.

Happy Hour!

Happy Hour is a great time to enjoy Palm Springs summer deals on sipping and snacking. From the pool to Happy Hour, it’s Palm Springs’ logical progression. Sip your favorite beverage (and stay within budget) at fun, friendly restaurants and bars all over town.

Happy hour is all day long at Pinocchio in the Desert bistro. Beer and wine with a party vibe are available at The Village pub sports bar from 3 to 9 pm nightly! Sip over-sized happy hour cocktails at The Tropicale Palm Springs, Oscar’s Downtown Palm Springs, and Boozehounds, “where dogs bring their humans.”

Happy Hour margaritas, perhaps at the Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar on downtown’s most see-and-be-seen corner. Insider-favorite happy hour at Shanghai Reds Bar & Grill, to name just a few!

Palm Springs Happy Hour Guide

Cool Off with a Trip up the Tram

Ride the famous Palm Springs Aerial Tramway —in the world’s largest rotating tram car – for 2.5 miles along the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon into the Alpine wilderness of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. At other times of the year, the wait times can be very long and often sell out. Summer is a great time to head up high to sweeping valley views from 8,516 feet above the desert floor and relax in the crisp mountain air. Plus, you’ll enjoy cooler weather that can be 30 to 40 degrees cooler than the desert heat. Hike along over 50 miles of forested trails, ranger-guided or on your own. Sip cocktails and enjoy a meal with a spectacular view at the lounge and two restaurants. Visit the Natural History Museum, gift shop, and two documentary theatres.

Pool Culture

It’s Palm Springs way of life. Ever since the first movie starlet dipped a perfectly manicured toe into the cool, blue water, Palm Springs has been the Pool Capital, with arguably more pools per capita than any other city! Summer is the perfect time to relax, rejuvenate, and socialize with a Palm Springs pool. Whatever your preference, there’s a pool for you.

The Saguaro Palm Springs is a colorful hotel boasting a vibrant, rainbow-colored pool perfect for Instagram-worthy photos. The pool area is surrounded by towering palm trees, desert flowers, and cabanas, where you can relax in the shade. It’s also the home of Splash House, a popular pool party and music festival in Palm Springs every summer. The event features multiple pools and stages spread across several hotels in the city, including the Renaissance, Margaritaville, and Saguaro Hotel.

The Colony Palms Hotel is a historic hotel featuring a gorgeous Moroccan-inspired pool complete with colorful tiles, lanterns, and towering palm trees. The pool’s intimate atmosphere and stylish décor make it a popular spot for romantic getaways and photo shoots (it is an adults-only property).

Plan Now! 

So, if you don’t mind a bit of heat, summer can be a great time to enjoy all that Palm Springs offers while saving some money. Don’t let your summer fun slip away. Begin planning your Palm Springs summer getaways now.

See Palm Springs Deals.

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