|
Valley hotels, motels and more offer a variety of prices, amenities and services, whether you want to spend
$29 or $290 a night.
Dr. Welwood Murray built the Coachella Valley's first hotel in what is now downtown Palm Springs in the late
1880s, offering a genteel refuge to guests willing to make the long trek eastward from Los Angeles through the desert.
More than a century later, the valley boast more than 150 hotels with a total of more than 14,000 rooms,
ranging from tiny eight-room establishments to giant destination resorts that have their own golf courses. From the Travelodges to the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage, there's probably something to suit every
taste and every budget -- and almost every inn features a pool and sun deck.
Looking for something a little out of the ordinary? Travellers seeking hot mineral water can stay at the Spa
Hotel in Palm Springs or almost any of the motels 'up the hill' in Desert Hot Springs. There also are a number of clothing-optional resorts and resorts catering to gays and lesbians.
As with most seasonal tourist destinations, room rates vary during the year. Rates are generally highest from
January to May -- the peak of the tourist season -- and lowest during July, August and September, the hottest summer months. The average rate for a room in Palm Springs is about $80 a night. All cities
levy a bed tax of 10 to 11 percent, most of which goes to defray the costs of promoting the region and providing visitor-related services.
It might have taken a weekend or a week, but you've fallen in love with the Coachella Valley. Now you want to
spend more time here, but don't want to buy a second home.
You're in luck. More than 30,000 of the valley's 143,000 housing units are seasonal rentals -- furnished and
unfurnished apartments, condos and homes.
Find one that meets your needs and your budget using our search engine below.
Trout ponds and the Salton Sea. Miniature golf courses and the PGA West Stadium Course. Rolling desert
foothills and the often snow-capped peak of Mt. San Jacinto.
The Coachella Valley stretches from sandy plains below sea level to alpine forests more than 10,000 feet high,
from windswept dunes to some of Southern California's best farmland. The landscape of attractions is just as varied: Museums, art galleries, desert preserves, parks, miniature golf and rock climbing --
either among the famous rocks of Joshua Tree National Monument or at a rare outdoor climbing center.
And whether you're a tourist or a full-time resident, the valley also is a great base of operations for
visiting the rest of Southern California. You'll find plenty of great attractions outside the valley listed here, along with the length of time it will take you to drive there.
|
