Everyone Leaves Palm Springs in Summer. That’s Exactly When You Should Check In.
Here’s what the internet won’t tell you: Palm Springs in summer is not the compromise. It’s an upgrade. Every June, the crowds pack up and go home. They leave behind wide-open pools, half-empty restaurants and an uncrowded quiet that money can’t buy in March. The rates drop. The streets clear. And this summer, Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels is making it even easier to take the plunge with their Summer Splash 2026 initiative, a collection of exclusive deals at some of the city’s most beloved boutique properties running now through Sept. 30.
The best Palm Springs summer hotels share three defining traits: most enforce adults-only policies (typically 21+), interiors rooted in mid-century or Mediterranean architecture and intimate scale. Most operate between 10 and 28 rooms, ensuring personalized service when off-season occupancy drops. They’re also deeply tied to the off-season rhythm because when the crowds leave, these places become something else entirely. Yours.
The Hotels: Your Home Base for the Day
1. Tangier Meets Tahquitz Canyon
No property in Palm Springs has more layers of story than Korakia Pensione. Scottish painter Gordon Coutts built the original Moroccan villa in 1924 as a recreation of his life in Tangier. Today, it’s a 1.5-acre adults-only compound of 28 villas, bungalows and historic homes, two heated saltwater pools and a Moroccan courtyard full of fountains and citrus trees. Plus, a guest bar that mixes a house cocktail called the Dar Marroc made with Moroccan fig spirit, pomegranate juice, rosewater, mint and lime.
At night, staff lights hundreds of candles and lanterns across the property. Classic films flicker on an outdoor screen. Tea service arrives in the afternoon. Breakfast is cooked fresh each morning under an olive tree. In summer, Korakia is currently offering up to 35% off standard rates. Book soon; availability is limited.
Korakia Pensione
257 S Patencio Rd
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.864.6411
2. Midcentury, Minimalist, Maximum Chill
Azure Sky Hotel started life in 1959 as an apartment complex in South Palm Springs. An extensive renovation transformed it into a 14-room, adults-only (21+) mid-century boutique hotel with one of the largest pools in the city. The 4,500-square-foot lagoon pool is surrounded by 40 chaise lounges, two fire pit areas and mountain views that do something meaningful to a sunset.
The rooms lean minimalist, the vibe leans quiet and the location puts you walking distance from Ace Hotel, Bar Cecil and a handful of the city’s best spots. Through Summer Splash 2026, Azure Sky is offering 15% off three or more nights when you book direct, plus an early check-in voucher valued at $50, based on availability. Exclusions apply.
Azure Sky Hotel
1661 S Calle Palo Fierro
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760.469.4498
3. Behind the Red Door
Built in 1951 by architect Herbert W. Burns, Desert Riviera Hotel is a mid-century modern time capsule tucked into Palm Springs’ Tahquitz River Estates neighborhood. Eleven rooms circle a garden courtyard bright with citrus colors. The space feels more like a friend’s backyard than a hotel, right down to the retro cruiser bikes propped by the red front door.
In summer, the year-round heated pool and whirlpool jacuzzi do most of the work, backed up by fire pits for when the desert cools off after dark. Continental breakfast, concierge service and airport transportation come standard, and general manager Misty Roland has built a loyal following of repeat guests who treat the place like a second home. As a Summer Splash 2026 participant, Desert Riviera is offering 15% off three or more nights when booked direct through Sept. 30, plus an early check-in voucher. Exclusions apply.
Desert Riviera Hotel
610 E Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760.327.5314
4. Pool First, Everything Else Second
The Skylark was originally constructed in 1955 and has since been restored to its mid-century character, 28 uniquely styled rooms in the heart of Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District. San Jacinto Mountain views run throughout the property, and the heated outdoor pool and hot tub are the center of gravity.
Complimentary continental breakfast is served daily, complimentary bicycles make the neighborhood easy to explore and the location puts you five miles from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Through Summer Splash 2026, The Skylark is offering two nights stay with the third night at 50% off through September 30. Use promo code SUMMER2026 at booking.
The Skylark
1466 N Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.322.2267
5. A Private Sanctuary in Warm Sands
The Hacienda at Warm Sands is an upscale gay men’s resort tucked into Palm Springs’ historic Warm Sands neighborhood, and it earns its reputation. Ten suites, a one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio and 180-degree unobstructed views of the San Jacinto Mountains set the tone. Lush tropical landscaping, a Japanese water feature, Saltillo-tiled patios, an outdoor fireplace, an in-ground spa and two large swimming pools fill the grounds. Breakfast and a catered lunch are included daily. Guests can even call ahead to request specific foods, beverages and amenities waiting in their room on arrival.
Through Summer Splash 2026, The Hacienda is offering savings of over 65% with their Entice Me combined free nights offer, valid through October 1. Full payment is due at booking and is non-refundable. Blackout dates and exclusions apply.
The Hacienda at Warm Sands
586 S Warm Sands Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760.327.8111
6. The French Riviera, Somewhere on East Palm Canyon
What started in 1954 as the Sunrise Villa and has since been reimagined as Dive Palm Springs, an adults-only (21+), 11-room boutique hotel channeling the spirit of the 1960s French Riviera. The rooms feature custom murals, premium linens, rainfall showers and private patios. The crown jewel is La Reve, with a Christian Lacroix ceiling mural and wallpaper. You can also expect a solid brass queen bed and a red-tiled bathroom with a rainfall shower and smoked glass two-way mirror. The restored Libott pool sits at the heart of it all, alongside a 12-person hot tub, cabanas and striped loungers.
Then there is The Orchard, a shaded hideaway with a two-person swing chair, waterfall and a vintage neon sign of a diving girl named Lulu. Through Summer Splash 2026, Dive is offering three deals. Enjoy 30% off your third night with a three-night minimum (promo code Summer30), and a food and beverage credit of $50 with a two-night stay or $100 with three nights (promo code SipSavor). Guests booking a two-night stay can also receive 30% off a 60-minute massage, plus complimentary access to the infrared sauna, cold plunge and jacuzzi with code Wellness30. All offers are valid through August 31 on direct new bookings only. Blackout dates may apply.
Dive Palm Springs
1586 E Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760.323.2231
8. Uptown Oasis, Right Next Door to Everything
Alcazar Palm Springs has been a fixture of the Uptown Design District since 2011, built on a property whose roots trace back to 1924. The 34-room Spanish Colonial Revival boutique hotel wraps around a saltwater pool with cooling misters, a garden courtyard and fire and water walls, all framed by mountain views. Rooms come with private patios, imported Italian linens and complimentary espresso, coffee and fresh pastries from Cheeky’s next door. Birba, one of Palm Springs’ most popular dinner spots, is steps away through a shared walkway. Loaner bikes make the neighborhood even easier to explore.
Through Summer Splash 2026, Alcazar is offering three deals: 20% off Friday and Saturday nights with a two-night consecutive booking in July and August (promo code WEEKEND); a free third night on Sunday through Thursday stays through August 31 (promo code 123); and 50% off your second night on Sunday through Thursday stays through August 31 (promo code WDB). All offers are subject to availability and are not valid on holidays or holiday weekends.
Alcazar Palm Springs
622 N Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.318.9850
Summer in Palm Springs Isn’t the Consolation. It’s the Point.
Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels’ Summer Splash 2026 is your invitation to experience the city the way insiders always have. Visit the full Summer Splash 2026 page for the complete list of participating hotels and their current deals. Book the summer dates. You’ll understand the rest when you get there.
Q&A
Q: Is Palm Springs worth visiting in summer?
A: Absolutely. Summer transforms Palm Springs into a quieter, more affordable destination with lower hotel rates and uncrowded pools. The heat is part of the appeal for those who know how to move through the day. Think early mornings, cool mountain air at the Aerial Tramway, midday wellness breaks and evening dining after sunset.
Q: What are the best adults-only hotels in Palm Springs?
A: Palm Springs has a remarkable concentration of adults-only boutique hotels. Among the Summer Splash 2026 participants, Korakia Pensione, Azure Sky and Desert Riviera all enforce adults-only (21+) policies and offer intimate, design-forward experiences ideal for couples or solo travelers. Drift Palm Springs welcomes all guests and is a great fit for those looking for a more flexible, suite-style stay in the heart of downtown.
Q: When do hotels in Palm Springs have lower rates?
A: Hotel rates in Palm Springs typically drop significantly from June through September, the summer off-season. Boutique hotels like Korakia Pensione offer up to 35% off during this window, making luxury stays that would otherwise feel extravagant genuinely accessible.
