Destination Guide | Palm Springs, CA

City Guide

Palm Springs

Palm Springs is a relaxed, design-forward destination known for boutique hotels, desert landscapes, and a slower pace, making it a natural fit for executive retreats, leadership gatherings, and smaller offsites. Located in the Coachella Valley, the area blends resort-style accommodations with golf, wellness, outdoor activities, and desert scenery.

While downtown Palm Springs is compact and easy to navigate, nearby areas like Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, and Indian Wells each offer a different resort and group experience.

Seasonal forecast

Spring

Warm temps, peak event season

Busy season so book early, especially for March and April, when there’s the BNP Paribas tennis tournament and music festivals.

Summer

Extremely hot temperatures

Less crowded, with better pricing and availability, but activities should be indoors.

Fall

Best window

Warm days, cooler evenings, lighter crowds

Great weather with more availability and better pricing than peak season.

Winter

Mild temps, peak resort season

Higher demand increases rates and limits availability around holidays and Modernism Week (February).

Transportation options

PSP (Palm Springs International Airport)

Small, easy-to-navigate airport located minutes from downtown Palm Springs.

ONT (Ontario International Airport)

A two-hour drive to arrive downtown.

LAX (Los Angeles International Airport)

Larger international option, about 2–3 hours away depending on traffic.

Rental cars

Highly recommended as the Coachella Valley is spread out across resort areas.

Rideshare & taxis

Widely available throughout Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, and Indian Wells.

Private shuttles

Common for corporate retreats and group airport transfers between resorts and event venues.

Walkability

Downtown Palm Springs is walkable, but you need transportation when traveling between resort communities across the valley.

Accommodations

4.5

Boutique hotel

Colony Palms Hotel

Colony Palms Hotel is a boutique property with a classic Palm Springs feel, mountain views, and a relaxed poolside setting. It’s a good fit for smaller groups that want a more private, design-led stay within easy reach of downtown.

4.4

Hotel

Renaissance Palm Springs

Located in Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District, The Thompson offers a polished, modern stay with walkable access to restaurants, shops, and activities close to the center of town.

4.6

Resort

The Ritz-Carlton

Rancho Mirage offers a more secluded luxury setting with mountain views, resort amenities, and extensive indoor and outdoor event space. It’s well suited for executive meetings and leadership retreats where privacy and experience matter.

Meeting spaces

TROOP PICK

4.5

Hotel

Thompson Palm Springs

Thompson by Hyatt, in downtown Palm Springs, offers flexible indoor and outdoor meeting spaces. On-site catering and staff can help elevate and manage the meeting experience.

4.7

Co-working space

Industrious Palm Desert

Located in Palm Desert, Industrious offers modern coworking space and private meeting rooms. The polished setup and quieter environment work especially well for focused discussions and leadership meetings.

4.5

Resort meeting space

La Quinta Resort & Club

About 30 minutes from Palm Springs is La Quinta Resort & Club. It offers expansive indoor and outdoor event space with mountain views, courtyards, and resort amenities. It’s a better fit for larger events, executive retreats, and meetings that need room to scale.

Restaurants

John's Restaurant

$ - $$

A longtime Palm Springs staple with a relaxed atmosphere and reliable comfort food, John’s is a practical choice for quick team breakfasts, casual lunches, or smaller group meals that keep costs manageable.

Colony Club

$$–$$$

Located inside Colony Palms Hotel, Colony Club offers modern American dining in a polished, old Palm Springs setting. It’s a convenient option for client dinners and smaller group meals.

Spencer's Restaurant

$$$ - $$$$

Known for its legendary patio dining and sophisticated atmosphere, Spencer’s delivers a classic Palm Springs dining experience for executive dinners and client meetings.

Activities

Indian Wells Golf Resort

Golf outings at Indian Wells provide a more traditional team activity after a meeting finishes filled with courses, dining options, and a relaxed pace.

Red Jeep tours

A guided desert Jeep tour offers a more active offsite experience for team building while showcasing the landscapes and geology unique to the Coachella Valley.

Art Museum

The Palm Springs Art Museum offers a quieter cultural experience with modern art, architecture, and rotating exhibitions in the downtown.