The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Palm Desert

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Palm Desert

Visiting Palm Desert, California for the first time can be an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. With so many incredible hotels to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to stay. If you're deciding where to stay for your first visit to Palm Desert, we've compiled a list of the best hotels for first time visitors. We analyzed all of the hotels in Palm Desert based on price, location, amenities, guest ratings, and more to determine which would be the ideal places to stay for first timers. Whether you're here for just a few days or longer, these hotels offer the perfect combination of amenities, location, and price. For those visiting Palm Desert for the first time, it's important to choose a hotel in a safe and convenient area to make the most of your first visit. You'll want to be close to the activities, shopping, and dining options, of course. When looking for hotels, consider the amenities they offer. Some hotels may have a fitness center, a bar or restaurant, a pool, or even a spa. All of these features can add to your overall enjoyment if you've never been to Palm Desert before. Also, guest ratings and reviews are also important to consider when choosing a hotel. Whether you're visiting Palm Desert for the first time, or you're a seasoned traveler, the best hotels in Palm Desert for first-timers offer the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and affordability. So, here's our list of suggestions for your next trip.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

4-star Resort with prices starting at $366 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Heated pool

Located at 74855 Country Club Drive, JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa has great rooms from $366 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 2.6 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love outdoor tennis, hiking, laundry services, golf, and a hot tub at this relaxing hotel. The heated pool is comfortable, relaxing, and fun for everyone.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Kid-friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Marriott's Desert Springs Villas I

3-star Resort with prices starting at $153 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Marriott's Desert Springs Villas I which has nice rooms starting at $153. Offering an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and rooms with kitchens, it also has a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 1091 Pinehurst Lane. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers child care, laundry services, golf, a hot tub, and a spa and wellness center which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.3 miles from the city center. We always love being able to cook meals in a hotel room, and the kitchen here was a nice touch. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Kid-friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Fitness room
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


HOTEL PASEO Autograph Collection

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $239 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Palm Desert
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

We found HOTEL PASEO Autograph Collection to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $239. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, a fitness center, mountain views, and laundry services, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 45-400 Larkspur Lane. You'll also find golf, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, a spa and wellness center, and a spa which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.4 miles from the center of town. We love a fun pool bar, and this one is a nice spot to chill and relax by the pool.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


Courtyard Palm Desert

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $143 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $143, Courtyard Palm Desert, at 74895 Frank Sinatra Drive provides an outdoor pool, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Its terrific guest rating is 8.30 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a bar, hiking, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms. It's located just 3.6 miles from the city center, too. The restaurant serves delicious food, too. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Marriott's Desert Springs Villas II

3-star Resort with prices starting at $145 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Palm Desert
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Marriott's Desert Springs Villas II has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $145 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 1091 Pinehurst Lane. Furthermore, it also offers rooms with kitchens, child care, laundry services, golf, and a hot tub, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 2.2 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Child pool
  • Kid-friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Palm Desert

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $135 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

The great guest rating of Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Palm Desert is 8.60 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and breakfast. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $135, and it's located at 74-764 Technology Drive. We also love the mountain views, laundry services, a free breakfast, a hot tub, and free parking which are great for visitors. And since it's just 4.4 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. We love relaxing in a hot tub after a long day, and the one here is really nice. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Shadow Mountain Resort & Club

3-star Resort with prices starting at $230 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Palm Desert
  • Heated pool

A cool place is Shadow Mountain Resort & Club because it has great rooms that start at $230. It has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and mountain views, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.31 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 45 750 San Luis Rey. Only 0.5 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, and golf at this convenient hotel. Having a kitchenette is a nice way for you to have some meals in the room, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Kitchen
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


Residence Inn Palm Desert

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $146 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

Residence Inn Palm Desert offers an outdoor pool, room service, a fitness center, breakfast, and hiking which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $146 (before taxes). It's located at 38-305 Cook Street and has earned a guest rating of 8.10/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers mountain views, rooms with kitchens, laundry services, golf, and a free breakfast which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 3.6 miles from the city center. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


SpringHill Suites by Marriott Palm Desert

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $136 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

Located at 72322 Highway 111, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Palm Desert has great rooms from $136 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, breakfast, hiking, and mountain views. It has a terrific 8.00 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find laundry services, golf, a free breakfast, city views, and a hot tub which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 1.5 miles from the center of town. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Hampton Inn & Suites Palm Desert

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $125 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Palm Desert
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Hampton Inn & Suites Palm Desert which has nice rooms starting at $125. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a fitness center, breakfast, and hiking, it also has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 74-900 Gerald Ford Drive. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers laundry services, golf, a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, and a hot tub. It's located just 4.2 miles from the city center, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Palm Springs, Temecula, Big Bear Lake, and Rancho Mirage.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Palm Desert, make sure you also see Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Palm Desert, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Palm Desert, Best Hotels for One Week in Palm Desert, or Best Hotels for One Night in Palm Desert.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Palm Desert?

Palm Desert Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$158

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Palm Desert, California. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Palm Desert, California based on data from 15 hotels is an affordable $158. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Palm Desert.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 4-star hotels: $303
  • 3-star hotels: $151
  • 2-star hotels: $119


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