La Quinta Resort & Club is the grande dame of the Coachella Valley and the place to stay if you want a full resort experience in one of the most beautiful settings in the desert. It lies about forty minutes southeast of Palm Springs in the city of La Quinta, tucked against the rugged Santa Rosa Mountains, and it calls itself the original desert hideaway: the resort opened in the 1920s and is now marking its hundredth year. Its heart is a village of Spanish-style casitas with whitewashed walls and red tile roofs, set among lawns, citrus and bougainvillea, with private patios — some with their own hot tubs — plus suites and villas for families and groups. The numbers tell the story of its scale: 42 pools, including a 21-and-over adults-only oasis and a main family pool, and 53 hot spas scattered through the grounds so that a quiet pool is never far from your door. Spa La Quinta combines advanced treatments with skin-care rituals, and the tennis and pickleball club, with its sunken tournament-style center court, is regularly ranked among the best tennis resorts in the world. Golfers have access to five championship courses — the Stadium, Dunes, Greg Norman, Mountain and Jack Nicklaus — including PGA West layouts ranked among the top in North America, and guests can play one round per night of their stay. Dining includes Twenty6, Adobe Grill, Morgan's in the Desert and The Marketplace. The resort is part of Hilton's portfolio, so Hilton Honors members can earn and redeem points. Expect a resort fee and higher rates in the January to April high season, when golf and tennis are at their best.
La Quinta's history is part of its appeal. In its early decades it was a discreet escape for Hollywood stars and power brokers who wanted privacy far from Los Angeles, and the original casitas and gardens retain a romantic, old-California feel that newer resorts cannot imitate. The grounds are large and laid out like a village, with winding paths, fountains and mountain views at every turn. Golf carts and shuttles help guests get around, but walking through the gardens in the cool of morning is one of the pleasures of staying here.
The resort works for very different kinds of travelers. Couples can book a casita near the adults-only pool and spend days between the spa, the tennis courts and Morgan's in the Desert. Families can base themselves near the main family pool, take advantage of the space in suites and villas, and explore nearby Old Town La Quinta. Golfers can play a different championship course each day. And everyone benefits from the quieter, more residential feel of La Quinta compared with Palm Springs proper.
The trade-off is distance. Palm Springs' downtown, the tram and the midcentury neighborhoods are roughly forty minutes away, so plan a car or transfers for those days. In return, you are closer to the Living Desert, El Paseo and Sunnylands, and to the festival grounds in Indio, which makes La Quinta a popular, if pricey, base for Coachella and Stagecoach weekends. For the classic Palm Springs experience choose a hotel in town; for an all-in-one resort with golf, tennis, spa and space to spread out, La Quinta is the Coachella Valley's benchmark.
Why stay here
- ✓42 pools and 53 hot spas
- ✓Adults-only 21+ pool
- ✓Spa La Quinta
- ✓Five championship golf courses
- ✓Tennis and pickleball club
- ✓Casitas with private patios
- ✓Twenty6 and Morgan’s in the Desert
- ✓Family pool and villas
Good questions
How far is La Quinta Resort from Palm Springs?+
About forty minutes southeast by car. It is closer to Palm Desert, the Living Desert and the Indio festival grounds than to downtown Palm Springs.
How many pools does La Quinta Resort have?+
Forty-two pools, including a 21-and-over adults-only pool and a main family pool, plus 53 hot spas spread throughout the grounds.
Can guests play golf?+
Yes. Guests have access to five championship courses, including PGA West layouts, and can play one round per night of their stay.
