The Saguaro Palm Springs

The Saguaro is Palm Springs' happiest-looking hotel, and one of its best-value stays with real personality. At 1800 East Palm Canyon Drive, a few miles south of downtown, a classic motor hotel has been transformed with a riot of color: each door, balcony and stairway is painted in a bright shade, so the whole building forms a rainbow around the central courtyard pool. The pool is the center of everything, with daybeds, private cabanas, a food and cocktail menu, and music; it is open from 8am to 10pm, and guests who book direct get priority access. El Jefe, the hotel's signature restaurant, serves Mexican food and handcrafted cocktails from breakfast into the evening, and its weekend drag brunch is one of the most popular in town. Rooms are modern, simple and colorful, and many look out over the pool; pool-view rooms are worth requesting if you want to be in the scene, while rooms on the outer edges are quieter. The hotel also offers complimentary bikes for exploring, a ballroom and terrace for events, and a reputation as one of the most pet-friendly hotels in the city. Rates are typically well below those of the luxury resorts, especially midweek and in summer, though weekend and festival pricing climbs. As with most Palm Springs hotels, check for daily resort fees and parking charges at booking. The Saguaro suits friend groups, couples who like a social atmosphere, travelers with dogs and anyone who wants a stay as cheerful as the desert light.

The redesign, by the New York architects Stamberg Aferiat, turned an ordinary motel into a piece of pop art, and the hotel leans happily into it. Photographers line up for the balconies in morning light, and the color makes even a simple room feel like part of a postcard. The atmosphere around the pool is social but generally friendly rather than wild, livelier on weekends and festival dates and much calmer midweek. If you want daybeds or cabanas on a busy weekend, reserve ahead.

Location is a trade-off. East Palm Canyon Drive is not walking distance from downtown for most people, but the complimentary bikes, rideshare and a car solve that easily, and the Ace and several restaurants are nearby. In return you get lower rates and easier parking than downtown hotels. Mornings are lovely for a bike ride through nearby midcentury neighborhoods before the heat, and the hotel is a straightforward drive to Indian Canyons, the Parker's restaurants and the airport.

Who should stay: budget-conscious travelers who still want style, groups of friends, couples who enjoy a pool scene and anyone traveling with a dog. Who should not: travelers wanting a quiet hideaway or full-service luxury — for those, look at Korakia or the Parker. Families can do well here midweek, though weekend energy skews grown-up. For a downtown base, choose the Kimpton Rowan; for maximum color and fun at a fair price, choose the Saguaro.