9 of the Best Hotel Pools in California’s Desert

Summertime is the best season to be outdoors near a swimming pool. As the California sun heats up in the desert, a resort or hotel swimming pool offers additional enjoyment during a vacation. Here are 9 of my favorite pools to dip into this Memorial weekend through the summer. Many offer special summer pricing and packages.

1. La Quinta Resort & Club | La Quinta, California

Located just two hours away from Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, idyllic  La Quinta Resort & Club offers 41 pools and hot whirlpools. This Memorial Day Weekend, La Quinta Resort & Club celebrates with its annual “Summer Chill” activations. Take in views of the Santa Rosa Mountains from the family-friendly main pool and find a pool float for “dive-in” poolside movie screenings. The adults-only plunge pool features private cabanas, new daily rosé activations, and glasses of bubbly from La Quinta Resort & Club’s signature roaming Veuve Clicquot champagne cart. Many of the casitas offer a pool within steps from your guest room. Poolside beverages and ice cream are available via mobile cart.

2. Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa I Indian Wells, CA

Situated on 23-acres of lush Mediterranean-inspired grounds, guests can spend a day in one of the private cabanas surrounding the largest swimming pool in the area. Cabanas offer lounge chairs, a cooler for drinks, electrical to charge cell phones and lap tops and curtains to draw for more privacy. Besides waterfalls and Sandy Beach, guests can enjoy cocktails, a fruit plate and lunch options in a cabana.

3. Hyatt Regency I Indian Wells, CA

In August 2020, the recently renovated Hyatt Regency Indian Wells opened the largest and newest waterpark in the Greater Palm Springs area. About $10 million dollars of the $21 million dollar renovation project was spent on the waterpark. HyTides is the centerpiece of the resort offering new and fun play areas, including a three-story, 30-feet dueling water slides, and a 450 ft lazy river with inflatable blue plastic circular tubes to ride along the twisting and flowing watercourse. Other areas for families to cool down include splash pads with water cannons, and cabanas for poolside lounging. The Hyatt Regency Indian Wells offers 9 different pool areas. There are pool areas for small children and one for guests 18+ only.

4. Margaritaville Palm Springs, CA

Located in Uptown Palm Springs, the renovated, vacation-theme mid-century hotel,  allows guests to carve out their own niche, whether sitting on a lounge chair or private cabana by one of the two uniquely designed pools, or swinging under a palm tree in a hammock. Throughout the resort are nods to singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffet, best known for his “island escapism” in his music and lifestyle. Sit near the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar at the main pool to sip a cocktail, beer, wine or array of frozen tropical libations. Bartenders make to order 8 varieties of margaritas including the resort’s signature ‘Who’s to Blame’, Pink Cadillac, and a Strawberry Moonshine Rita. The Lone Palm Pool is open daily and the Lone Palm Bar/Grill serves food and beverages. This pool a little quieter than the more lively main pool.

5. Les Cactus I Palm Springs, CA

This boutique motel is named after the 60’s French rock n’ roll song by Jacques Dutronc, and located a short 5-minute bike ride to  downtown Palm Springs. Guests sit on comfortable lounge chairs around the center salt-water pool and hot tub, or swing in hammocks near some of the 27 guestrooms. The kitchen off the entrance is stocked with beer, wine, water and snacks to enjoy by the pool, fire pit or in your room.

6. Kimpton The Rowan I Palm Springs 

Spend time up at the only rooftop pool in Greater Palm Springs. Cool down while swimming laps, or soak up the sunshine and enjoy the expansive desert views on one of their comfy lounge chairs. The onsite High Bar offers curated light snacks, brunch and hearty fare during the day, along with creative beverage options. It’s the place to get an acai bowl, garden veggies and hummus, burgers, lettuce wraps, skewers, nachos, quesadillas and tacos. Cocktails are made with names that include a vodka ‘First Class to PS’, tequila enhanced ‘Free Upgrade’ and a gin based ‘Stand By.’ The bar offers draft wine and beer by the glass and adult spiked ice cream cocktails. Guests can reserve a private cabana from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each cabana offers six bottles of water and one bottle of bubbly, two lounge chairs and a lounge area with a couch. Rentals are up to $300 a day and $150 food and beverage minimum.

7. Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa I Desert Hot Springs

Only 15 minutes from Palm Springs, the sleepy town of Desert Hot Springs is known for its hot mineral water wells. It’s the hottest in the region, heated in the earth’s earthquake (San Andreas fault) fissures before emerging from the ground at 174 degrees. This water is naturally cooled underground without being exposed to light or oxygen. It’s crystal clear, pure hot mineral water fills the pool, spas and private tubs inside guest rooms at the Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa. This water is rich with silica, plus contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, lithium and other important trace minerals that are absorbed to help your skin stay soft and silky, while your muscles and mind relax. Even though the spring water maintains a high sulfur content, it is completely odorless. Soaking in mineral spring water has been a global healing practice spanning from ancient Egyptians and Romans to spas today.

8. Cuyama Buckhorn, New Cuyama, CA

Located in the high desert of Santa Barbara County, nestled in between rolling Central California mountain ranges, dramatic national forests, wildlife refuges and national monuments is Cuyama Valley. The iconic 1952 mid-century roadside inn Cuyama Buckhorn was recently renovated by Los Angeles-based designers and owners, Ferial Sadeghian and Jeff Vance. They brought new life into the motel by updating the space, and adding a heated swimming pool and large whirlpool. While staying true to the property and area’s history, this dynamic duo integrated with the community to provide locally-inspired food, and artistry touches to their resort. What makes this Hidden Valley of Enchantment destinations special is its natural beauty, swimming in the pool and soaking in the large whirlpool during sunset. Afterwards, grab the s’mores kit in your room and take it out to one of the fire pits to enjoy star gazing. Nestled in between glowing Central California mountain ranges, national forests, wildlife refuges and national monuments, Cuyama Valley is a place like no other. Guests can hike through historic cave paintings, plan a trip to see the colorful Spring superbloom in the nearby Carrizo Plains National Monument. Visit salt flats, hike to cave painting, and see the San Andreas Fault. Another fun outing is pistachio tasting at the nearby Santa Barbara Pistachio farm.

9. The Oasis at Death Valley

Two historic hotels in Death Valley have beautiful swimming pools to cool down in after exploring Badwater Basin, Dante’s View, Devil’s Golf Course and Artists Palette. The elegant 1920’s 88-room Inn at Death Valley and the family-oriented, 224-room Ranch at Death Valley recently underwent a $100 million dollar renovation. These improvements include natural spring-fed heated swimming pools, and a 18-hole golf course. Don a bath suit and soak at sunset or wait until after dinner when it is pitch dark for world-renowned stargazing.