Things to do / Travel Guide
Be it in lodging, dining, attraction, activity, or transportation costs, the California Desert region is generally cheaper on all fronts than other areas of the state. That being said, however, if you're hoping to indulge in spa treatments and luxurious extras and amenities at top-notch establishments, you can be sure you'll get them and pay a lot for the privileges.
Lodging Costs in the California Desert
San Bernardino and Palm Springs boast the full range of accommodation options. There are a number of pricey all-inclusive resorts and luxury chain hotels where you can be pampered in style. There are also numerous easily-accessible budget hotel chains throughout the city. Expect to pay around $50 or even a little less for budget accommodation and at least $150/night for more luxurious lodging. Generally, prices tend to be lower in the hotter months of the year, when most tourists don't brave the Coachella Valley sunshine. In cooler months, resort stays can easily cost over $200 a night, but usage of the facilities' spas and golf courses is often included, and sometimes meals are, too!
So too, in Death Valley, lodging prices can range from what you'd expect to pay for five-star luxury in the middle of the desert to downright cheap (if you camp out under the stars).
If you want to spend the night in Big Bear Lake, you can do so anywhere from a budget motel to a cozy bed and breakfast establishment (B&B) to a luxury rental condo. Prices range from $50 on the lower end of the scale to $150 and up for higher-end accommodation during the peak winter ski season. If you're going to be staying in the area for a while and want to rent a villa or condo, it will usually cost you in the neighborhood of a few hundred dollars a week.
Note: Depending on which county you stay in, the California hotel occupancy tax can run an additional 10% to 20% of the hotel cost.
As in Death Valley, the cheapest option for accommodation throughout the rest of the region is to camp out in and around the national parks. A camping permit can usually be purchased for around $10-$20 at spots like Stovepipe Wells and the more popular Furnace Creek. Backcountry permits, for those looking to get further away from it all, are free of charge. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a particularly wonderful place to set up camp from March-May, but relatively inhospitable during other seasons of the year.
Dining Costs in the California Desert
In Palm Springs, the cost of dining out is rather high on the main drags, like Palm Canyon Drive, and other central tourist areas. Often, however, just a few blocks away from these areas, you'll find other great restaurants with more moderate prices. There are also some eateries that offer budget and fast food fare. Note that if you're staying in one of the city's luxury resorts, there's a good chance that meals may be included in the price package. Many resorts and spas in the area are known for featuring fine food and well-known chefs.
San Bernardino and Big Bear Lake have a number of reasonably-priced restaurant options conveniently located in the town centers. Diners and breakfast spots are particularly plentiful in both cities, where you can fill up in the morning for $10-$15 tops for a full meal. Regarding lunch and dinner meals, San Bernardino restaurants can range in price from budget to expensive, depending on location. Big Bear Lake, by comparison, is home to some very high-end establishments, where it can cost upwards of $40 per person for steak and a drink.
In smaller towns and less-frequented areas like Barstow and Death Valley, dining options are usually limited to fast food establishments and the occasional local diner or café. Often sporting roadside locations, getting a bite to eat at places like these usually won't set you back too much.
Attraction and Activity Costs in the California Desert
Most outdoor attractions in the California Desert region, like nature parks, are inexpensive, with admission fees usually $10 a day or less per person. Often, to gain admission to historical or architectural attractions in the region, you'll just have to pay as few dollars or make a small donation to help cover a site's maintenance costs.
More high-end attractions, like spas and golf courses, will naturally cost quite a bit more if you wish to enjoy them. In Palm Springs, for instance, it will likely cost at least $100 a day to lay back and relax in a spa - more if you want some massage treatments - and greens fees on the golf courses are known for being rather costly, especially in the cooler months.
As many vacationers choose the cooler months of the year in which to head to the California Desert, attraction costs are generally somewhat higher throughout the region in the fall and winter. In particular, guided tours, horseback riding, water sports, and other outdoor activities tend to cost more from September-February.
Transportation Costs in the California Desert
Low-cost bus and taxi services are available in both Palm Springs and San Bernardino. As public transportation is sparse when it comes to the rest of the region, you'll need a car to get from place to place.
Like energy costs throughout the state of California, gas prices in the California Desert region are high; sometimes even more expensive that in nearby Los Angeles. Generally, you're likely to encounter cheaper gas prices in the more sparsely populated areas of Big Bear Lake and Death Valley than in San Bernardino or Palm Springs.
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