If you're looking for some luxurious accommodations while in the California Desert, the renowned resorts of Palm Springs and Big Bear Lake should call to you. Particularly appealing in the winter are the ski lodges of Big Bear Lake, while Palm Springs offers five-star spa stays year round. If, alternatively, you're looking to tour the region without spending too much money, the California Desert also has its share of motels and hostels where you can spend the night. And of course, there's nothing quite like spending a peaceful, quiet night camping out in the middle of the desert where the lack of light pollution makes stargazing sublime! Generally, lodging rates in the region are the lowest in the summertime. In the midwinter, when people from colder climates all over the country flock to the area, the rates are highest.
Spas in the California Desert
The California Desert's spas are most commonly found in and around Palm Springs, where they are among the area's main tourist attractions. Known for pristine golf courses, picture-perfect scenery, and great food, Palm Springs' rejuvenating spas are some of the finest lodging opportunities you can find.
Probably the epitome of luxury in the region, the Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa would be the destination of choice for visitors to whom money is no object and lavish extravagance is all-important. This spa sports golf, tennis, and multiple spa facilities, and even small boats that carry you across an artificial lake to an on-site gourmet restaurant! Indeed, this Marriott offers an unparalleled lodging experience that is the hallmark of the posh spas in the Palm Springs area.
Death Valley also boasts a particularly well-known spa spot, the Furnace Creek Inn, which can truly lay claim to being an oasis in the middle of the stark, desolate desert. Furnace Creek boasts luxury rooms, world-class golf courses, and full resort and spa facilities. You'll surely pay for the privilege of staying at this resort, with prices in the neighborhood of $220 per night in peak season.
Luxury Resorts and Other Hotels in the California Desert
There are plenty of other places in the region where you can spend a night (or a few nights) in the lap of luxury. Luxury resorts are most commonly found in and around Palm Springs. Representative of what many such unique, high-class lodging options offer in the Palm Springs area are the Viceroy and the Korakia Pensione. The Viceroy is an old Hollywood haunt from the 60s, which retains the décor of the 60s while incorporating all the luxuries of a full service resort and a top-notch restaurant. And, built in the 1920s, the Korakia Pensione, sporting a Moroccan-style design promises all the comforts and décor of a 16th century Marrakech gated suburb.
Big Bear Lake's resorts are incredibly popular during the winter ski season, offering a pleasant lodge atmosphere with roaring fireplaces that serve to kindle your passion for the slopes as well as warm your body and spirit. Crowded in the colder months of the year, the resorts also offer a luxurious lodging option in the spring and summer months - and at a lower cost!
If you prefer to spend the night in a simpler hotel, Palm Springs and San Bernardino have plenty of nicely-appointed rooms available in standard chain hotels located throughout each city. Big Bear Lake also has a few hotels scattered around town, but all in relatively close proximity to the main ski areas. Notably, Barstow, due to its location at the main highway intersection between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, also boasts over a dozen hotels, representing the major national hotel chains.
B&Bs in the California Desert
If you're looking for quaint, cozy accommodations in often very pleasant locales then try staying in a California Desert bed and breakfast establishment (B&B). Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino, and nearby areas of the San Bernardino mountains house a few dozen different B&Bs. In these areas, Big Bear Lake in particular, most of these mountain establishments are built in a sort of rustic, log cabin style, and have very fine amenities. Generally speaking, B&B accommodations usually cost as much as or a bit less than a hotel stay.
Palm Springs also has a number of B&Bs and small “boutique-” style family hotels. Reasonably priced with a great atmosphere, these desert accommodations offer many of the amenities of a luxury hotel with the down-home qualities and charm of a small-town B&B. A great plus of choosing a B&B in the area is that you'll still be near all of the Coachella Valley's golf courses, spas, and outdoor excursion attractions.
Motels in the California Desert
There's no short supply of budget lodging options in the California Desert. In the resort-filled town of Palm Springs and in San Bernardino, the region's largest city, affordable accommodation can be found in many locales in the form of national chain motels as well as smaller, family-owned budget hotels. Motels can also be found in smaller towns in the region, such as Barstow and Indio, and there are also a few to stay at in the Big Bear Lake area. Additionally, motels are a common sight along the Interstate highways and other major thoroughfares that traverse the region. These no-frills establishments offer clean and basic accommodations that serve travelers passing through the region, as well as those just looking for a nice, quiet, inexpensive place to stay for the night.
Hostels in the California Desert
Visitors to the California Desert region who prefer staying in a hostel need not despair. Such accommodation is rare in the region, but can be found in the heart of Palm Springs (the Hotel California) and in Big Bear Lake (the Big Bear Lake Adventure Hostel). There's also a hostel in Tecopa (a small town southeast of Death Valley National Park), allowing you to crash right near some great hiking and backpacking spots in the National Park, and gives you a great base to take on its outdoor wonders.
Camping in the California Desert
There are plenty of campsites in the region where you can set up your tent for the night and sleep under the stars, particularly in the San Bernardino National Forest, all of which are run by the National Parks Service. Needless to say, this is the cheapest lodging alternative in the region, but also the one with the fewest amenities. What this type of accommodation has that other don't, however, is the unparalleled silence and serenity of sleeping out “in the middle of nowhere” under clear, starry skies. Get in touch with the Big Bear Lake Discovery Center for more information on the camping options in Big Bear Lake.
Hotels, Motels and Resorts in Palm Springs, Death Valley and the California Desert
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