The Best Hotels in Indian Wells

Indian Wells is the most purely resort-oriented city in the valley. There is no downtown, almost no independent restaurant scene, and effectively no small hotels. What there is: a championship golf resort open to the public, one of the best tennis stadiums in the world, and a handful of large properties with serious pools and spas.

What you are choosing between

The properties differ mainly in scale and personality rather than quality. Some lean conference and family, with waterslides and multiple pools; others lean adult and spa-led, with quieter grounds and better restaurants. All are big — 400 to 500 rooms is normal — so expect resort logistics: shuttle carts, long corridors, a $30-45 resort fee, and paid or valet parking.

The tennis question

The BNP Paribas Open in March is the busiest fortnight of the Indian Wells year and one of the busiest in the valley. Rates double or triple, minimum stays appear, and the resorts sell tournament packages. If you are coming for tennis, book in the autumn. If you are not, avoid those two weeks entirely — you will pay tournament prices for a normal holiday.

Golf and spa

Indian Wells Golf Resort''s two public courses are among the best-conditioned in the valley and resort guests get preferential tee times and rates. The spas here are full-service and priced accordingly; day passes for non-guests exist at some properties and are worth checking if you are staying elsewhere.

Rates and season

Outside the tournament, expect $250-500 in high season and $130-250 in summer, when the big resorts discount aggressively and the pools become the entire point. Shoulder months — May, October, November — are the value sweet spot.

Practical notes

The airport is 20-25 minutes. El Paseo in Palm Desert is 10 minutes for dinner and shopping, which is how most guests solve the restaurant problem. Downtown Palm Springs is 30 minutes. Because everything requires driving, ask whether self-parking is included before you accept a valet-only property.