Desert Willow

Desert Willow sits north of Interstate 10's frontage roads and Cook Street, built around the city-owned Firecliff and Mountain View courses. It is quiet, spread out and almost entirely purpose-built for golf trips and conference stays.

There is little to walk to, which is the trade: rooms are larger and rates are usually lower than El Paseo for the same star level, and the drive to shopping or dinner is under ten minutes.

Book here if the golf matters more than the evening. Book El Paseo if it is the other way round.

Desert Willow is one of the areas we track in Palm Desert. This page pulls together everything on PalmSpots that sits inside it, so you can judge whether it is the right base for your trip rather than guessing from a map pin.

Where to stay in Desert Willow: The Westin Desert Willow Villas. Rates in this part of Palm Desert follow the same pattern as the rest of the valley — highest from January through April and on festival weekends, softest in July and August.

Getting around: distances in the Coachella Valley are deceptive. Neighbouring areas look close together but the valley runs about 45 miles end to end, so plan on a car for anything outside a walkable downtown core, and budget more driving time on festival weekends when Highway 111 and the I-10 back up.

Desert Willow's resident rate applies to guests of some Palm Desert hotels — ask at check-in before you pay the visitor green fee.