Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs : The 197-room Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs is set right on P

For today s  Destination of the Week ,   TPG contributor Kathy McDonald  takes us on a tour of a true desert oasis: Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, California . Her recent cruise ship photos celebrity infinity travels have taken her to Seattle, London, France (and a bucket list visit to Reims, the capital of Champagne ), Florida and most recently, California’s Central Coast.
Year-round, Palm Springs and the surrounding desert cities of the Coachella Valley attract visitors who come for the laid-back resort vibe, generally cruise ship photos celebrity infinity slower cruise ship photos celebrity infinity pace and 95% probability of sunshine with zero precipitation. Yes, there are dance clubs, Indian gaming casinos and late-night spots but the main attractions are the fine, sunshine-filled days and endless outdoor activities from golf (there are more than 40 golf courses) to tennis, biking, hiking and just chilling out by a heated pool.
Though the summers are blazing hot (average temperatures are above 100 degrees), it’s an ideal time for discount rates at hotels and golf deals. During the high season (roughly November cruise ship photos celebrity infinity through April) the weather is mostly warm in the day with clear skies and brisk nights, ideal for seeing stars while kicking back next to an outdoor cruise ship photos celebrity infinity fire pit a desert resort must-have fixture.
For design and architecture aficionados, the area’s many well-kept, mid-century buildings are a thrill. A new branch of the Palm Springs Art museum cruise ship photos celebrity infinity will open in 2014 devoted cruise ship photos celebrity infinity to the art and architecture of the era. Book tickets online to visit the Sunnylands Center cruise ship photos celebrity infinity Gardens , one the area’s finest mid-century estates (built by publishing magnate Walter Annenberg and his wife Leonore), now a house museum and a center for international relations in Rancho Mirage. One way to get orientated: the Palm Springs Visitors Center has tour maps and guides to the area’s many architectural high points.
Take a ride up the Palm Springs cruise ship photos celebrity infinity Aerial Tramway – from station to 8,516’ elevation in just 10 minutes. From the top, view the entire sun-kissed valley. cruise ship photos celebrity infinity Seasonal festivals are another huge draw and boost occupancy through the roof at local hotels (book in advance during these times). Among the popular cruise ship photos celebrity infinity events: January’s International Film Festival, February’s Modernism Week, March’s BNP Paribas cruise ship photos celebrity infinity Tennis Tournament in Indian Wells and the two weekend-long Coachella music festival in April.
cruise ship photos celebrity infinity Despite the arid environment, the Coachella Valley is famed for its water, fed from a massive underground aquifer. Desert Hot Springs , on the Valley’s north side, is dotted with more than 20 boutique hotels cruise ship photos celebrity infinity and spas and an abundance cruise ship photos celebrity infinity of hot mineral cruise ship photos celebrity infinity water.  Soaking in the naturally warm mineral cruise ship photos celebrity infinity waters of the Two Bunch Palms Resort Spa’s grotto will take any edge off.  And that’s the appeal of Palm Springs cruise ship photos celebrity infinity and environs: a place where visitors can easily dive into rest and relaxation.
Destination cruise ship photos celebrity infinity of the Week pieces are not meant to be comprehensive guides to destinations cruise ship photos celebrity infinity since we don’t have the time or funds to visit all these places in person and report back to you. Nor are they endorsements of all the hotels we mention. They are simply roundups of top destinations that we have specifically pinpointed for the opportunity they present to use your miles and points to get to and stay there. As always, we welcome  your comments cruise ship photos celebrity infinity  to help enrich the content here, provide  opinions and first-hand experiences  of these destinations.
The Palm Springs International Airport is easily navigable; at its center is a bright, mid-century-style pavilion, plus free Wi-Fi and a concourse named in honor of former mayor Sonny Bono. A new control tower is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2013.  Major airlines serving the airport include: Alaska, American, Delta, United, U.S. Airways and Virgin America. The international cities with non-stop service are all Canadian: Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg – not surprising as Palms Springs has long lured snow birds.
Hilton Palm Springs Hotel : Only one mile from the airport, downtown’s Hilton Palm Springs Hotel has San Jacinto Mountain view and rooms have either balconies or patios. Diversions include a sprawling pool area and an Elements Spa. Unlike many hotels in California, there is a smoking room option; pets are welcome – not unusual in one of California’s most dog friendly cities. A free shuttle is available to-and-from the airport. Rates in March start at $225. A category 7 HHonors property, 50,000 points* are required cruise ship photos celebrity infinity for one free night .
La Quinta Resort Club : At the eastern end of the Valley, tucked into the scenic Santa Rosa Mountains, La Quinta Resort Club (A Waldorf Astoria Resort) is one of the most storied resorts in California.  A Hollywood hideaway since the 1920s, numerous famed guests from Frank Capra to Clint Eastwood have enjoyed the 45-acre resort’s many attributes. Close to PGA West, there’s also 23 perfectly maintained tennis courts, 53 hot spas, 41 pools (most are saline) and ultra-private casitas, which come with their own in-ground hot tubs. The spa is top notch and has a quiet courtyard at its center. A $27 resort fee (plus tax) is tacked cruise ship photos celebrity infinity on to any stay. Rates in March start at $179. 50,000 HHonors points* are needed for a free one night, standard cruise ship photos celebrity infinity room stay.
Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs : The 197-room Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs is set right on Palm Canyon Drive, the city’s main thoroughfare. West facing rooms (ask for one with a balcony) look out over a 9-hole golf course set against the rocky San Jacinto Mountains; east-facing rooms look over the Valley (ask for an upper floor to avoid street noise). Set around a six-story cruise ship photos celebrity infinity interior atrium, the hotel is busy with corporate events weekdays. A redo of the rooms (42-inch flatscreen TVs and fast Wi-Fi) and outdoor pool deck means the hotel has an updated feel, though the food rarely earns high marks – better to walk to one of downtown’s many restaurants. One bonus: a free shuttle to-and-from the Palm Springs airport. Rates in March start at $160.65 plus an additional $15 resort fee. 12,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points are required for a one-night stay.
Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort Spa : 17 miles east of downtown Palm Springs (and a minimum 30-minute cruise ship photos celebrity infinity drive), cruise ship photos celebrity infinity the 530-room Hyatt Regency cruise ship photos celebrity infinity Indian Wells Resort Spa is a full-service resort complete with two 18-hole golf courses, cruise ship photos celebrity infinity spa and kids’ pool, all on 45 acres. Rates in March start at $279 plus a $23 daily resort fee. 18,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points are needed for a free one-night stay.
Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel : Close to downtown, the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel was renovated in 2011 and has a welcoming outdoor pool deck. There’s also a complimentary shuttle to-and-from the airport. In March, rates start at $209. A Marriott Rewards Category 5 hotel, 25,000 points are needed for a free one night stay.
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort Spa : In Palm Desert, the 833-room, 52-suite JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort Spa has just about everything: an 18-hole golf course, a fleet of electric boats that ply the resort’s lagoon, tennis courts cruise ship photos celebrity infinity (including Wimbledon-like grass courts), an expansive spa with its own pool area and an in-house Starbucks.  The newly redone lobby, which has views of the lagoon, pool and golf course beyond, is always busy. There’s a popular sushi bar and lounge in the lobby; the recently opened Rockwood Grill is the hotel’s main restaurant and now has an inviting outdoor terrace. Also on site, the Mikado Japanese Steakhouse Bar is quite good and a favorite cruise ship photos celebrity infinity with locals. Dinner cruise ship photos celebrity infinity reservations are necessary for weekend nights. Rates in March start at $284; there is $27 daily resort fee. The hotel is a Marriott Rewards Category 6 property so 30,000 points must be redeemed for a free one-night stay.
Five miles east just off highway 111, the Renaissance Esmeralda Indian Wells Resort Spa has two 18-hole cruise ship photos celebrity infinity golf courses in its ample portfolio of resort activities and fire-pits (of course). A Marriott Rewards Category 6 property, 30,000 points are needed for a free one night stay.
For families and long-term stay, the Marriott Shadow Ridge I – The Villages is a good choice as generous-sized villas have full kitchens. There’s cruise ship photos celebrity infinity a resort-style pool with water slide and golf course as well. A Marriott cruise ship photos celebrity infinity Rewards Category 6 property, 30,000 points are needed for a free one night stay.
Palm Desert’s Marriott Desert Springs Villas II have one and two-bedroom villas, also with full kitchens. There are seven pools on the property; guests have use of the resort amenities of the nearby JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort Spa for a fee. A Marriott Rewards Category 6 property, 30,000 points are needed for a free one night stay.
Westin Mission Hills Resort Spa : In posh Rancho Mirage, the Westin Mission Hills Resort Spa is another standout desert resort with all the extras. Make sure to book tee times early for rounds on one of the resort’s two championship 18-hole courses, one by Pete Dye, the other by Gary Player. As with all Westin hotels, the super-comfy cruise ship photos celebrity infinity Heavenly Bed is a big plus (Heavenly cribs are also available for tykes; and there’s a Westin Kids Club on site). A 14,000-square-foot spa with Jacuzzi, cruise ship photos celebrity infinity steam and an almost unlimited menu of body treatments and massages offers relaxation. (Here are details from The Points cruise ship photos celebrity infinity Guy on Starwood’s Power Up promotion ; multi-night stays at the Westin earn extra points through March 2013). Rates in March start at $269 plus the $27 per room per night resort fee. SPG members need 10,000 Starpoints for a free night stay, as the hotel is a SPG Category 4 property.
The Westin Mission Hill Resort Villas in Rancho Mirage is undergoing an exterior renovation through April 2013. During this time, the resort will remain fully operational.  SPG members should review special conditions that apply to this Category 5 property where 12,000 Starpoints gets you a free night. An all-villa resort in Palm Desert, the Westin Desert Willow Villas is surrounded by links. Special SPG conditions apply here as well for free night awards at the Category 5 Starpoints