Palm Springs Travel Tips. An article sharing travel tips about visiting Palm Springs. How to get there and more…

Mark Ford

It’s great to have you here searching for Palm Springs travel tips. Palm Springs is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Coachella Valley with a population of just over 40.000 people. It is located around 55 miles east of San Bernardino, 107 miles east of Los Angeles, 123 miles northeast of San Diego, and 268 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona. Few are aware that Palm Springs is a haven for abundant life surrounded by miles of scorching plains and rocky mountain wilderness… A place which welcomed Native Americans into its bountiful arms a thousand years ago. Start exploring the flora and fauna of Palm Springs, at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Dedicated specifically to species from arid environments, the zoo is home to hardy creatures from all over the globe. Watch as the Desert Bighorn Sheep effortlessly traverse the rocky mountain slopes.

These graceful animals are a favorite here, as they are native to this region. Mother Nature is not the only headliner at this zoo. Enthusiasts will also be delighted by a miniature model train display. Palm Springs is not simply a playground for Hollywood stars, but also a city devoted to cultivating change. Visit Sunnylands Centre and Gardens. Here, national and global issues are peacefully discussed by world leaders at the onsite conference center. And after talking business, VIPs often indulge in a friendly game of golf, or a stroll through the immaculate gardens. Delve deeper into the history of Palm Springs, by visiting Indian Canyons. Admire the thriving fan palms, which are prolific throughout the rocky gorges, fed by cool mountain streams. Their fruit once provided rich sustenance for the area’s earliest inhabitants, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

Palm Springs Travel Tips – How To Get From The Airport To Palm Springs

When searching for Palm Springs travel tips and how to get from the airport to Palm Springs there are a couple of simple options that will get

Flights to Palm Springs

you there. Palm Springs is served by Palm Springs International Airport which is located 2 miles (3 kilometers) east of Downtown Palm Springs. The easiest way to get from the airport is by renting a car or grabbing a taxi. A taxi to the downtown area will cost $15 and get you there in just 10 minutes.

Palm Springs Travel Tips – How To Get Around Palm Springs

Although the downtown area of Palm Springs is pedestrian friendly and easy to navigate by walking. When searching for Palm Springs travel tips if you want to explore the rest of the Coachella Valley area your most convenient way of transport is by renting a car. Let’s have a closer look at the various options at your disposal when visiting Palm Springs. 

Rental car

If you want to explore the area around Palm Springs such as the Joshua Tree National Park and Coachella Valley renting a car directly from the airport is your best option. Or on the local car agency at South Palm Canyon Drive. A standard rental car costs around $40-50 per day. 

Palm Springs

Walking

In the downtown area of Palm Springs it’s especially good to explore by foot, with plenty of great restaurants around Palm Canyon Drive. But if you want to explore the wider area of the city, getting on public transport or grabbing a taxi is required unless you’re renting a car. 

Bus

There are 15 bus lines operated by SunLine Transit Agency throughout Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. One of the best bus lines for tourists is the 24 line, which travels through downtown Palm Springs. Be aware that the buses stop operating at 11pm, so a taxi is required after a late night out. A single ticket cost $1 and a daily pass cost $3. 

Taxi

Taxis are readily available in Palm Springs and you can hail one directly on the street. The base rate costs around $2.50-$3 when you jump in the cab and then it’s $3 per mile travelled. Uber and Lyft are also operating in Palm Springs and are a convenient option if you can’t find a cab directly in the street. 

Best Places To Stay In Palm Springs

Palm Springs is beautifully located in the desert and is an oasis in Southern California to get a nice relaxed weekend. When searching for Palm Springs travel tips there are a number of various neighborhoods and locations that are really nice to stay in. Let’s have a closer look at our top three picks for the best places to stay in Palm Springs.

Downtown is a relaxed and glamourous area with plenty of luxury hotels, restaurants and nightlife. Palm Springs is known for being an oasis for Hollywood stars who want to get away from the hectic city life. In the downtown area there’s an especially nice restaurant located on top of the mountain that can be accessed by a cable car. And here’s also the Robo Lights Park. It’s pedestrian friendly and has plenty of nice hotels.

Downtown Palm Springs

Recommended Hotel: Ivy Palm Resort and Spa

Cathedral City is located in the Coachella Valley and was founded in the 90s. Here you can enjoy local gourmet restaurants, shopping centers and golf courses. The area also hosts plenty of attractions such as the Wet N Wild water park, the Fountain of Life and souvenir shops. This is the area where many business travelers choose to stay due to it’s near distance to the airport. 

Recommended Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Cathedral City

Indio is the neighborhood located in Riverside County where the Coachella music festival is held each year and it attracts a younger crowd during the festival in april. The rest of the year Indio has plenty of museums to offer such as the Desert Holocaust Memorial and Coachella Valley History Museum. This area has a wide variety of reasonably priced hotels. 

Recommended Hotel: Best Western Date Tree Hotel

Top 7 Experiences You MUST Have In Palm Springs

1. Coachella Valley Preserve offers more than 20.000 acres of desert and the Thousand Palms Oasis preserve. With hiking paths offering rare wildlife, lush palm woodland oases, desert wetlands, wildflowers among much more. Make sure to head to the visitors center before heading out to get a map of the trails. This is a great place to spend a day in the outdoors. 
2. Joshua Tree National Park is another oasis in the desert to explore for the outdoorsy type. From the Hidden Valley which is an easy hike, to the Cholla Cactus Garden that is a great place for photos during sunset. And the Keys View is an incredible lookout place for an amazing view of the Coachella Valley. 
3. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will get you up to the second highest mountain range in Southern California, the San Jacinto Mountains. Take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up the 8516 feet to the top where you can hike, snowshoe or cross country ski before heading back the mountain via the return tram. To avoid long ticket lines, purchase tickets online beforehand.
   

   Joshua Tree Nationalpark

    

4. Palm Springs Art Museum was founded in 1938 and showcases a stunning collection of works of art. Such as pieces by Andy Warhol and Marc Chagall. They also have a rotating schedule of exhibits such as studies of impressionism, pop and graphic art and architecture. The art museum truly is a cultural oasis that is well worth a visit. 
5. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens has over 1400 species of plants and is home to animals such as mountain lions, bighorn sheep, giraffes and meerkats. The Zoo is best enjoyed early in the day because it offers little shade and the temperature often rises above 100F degrees. Passes cost $6. 
6. Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway is a place to visit for Elvis Presley fans. In this house is where he spent his honeymoon and today visitors can tour the home with an Elvis look alike guide. They also host special events such as annual tribute concerts here. Even if you’re not an Elvis fan, the architecture of the house is worth a visit. Expect it to be a bit pricey though. 
7. Palm Springs Air Museum hosts a massive collection of aircraft from World War II including the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the Grumman F7F Tigercat to the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star. If you’re interested in history and technology this is definitely a great get away from the sun to have a look at the planes. 

Palm Springs Travel Tips Video

Accreditation: California Through My Lens

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Mark Ford – Founder of Plus1Travel.com – For More Travel Tips > Go Here