Where to stay in Palm Springs

Palm Springs fits into a grid of flat neighbourhoods backing onto the San Jacinto mountains, two hours from Los Angeles on Interstate 10. The Historic Tennis Club, to the south-west, is the oldest and the quietest, a few streets from Palm Canyon Drive: this is where the 1920s and 1930s villas converted into guesthouses are. The Highway 111 corridor, to the south, lines up the former 1950s and 1960s motels converted into hotels, with the lowest rates and the most noise. The town is hard to cover on foot as soon as you leave the centre: several addresses advertised as central in fact require a car.

Two caveats. The heat first, which reverses the seasons compared with Europe: Weather Spark gives an average high of 41 °C in July, with peaks beyond 45 °C, so the high season is in winter and summer rates are low for a reason. Charges next: most addresses apply a resort fee of 40 to 70 USD a night that does not appear in the displayed price, often with paid parking on top. Add it all up before comparing.