5* La Serena Villas

CCBC isn’t trying to be a discreet little boutique hotel, and that’s rather the point. This huge 21+ clothing-optional gay men’s resort in Cathedral City is built around socialising, pool time and a distinctly more adult side of a Palm Springs holiday. Across the sprawling grounds you’ll find a large pool, two spas, waterfall, steam room and various indoor and outdoor social spaces. Runway Bar & Restaurant means you can eat and drink without leaving the resort, while day passes and regular events bring in plenty of non-resident visitors too. Rooms range from straightforward studios to larger suites and kitchenette options. You’re outside Palm Springs proper, so Arenas Road and Downtown are a drive away. But CCBC is really a destination in itself rather than somewhere you book simply as a base. GayMapper tip: Choose CCBC because you actively want the social, clothing-optional resort experience – it’s one of the biggest of its kind anywhere.

Santiago is where you go when the exhausting Palm Springs itinerary consists mainly of moving between a sun lounger, the pool and the spa. This long-established gay men’s resort sits behind private gates in the Tahquitz River Estates area, with mountain views adding to the feeling that the outside world can wait. The swimsuit-optional pool is the centre of things, backed up by a hot tub and comfortable landscaped grounds. Breakfast and lunch are included, removing two daily decisions from your holiday, while the atmosphere manages to be social without making participation compulsory. Rooms range from kings to larger suites, some with private patios. Downtown and Arenas Road are a short ride away, but there’s very little pressure to leave Santiago once you settle in. GayMapper tip: Excellent if your ideal gay resort is relaxed, polished and sociable rather than relentlessly party-focused – sunscreen remains non-negotiable.

There are times when free breakfast and free parking are considerably sexier than designer toiletries, and Palm Springs can be one of them. Best Western Plus Las Brisas Hotel gets the practical stuff right while putting you almost ridiculously close to the action. The Mediterranean-style buildings wrap around gardens, terraces and a heated outdoor pool with hot tub and cabanas. Rooms come with mini-fridges and coffee makers, while the complimentary hot breakfast makes mornings painless. There’s also a fitness centre and poolside food and drink when leaving your lounger feels unnecessarily ambitious. The big advantage is location: Arenas Road, the heart of Palm Springs’ gay bar scene, is essentially around the corner, while Palm Canyon Drive, restaurants and shops are all walkable. GayMapper tip: Excellent value for a nightlife-heavy weekend – you can walk home from the gay bars and wake up to breakfast already included.

Pink, camp and completely unapologetic, Trixie Motel is one of those rare hotels where the place itself is part of the reason for coming to Palm Springs. Created by drag superstar Trixie Mattel, this restored 1950s motel has just seven individually themed rooms wrapped around its instantly recognisable pink pool. Each room goes all-in on its own fantasy, from Flower Power and Pink Flamingo to Yeehaw Cowgirl, with larger suites adding kitchenettes and private or semi-private patios. There’s also an on-site bar and café for cocktails and casual food, while the adults-only setup keeps the whole experience firmly aimed at grown-up fun. The Uptown location is a little north of the main Downtown action, so Arenas Road’s gay bars are a short ride away rather than outside the door. GayMapper tip: Book the room whose theme makes you smile most – subtlety really isn’t the point here.

Ten rooms, one pool and a mountain backdrop: The Three Fifty Hotel understands that Palm Springs hotels don't necessarily improve by becoming bigger. Built in 1950 in the Historic Tennis Club neighbourhood, it still has the intimate courtyard layout that makes mid-century desert hotels so appealing. Every room faces the pool, which is heated year-round, and the adults-only setup keeps the atmosphere relaxed. Breakfast and parking are complimentary, bikes are available for exploring, and the hotel is now pet-friendly too. New independent ownership is promising further updates while keeping the property's original mid-century character. Palm Canyon Drive is only a few minutes away on foot, with Downtown restaurants and galleries close by and Arenas Road comfortably reachable when it’s time for a night out. GayMapper tip: Still one of our favourite little Palm Springs stays – especially if ten rooms sounds much more appealing than ten floors.

Palm Springs is famously low-rise, which makes the rooftop at Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel feel almost mischievous. Its seventh-floor pool is the only rooftop hotel pool in town, with uninterrupted mountain views that become particularly gorgeous around sunset. The 153 rooms and suites are sleek without losing the desert feel, while High Bar and 4 Saints mean the rooftop remains lively well after pool time. There’s a 24-hour gym, six pickleball courts, complimentary bikes and the classic Kimpton evening wine hour too. Step outside and you’re right in Downtown, with Palm Canyon Drive at the door and the gay bars around Arenas Road only a short walk away. That combination of proper hotel facilities and genuine walkability is surprisingly rare in Palm Springs. GayMapper tip: Time at least one evening around the rooftop – sunset, cocktail, dinner and then Arenas Road makes for a very easy Palm Springs night.