Palm Springs. The name conjures old Hollywood glamour, sparkling swimming pools, luxurious spas, and, of course, majestic palms. This destination, built on the ancestral land of the Cahuilla Indians, is just two hours east of Los Angeles. It’s an appealing escape for anyone seeking warm desert vibes.

Considering a Palm Springs getaway? We’ll tell you what to do, where to stay and where to dine.

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for a California vacation

You might be on the fence about buying insurance for travel in the United States, but we highly recommend it. Here’s why:

1. Travel delays are far too common. In the US, airlines aren’t required to compensate passengers when your flight is delayed or canceled.¹ Travel insurance with trip delay benefits can reimburse you for extra covered expenses. Even better, plans with SmartBenefits^SM can automatically pay you $100 if you experience a covered delay. You can choose to receive a fixed inconvenience payment of $100 per insured person, per day, for a covered travel delay or baggage delay (up to the maximum no-receipts limit). No receipts are required — just proof of the delay.
2. You want to protect your trip investment. Palm Springs can be an expensive destination, and a last-minute cancellation may mean losing everything you spent. Trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits can reimburse your unused, prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses if you have to cancel or interrupt your vacation for a covered reason, such as a covered illness or injury. Most of our travel insurance plans now include the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, which adds covered reasons to select benefits for certain losses related to COVID-19 and any future epidemic. (Benefits vary by plan and are not available in all jurisdictions.)
3. For rental cars, insurance is a must-have. Even a tiny scrape or dent can lead to a massive repair bill. The OneTrip Rental Car Protector gives you up to $50,000 in protection for covered loss, damage, and theft, with no deductible, for less than you’ll pay at the rental counter.

Find the right travel insurance plan for your Palm Springs trip

Don’t forget to download the free Allyz® TravelSmart app! Allyz TravelSmart is an intuitive travel app that allows you to access your policy, track flights, get travel alerts, and reach 24-hour assistance.

3 of the best things to do in Palm Springs

1. Take a tour of modernist homes. Palm Springs is famed for desert-modern architecture: a mid-century aesthetic with open, airy rooms, glass walls, steel frames, and stone elements. Get a feel for this distinctive style with a self-guided driving tour or a more intimate guided tour of notable houses.
2. Hike the canyons. In and around Palm Springs, you can explore more than 100 miles of trails through the dramatic desert landscape. The Indian Canyons trails are some of the most popular, featuring shaggy palms and rock formations.
3. Hit the links. With near-perfect weather, stunning scenery and more than 100 courses, Palm Springs is a golfer’s heaven. Some of the best public golf courses, according to Links magazine, are the Pete Dye Mountain Course and the 200-acre Arnold Palmer’s Classic Course at SilverRock.

3 of the best hotels in Palm Springs

If you’re in the mood to splurge, check into the best hotel in Palm Springs: the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage. Take in sweeping views of the Santa Rosa Mountains, savor a luxury spa treatment, cozy up to your personal fire pit, and end the day with a cocktail at the Edge Steakhouse.

Is the Ritz is just a touch beyond your travel budget? Consider the Avalon Hotel & Bungalows Palm Springs, a historic, Spanish-style getaway. Order a drink by one of the three pools, then walk downtown for dinner.

Les Cactus is a bright, fun boutique hotel in Palm Springs that promises “Rooms. Sun. Pool. Fun.” That’s all you need, right? It has 27 rooms and thoughtful touches, such as a hammock garden, complimentary snacks, bikes to borrow, and a daily breakfast.

3 of the best restaurants in Palm Springs

If you’ve come all the way to Palm Springs for vacation, you might as well get the full experience of fine California cuisine. You’ll find it at Workshop Kitchen + Bar, serving beautifully composed dishes in an austere 1920s dining room. Vegans will swoon for the farmer’s market platter of seasonal vegetables; carnivores might go for the steak au poivre.

An iconic Palm Springs restaurant is The Nest, which opened in 1965. Enjoy live music and dancing nightly, Mediterranean and Italian dishes, and a never-ending party vibe. Or for a perfectly elegant evening, reserve a table at Spencer’s Restaurant at the Mountain. Sit on the patio with firepits and warmly glowing lanterns, order the signature colossal shrimp cocktail and a glass of California wine, and soak up the Palm Springs vibe.

Planning your escape to Palm Springs? Don’t leave without travel protection! See affordable plan options from Allianz Travel Insurance.

Related Articles

• A California Vacation for Every Traveler
• Warm Winter Travel Destinations in the U.S.
• Destination Guide: San Diego