As a past president of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce one of the big misconceptions is it's too hot in the summer. Palm Springs is the city to stay in. Palm Desert is about 30 minutes away. The pools at the Ace, Saguaro, and Riviera hotels in Palm Springs are great as are the restaurants in town. Sunset Magazine wrote about Palm Springs in their 2013 California Vacation Guide "A place for everything and everyone with amazing weather even in the summer." Also if you want to do something romantic and fun since it's your honeymoon, Palm Springs has the most famous nude sunbathing resort in the US, The Terra Cotta Inn. Go there for the day or stay overnight. It's a great experience.

and by <i>any</i> chance is 'tcotta' a shill for the Terra Cotta??? :-?

naughty naughty [-X

Hi everyone,

Thank you all for the suggestions, but I am a bit confused with all responses, some are saying is good in summer and some saying no. I actually picked up a phone and called a store (Gucci) in El Paseo and start chatting with the lady working there. she said is big misunderstanding that people think all the stores are closes , but they are not ( maybe some small ones). She said if you like sun and relax by the pool then you are going to be fine.

I am from Canada and weather here is always winter and when is summer is so humid that you cannot breath, but I heard palm desert is dry weather so 110 seems hot but no impossible. I am still going to look at some beach resort like the ones that nature Girl said and if they do not drop prices under $270ish, then I will keep my reservation at Miramonte resort.
what do you guys think?

By they way, I heard northern California (between SF and LA), the beaches (close to Monterey and pismo beach) are nice but cold to swim in, is it like that all summer, or it will get warmer during July/August?

Also to add, I am regularly checking the weather for palm desert and seems like to be almost the same as Vegas, so if people in Vegas can live there in that weather, I am sure can for 2 days in palm desert. no?

As I think I mentioned up thread, the weather in the Palm Desert area can be humid in the summer (monsoon conditions come up from the Gulf of California). Most of the time it is worse in Arizona and LV but sometimes the humidity drifts to the west. So it can be humid for a stretch of days and then it will be drier.

When it is humid, the moisture acts like a blanket and it doesn't cool off much overnight. It's miserable.

You can listen to local weather reports on TV at www.kesq.com

I should add a lot of the people here in California are not used to humidity at all. So the complaining is probably worse than it would be from someone living in the mid-west or east coast. It probably feels better in Palm Desert (less humid but higher temps) than it does in St. Louis!

I didn't realize that Canada got so bad, too.

You will get good deals on accommodations in the desert in August, so that is a plus.

I suggest you drive the scenic route, and stop for a night or two midway between SF and LA. There are lots of cute towns along the way, with historic Missions. We like San Luis Obispo, for instance.

And/or go to Santa Barbara for a night or two.

Then drive down to Santa Monica, Newport Beach or Laguna Beach for the rest of your stay. Fly out of LAX.

BTW, have you priced a rental car to pick up in SF and leave in LAX?

Well, the first week in SF I am on my company expenses which includes Car, hotel and food and etc, so I just have to pay for my wife's meals...so I will return the company car in LAX ( so drop off fee will be on my company), and then I will rent another car and drop it back in LAX which is not that bad.

I am still looking for some good resort ( and of course around 250/night) in santa monica and laguna beach, if I do not find it, then I will stick to palm desert.

between SF and LA, Monterey is good, but the problem is over there, the weather is chill and you cannot use the beach, and overall weather at night would be chill too. We are from Montreal, Canada ( 9 month winter), so we need extra sunny days.

>>I am still looking for some good resort ( and of course around 250/night) in santa monica and laguna beach, if I do not find it, then I will stick to palm desert. <<

Things will cost more in Santa Monica . . . Because people want to go there in the summer. Things will be cheap in the desert . . . Because very few people want to go there in the summer.

Well the beaches do not start getting nice until around Santa Barbara and points south, so I would not worry about one or two nights with possible morning fog along the coast, as the drive is so beautiful.

Here's the thing I learned from visiting the desert in August and expecting to keep cool in the pool - the swimming pools get so overheated from the intense sun that it's like a warm bath - air temp was 110 and water temp was 90! Not refreshing or cooling at all, and really just too hot sitting on a chaise even in the shade.

Most people who live in the deserts do their activities before noon or after sunset. The warm pools are great at night, sitting under the clear skies.

One thing to be aware of is that the big resort hotels with big pools out around Palm Spring/PD get very crowded with local families, so it isn't quiet at all. That is another reason I would chose one of the smaller inns in Palm Springs if you prefer a more romantic setting. Although, I do like the Hyatt in Indian Wells, as well as La Quinta Resort (mentioned above). They both have very nice spas.

Thanks for the advice everyone... For the moment I chose Miramonte as it was suggested by trip advisor... I think it is comparable to Hyatt in Indian Wells...

If you could splurge for a few nights, the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel is a gorgeous oceanside resort. Beautiful beach there, with hotel attendants to wait on you. The service on property is outstanding.

Do not discount Monterey. You never know if it is going to be foggy in the morning. My son lived there for two years and last month (June) went back to visit friends. The whole weekend was sunny and hot. He came home with a horrible sunburn!

The drive down the coast is absolutely beautiful. Stunning ocean views. Santa Barbara is delightful and if you would like to visit some Central California wineries, the San Ynez/Los Olivos area is dotted with great wineries. It is a short distance northeast of Santa Barbara.

Please remember that the ocean water in Southern Calfornia is not as warm as the Caribbean, even in the summer it is only in the mid to high 60's Fahrenheit. I was born and raised in Orange County and my favorite beaches are Newport Beach/Balboa Peninsula and Laguna Beach.

Oh, and of course the stores are open all year in the Palms Springs area, people live there all year and have jobs. It is just not the best place to visit during the summer. I have visited Palm Springs many times during all the seasons (I have friends that lived there) and the worst times were during the summer...just saying.

I definitely agree about the desert in summertime. We lived in the high desert, and it is not fun in the hottest months.

BarbAnn knows her stuff it sounds like, and we love Newport/Balboa/Huntington/Laguna areas. You will be able to find lodging at any price point there. Not so sure about your Irvine choice, though. I've only been to the UC-Irvine a couple of times, so am not an expert.

Do you really need to switch cars at LAX? That'll take a fair amount of your beach time. Can't you just reimburse your company for the extra amount that is yours? Maybe the bookkeeping would be too complicated, if a large company.

Thanks everyone, you are about to convert my decision from Palm desert to Laguna beach. I was looking at the Casa Laguna Inn & Spa resort which looks reasonable and good. any idea about this and its location? They are saying it is 10 mins walk to Victoria beach and 20 mins walk to Laguna beach!

How is the beach weather in beginning of August normally? Can we go in the water?

Thanks in advance

I think you will like Laguna Beach much more than Palm Springs in August. It is a fun town with lots going on and yes, you can go in the water in August. Can't give you any information on the Resort you are looking at as we have not stayed there, however we love the Ritz Carlton and The Montage.

The Pacifica hotel group sometimes has deals.

http://www.pacificahotels.com/