Would appreciate suggestions(dining,resorts and sites) for a one week vacation in P.S. I'd like to relax poolside, take in some desert scenery and explore some state parks/gardens, and have some nice meals. Is the December holiday season a bad time to visit? What type of weather can be expected? Since this visit comes at the end of a business trip, I will be traveling solo. Thanks for any travel tips!

The weather is hit and miss in December. If you're intent on sitting around the pool, you may be disappointed. My parents live in PS and we visit them over Christmas every year. Sometimes the weather is in the low 70's and sunny, but othertimes we can go a full week of weather in the 60's and overcast.

I'd recommend Palm Desert (a suburb of Palm Springs)as it often is a couple of degrees warmer. Also, the sun sets behind the mountains in Palm Springs. Since Palm Desert is further away, you get an extra half hour or so of sunlight.

Chances are the weather will be fine. I would like to also point out that Palm Desert is not a suburb of Palm Springs. It is one other of nine cities in the Coachella Valley, and a major one at that. It is the retail and geographic heart of the region. Also, the same mountains that block the sun late in the afternoon in Palm Springs extend from there to La Quinta (incl Palm Desert) 25 miles east, and beyond. The point is, no matter where you are in the Valley, the closer to the toe of the Santa Rosa Mountains, the earlier you lose the sun, summer or winter.

It is a good time to visit. The first half of the season kicks in in November, peaking around Thanksgiving weekend. Then it can get sort of quiet until after New Years. But there is a lot of festivity and decoration for Christmas, downtown PS and other areas.

Frank, if you give me some indication of your preferences in terms of lodging I can make some suggestions. You have over 15,000 hotel rooms to choose from, with only about 5,000 of them in the larger resort properties. There are some great smaller, historical places. You can also spend $ to $$$$. Is on-site golf important to you? Huge pool area, etc?

PS L

PS Local,
We are also thinking of visitng PS during the Xmas break. We are a family of 4 (kids are 15 and 12). We need a nice place with a great pool area (for the wife and daughter) that has a golf course on site or nearby (for myself and son). We need a place that has 2 beds and a couch pullout. Want a decent place ($100-$150 a night) that includes breakfast in our room rate. Is the Oasis resort nice and is the water park next door? Feel free to email me with any questions. Thanks

XXX

Just a few things to consider when booking hotels in the greater Palm Springs area. This area has many hotels that cater to the gay population. If a hotel listing has a triangle in the amenities list, it means that it caters to this group. Also note that the area also has many Jewish people, so if nothing else, there will be a deli open for your Christmas dinner.