Travel Planner: Victorville, CA

This newly renovated resort—formerly La Casa del Zorro—pampers guests with spectacular desert scenery, luxurious accommodations, a serene ambience, and gracious service. A few hundred yards away from your room is a quiet desert garden, where you can walk and find yourself surrounded by ocotillo and cholla. Accommodations range from ample standard rooms to private casitas with their own pools or private outdoor hot tubs. Most rooms have original art on the walls, minibars, fireplaces, and extra-large bathrooms. Guests have access to the private Montesoro golf course. The elegant restaurant ($$$$) has fireside dining, and there are wine-, music-, and astronomy weekends throughout the year. In summer, prices are deeply discounted. Pros:

luxury in the great outdoors, rooms have private pools, excellent service.

no children permitted, restaurants for guests only. www.borregoranchresort.com. 63 rooms, 19 casitas. In-room: safe, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurants, bar, golf course, pools, tennis courts, gym, spa, parking, some age restrictions. Credit cards accepted.

This quiet resort is a good value compared to other Borrego Springs lodgings. Large rooms in a collection of two-story buildings surrounding the swimming pool are nicely kept and appointed with simple oak furnishings. All have shaded balconies or patios with pleasant desert views. In spring, desert gardens surrounding the property burst into colorful bloom. Pros:

golf and tennis on-site; most rooms have good desert views.

limited amenities; average service. www.borregospringsresort.com. 66 rooms, 34 suites. In-room: a/c, kitchen (some), Wi-Fi (some). In-hotel: 2 restaurants, bar, golf courses, pools, tennis courts, gym, laundry facilities, parking, some pets allowed. Credit cards accepted.

If you want the relaxation of the wine country and the challenge of hitting the links on a championship golf course, this is the place for you. Each room has a private patio or balcony overlooking the course and is decorated in soothing earth tones with a Southwestern theme. The on-site restaurant, Temet Grill ($$$) serves regional fare and local wines. Try the marinated Colorado rack of lamb with mascarpone polenta or the herbed roasted chicken breast with warm basil vinaigrette drizzle. Pros:

beautiful grounds; great restaurant; clean and comfortable rooms.

resort is a bit isolated from Old Town and wineries; some parts feel dated. www.temeculacreekinn.com. 130 rooms, 1 guesthouse. In-room: a/c, Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, bar, golf course, pool, gym, parking. Credit cards accepted.

Opened in 1926 (and now a member of the Waldorf-Astoria Collection), the desert's oldest resort is a lush green oasis set on 45 acres. Broad expanses of lawn separate the adobe casitas that house some historic rooms; other rooms, decorated in early-California style with wrought iron, tile, and dark woods, are in newer two-story units surrounding individual swimming pools and hot tubs amid brilliant gardens. Fireplaces, stocked refrigerators, and fruit-laden orange trees contribute to a luxurious ambience. A premium is placed on privacy, which accounts for La Quinta's continuing popularity with Hollywood celebrities. You can play on the championship golf courses either at La Quinta or at the adjacent PGA West. The tennis stadium holds 23 courts. Celebrity chef Jimmy Schmidt opened Morgan's in the Desert here in 2009, offering locally grown produce on a small- and large-plate menu that drew raves at the Rattlesnake Club. Pros:

individual swimming pools; gorgeous gardens; best golf courses in the desert.

a party atmosphere sometimes prevails; spotty housekeeping/maintenance. www.laquintaresort.com. 640 rooms, 244 suites. In-room: a/c, safe, Internet. In-hotel: 7 restaurants, bar, golf courses, pools, tennis courts, gym, spa, parking, some pets allowed. Credit cards accepted.

West of and parallel to Highway 111, El Paseo is a mile-long Mediterranean-style avenue with fountains and courtyards, French and Italian fashion boutiques, shoe salons, jewelry stores, children's shops, 23 restaurants, and nearly 20 art galleries. The pretty strip is a pleasant place to stroll, window-shop, people-watch, and exercise your credit cards.

Each October, the Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade

launches the "season" with a procession of 100 golf carts decked out as floats buzzing up and down El Paseo. Tel. 760/346-6111. www.golfcartparade.com. www.elpaseo.com.

A warm bit of Tuscany against a backdrop of the Santa Rosa Mountains characterizes the smallest, most intimate, and most opulent of the Indian Wells hotels. Guest rooms, with lavish appointments (especially in the bathrooms) are in red-roofed villas on 11 acres of bougainvillea-filled gardens. Many have private patios or balconies with views of perfectly manicured, brilliantly colored gardens. Reading nooks and hammocks are tucked into secluded corners. The resort holds one of the best spas in the desert: although small, The Well offers guests intimate indulgence and tranquillity in relaxation suites, mud bars, and river benches. Guests may use facilities at the Indian Wells Golf and Tennis Center. Pros:

romantic intimacy; gorgeous gardens; discreet service.

adult-oriented; limited resort facilities on-site. www.miramonteresort.com. 215 rooms. In-room: a/c, safe, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: 2 restaurants, bars, golf course, pools, tennis courts, gym, spa, parking, some pets allowed. Credit cards accepted.

This family-oriented resort casino, operated by the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, is the tallest building in the Coachella Valley, affording mountain views from most rooms and the rooftop bar. Rooms are appointed in dark-wood Arts-and-Crafts style. Many have balconies overlooking the pool area, which has not only a free-form pool with a sandy beach at one end but also fountains and waterfalls adjacent to a grassy area where families are welcome to picnic. The casino provides Las Vegas-style gaming and has an outpost of the Improv comedy club. The casual Pom restaurant offers Tuesday night barbecue. Pros:

big-name entertainment; great views from the rooftop bar; bowling alley.

in the middle of nowhere; average service. www.fantasyspringsresort.com. 240 rooms, 11 suites. In-room: a/c, safe, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: 7 restaurants, bars, golf course, pools, gym, parking. Credit cards accepted.

The centerpiece of this luxurious resort is an eight-story atrium lobby, to which most rooms open. There's soothing water everywhere: pools, ponds, lakes, fountains, and streams. Rooms are bright and airy, with ample balconies affording pool or mountain views. They're decorated in dark wood and sand tones, furnished with work desks, chaise lounges, and oversize marble bathrooms with clear glass showers. Although the hotel is popular with business travelers, it's also very family friendly. One of the pools has a sandy beach that kids love. Pros:

balcony views; adjacent to golf-tennis complex; bicycles.

higher noise level in rooms surrounding pool; somewhat impersonal ambience. www.renaissanceesmeralda.com. 538 rooms, 22 suites. In-room: a/c, safe, Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: 5 restaurants, bars, golf courses, pools, tennis courts, gym, spa, children's programs, parking. Credit cards accepted.

This stark-white resort on 34 acres is one of the grandest in the desert. Standard rooms, large even by local standards, come with furnished patios or balconies and separate living and sleeping areas; they're decorated in soft sea grass and white. Private villas have secluded garden courtyards with outdoor whirlpool tubs, living rooms with fireplaces, dining rooms, and private butlers who attend to your every whim. There are 16 pools on the property, including an adults-only pool and one designed especially for families. Despite all of its resorty trappings, the Hyatt actually caters to business travelers, not vacationers. Pros:

spacious rooms; excellent business services.

big and impersonal; spread out over many acres; noisy public areas. www.grandchampions.hyatt.com. 426 rooms, 54 suites. In-room: a/c, safe, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: 4 restaurants, bars, golf courses, pools, tennis courts, gym, spa, children's programs, parking. Credit cards accepted.

This is the most family-friendly resort in the desert in the wake of a $35-million renovation that upgraded the entire 240-acre property, freshened rooms and public areas, and added Splashtopia. Kids and their parents can spend an entire day cruising the lazy river, crashing down two waterslides, and building sand castles on a beach. Rooms are in two-story Spanish-style buildings that surround courtyards and gardens; one section is primarily for families. French doors lead to balconies or patios where you can take in the mountain views or watch ducks cruising a pond in the fairway. The new spa has 26 treatment rooms as well as a private courtyard with a sanctuary pool. Pros:

Kidtopia camp for kids; trails for hiking and jogging; nightly entertainment.

second-floor rooms accessed by very steep stairs; golf course surrounds rooms; resort hosts conventions. www.rancholaspalmas.com. 422 room, 22 suites. In-room: a/c, safe, Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: 5 restaurants, bar, golf course, pools, tennis courts, gym, spa, children's programs, business center, parking, some pets allowed. Credit cards accepted.

This sprawling convention-oriented hotel set on 450 landscaped acres has a dramatic U-shape design. The building wraps around the desert's largest private lake, into which an indoor, stair-stepped waterfall flows. Rooms in the main building wrap around the lobby; some have lake or Santa Rosa Mountains views, balconies, and oversize bathrooms. It's a long walk from the lobby to the rooms; if you're driving, you might want to request a room close to the parking lot. Pros:

gondola rides to restaurants; caters to families; lobby bar is a popular watering hole.

crowded in season; rooms and facilities are spread out; business traveler vibe. www.desertspringsresort.com. 833 rooms, 51 suites. In-room: a/c, safe, Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: 4 restaurants, bars, golf courses, pools, tennis courts, gym, spa, children's programs, parking. Credit cards accepted.

At Boomers Camelot Park you can play miniature golf, drive bumper boats, climb a rock wall, drive a go-kart, swing in the batting cages, test your skill in an arcade, and play video games. Admission: $5-$8 per activity, $28 day passes. Hours: Mon.-Thurs. noon-8, Fri. noon-10, Sat. 10-10, Sun. 10-8.

A sprawling resort on 360 acres, the Westin is surrounded by fairways, putting greens, and a collection of time-share accommodations. Rooms, in two-story buildings amid patios and fountains, have a stylish Arts-and-Crafts look with sleek, dark, mahogany furnishings accented with sand-color upholstery and crisp white linens. All have private patios or balconies. In the cool early morning, enjoy a walk or jog on the property's many paths, which wind past bougainvillea-covered walls, beds planted with blue salvia and pink petunias, families of ducks, and a koi pond. There's also a lagoon-style swimming pool with a waterslide that's several stories high. Pros:

gorgeous grounds; first-class golf facilities; excellent for families.

lots of dogs; rooms are spread out. www.westin.com. 472 rooms, 30 suites. In-room: a/c, safe, Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurants, bar, golf courses, pools, tennis courts, gym, spa, children's programs, parking, some pets allowed. Credit cards accepted.

Totally renovated in 2009, the Hyatt is the best-situated downtown hotel in Palm Springs. You can watch the sun rise over the city or set behind the mountains from the balcony of your spacious one- or two-bedroom suite. Now boasting a streamlined mid-century look, suites feature spacious living rooms with sofa beds and large flat-screen TVs. Poolside rooms open onto private cabanas, where you can entertain or hide out. Guests have golf privileges at Rancho Mirage Country Club and four other area courses. Pros:

underground parking; no resort fees; walking distance from restaurants.

lots of business travelers, some street noise. www.hyattpalmsprings.com. 197 suites. In-room: a/c, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, bar, pool, gym, spa, business center, parking, some pets allowed. Credit cards accepted.

With a precious courtyard surrounding the pool, the well-maintained, all-suites Beverly Hills Plaza has a look that would be right at home in the south of France. A combination of two former apartment buildings, the property is near a golf course and busy Wilshire Boulevard at the edge of Beverly Hills. Rooms are decorated with warm tones of beige, gold, and cream. The outdoor garden's waterfall and koi pond make for a relaxed atmosphere. You'll find bathrobes, hair dryers, movies, and coffeemakers in the roomy suites; video-game and DVD players can be rented at the front desk. Pros:

European ambience; amiable staff.

lowest-priced suites are accessible via stairs only; no services or restaurants close-by, so car is a must. www.beverlyhillsplazahotel.com. 116 suites. In-room: a/c, safe, kitchen (some), Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, bar, pool, gym, business center, parking. Credit cards accepted.

County-fair murals and whimsical carousel animals welcome you to this all-suites hotel at the entrance to Pomona's Fairplex. Contemporary in style, rooms are done in neutral tans and blues and have coffeemakers and wet bars. Most have balconies. It's about the only lodging in Pomona you should consider staying at, say locals and visitors alike, who rave about its comfort and cleanliness. The hotel books many groups throughout the year, so be sure to book in advance. McKinley's Grill serves steak and seafood, and Mountain Meadows Golf Course is adjacent. Pros:

close to Fairplex; clean rooms; comfortable beds; signature dog beds.

parts of the hotel feel dated; not close to many restaurants. www.sheraton.com. 247 suites. In-room: a/c, Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, bar, pool, gym, parking, some pets allowed. Credit cards accepted.

Take a ride down a twisting bobsled course in winter, or beat the summer heat on a dual waterslide at Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain. Miniature golf and go-carts add to the fun. www.alpineslidebigbear.com. Admission: $4 single rides, $18 5-ride pass. Hours: Daily 11-4.