8 incredible Palm Springs vacation rentals to book now

Here, we’ve rounded up some of the most unique Palm Springs vacation rentals — from midcentury gems and homes with pedigree to desert hideaways and quirky kitsch. Whether you’re planning for a long weekend, a trip to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival or a month stay, know your Palm Springs abode will be just as memorable as the incredible city it’s in.

Dome sweet dome in the desert

Imagine falling asleep beneath a geodesic dome that features observatory views of the night sky, then picture yourself waking with the sun to 360-degree views of desert, mountains, windmills and Joshua Tree State Park. This one-of-a-kind Airbnb in North Palm Springs is one of the few places you can experience all this.

The Dome Home is an awe-inspiring retreat on five acres of desert with endless views of the entire Coachella Valley — (and, yes, it has Wi-Fi). Built in 1956 as a family holiday home and rescued from the brink of dilapidation in 2015, the Dome was revived by an intrepid Los Angeles-based architect with an eye for hidden potential. Custom windows and intriguing skylights were added to maximize the otherworldly views, and the interiors received an industrial makeover, bringing a brightness and airiness to match the stunning surroundings. The Dome Home now welcomes a new generation of adventuresome travelers seeking an exceptional stay in the High Desert. Three bedrooms comfortably accommodate six in this home that’s like no other.

A no-filter-needed midcentury time capsule

Fiery oranges, energetic yellows, sherbety turquoise, inky teals. If color inspires you, the Dazey Desert House drips it in, letting Instagram’s Clarendon filter finally come to life. This midcentury time capsule is nestled among the cacti at the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains, a desert hideaway barely a five-minute drive north of downtown Palm Springs. This home has two bedrooms and one bath, and can sleep six guests among two queen beds and two sofa beds.

The Dazey Desert House was built in 1959 by William Krisel, one of the fathers of Palm Springs’ modernist architecture. It was reinvigorated in 2018 by its new owner, Los Angeles-based designer Danielle Nagel — whom you might know as Dani Dazey from the Discovery+ series “Trixie Motel” — with a quirky mix of maximalism and restraint. The furnishings stay true to the era of its construction, and most of the home’s original architecture remains, including the slanted roofline, clerestory windows, Krisel-designed kitchen and original pegboard cabinetry. But Nagel has amped them up with pattern, color and homey textures, lofting Krisel’s modern vision to Instagrammable new heights.

A villa for the whole family

For those bringing a whole crew to Palm Springs, Airbnb rentals like this midcentury modern estate make hosting everyone a breeze. The open floor plan and expansive backyard pool deck easily accommodate 10 people, with plenty of space to gather together or lounge apart. The fully loaded kitchen is a dream to cook in; the five bedrooms are roomy and bright; and five full baths stave off traffic jams and keep peace among the house.

The prized Vista Las Palmas neighborhood that houses this rental is quiet, residential and centrally located. A short walk or bike ride can have you in the heart of downtown Palm Springs or hiking in the mountains that surround the city. One thing for large groups to bear in mind, though: Palm Springs is cracking down on party houses citywide and strictly enforcing noise ordinances, parking rules and occupancy limits, with hefty fines for violations.

A totally tubular Tiki house

With room for eight guests in four bedrooms, Tiki Dunes, a picturesque Palm Springs Airbnb, has raked in nearly perfect reviews from guests ever since it opened. The highlight is a hand-carved Tiki bar straight out of the 1950s and a backyard that’s made for lounging. There’s a heated saltwater pool, hot tub, gas fire pit and views of the mountains all around.

Beach cruisers are provided for guests and can be used for the short ride to downtown Palm Springs. On the right nights, the host of the rental says meteor showers are clearly visible because of the lack of light pollution over the property. Pets are allowed for an extra fee per night.

Cozy digs for two at the historic Ocotillo Lodge

The Ocotillo Lodge was once the home-away-from-home for Hollywood icons like Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra. This unique rental gives visitors a rare pass into this storied community of private residences. The complex, built in 1957, is a chessboard of small cottages and bungalows that sit on seven gated acres, surrounding a keyhole-shaped pool in one of the most architecturally significant neighborhoods in Palm Springs.

This condo rental on the Ocotillo grounds is one of the smallest homes included on this list of Palm Springs rentals, but is so unique it just has to be featured. Minimalism is the name of the game here, keeping the focus on clean sightlines so you can enjoy the midcentury digs all around you. Modern touches include a 4K smart TV, Keurig coffee machine, Wi-Fi and LED lighting. This cozy, one-bedroom pad can sleep two adults comfortably on a friendly budget, just be sure to bring your own pool towels. We can’t promise Lucy laid her red head to sleep in this home, but who’s to say she didn’t?

A modern spin on midcentury architecture

While it’s no longer on Airbnb, XOXO Palm Springs is a spectacular estate home located in the heart of Palm Springs that can be rented through Marriott’s Homes & Villas. Harmony is the keyword here: between sophistication and comfort, indoors and outdoors, privacy and accessibility, history and modernity. Designed by famed architect Stan Sackley, this cool spot oozes pure Palm Springs style, with sharp geometry, high ceilings, clerestory windows, and walls of glass that encourage guests to take full advantage of the pool and garden views.

The interiors are a glamorous mix of glass, natural stone, cushy velvet and warm woods that scream Architectural Digest. Outside, sculpted hedges hug a saltwater pool, and well-planned alfresco living spaces offer front-row seats to mountain views. With three bedrooms and four baths, this home easily sleeps six. All this is just a stone’s throw away from the excitement of the city’s main drag, Palm Canyon Drive.

A high-vibe house designed by local tastemakers H3K

The team at Palm Springs’ H3K Home+Design are the pros behind some of the desert’s splashiest pads; the projects they take on infuse the Palm Springs aesthetic with a fresh, fun funkiness. “Interiors that do high kicks” are what H3K designer Travis Smith calls them — lively, colorful spaces that are high-style and high-vibe, with a playfulness and humor to keep things light. This fabulous Palm Springs home has H3K’s mod-mad fingerprints all over it. 

Every room heaps on color, pattern and texture, re-imagining the lines and styles of the midcentury in a punchy palette of pinks, yellows, oranges, greens and blues. This design-heavy home doesn’t skimp on comfort, with multiple chill zones, five bedrooms and four baths, including three private suites and a separate casita. A bar room, dining options indoors and out, a garage gym and sprawling pool and hot tub only sweeten the deal for the 10 folks lucky enough to make this their home-away-from-home.

A round stone cottage high in the hills

Palm Springs’ iconic architecture hasn’t always been a sparkling showplace of steel, glass and concrete. This rock cottage throws it all the way back to the early 20th century, when rough-and-ready cabins handcrafted from local materials were the quintessential desert hideaways. Most of these early structures have been reclaimed by nature — the ruins of many are clustered nearby — but this one survives, renewed, restored and ripe for renting. 

Nature lovers and off-grid adventurers will feel right at home on this rocky, remote hillside in south Palm Springs. Built to blend in among the boulders and brush, this historic home stands out with its quirky, round shape. Within its curving walls of rough stone lie 750 square feet of pure coziness, made of timber ceilings, rustic plank floors, a four-poster bed in a rock-hewn niche and a petite dining nook with valley views. Picture windows bring the outdoors in, and a wraparound terrace brings the indoors out, pumping up the space with sun chaises, umbrella-shaded dining, a barbecue and fireside seating. There’s no Wifi or TV, but who’s going to miss them, with Palm Springs’ hottest spots just a short drive away?

This story was edited by Hearst National Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at [email protected]