The mostly likely place to find a Southern Californian on a weekend getaway is Palm Springs. Let’s be honest, it’s hot, dry and centrally located to some of the best, weirdest and most iconic sites and attractions in California (and there’s Coachella and Stage Coach). Plus, it’s like super popular.

Of course…being popular comes with a price. Sure, you expect that, but just because you’re totally down to splurge some doesn’t mean you want to break the bank.

Let’s figure out how to save some money without loosing out on your experience.

The best places to figure out your plan of attack are to rethink the most expensive parts of any Palm Springs getaway : where you stay and what you eat. Working from there, let’s have a great trip that we can feel go about when we return.

Here are our 14 Budget Hacks for your Palm Springs vacation :

**As a general rule of thumb for budget traveling. It’s always cheaper to travel mid-week, on the shoulder season. Palm Springs is pretty active but if you plan in advance, it’s not impossible to find when the hotel you want is a bit more affordable.

Accommodations

Find the Right Accommodations for You :

Palm Springs attracts all sorts for travelers. We’ve visited as a romantic getaway, friends weekend and family escape. On each of these trips we searched out places to stay with amenities that rounded out our unique needs for that particular trip. Take advantage of hotels with breakfast included, happy hours, extra special pools, or even hotels with an in-room kitchen (even if you just use the kitchen for lunch – no one ever really brags about their lunch anyway). Places like the Skylark and The Monkey Tree Hotel are good places to start.

*Don’t worry about staying too far from central downtown, you’ll probably be driving there no matter where you stay.

Don’t Pay for What you Don’t Need :

Another way to think of your accommodations to cut out what you don’t plan on using. You can save money by staying at properties with less-frills pools or more compact rooms. Think about what you want your experience to be and find the best hotel for that. If you aren’t going to stay at your hotel’s pool – choose a hotel without a pool (which is generally cheaper in Palm Springs) and if you aren’t going to stay in your room at all – just get a cheaper room that’s got a comfy bed.

Cleaning Fees vs. Resort Tax :

Staying at a hotel or renting VRBO or AirBnB both come with strings. When you’re sizing up where to rent, compare the price of the cleaning fee vs the added resort tax to find the true difference in price between your accommodations. Each of these fees can really add up, so make sure you find them out before you book.

Check for Parking Fees :

Similar to cleaning fees vs resort tax, make sure your researching the true price of your accommodations by also checking for any additional parking fees.

Consider Greater Palm Springs :

Once upon a time, the desert cities felt like a series of disconnected oases, but not any more. Once you get past the field of windmills, most of the landscape and city opportunities blend together into one long stretch of Palm Springs. Consider staying further East in cities like Rancho Mirage and Indio where you’ll find much of what Palm Springs proper has to offer and also unique local flavor (like Frank Sinatra’s favorite steak house).

*We love Rancho Mirage. With multiple resorts, a cool dining scene and local flavor – it’s definately worth considering as your getaway destination. 

Alternate Accommodations

Alternate #1 – Camp It :

Palm Springs is just a short drive away from some amazing camping spots – that are definately their own world-class destinations (ie Joshua Tree). Consider renting a camper or packing a tent and heading out to the desert for a few days. You’ll save a ton on accommodations, see a completely unique side of the desert Southwest (ex : The Milky Way at night), and have extra cash set aside for you next adventure.

Alternate #2 – Day-cations : 

Being only 2 hours from Los Angeles, you can drive out in the morning and come home late at night – avoiding rush hour and making your trip a quick getaway. If you’re on a budget, consider 1 or 2 day trips where you can splurge on dining and experiences without breaking the bank. And don’t worry, you can get a day pass to most hotels while you’re there.

Dining 

Don’t Fall for Lazy Top 10 Lists :

There are a ton of places to eat in Greater Palm Springs. Don’t tie yourself down to some trendy Top 10 List (honestly pretty much every restaurant in the area has been or is on some list anyway) Find restaurants that have less waits and better budget friendly options – you’ll still have a great meal but won’t be subject to the extra cost of being trendy.

All Day Happy Hour :

Greater Palm Springs is no stranger to the long or all-day Happy Hour. Take advantage of eating and drinking during traditionally slower times of the day and save literally hundred of dollars during even a weekend stay.

Travel By Coffee :

The Desert Cities have a great coffee scene. Instead of doing a full sit-down breakfast, search out the local coffee shops and sample their drink and pastries. 

Save on Meals and Dine out for Dessert :

Instead of doing a large sit-down meal for dinner, make later reservations and splurge on a great dessert. You’ll still get the full restaurant experience, but (even with drinks) you’re bill will be 1/3 to 1/2 of what it would be for dinner.

Lunch isn’t Special :

Barely anyone brags about lunch. It’s the hottest part of the day, and comes too close on the heels of Brunch. Save 

Free Attractions

Palm Springs might be all about relaxing, but there are still some cool and weird sights to take in as a visitor and they’re free. 

The Doors of Palm Springs – this is a series of doors that people want to show off.  Feel free to stop, take pictures, pose, all that sort of stuff.

Elvis’ Honeymoon Hideaway – Just a drive by, but still – kinda iconic.

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve – This is more budget and time friendly alternative to Joshua Tree. With the same sort of landscape (albeit without all the cool rocks or Joshua Trees), this is a nearby spot to hike for people just looking to explore a bit of the dessert.

Pioneertown– This is a longstanding (idk, roadside?) attraction near the iconic Pappy & Harriets. Originally it was built as a movie set, so it makes a great backdrop and has a few shops to poke around in.

Take Time to Relax

On our first trip to Palm Springs, we asked our waiter what we should do – to which she answered ‘there’s nothing to do’. She might not have been 100% accurate, but her head was in the right place. Palm Springs is a getaway, take the time to savor your drinks, time in the pool, let your walks be more lackadaisical (unless it’s 100+ outside). The best way to save money is to really enjoy your time doing the things you’re spending your money on.