I was in Palm Springs for the International Gay Lesbian Travel Association Global Convention back in October 2025. Over 750 attendees from 32 countries attended — a new record. And this is despite the drop in large corporate sponsorship support (as has also been seen at Pride events).
A highlight was the IGLTA Foundation fundraiser at the Dinah Shore estate (owned by Leonardo DiCaprio). It sleeps 16 and has six bathrooms and can be yours for around $5,000 a night.
What to do
See the new “Section 14: The Untold Story” at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and Cultural Plaza downtown (140 N. Indian Canyon). This and other exhibits give a frank assessment of the Coachella Valley’s Indigenous population’s fight to hold onto their land and culture. They also have a spa and casino.
Swim at the Palm Springs Swim Center. The $16 nonresident fee is steep but worth it.
Walk with the Frontrunners at 8 a.m. daily (meet at the Mizell Center parking lot). They go through the new Prescott Reserve, formerly a golf course.
Thursday night is Village Fest downtown. It’s a farmers market, art show, and more. The Art Museum is also free that night.
Rent a bike at Bike Palm Springs and ride on the new CVLink trail all the way to Cathedral City and beyond.
What to eat
Townie Bagels (650 E. Sunny Dunes) has soft bagels and a cult following. Try to build your own sandwich on a pumpernickel bagel with an americano to wash it down.
Peninsula Pastries (611 S. Palm Canyon Dr.) has great French pastries, including a lemon tart that is to die for. In the same plaza (south of downtown, across from Motel 6), try freshly squeezed carrot juice and a teriyaki bowl with salmon at the Palm Greens Café.
Bongo Johnny’s has good burgers and salads (301 N. Palm Canyon Dr.).
Where to stay
I always stay at the Motel 6 Palm Springs downtown (660 S. Palm Canyon Dr.). Catch the #2 bus from City Hall across the street from the airport. The room rates are lower than the resort fees at some other hotels and lower during the week (as the LA crowd comes over on the weekend).
It is located across the street from a French bakery, a health foods café, a wrap restaurant, and the Revolution Theater. Around the corner are the Townie Bagel shop and Tool Shed bar. If you get hungry, the Jack in the Box is two doors down. And you can walk downtown and the bars on Arenas.
I also checked out the Hilton downtown, which has a great pool scene. The Renaissance (where IGLTA was held) was also nice.
Twin Palms is my favorite resort, and I also like the Descanso. Both offer a fun pool scene and free bikes. But check (and avoid) hotels and resorts with junk fees (aka resort fees).
Nightlife
Most of the bars are on Arenas Road downtown. Do check the prices at all the bars: one wanted $14 for a glass of wine.
Check out the Monday happy hour at my favorite, Hunters (302 E Arenas), of Wilton Manors/Fort Lauderdale fame. The V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar (600 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way) is a lot of fun.
Getting there
I took Southwest, which now charges for bags and is about to charge for and assign seats. No more checking 24 hours in advance to get an A group boarding pass, which assures a window seat at no extra charge. Worse, it has now outsourced its staffing to a third party at Palm Springs, so what remains of the Southwest spirit (and great customer service) is long gone. I also connected through noisy and expensive Las Vegas International Airport ($5.50 for a Diet Coke).
I might also author a book: How to Destroy a Brand and Alienate Your Loyal Passenger Base: The Demise of Southwest Airlines. Southwest founder Herb Kelleher must be rolling into his grave. It’s now a race to the bottom for the carrier that once was the model of transparent pricing, on-time departures, extremely low fares, and service to less congested airports.
Insider tips and more information
Fly directly into Palm Springs Airport. It’s super cute, and you can sit outside and work on your tan before boarding. Skip LAX at all costs: you’ll need a rental car to get to Palm Springs, and the trip out on I-10 can be congested (not to mention the endless sprawl).
Before you book a hotel, check for junk fees (resort fees, destination fees, amenity fees, energy surcharges, and more). About half the hotels seem to have them, and they often are hidden under “government taxes and fees” or are otherwise not transparent.
You won’t need a rental car if you stay in downtown Palm Springs. Rely on Uber or Sunline Transit instead. Or walk or bike.
GED Magazine is the monthly publication, and the Coachella Valley Independent is the weekly alternative voice; both have ideas (including hikes) and community event listings.
Bill Malcolm is North America’s only LGBT, syndicated, value-travel columnist. He pays his own way and avoids hotels that charge resort or related junk fees (aka amenity fees, destination fees, etc.). His opinions are his own.
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