I think the Parker is the nicest spot. It is conveniently located, has a ton of personality, is smaller and very nice. Decent star sighting if you care about that (I don't). The grounds are beautiful. I love having breakfast on their outdoor patio and it is a nice place to lounge by a manageable pool. It used to be Merv Griffin's resort.

The Viceroy is another nice smaller place. Very hip. Rooms are private cottages. It is used for a lot of photo shoots. The Parker is more upscale though some people prefer the "cooler" scene of the Viceroy. Star sightings here too, but not like the Viceroy Santa Monica.

Miramonte is a nice smaller place that is probably the best value. Hotel Zozo is the other value spot. It is in a good urban location if you like that and the place has cool design and a hip feeling. It went into bankruptcy recently so the services fell but it may have rebounded by now.

Westin Mission Hills seems like a very good family resort -- big, fun pool area.

La Quinta - out of the way - is a special spot. Grounds are beautiful (flowers and fountains) and they have their own shops. It is a big old hacienda like estate that has been renovated but keeps the glory of its past in tact. It is really nice so long as you are not planning on hitting the restaurants, bars and other activities in and around Palm Springs.

The Ritz there is nice but the Ritz look and feel seems out of place to be in Palm Springs. I feel like I am in Boston one minute and the desert the next. But, that consistency is part of the reason so many people love the Ritz.

I have not stayed at or seen the Renaissance Esmeralda but have heard nice things about it.

The Hyatt Grand Champions is really quite lovely. It is big but it is in great shape if you want that size of resort and all the on-site amenities that come with it.

The JW Marriott is enormous. They re-did the lobby recently (read = very big new bar and if I recall correctly a sushi place). The size of the lobby is impressive as is the lake that is partly indoors which is part of it. This is a huge convention hotel and not my top recommendation for a getaway, but it all depends on what you are looking for.

Me - I like to wander through a garden on the way to my room and not hallways that go on forever. And, thus I'm willing to trade-off three pools for one and four restaurants for one.

The tram up the mountain is worth doing as is an architecture tour if you have any interest in that type of thing.