Travel tips · Palm Springs · United States
Palm Springs travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Palm Springs has been a Hollywood winter escape since the 1930s and today mixes snowbird retirees, a large LGBTQ+ community, design lovers and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, whose reservation lands form a checkerboard across the city. The pace is relaxed and the dress code is resort-casual.
Key facts
- Language
- English and Spanish
- Currency
- USD
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink; carry at least 2–3 litres per person for any…
- Emergency
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
Plan a trip to Palm Springs
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Things to know
- Stay on marked trails in the Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon; they are tribal lands and sacred sites, with their own rules.
- Admire modernist homes from the street and never enter driveways or gardens for photos.
- Many small hotels are adults-only or clothing-optional; check the policy before you book, especially with children.
- Respect quiet hours and occupancy limits in holiday rentals, which the city enforces strictly.
- Start hikes early and turn back when you have drunk half your water; heat illness is the most common reason hikers are rescued here.
- Book Palm Springs Aerial Tramway ahead: On peak winter and spring weekends, buy timed tickets online in advance to avoid long waits at the Valley Station.
- Book Sunnylands ahead: House tours sell out quickly in winter; book online as soon as tickets are released.
- Hotel rates can halve between peak February–April weekends and midweek stays in late May, October or December.
Tipping
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, a few dollars a day for housekeeping and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares. Check whether a hotel resort fee or restaurant service charge is already added.
Language
English and Spanish are spoken.
What to wear
Resort-casual everywhere: shorts, linen and sandals by day, with a light jacket for winter evenings. Wear proper shoes, a hat and sun protection for canyon hikes.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink; carry at least 2–3 litres per person for any desert hike.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Phone and internet
- Mobile coverage is good in the valley but patchy in the canyons, the mountains and much of Joshua Tree National Park; download maps offline.
- Time zone
- America/Los Angeles
The main risk is heat: dehydration and heat exhaustion are common on canyon and desert trails, so hike early and turn back if you run low on water. Car break-ins can happen at trailheads and downtown parking; keep valuables out of sight.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check United States's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Palm Springs?
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, a few dollars a day for housekeeping and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares. Check whether a hotel resort fee or restaurant service charge is already added.
+Can you drink the tap water in Palm Springs?
Tap water is safe to drink; carry at least 2–3 litres per person for any desert hike.
+What plugs are used in Palm Springs?
Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Palm Springs?
English and Spanish.