The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage

Character and identity

Perched on a 650-foot bluff above the Coachella Valley, this 260-room resort sprawls across 24 acres of "classic indoor/outdoor desert living," reborn in 2014 after a long closure and freshly polished by a two-year, multi-million-dollar refresh completed in 2025. Rooms run desert modern in creamy tones, Frette linens, and woven leather lamps, with terraces or Juliet balconies. Three pools (adult-only Vista, family Air Pool, the tiny Chill Zone dip pool) anchor the days; The Edge Steakhouse handles the dressy nights; the 28,000-square-foot spa with 15 treatment rooms handles the recovery. Service is warm and clued-in, not stiff.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining experience here is poolside cabana culture with a Coachella Valley view, dialled up by the recent renovation and a service team that actually knows the desert. Spend on a Vista residential suite if you're a group, a Fire Pit room for families, or splurge for Club Level access for the revamped lounge and preferred tee times. Shoulder season (spring or late autumn) gives the best rate-to-weather window.