5 Things To Know Before Booking La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton, Near Palm Springs, California

The author stayed as a guest of La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton, and the City of La Quinta. All opinions are the author’s own and the resort had no input in this review.

La Quinta, California, is nestled in the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Part of the Greater Palm Springs area, this desert city is well-known for being a premium golf destination and offering easy access to the Palm Springs and Coachella Valley areas.

My family’s trip started with 2 nights in Palm Springs. Then, we drove about 40 minutes to La Quinta to spend 2 nights at La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton.

I really enjoyed splitting our time between these 2 cities at 2 very different hotels. If you’ve been considering a trip to the Palm Springs area, you might want to consider adding some time in La Quinta as well. Here are 5 things you should know about La Quinta Resort & Club before deciding if this is the right resort for your vacation.

1. It’s Bookable With Hilton Honors Points

If you’re looking for a good way to redeem Hilton Honors points in California, La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton, could be a great option.

Award rates for a standard room range from about 69,000 to 95,000 Hilton points per night. I checked on several random dates throughout the year and found you could consistently get 0.81 to 0.95 cents per point in value. This is a solid value considering we value Hilton points at about 0.5 cents each.

If you pay for your room with points, be sure to use a card that includes credits for Hilton properties:

• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card: Up to $50 statement credit per quarter at Hilton hotels
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Up to $200 resort credit at select Hilton resort properties every 6 months (La Quinta Resort & Club is included in the list of eligible resorts)
• The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express: Up to $50 statement credit per quarter at Hilton hotels upon enrollment
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Up to $60 in statement credits per quarter at Hilton hotels

*The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Resort Casita Room

The base-level room that you can book with points is a resort casita, which is the type of room I stayed in (views and locations vary).

My room was spacious, with a couch (which pulled out into a bed), table, wet bar area (with a sink, minifridge, and coffee maker), and working fireplace.

The bathroom had 2 sinks, a big bathtub, a separate shower, and a separate toilet.

2. It Has a Star-Studded Past (And Present)

La Quinta Resort and Club has been around since the 1920s (originally called Hotel La Quinta), and in that time, it’s seen its fair share of celebrities.

Many stars of the past frequented the resort including Greta Garbo, Clarke Gable, Frank Capra (it’s been said that his film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” was partially written at La Quinta Hotel), Shirley Temple, and Robert Wagner.

Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player have played on the resort’s golf courses (there are 5 on property) and Bill and Chelsea Clinton hosted The Clinton Foundation’s Health Matters conference on resort grounds.

The hotel hosts Desert Smash, an annual celebrity tennis event that has brought stars like P!NK, Justin Bieber, Kevin Hart, Will Ferrell, Serena Williams, Lisa Leslie, and others to the resort.

But what most people are probably interested in is “The Bachelorette.” Yes, La Quinta Resort and Club was featured in Season 16 of the iconic show in 2020. It was also the location for the wedding of Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist from season 1 of “The Golden Bachelor.”

3. There Are 42 Swimming Pools at La Quinta Resort

You read that right — 42 swimming pools! They’re scattered throughout the resort, nestled among the guest room casitas. That means you’ll have a pool just steps away from your room.

There’s also a large main pool and a lap pool.

PLUNGE at the Renker Pool is a 21+ adults-only space featuring 2 pools, a hot tub, cabanas, and a bar.

There are also 5 suites that have a private patio or courtyard with a private pool.

4. You’ll Need a Rental Car

La Quinta Resort & Club is about 20 miles (a 35-minute drive, depending on traffic) from Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), so you’ll probably want to rent a car during your stay. Of course, you could spend your days relaxing at the resort (and you should do that at least some of the time), but it’s worth it to take a drive into Old Town La Quinta or try some of the local restaurants (we loved Kiki’s, La Quinta Cliffhouse, and Beautiful Day).

Parking at La Quinta Resort & Club was $15 per night as of my March 2025 stay.

5. It’s a Great Addition to a Palm Springs Trip

My family originally booked 4 nights in Palm Springs for spring break. We stayed at the Hyatt Palm Springs to use up some Hyatt free night certificates. As jazzed as I was about that hotel’s central location (right in the heart of downtown Palm Springs) and the fact I found a use for my free night certificates, I jumped at the chance to swap our last 2 nights there for 2 nights at La Quinta Resort.

The Hyatt Palm Springs was fine, but it was a very basic hotel with few amenities. La Quinta Resort & Club felt more like a vacation.

La Quinta’s Old Town is a cute, walkable area with shops and restaurants. We loved eating at Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill, shopping at Coco Rose, and painting pottery at Old Town Artisan Studios (a nonprofit with the admirable goal of bringing art to everyone, regardless of age, ability, or financial health). On top of that, many of the area’s best attractions are just a short drive from La Quinta.

I highly recommend checking out The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, which is only 20 minutes away. We visited during Glow in the Park, an evening event that featured huge animal- and plant-themed lanterns, interactive displays, and of course, lots of animals. Add it to your calendar for spring 2026 (it’s an annual event).

Final Thoughts

La Quinta is a desert city about 40 minutes outside of Palm Springs, in the Coachella Valley. The city’s largest resort is La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton. This sprawling resort has 42 pools and features casita-style rooms with plenty of golf nearby. Whether you’re booking with cash or Hilton Honors points, La Quinta Resort could be a great option for your next California adventure.