Palm Springs

Palm Springs International sits practically in town, with seasonal commercial service and busy private handling; the drive from Los Angeles runs around two hours outside peak traffic.

Festival weeks in spring transform the valley — availability, pricing and traffic all move sharply.

Private homes across the Movie Colony, Old Las Palmas, Twin Palms and the mid-century neighbourhoods, plus small design hotels and larger resorts down-valley. City short-term rental rules apply and vary by neighbourhood; anything proposed is checked for compliance.

The mountain shadow matters: west-facing gardens lose the sun by late afternoon in winter, which is either a feature or a problem depending on the season.

A compact, cheerful restaurant scene: mid-century steakhouses that never changed and are better for it, newer Californian rooms, and patio dining most of the year. Down-valley adds the resort dining rooms.

Private chefs at the house are the standard approach for groups, particularly around the pool in the evening.

Evenings are cocktail-led: piano bars, hotel bars and a lively but compact scene along the main strip. It is social rather than late, and festival weeks are the exception.

Estate weddings at private homes, small hotels taken whole, and resort venues down-valley. The mid-century backdrop and the mountains make it one of California’s most photographed wedding settings.

Private-home events are regulated and noise ordinances are enforced; permits and permissions are confirmed in writing before planning proceeds.

Architecture tours of the mid-century neighbourhoods, the aerial tramway up the mountain — thirty degrees cooler at the top — hiking in the canyons, vintage and design shopping, and Joshua Tree under an hour away.