Holiday rentals and lettings in Palm Springs

Pack your holiday clothes and book yourself into sparkling holiday lettings in some of the best neighbourhoods in Palm Springs. You'll be close to the golf and tennis clubs, within easy walking distance of the downtown hotspots, and when you lean on your balcony in the morning, you'll be looking out at uplifting mountain views. Fast road connections mean you can hop on State Route 111 or Interstate 10 and travel east through the shimmering desert of the Coachella Valley to popular nearby destinations like Cathedral City and Ranch Mirage.

Palm Springs offers holiday rentals in a large variety of sizes - condos for singles and couples, holiday rentals for families of four to six people, sprawling properties capable of accommodating parties of ten or more guests. Spanish style haciendas with beamed ceilings and tiled floors offer a colourful reflection of the region's history, while gleaming examples of mid-century modern deliver the ultimate in the indoor/outdoor Californian lifestyle - think sunken living rooms, wet bars and plate glass sliding doors. Features generally include a pool/spa area where you can go for a swim, soak in a hot tub or lounge on chic patio furniture.

Drive a 100 miles south of Los Angeles and you'll come to Coachella Valley in the Colorado desert, the home of Palm Springs. Perched 500 feet above sea level at the foot of the San Jacinto mountain range, it has year round sunshine and less than 5 inches of rain annually. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and other members of the Rat Pack all partied hard here in the 1950s, earning the town the nickname "Hollywood's playground". These days the showbiz feeling is complemented by wellness centres, sports facilities and open air activities for mountain trekkers.

Downtown Palm Springs is well stocked with boutiques, bistros and hip cafes, plus an art museum and cultural centre. Meanwhile, the Uptown Design District is the place to go if you're shopping for vintage fashion and Americana. Running through uptown and downtown, Palm Canyon Drive is the main destination for retail and dining, and it's as attractively shaded with palm trees as it sounds. All those desert views have inspired a distinctive local art scene, which you can check out in the galleries of the Backstreet Art District. And on Thursday nights, VillageFest brings a boho feeling to downtown with craft booths and live performers.

If you love old movies, you'll feel right at home in Palm Springs. Elizabeth Taylor is among the glitzy names inscribed on the local Walk of Stars. A must-see is the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway where the rock and roll legend celebrated his nuptials with Priscilla after a wedding in Las Vegas. Another local icon, Melvyn's restaurant was party central for the Rat Pack, and the inn where it's located once played host to the famously reclusive golden age movie star Greta Garbo. There are regular tours doing the rounds of properties that once belonged to the likes of Cary Grant, Bob Hope and Charlie Chaplin.

Over 100 miles of prime hiking trails wind through the pristine Colorado desert that surrounds Palm Springs. That doesn't include the nine main trails within the city itself. The most ambitious of these, the Skyline Trail, runs from behind the Art Museum right to the top of St Jacinto, a climb of 8000 feet - but there are plenty of much easier options too. There's a further 60 miles of trails in the local Indian reservation, including several short strolls of a mile or two which are fine for all the family. And for a taste of crisp mountain air, there are over 50 miles of walkways in the St Jacinto state park.

The area around Palm Springs was settled centuries ago by the Agua Caliente Cahuila Indians. Go on a tour of their ancient grounds at Indian Canyons, check out the cultural museum in the city centre, or try your hand at the tribe's Spa Resort Casino.

Palm Springs is home to one of the finest collections of mid century modern architecture in the whole of the USA. Arrange to go on guided tours, or pick up a map from the local visitor centre and check out some stunning architectural landmarks.

Enjoy live music and signature cocktails at the legendary Melvyn's Restaurant, where Old Blue Eyes himself used to hang out with his Rat Pat. Or if you'd rather take to the stage yourself, there's regular karaoke at Peabody's Coffee Bar.

What better way to take in Palm Springs than from the air? Go wafting over the mountainscape in a hot air balloon from Fantasy Balloon Flights, or buzz the Coachella Valley in a vintage 1940 Stearman Biplane. Alternatively, if you prefer to stay earthbound, you can always check out the area on a rented pedal bike, motorcycle or scooter.

Dozens of different spas and salons operate in Palm Springs, offering facials, massages, scrubs and all manner of treatments. Beautiful mountainside settings add to the feelings of serenity.