Riviera Resort & Spa Palm Springs

Palm Springs, California

Virgin rating

The hotel

Bringing that island feel to the Californian desert city, Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs is the first of the famous chain on the West Coast so you can enjoy the relaxed and colourful vibe as part of your US road trip, or for a chance to chill out by the pool with a cocktail in hand. With a calendar of activities including poolside games, movie nights and live DJ’s, this large resort caters for all ages. There’s two pools to relax by, or visit the spa for an array of treatments that will have you feeling like you’re on a secluded island somewhere! You’re just moments from the shopping and golf that Palm Springs is famous for, and parking is included in the resort fee. You don’t need to leave the resort really though – you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to food. Enjoy a steak at JWB Grill, quasedillas by the pool, or grab a takeaway pizza and enjoy it on your balcony when you book a Deluxe Room. If you’ve visited a Margaritaville before you’ll know they’re famous for the ‘5 o’clock somewhere’ bar and this place is no different. It’s the staple of any Margaritaville experience. 

Amenities

  • Bicycle Rental
  • Bar
  • Evening Entertainment
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Free Parking
  • Internet Access
  • No Smoking
  • Restaurant
  • Safety Deposit Box
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool

Where is it

Located in Downtown Palm Springs; the Tahquitz Canyon and the Moorten Botanical Garden are a short drive away.

Hotel information

398 rooms and suites featuring island-inspired décor. All with air-conditioning, 50” LCD smart TV, mini fridge, Keurig coffee maker, safe, WiFi access, iron and ironing board, bathrobes, hairdryer, and bathroom amenities. 

Standard rooms are 305-350 sq ft, with either 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 people.

Deluxe Rooms feature a private balcony, wither either 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 3 people.

Premium Studios are 465 sq ft, featuring a private balcony, and either 2 king-size beds, or 1 king-size bed plus a separate living area with sleeper sofa, sleeping maximum 4 people.

The Escape Pad is 570 sq ft, featuring a private balcony, living area with sleeper sofa, table and chairs, and a partially separated sleeping alcove with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 people. 

The Latitude Suite is 570 sq ft featuring a private balcony, separate living room with queen-size sofa bed, and bedroom with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 people.

The Chill Out Suite is 570 sq ft featuring a private balcony, separate living room with queen-size sofa bed, and bedroom with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 people.

The Hemisphere Suite is approx. 770 - 815 sq ft featuring a private balcony, living room with step-up soaking tub, separate oversized bathroom, and bedroom with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 people. 

The Paradise Suite is 745 sq ft featuring a private balcony overlooking the pool containing a private outdoor hot tub and firepit, living room with queen-size sofa bed, bathroom with separate large soaking tub and rain shower, and bedroom with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 people.

The Palm Suite is 600 sq ft featuring an oversized balcony, living room with queen-size sofa bed, bathroom with separate large soaking tub and rain shower, and bedroom with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 people.

The Good Vibes Suite is 815 sq ft and is located close to the resorts restaurants. The suite features a private balcony overlooking the pool, living room with queen-size sofa bed, fireplace, wet bar and additional seating; bathroom with separate large soaking tub and rain shower, and bedroom with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 people. 

The Horizon Suite is 600 sq ft and features a large rooftop deck with desert mountain views, double sided fireplace that separates the living room and dining area, queen-size sofa bed, bathroom with separate large soaking tub and rain shower, and bedroom with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 people. 


JWB Grill (International cuisine, open for lunch and dinner). Come Monday Café (breakfast restaurant). 5 o’clock Somewhere (poolside bar serving casual food and beverages). License to Chill (bar serving light bites and a range of drinks, with daily happy hour). Joe Merchant’s Coffee and Provisions (open throughout the day for grab and go items, including takeaway pizza). Lone Palm Pool and Truck serving quick bites, fresh bites, handhelds and beverages (open Wed-Sun 10am - 6pm).

Activities calendar including poolside games, fitness classes, live DJ’s and music, movie nights and more. 

Two swimming pools. Poolside cabanas*. Fins Up fitness centre. Bicycle rental. St Somewhere Spa*. 

Complimentary WiFi access. Self-parking for one vehicle is included in the resort fee, additional vehicles are $18 plus tax per night (payable locally, fee subject to change). 

There is a daily resort fee of $40 plus tax per room (payable locally, fee subject to change).

Resort fee includes:- Self-parking – WiFi access – Access to Fins Up fitness centre – in-room tea and coffee – Concierge printing – Bicycle usage. Resort fee and inclusions are subject to availability and change. 

*Denotes local charge

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (315)
  • Very good (89)
  • Average (69)
  • Poor (79)
  • Terrible (85)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Failed at the Basics

Jan 8, 2025 Thrillsbury Los Angeles, California

I gotta say my expectations weren't too high to begin with so I'm sad to have to write such a negative review. With a self proclaimed 4-star rating I expect the basics to be good and they were not. The common areas are fine- if dated- and met my expectations. The restaurants and bars are nice and the service was fine. The room, however, was… Read more
I gotta say my expectations weren't too high to begin with so I'm sad to have to write such a negative review. With a self proclaimed 4-star rating I expect the basics to be good and they were not. The common areas are fine- if dated- and met my expectations. The restaurants and bars are nice and the service was fine. The room, however, was entirely sub par. The bottom sheet on my King bed was not long enough to be tucked in at the bottom so it rode up the moment I got into bed. Additionally there was no mattress pad covering the mattress so my feet and lower legs were rubbing against the bare mattress the whole night. That is beyond unhygienic- the mattress was very dirty. Then there was the ant problem in the room. They were in the bathroom all over the floor and also in my bed. I asked housekeeping for some spray and they said they would tell maintenance on two different occasions. Nothing materialized all day. At 5pm I tried to call for assistance and not a single extension rang- busy signal at each ext. I went to front desk and made a small scene thinking it might provoke a response. Returned from dinner to the same ants on the floor and in my bed. Finally there was trash on the floor in the hall the entire 2 days of our stay. That is a failure of the basics of hotel management and with the hotel competition in PS I luckily will not need to return. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating This place is a dump

Jan 7, 2025 sarah19931213

This hotel needs major investment, FAST. The rooms are old, run down and dirty (stained carpet, stained bathtub, peeling paint). We are here for a work conference and the wifi has not worked for 36 hours. The room was not serviced by housekeeping, and the phone in the room does not even work to allow me to call request their service. My room is… Read more
This hotel needs major investment, FAST. The rooms are old, run down and dirty (stained carpet, stained bathtub, peeling paint). We are here for a work conference and the wifi has not worked for 36 hours. The room was not serviced by housekeeping, and the phone in the room does not even work to allow me to call request their service. My room is in the back of the hotel (next to the gym). The door to access the gym from my building was not working, and when I asked the reception how to access the gym, their answer was to go all the way to the front of the hotel, walk through a main door, to then walk all the way back to the other end of the hotel (a 10min walk in total) to access an amenity IN THE SAME BUILDING AS MY ROOM. Instead of fixing the lock on one door, the guests must inconvenience themselves to walk the entire length of the hotel. The poor staff working here has an impossible task of pleasing clients in awful infrastructure. While many of them are kind, the general vibe is that they have given up. Only bright note: Brian at the front desk was warm, kind, and pleasant despite the circumstances. IHG - you should be ashamed. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Transitioning Hotel

Jan 1, 2025 Travelingbear1000 Oakland, California

This hotel had a great gym and was decent sized. However, the rooms and hallways left a lot to be desired. Our bathroom had a leak and had a hole in the ceiling. The halls had towels and sheets outside at various times. It was nice, however, to have restaurants and food on site.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating This will be my LAST VISIT at this hotel

Dec 29, 2024 KangWoo L Alhambra, California

We booked two rooms for my family. WITH ONE TRANSACTION/ONE CONFIRMATION NUMBER. I was told that we used different guest names for each room (Then am I supposed to write one name twice when I see 'guest name' in the text box..?), so they reserved rooms in different buildings. Wait, different 'buildings'..? Not even the same building and different… Read more
We booked two rooms for my family. WITH ONE TRANSACTION/ONE CONFIRMATION NUMBER. I was told that we used different guest names for each room (Then am I supposed to write one name twice when I see 'guest name' in the text box..?), so they reserved rooms in different buildings. Wait, different 'buildings'..? Not even the same building and different floor...? I said this does not make sense and asked them to change and staff helped me to changed it to the same building. Then I saw a blood stain on the bed sheet, as soon as I entered the room. Seriously..? Then on that evening, my wife drank water from the water bottle in the room, and she started to vomit for 24 hours. She said she smell something weird but did not doubt as it is from the hotel room. We took a photo of the bottle, so please check with the vendor, or maybe someone opened and filled with dirty water. I don't know. But this should be cleared before we enter the room. Other than these terrible experiences, location was good. Close to down town Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Quadruple charges on a bill that I should have not received.

Dec 21, 2024 Chuck W

I was there for business and was with group. Upon check in with another guest, he was given his room, and I was told to for my check in for four hours. The asked for my phone number and told they would call me back when my check in was available. They never called me and six hours later, I was able to get my room, after asking at the front… Read more
I was there for business and was with group. Upon check in with another guest, he was given his room, and I was told to for my check in for four hours. The asked for my phone number and told they would call me back when my check in was available. They never called me and six hours later, I was able to get my room, after asking at the front desk. While checking on at 7pm, the clerk was told the group name which I was booked under. She had difficulty finding it. Then, after five minutes, she found it. Then I was asked to give my credit card. I said everything is covered under the group. She said, "We need it for incidental coverage." After three days, checked out and was told everything was done. The December comes and II recieved my credit card bill... I was billed $778٫34 for my room. I called hotel and explained and mentioned I was coming back to their property for another business event. Upon checking in, they found my group and I got a room. Never had to show a credit card. I then pulled out my credit card bill and explained my situation. She was able to pull up my account and she said she fixed and that money should be back in my account within 7 to 10 business days. It was not. I paid that amount on my bill, so I wouldn't have to pay penalties. Then on Dec. 21, I was called by billing department and told my requested was denied. I demanded the money go back into my account. She said, I had to contact the company as the account was closed. I know of three others that had similar charges. CHECK YOUR STATEMENT AT THE HOTEL! Do not TRUST the people at this hotel giving you information and saying it is all taken care of. Read less