Aqua Soleil Hotel & Mineral Water Spa

What to expect

Aqua Soleil is a hotel on Palm Drive, the main road into Desert Hot Springs, about 15 minutes north of Palm Springs. Like most of the spa hotels in town, it pumps hot mineral water from the aquifer under the city through its own well and uses it to fill the pools. The hotel describes the water as odorless and mineral-rich.

The pools sit in a planted courtyard on the property. There are three pools:

• The main pool. A large outdoor pool filled with mineral water. It is the place to swim and lie in the sun.
• An outdoor jetted hot pool. Smaller and hotter, for an actual soak.
• An indoor jetted hot pool. A small spa inside a covered gazebo, useful on windy days.

The hotel does not post water temperatures, and we could not confirm them from another source, so they are not listed here.

The rest of the property is simple. Rooms have been remodeled and include single king rooms, double queen rooms with balconies, mountain view rooms and Soleil Suites. The Soleil Suites have their own in-ground jetted pool, about 6 by 10 feet, filled with the same mineral water. There is a small spa offering massages, facials and body treatments, and the AQUA Bar & Grill on site.

This is a mid-priced, relaxed hotel rather than a luxury resort. People come for the mineral pools and the quiet desert nights, not for a long list of facilities.

Getting there

Aqua Soleil is at 14500 Palm Drive in Desert Hot Springs, in the Coachella Valley, with the San Jacinto Mountains to the south and the San Bernardino Mountains to the northwest.

• From Interstate 10: Take the Palm Drive exit and head north on Palm Drive into Desert Hot Springs. The hotel is on Palm Drive, north of Dillon Road.
• From Palm Springs: Drive west on East Alejo Road, then turn right onto North Indian Canyon Drive. After about 6.5 miles, turn right onto Dillon Road, go about 2.5 miles, and turn left onto Palm Drive. The hotel is just under 1.5 miles up Palm Drive.

Parking is on site and included. The pools are a short walk from the rooms and the lot, with no stairs or trail involved.

When to go

Desert Hot Springs is in the low desert, and the season matters more than the day of the week.

• November to April is the main season. Days are mild and nights are cool, which is exactly when a hot pool is pleasant. Weekends fill up, especially around holidays and big events in the Coachella Valley.
• Spring brings festival crowds to the valley. The hotel uses a stricter cancellation policy for some peak weekends, including in April, so read the terms before you book.
• Summer is very hot, often well over 100°F38°C in the afternoon. The pools are best at night or early in the morning.
• Mid-October brings the Wellness Weekend on Miracle Hill, a town-wide event that Aqua Soleil takes part in. Event passes are sold separately and are not included with a room.

Prices and booking

Aqua Soleil does not publish room rates on its site. Prices change by date, so check the online booking page or call the hotel.

What the hotel’s policies say:

• Check-in and check-out: 4 p.m. and 11 a.m. Early check-in costs $40 from noon to 3 p.m., or $10 from 3 to 4 p.m. Late check-out until 3 p.m. costs $40. Leaving after 3 p.m. costs one more night.
• Payment: One night plus tax is charged when you book, and the card is charged again 24 hours before arrival. At check-in the hotel takes the balance and a $100 security deposit. Cash, gift cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit.
• Cancellation: At least 24 hours ahead for a standard booking. Some peak dates have a four-day window and require full payment at booking.
• Day guests: The pools are for registered guests. Each stay may bring up to four day guests, who must be with the registered guest at all times and leave by 10 p.m. Each day guest still there after 10 p.m. is charged $40.
• Age: You must be 18 to book. Children 17 and under stay free in a parent’s room when no extra bedding is needed. Children 14 and under must be supervised by an adult at the pool. Nobody under 18 may stay in a Spa Suite.
• Smoking: The whole property is smoke-free, including vaping, with a $200 cleaning fee. Smoking is only allowed in the parking lot, at least 25 feet from any entrance.
• Music: Amplified music at the pool runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Spa treatments are priced per service. Examples from the current spa menu: a 60-minute Swedish massage is $135, a 60-minute deep tissue massage is $175, a 60-minute facial runs $130 to $140, and a 60-minute couples massage is $275. The 80-minute Fire and Ice massage ($225) includes same-day pool access. Book through the spa booking link on the hotel site or call (760) 329-4481.

Where to stay nearby

Aqua Soleil is itself the lodging. If it is full or you want something different, Desert Hot Springs has dozens of small spa hotels that use the same aquifer, many of them on or near Miracle Hill in the northeast part of town. Several of those are adults only, so check age rules if you are travelling with kids. Palm Springs, about 15 minutes away, has a much larger range of hotels and restaurants.

For camping, Joshua Tree National Park is the closest major option, with campgrounds inside the park. The park lies to the north and east, about 45 minutes or more by car depending on the entrance.

Safety notes

• Hot water: Hot mineral pools raise your body temperature fast. Keep soaks short, drink water, and get out if you feel dizzy. Skip the hot pools if you are pregnant or have a heart condition, unless your doctor says otherwise.
• Alcohol: Drinking in hot water raises the risk of fainting. Go easy if you are using the bar and the pools on the same night.
• Desert heat: In summer, the pool deck and the walk to your car can get extremely hot. Wear sandals and avoid midday sun.
• Children: Kids 14 and under need an adult with them at the pool. The jetted pools are hotter than the main pool and are not the place for small children to stay for long.

Nearby stops worth adding

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, on Miracle Hill, is the hand-built adobe home of Cabot Yerxa, the homesteader who found hot water here in the early 1900s and gave the area its name. Joshua Tree National Park is close enough for a day trip, and Palm Springs is a short drive south for dinner, shops and the aerial tramway.