RELAX Hotel and Spa

What to expect

RELAX Hotel and Spa is a small, no-frills hotel at 67485 Hacienda Avenue in Desert Hot Springs, the Coachella Valley town north of Palm Springs that sits over a hot mineral water aquifer. Like most spa hotels in town, it pumps its own water from a private well rather than drawing on the city supply. The local water district notes that the spas in Desert Hot Springs tap the hot aquifer through their own wells.

The hotel’s main draw is its water. It lists one large naturally heated mineral pool, which it calls Olympic size, plus three jacuzzis filled with warmer mineral water. A dry sauna and a wet sauna or steam room round things out, and there is a courtyard with desert landscaping and a fire pit. The hotel describes the water as odorless and lists magnesium, calcium, silica and lithium among its minerals. It markets the water for stress and muscle relief, which is a sales claim rather than something this guide can verify. It does not publish pool temperatures.

Expect a budget motel feel rather than a polished resort. Recent guest reviews on the hotel’s Groupon page describe it as quiet, clean and friendly, while one notes that the exterior still looked rough and that the owner was renovating. Spa treatments, including massage and facials, are offered in your room and are arranged through the front desk.

Getting there

Desert Hot Springs is about 10 miles north of downtown Palm Springs, on the north side of I-10.

• From Los Angeles: Take I-10 east toward Palm Springs. Exit at Palm Drive and head north into Desert Hot Springs. Hacienda Avenue crosses Palm Drive in the middle of town. Turn east onto Hacienda Avenue to reach the 67400 block. Plan on a little over 2 hours from central Los Angeles without traffic.
• From Palm Springs: Head north on Gene Autry Trail, which becomes Palm Drive after it crosses I-10, then turn east on Hacienda Avenue. Palm Springs International Airport is about 9 miles away.

Parking is free on site. Hacienda Avenue is paved and the hotel is a few steps from the lot.

When to go

The pools are open year-round. October to May is the pleasant season, with warm days and cool desert nights, which is when hot mineral water feels best. Winter and spring weekends are the busiest time across Desert Hot Springs.

Summer is the off season. Daytime highs in the Coachella Valley regularly run well over 100°F38°C, and a hot jacuzzi under midday sun is not much fun. If you visit in summer, soak early in the morning or after dark. Room rates are lowest Sunday to Thursday all year.

Prices and booking

Rates listed by the hotel in 2026:

• Mineral water day use: $30 per guest in cash, or $30 plus tax by credit card.
• Double Queen room: $109 Sunday to Thursday, $129 Friday and Saturday, plus taxes and fees.
• Single King room: $119 Sunday to Thursday, $139 Friday and Saturday, plus taxes and fees.
• Extended stays and group bookings: Rates on request.

All rooms include unlimited use of the mineral pool and jacuzzis. You hold a room online with a credit card, no deposit is charged at booking, and full payment is collected at check-in. The hotel asks guests to call to confirm availability.

Day packages on Groupon: In 2026 the hotel also sold discounted day packages for two, four or six people, valid for up to eight hours between 8 am and 9 pm, plus a one-night stay bundled with a day package. Those vouchers needed a reservation and 48 hours notice to cancel, and every guest had to check in at the front desk for a pool wristband. Overnight guests could keep using the pools until 9 pm on their departure day.

Hours: The hotel website lists front-desk hours inconsistently, from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays to 8 am to 11 pm daily. Call 760-972-2262 before visiting for day use.

Rules and etiquette

The hotel does not post a full set of pool rules online. Based on its 2026 day-package terms:

• Children: No children under 5 in the pool area. Children 6 and older are allowed with an adult and a paid pass.
• Check in first. Day guests and hotel guests get wristbands at the front desk before going to the pools.
• Book ahead. Even day visits should be arranged in advance, particularly on weekends.

General spa manners apply: shower before you get in, keep voices down, and keep glass away from the pool deck. Call if you need to confirm swimwear rules, outside food or pets, as the hotel does not publish them.

Where to stay nearby

Staying on site is the simplest way to soak in the evening and again in the morning. Desert Hot Springs has many other small spa hotels with their own mineral pools, several of which sell day passes. The local tourism board lists options such as El Morocco Inn and Spa, Tuscan Springs Hotel and Spa, Miracle Springs Resort and Spa and The Spring Resort and Spa. Check age rules before you book, as they vary from hotel to hotel.

Palm Springs, about 20 minutes south, has the widest choice of hotels and restaurants in the valley.

Safety notes

• Heat: Mineral jacuzzis plus desert sun can lead to overheating fast. Keep soaks short, drink water and step out if you feel light-headed.
• Children: Watch kids closely around the large pool. Hot jacuzzis are not a good idea for young children.
• Saunas: Do not go straight from a long hot soak into a sauna. Cool off in between.
• Summer driving: Carry water in the car. Temperatures in the low desert can be dangerous if you break down.

Nearby stops worth adding

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, a hand-built adobe-style house from the 1940s by homesteader and explorer Cabot Yerxa, is a few minutes away in Desert Hot Springs. Mission Creek Preserve, west of town, has hiking trails along a creek. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and Joshua Tree National Park both make easy day trips from here.