Spring Break Destination: Palm Springs

Palm Springs used to be “the place to be” during Spring Break.

Since the early ’90s, though, kids were told to go elsewhere. They weren’t welcome in the downtown area.

Now the city wants spring breakers back.

“It’s close, it’s safe, it’s still very affordable,” said Mary Jo Ginther, Director of the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism.

This year, the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism set aside $20,000 to promote the city as the destination for college students. The tourism bureau sent promotional teams to 7 college campuses. The Riviera Resort Hotel is always a spring break favorite. This year, the ACE Hotel is expecting the same, and hopes to be a college hot spot.

Alexander Cole was at the ACE Hotel on Wednesday.

“It’s a desert oasis,” he said. “We hit the pool immediately.”

Not everyone is hoping for college spring breakers. The Holiday Inn is going to be a party, but it is gearing spring break for families and kids.

“We do a lot for families, kids eat free. We do promotions, the college kids are great but we want the families so we don’t push away our regular guest.”

The Holiday Inn spent $20 million to remodel. It is starting to see a return on investment. The bookings are 25 percent ahead of last year’s reservations and it will only get better once spring break hits.

For more information about Palm Springs Spring Break visit a special website.