Miracle Manor Boutique Hotel & Spa

In the town of Desert Hot Springs, in between Joshua Tree and Palm Springs, travelers in search of a memorable boutique-hotel experience are treated to a little bit of divine intervention: Miracle Manor, a charming nine-room boutique hotel complete with a small spa and a naturally heated spring–fed swimming pool and soaking tub. It dates back in one form or another to 1949, which means it comes by its mid-century modernist vibes quite naturally; today its interior design leans more toward warm and organic colors and textures.

Unlike some of its neighbors in nearby Palm Springs, Miracle Manor is no party hotel. Here tranquility is the order of the day, or at least the night — after ten the place falls quiet, the better to facilitate restorative sleep for its guests. The spa features traditional treatments and Ayurvedic products, while the hot springs, arguably, are the main attraction, feeding both the 90-degree swimming pool and the 104-degree soaking tub. Guests who stay three weeknights are treated to a massage; everyone benefits from the hotel’s improbably fast wi-fi.

Given the hotel’s small size, it’s easy to forgive the fact that there’s no space for a proper restaurant; in that department; the town of Desert Hot Springs turns out to be amply blessed. But a word to the wise: most everything nearby is driving distance, not walking distance, so it’s best to bring a car.