Palm Springs from New Orleans, Dec 11–14: $1,373 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, because
- $373 per person, $1,079 below the typical fare on this route
- The Cole scores 8.3 from 355 reviews, with free cancellation
- Highs of 65–66°F, good weather for the tramway and canyon hikes
The catch: It's one stop on Delta, 7h 16m out, and a checked bag (about $140 for two) and any resort fee aren't in the total.
Worth it if you want a slow desert long weekend of pools, hikes and spas; skip it if a one-stop flight wears you out.
Worth it for the two of you: the whole trip is $1,373 for two, which is the flights at $746 plus 3 nights at The Cole at $627, taxes and fees included. It runs Dec 11–14, 2026, 3 nights, on Delta with one stop, 7h 16m on the way out.
The total, before you go
$1,373 for two · 3 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $746 |
| The Cole, 3 nights, two guests, taxes in | $627 |
| The total, before you go | $1,373 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $140 |
$1,079 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $35 each way per bag on Delta, $140 for two round trip); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
$373 per person, round trip
$746 for two, taxes and fees included · Delta · 1 stop · 7h 16m
Out Fri, Dec 11, 6:20 AM – Fri, Dec 11, 11:36 AM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | $373 | 1 stop | 7h 16m |
| United. Operated by SkyWest DBA United Express | $373 | 1 stop | 7h 9m |
| American. Operated by SkyWest Airlines as American Eagle | $373 | 1 stop | 5h 35m |
Prices checked Oct 13, 2026, 4:07 PM CDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Tweak this trip
Why now
When we checked, the fare was $373 per person. The typical fare on this route is $1,452 per person, so that's $1,079 below the typical fare on this route, or 74% less, and it's the lowest we've seen in 30 days. Add The Cole and the whole trip comes to $1,373 for two, taxes and fees included. A checked bag (about $140 for two), any resort fee and spending money come on top. Prices change, so this is what we found when we checked. December misses both the summer heat and the April festival rush. Normal highs for these dates are 65–66°F with lows near 48°F, mostly overcast. That's good weather for hiking Indian Canyons or driving through Joshua Tree, and cool enough that a hot-springs soak sounds right at the end of the day. You leave Friday morning and fly back Monday.
The kind of trip this is
This is a desert wellness getaway with some mid-century culture mixed in. Expect mornings on a trail or up the tramway, long afternoons by a pool or in a spa, and dinner on the strip. It suits a couple or two friends who want to slow down for a long weekend, not cram in sights. The pace is easy, and you can add a day trip to Joshua Tree if you want one.
Weather in Palm Springs, Dec 11–14
Typical highs 65–66°F, lows near 48°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Dec 11 | 66 °F | 48 °F | Overcast |
| Sat, Dec 12 | 65 °F | 50 °F | Overcast |
| Sun, Dec 13 | 66 °F | 46 °F | Overcast |
| Mon, Dec 14 | 66 °F | 47 °F | Overcast |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Palm Springs
Our best-value pick is The Cole: $627 for the 3 nights ($209 a night) for a King Room, rated 8.3 from 355 reviews, 4 stars, with free cancellation. That's the hotel counted in the $1,373 total. If you want the top-rated stay, Alcazar Palm Springs is in Downtown Palm Springs, where you can walk to the bars and galleries on Palm Canyon Drive. It's $817 for the stay ($272 a night) for a Poolside King, rated 9.2 from 585 reviews. On a tighter budget, The Saguaro Palm Springs is $480 for the stay ($160 a night) for a Mountain View 1 King, rated 7.2 from 1,168 reviews. All three are room only and come with free cancellation. The Uptown Design District is worth a look too for its mid-century boutique hotels and its main strip of shops and restaurants.
The Cole
$627 for 3 nights, two guests · $209 a night
See roomsAlcazar Palm Springs
$817 for 3 nights, two guests · $272 a night
See roomsThe Saguaro Palm Springs
$480 for 3 nights, two guests · $160 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Palm Springs for these dates
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Where in Palm Springs
- Uptown Design District: Mid-century boutique hotels and the main strip of shops and restaurants.
- Downtown Palm Springs: Walk to the Palm Canyon Drive bars, galleries and Thursday street market.
- Movie Colony / Old Las Palmas: Celebrity-era estates and adults-only pool inns.
- Rancho Mirage / Palm Desert: Large golf and spa resorts down the valley.
- Indian Wells / La Quinta: Tennis, golf and resort country near Coachella.
What to do in Palm Springs
- Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up to 8,500 feet for the cooler air and the views
- Spend a day hiking or driving through Joshua Tree National Park
- Take a mid-century modern architecture tour of the town's houses
- Hike the palm oases of Indian Canyons on a mild morning
- Soak in a hot-springs spa in Desert Hot Springs
Also worth it
- Hike or drive through Joshua Tree National Park
- Browse the Thursday night VillageFest street market
Tours and tickets in Palm Springs
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Getting there and around
| Airports in New Orleans | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Palm Springs | Palm Springs International (PSP) |
| Flight time | 7h 16m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 1,572 miles each way |
| Time difference | -2 hours |
What 3 nights in Palm Springs costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $746 |
| Hotel, 3 nights (The Cole) | $627 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 3 days for two | $780 |
| Total for two | $2,153 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: New Orleans to Palm Springs
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $373 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $373 (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $1,452 |
| Price checks | 7 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Palm Springs.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed; it's a domestic trip paid in US dollars.
- Palm Springs is 2 hours behind New Orleans.
- The Delta flight leaves MSY at 6:20 AM and lands at PSP at 11:36 AM, with one stop.
- The fare has taxes and fees included; a checked bag runs about $140 for two and isn't in the total.
- All three hotels are room only, with free cancellation.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Yes, for the two of you. The fare is $373 per person, 74% below the typical $1,452, and the whole trip with The Cole is $1,373 for two. The trade-off is one stop and 7h 16m of travel on the way out.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $1,373 for two, taxes and fees included: $746 for the flights and $627 for 3 nights at The Cole. A checked bag (about $140 for two), any resort fee and spending money are extra. Our budget estimate with $780 of spending money comes to $2,153.
Do I need a passport?
No. Palm Springs is in the United States, so you won't need a passport, and you'll pay in US dollars. Just keep in mind that the clock runs 2 hours behind New Orleans.
What is the weather like?
Normals for Dec 11–14 are highs of 65–66°F and lows of 46–50°F, mostly overcast. It's good for hiking and the tramway. Bring a layer for evenings and for the top at 8,500 feet.
Is 3 nights enough?
For a reset, yes. You land at 11:36 AM on Friday, so you get most of that first day. Two full days are enough for the tramway, Indian Canyons and a spa, or you can trade one of them for Joshua Tree.
Are there other flight times?
Yes. When we checked, United had a one-stop at 10:05 AM and American had a one-stop at 2:27 PM. Both cost the same $373 per person, and the American flight is the shortest at 5h 35m.
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Palm Springs in pictures
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