Planners have a pick of intimate retreats tucked into private neighborhoods and hip hotels on main drags.

Think beyond cookie-cutter to restored properties designed by famed modernist architects including William F. Cody, Albert Frey and Steve Hermann. Palm Springs is especially plush with these jewels, including L'Horizon Resort & Spa. Another Palm Springs beauty that’s big on amenities, the boutique 67-room Avalon Hotel and Bungalows sweeps attendees into the Golden Age of Palm Springs

Planners have an extra edge on elevating attitudes at Two Bunch Palms in Desert Hot Springs. The healing mineral water in its legendary grotto pools is coveted for its therapeutic and mood-enhancing properties. The adults-only hideaway is all about rejuvenating and interacting in an exclusive, serene setting.