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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Indian Wells
Skip Indian Wells unless you are staying at a resort or playing a tournament: one night or a day-trip from Palm Springs for golf and spa.
Indian Wells is a small, wealthy desert city in Riverside County, best known for the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament and a cluster of luxury golf resorts. Outside tournament weeks, the town is quiet and walkable only along the resort-lined Indian Wells Lane. Most travellers use it as a one-night resort stop or a half-day side trip from Palm Springs or Palm Desert.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Oct–May
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (extreme heat)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $150–250 excl. bed · Mid $250–400 excl. bed · High $400+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $4–6 |
| Lunch at a resort restaurant | $20–35 |
| Dinner at a resort restaurant | $40–80 |
| Green fee, one round | $100–250 |
| BNP Paribas Open ticket (grounds pass) | $50–150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PSP · Palm Springs International Airport
- About 20 min drive; rental cars and taxis available.
- UDD · Bermuda Dunes Airport
- Private aircraft only; charter services available.
Typical fares
- Palm Springs Airport → Indian Wells
- about $30–50 by taxi or ride-hail, about 20 min (check)
- Indian Wells → Palm Springs downtown
- about $25–40 by taxi or ride-hail, about 20 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
A car is essential. The city has no public transit; taxis and ride-hailing are available but limited. Biking is possible on resort grounds.
See and do
Known for
- BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament
- Golf resorts
- Spa and wellness
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Springs | Car via CA-111, about 20 min | About 25 min |
| Palm Desert | Car via CA-111, about 10 min | About 15 min |
| Indio | Car via CA-111, about 10 min | About 15 min |
| Joshua Tree National Park | Car via I-10, about 45 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Indian Wells Lane
- Resort row: Hyatt, Renaissance, Miramonte and others. Walkable between resorts but a car needed for anything else.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer temperatures exceed 40°C (104°F); plan outdoor activities for early morning or evening.
- The BNP Paribas Open sells out weeks ahead; buy tickets and book accommodation early if visiting in March.
- Restaurants and shops close early outside tournament season; check hours ahead.
Very safe; the main risks are heat and sun exposure. Carry water and sunscreen.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Indian Wells yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament
- Golf resorts
- Spa and wellness
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of Indian Wells official website: www.cityofindianwells.org
- Wikivoyage: Indian Wells, revision 4750880 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4750880
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Indian Wells
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
English is universal; no local phrase needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/indian-wells). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.