Palm Springs has more than 80 manicured gold courses

The largest 'desert city' in southern California, Palm Springs is a year-round luxury resort destination.

While it lies just west of the arid Joshua Tree National Park and south of the Mojave Desert, Palm Springs is an oasis, located in a green belt complete with - as its name suggests - swaying palm trees and freshwater springs.

Just 120 miles east of Los Angeles, since the 1930s Palm Springs has been a swanky retreat for Hollywood stars. They still flock here, but often to dry out at the Betty Ford Center.

With its hot desert climate and variety of outdoor activities, Palm Springs is popular with the jet-set as a winter escape. Golfing is huge here (there's more than 80 manicured courses), but biking, tennis, horse riding, soaking in healing springs and flopping by the pool are also notable pastimes.

Palm Springs is renown for its luxurious accommodation - from private apartments to elegant resorts, but you can also find more modestly priced hotels here.

Palm Springs is serviced by the Palm Springs International Airport.