Palm Springs has long beckoned travelers with its midcentury architecture, spas, and innumerable glittering pools. The desert city can get uncomfortably hot in the summer, so many residents say the best time to visit is during the cooler months from October through May.

“Nine months out of the year, we have the best weather in the world, though I am a little biased,” Stella Adena, owner of online retailer Rancho Relaxo , told Travel + Leisure. “The fall is particularly spectacular because the temperature can drop 50 degrees between day and night,” explained Adena, who has lived in Palm Springs for more than a decade. “You can enjoy the pool year-round, and then at night, hop into cozy sweaters for fireside relaxation.”

Weather aside, deciding when to visit Palm Springs depends on your budget, preference for crowds, and ideal activities.…