Desert Getaway

12 reviews

• W

  William

  US · solo_traveller · May 2026

  10/10
• C

  Clark

  US · couple · Apr 2026

  9/10

  A good place to getaway from your routine and relax

  The condo was clean and overall in good condition. It took us a while to adjust to being in a condominium since we have always stayed in motels/hotels. We weren’t used to all of the space. Although we never met Justin, the property manager, I could contact him easily via text message or email. He was concerned that we were happy with our stay. We stayed for 9 nights. The grounds were well maintained and clean. There is a full size refrigerator and kitchen utensils. There are TVs in the living room and the bedroom. The air conditioner worked well.

  For the first few days there was a marijuana smell when we entered the condo. I reported it to Justin and he was concerned about its origin. The odor appeared to enter through the air conditioner. I verified this when one evening someone’s cooking fragrance was entering the condo. Fortunately for ALL of us the condo above us was for sale and the marijuana smell disappeared. Mission Lakes is a subdivision of Desert Hot Springs where this condo is located. Unfortunately there aren’t any stores nearby. The closest are probably 3 miles away.

• C

  Cooley

  US · couple · Jan 2026

  3/10

  Absolutely not.

  Hot tub was decent.

  Trash on the patio, no smoke alarms, owner was incredibly obnoxious, dog feces in the walking path, walls are ridiculously thin and the neighbors smoke marijuana which seeps through the building several times a day.

• OM

  Oksana Markovich

  US · couple · Nov 2025

  3/10

  A basic place to sleep with a good location, but cleanliness and comfort issues made the stay disapp

  We rented this apartment from Desert Gateway for three days, and here’s what you should know before booking: ✅ Pros Quick and responsive host communication Convenient location — close to Joshua Tree National Park, Palm Springs Zoo, and the Aerial Tramway Provides basic shelter and privacy from the outside world

  ❌ Cons Unfortunately, the stay was disappointing and did not match the listing photos or expectations. Very small space — looks bigger and cozier in pictures Strong smell of weed upon arrival, as if someone had just smoked inside Ironically, the guest rules warn guests about smoking and threaten a $100 fee Cleanliness issues Floors dusty and not swept I got a splinter walking barefoot Hair left in the bathroom cabinet where the hair dryer is stored Trash on the patio area Stained rug in the living room Cigarette butt found under the sofa Lack of basic essentials No kitchen trash can — we had to use grocery bags No dish soap or sponge No kettle,had to heat up the water in the cooking pan to make myself some tea Comfort issues Mattress extremely stiff and uncomfortable Bathroom and dining area are very small; dining table feels miniature AC does not work properly — cannot adjust the temperature Overall, the apartment did not feel clean, comfortable, or accurately represented. I would rate it 2.5 stars — mainly because it provided shelter and a base for our trip.Hopefully the hosts will take this feedback constructively as an opportunity to improve, rather than as criticism — future guests could have a much better experience with a few simple fixes.

• A

  Andy_j_co

  US · young couple · Feb 2025

  4/10

  Good location, convenience of a condo, very worn property.

  Location in Desert Hot Springs, convenience of full kitchen, ample clean towels.

  Property is in state of disrepair and very worn. It appears to be maintained at a basic AirBnB level- not what we expected of a Booking.com property. Examples: toilet paper roll holder pulled out of wall, missing drawer pulls on dresser, large dents on fridge door and broken shelves. There were some strange touches like a plastic covering on top of the master bed mattress and a partially completed tub-to-shower conversion. There was a certificate of occupancy in kitchen that was expired by 2 years. We found a note in a drawer from Riverside County stating the unit was out of compliance as a short-term rental property and subject to fines. Asked owner about these and was informed issues were resolved. Then why were these papers in the unit?