Desert Getaway

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.

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.

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.

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?

Proximity to pool & laundry. The golf course and clubhouse are outstanding.

Condo was a little small for our needs. Also more actual sleeping pillows for the bed instead of decorative would be better.

The property was very nice.Safe, quiet and clean! It's located close to Dessert Hot Springs Hotel with its fabulous pools! The property has a beautiful pool and jacuzzi on site. Ample parking! I'd come back.

The A/C never cooled below 81° Probably needs a little maintenance.

Loved the view from the apartment! It was perfect for me and my brother. The bed was comfortable and also the sofa bed. The quietness everyday made it comfortable to stay in. It was very easy to find, a lil way from town but that didn’t bother us. I saw reviews saying it was hard to find but the instructions sent to us made it perfect to find the place. Very detailed instructions about everything. The owner was very easy to get in touch with and also very nice to ask how our stay was going.

Ok this review is a little tricky because your view of this property is based on what you were really after. So for us this property worked pretty well. We stayed 6 nights and the location is right on the outskirts of Desert Hot Springs which worked for us as we wanted to visit Joshua Tree, the Aerial Tramway, Outlet Centers, Air Museum, AHL Game and Palm Springs (Modernism Week), so it's in the middle of all of that. If you were just interested in Palm Springs that I would suggest you stay in closer in to Palm Springs as it is a bit of hike (25 mins drive on the freeway) on a daily basis. The apartment is on the bottom floor and has good access, Kitchen, Lounge and Bedroom are fine but the Bathroom is tiny. Good TV and streaming options. As others have mentioned its pretty dark as we were only there at night, pretty much it didn't really bother us but if you were staying during the day it would be pretty dark and not very private. There is a Vons 10. mins drive away.

It is hard to find the property (actual apartment ) at night when you first arrive (the door numbers can't really be seen) so I would suggest getting there in the daylight in which case it would be less of an issue. (Note: It would be great if the hosts provided a photo of the apartment from the front indicating which one it is). The property is pretty dark during the day , not a problem for us , in fact it was kind of cozy at night. Some of the roads getting there a night from Palm Springs are in very poor condition and being redone. There is no street lighting out there so can be an little daunting at night using google maps. My only really problem with this property is the bathroom - its tiny and the water pressure is very poor plus the hot water seems to run out after 3-4 mins meaning a super fast shower if there is 2 of you.

The apartment was everything we needed. Comfortable, clean, a great price. Location is a bit far out but depending on your wants or needs that could be a bonus. Incredibly east to get to downtown Palm Springs in any case. The neighborhood was lovely and the pool/hot tub were very close which was great. Very happy with our stay.

The only issue we had at all was the hot tub breaking for the middle days which given all the walking at Coachella was a bummer, but that has nothing to do with the unit or the owners. They were very responsive and alerted maintenance to check on it immediately.