Vista Ventana

My experience here was REALLY BAD. I was supposed to stay two nights and only stayed one. The t.v. and stove didn’t work and the staff never told me this over the phone when i called and asked questions. They didn’t have no ice and the pool was not that clean. The hotel looks nothing like the pictures. I will never stay here again.

Funky fresh little spot in the desert. Definitely old apartment living revamped into a funktified retro themed hotel. Surprisingly, spacious for my boyfriend and I. Great restroom with hair blow dryer, vanity area, kitchenette, living room area with throwback TV/​VHS, big closet and dresser. I loved the pool area. Nobody was there. I was there alone with my boyfriend for 30 minutes and it was peaceful.
Overall, great place, however, there is some room for upgrades. Upgrades include: aligning the front gate/​door to close with ease, the side door next to room 106 needs a spring retractor so gate does not slam and finally, bed mattresses need to be softer. It was very uncomfortable.
In conclusion, this was an affordable place to stay and unwind. The front desk gentlemen was friendly and helpful. He handed us a couple of voucher tickets to Sidewinder Grill down the way (Check out my Unilocal for Sidewinder). Spring is the perfect time to relax in the desert. For the right time and price I would stay here again.

What seemed like an old apartment complex turned boutique hotel… it was a comfortable stay. There are 19 rooms with a pool and jacuzzi on the property. The room we stayed in was clean with a sitting area and kitchenette (fridge, gas stove, utensils etc). Color scheme was grey, white and yellow… calming. It was peaceful and quiet the night we stayed-​it was a Thursday night.
The pool area was clean and empty Friday morning. Not sure if there were pool towels anywhere, so I used the bath towels and I was fine. I was just anxious to get out in the hot sun and veg for a few minutes. Pool water and jacuzzi was warm, comfortable temp.
Parking is limited but there’s street parking. Manager was great, friendly and helpful. Place is perfect for the night or two. Not much of a nightlife or shopping happening here. This area is desert hot springs not palm desert. Free breakfast is at Sidewinders which is not on the property. It’s about less than a mile away from VV. You don’t get much for breakfast, so if you decide to order off the menu they’ll take $ 4 off per person your bill.
If we can’t find a reasonably priced place closer to PS, this place is a decent alternative.

This place was totally cool. I originally was thinking of rating them with four stars but after spending the night… 3. We stayed in one of the rooms which was 2 stories. Kitchen, living room downstairs, 2 separate bedrooms upstairs with a queen in one and king bed in the other. It was very windy and the Windows rattled all night making it an uneasy stay. You would think that since this place was remodeled they would’ve upgraded the Windows. The bed sheets smelled like a wet dog. The smell went away after a while. They also have day beds outside a pool and spa which we did not use. We did receive 2 breakfast vouchers that we were not expecting for the sidewinder restaurant just a couple of blocks away. I probably would stay here again.

We had a very nice stay at the Vista Ventana. Ours was a great room, which included a kitchen. The hot tubs were a most welcome delight at the end of a day of hiking. The staff was friendly and helpful. Our room was very clean, as were the common spaces. And all of this was very affordable. (Breakfast was included, but note that it was at a restaurant a few minutes drive away.)
At the time we were there, the indoor hot tub (which is beautiful) was not fully working, and the sauna was out of commission. Assuming these are fixed up, it would really be a very pleasant place to stay. This is not a top end resort… But for what it is, we were very happy, and would definitely consider staying there again.
There’s not much to do in the town of DHS, but great hiking nearby, and only a short drive from Palm Springs, for those who are drawn to that.

I booked this hotel after looking for a a reasonable rate for Thanksgiving (most hotels in Palm Springs and surrounding area jacked up their prices or asked for a minimum 3 night stay). Though others warned about the surrounding area in reviews online, the pictures looked cute, the prices were great, plus we would be near family we were visiting for the holiday. When we got to the hotel, we noticed immediately that it was, indeed, a crappy location. There is a depressing run-​down apartment complex/​hotel? with questionable people hanging out next door. The whole surrounding area was scary and depressing. There was only one car in the hotel parking lot and we weren’t sure where to check in because the side facing the main street also has doors. The entire complex is gated and must have been an apartment complex at some time. The pictures make the courtyard look much bigger than it is, but that was not an issue for us. It also wasn’t their fault that it was a very windy day and so everything was a mess outside. We went to the office and were greeted by Brandy. We asked to see the room first before paying, and she kindly gave us the key. Our room was upstairs facing the pool. This is what we observed:
1) The room had an odd smell.
2) While the owners tried to make an attempt at re-​doing this property, unfortunately the bulk of it was just slapping on vibrant paint rather than reconstructing. I like the idea and the colors, but the sitting area was extremely crowded, the couch stained, the stove so old I would have feared blowing up the whole place, the insides of the cabinets were dirty (makes one wonder what else «lurks» there), the fixtures on the sink outdated (in both kitchenette and bathroom), the drawers dirty in the dresser, the vanity area and bathroom very out-​dated and needing modernization. My husband, whom is a pretty laid back, open minded guy, even was afraid to look under the bed for what gross stuff we might find there. I do not recall that this room had a tile floor like the others in the online pictures.
3) One window looked straight into the balcony window area of the gaudy, dirty Hyundae Hotel next door.
4) Just an overall uncomfortable vibe there. Hardly anyone around, doors don’t shut properly and windows are not secured. There were two hooded men loitering around in the parking lot, looking like they were waiting to make a drug deal with their side glances and furtive behavior.
The positive:
1) Brandy at the front desk. When we came downstairs and into the office, she knew off the bat that we did not like the room. She immediately offered to find us another place to stay (which was a concern because places were booked up for the holiday). She mentioned they had a sister property called The Monroe in Palm Springs, called over there and spoke with the manager and arranged for a two night stay there for us at the rate we would have paid at Vista Ventana! Awesome customer service (and I was happy to see she also worked at The Monroe so I could properly thank her again).

My teammate and I are living here for Summer baseball thanks to Palm Spring Power and it was very relaxing here. We honestly do not have any complaints about the staying here. The jacuzzi and pool is clean and warm. The rooms are HUGE and it’s dope to just chill. Full kitchen 4 beds cold ac! I would definitely recommend this place for anyone staying in the area. Gracias!

I read your response. Most hotels would change this and make this right immediately and would write a short note of apology. You on the other hand took weeks to fix the problem after various phone calls and wrote this. I wish you well
Larry Waggoner

First, this place is super cute inside. The rooms were awesome, clean and comfortable, and everything you need kitchen wise (awesome for a healthy eater like me who brings her own food!) The beds were so comfortable that I slept in an hour later than normal each morning. The staff was friendly and accommodating. That being said, the area immediately surrounding the motel is dodgy. There is a «spa townhouse» next door that looks like a halfway house. Once you get inside it is nice and relaxing, great pool and hot tub. I wouldn’t bring the kiddos though.

Pros: Darlene the massage therapist is amazing. Massage was relaxing, scrub was moisturizing. She’s a gem & 5 stars.
Room was comfortable and quiet.
Brandee & Clarence were nice, but after I made a few trips to the office, Clarence seemed to get annoyed.
Nice to have a frig & stove, kitchen area.
Cons: The place is located next door to a drug den with sketchy looking people coming & going, cars pulling up honking, windows being rolled down & exchanges being made.
Another guest told us this area is dangerous with drug dealers, shootings, stabbings, jumpings & not to go out after dark. The next night we stayed, there was a shooting 2 doors down.
The outdoor spa heater broke & since the pool is heated by the same heater, the pool was ice cold. I went to the office to tell them, and was told the repair guy was coming. I didn’t see him come & it’s 8 p.m. & it’s still not fixed. It’s day 2 in the morning & both the spa outside were being repaired, but I had to check out.
I did appreciate having a stove, only 1 burner worked however.
The outlet in the kitchen did not work.
Once the sun comes up, look out… you’re wide awake & burning up because the sun comes right into the window.
To close & lock the door, you have to push on it, almost slamming it to lock it.
The building itself is unsecured so any rif raf that wanted to break into a room could since the front gate doesn’t lock. Since it’s in a bad neighborhood, perhaps the owner should invest in some type of security measure for the front gate.
Will I be back? Nope. The cost of the room for 2 nights was 479 $ due to it being Coachella weekend. Obviously they increased their rates way up. I also believe that if they wanted us back as guests, they would have comped a bit on the bill, especially since they have a Groupon happening.
Liz

Desert Hot Springs has become my hidden gem. I feel specially because of Vista Ventana. Brandy is an incredible host. Always accommodating and smiling. I really appreciate that is a tiny hotel. So I haven’t find any overcrowded pools. I also appreciate that they work with you in terms of rates and accommodations. I’m a very clean person and I find Vista Ventana always clean and neat. They offer rooms with kitchenette and a lot of space for the price. The décor is some what a mix between modern and outdated desert hotels but somehow really works making this a really nice atmosphere. I agree it has outdated TV and AC but who is here for a big screen? The AC does the job at the end of the day. My favorite part is the private pool with sauna. And Derline is a really good message therapist and healer. I highly recommend this place.

We booked this place because it was close proximity to Palm Springs and the Salton Sea. Basically my boyfriend hated it and I thought it was fine. After staying in a really cramped in I was grateful for all of the open space. The AC was VERY loud and the TV was small and outdated but other than that I had no complaints. He was freaked out by the lack of windows, as the only 2 windows were high up and behind the beds. If this bothers you make sure you don’t book a corner room. I didnt really care because we didnt hang out in the room much. The bed was clean and comfortable. If you’re looking for a place to stay in the desert I’d say this is more than adequate.
They give you coupons for the Sidewinder Café for breakfast and though it looked a bit scary it was actually quite good with very good coffee.

Here on a groupon and the pool is just the right temp! The hot tub is also nice and waters are crystal clear. The rooms are spacious and there is a nice big kitchen, not just the tiny fridge and microwave– a full size fridge, sink and stove and counter to work on. We had a breakfast included, so didn’t need to prepare meals, but it would have been nice for an extended stay.

3 and a half stars for a work in progress. Spent a weekend in December when it was very cold. This recently refurbished location was their first winter and they weren’t prepared for the cold weather. As people arrived from on a Friday evening, one by one complained no heat in the room. The manager ran out and purchased room heaters. I could not close and lock our door.
For the price you can’t go wrong. It’s not too large or too noisy and the staff is more than willing to accommodate. The rooms are large– ours even had a kitchen and sitting area.
There is a small pool and a hot tub. My whole thing is the mineral hot springs in DHS. I don’t know the break down of this water but the places that are on springs have the mineral content available to you. I could be wrong but I think they may be heating their water.
If you are just passing through and need a clean, safe, affordable, place to overnight — this is it. They also have coffee, fruit, juices, & pastries in the morning.

LONG OVERDUE REVIEW!!!
Vista Ventana was a wonderful surprise!
We stayed at the Vista Ventana over the summer, in July and I have nothing but great things to say about it.
YES, the place is deceiving from the outside: small and «motelish» BUT once you begin the check in process you realize you’re in for something special.
You are greeted with pastries and a smile.
The manager, Steve, was out during stay and in his place was a wonderful woman (believe her name was Kathy). She was sooooooo nice and WONDERFUL to our children.
We stayed during the middle of the week, so we had the place to ourselves and she went out of her way to make our kids feel at home.
The room we stayed in was directly above the lobby and was PERFECT! I loved the décor!
I understand the place is just starting up, so kitchen was not fully stocked with pots/​pans but she got some for us (new ones) and we were up and running in no time.
I have to say one thing: the Jacuzzi was incredible! The kids were swimming in it: YES swimming in it — it’s HUGE!!!
We plan on returning this summer and I know the place will be in better shape: you can tell the owners are taking great loving steps to make this place a treat. My son is always talking about this place, because the memory of our stay is so lovely.
The location is close to Joshua Tree National Park and other places of interest.
One thing I need to say: Steve, the manager who I was bummed not to meet in person because he sounds like a true delight (and John Waters) was so helpful! Also he saved major grief because he returned my cell phone to me after I forgot it in the room. He contacted me immediately and returned it… now that is SERVICE!
Thank you Vista Ventana for a lovely stay and I wish you great success on your venture.

I was there a couple of weekends ago celebrating my anniversary with my boyfriend and we had a great time. The staff was very nice and even put campaign and flowers in the room for the occasion. The rooms were very nice and minerals pools were awsome. Love the fact they are open 24 hours. Good a massage that was so relaxing.
All and all great time and place. Will definitely visit next time we are in the area. Only thing I wish (nothing to big of deal) is there was an ice machine and music with my massage. But it was a great weekend and we can thank vista ventana =)

I would have given one more star has the name of this motel had not been so deceiving. It’s called a resort and spa. It isn’t in the slightest. The good news is the rooms are actually clean and they have nice stone floors with a kitchenette. However, I did get some bites in the bed. Bed bugs? I’m not sure, but it was a little worrisome.
The building itself looked like an old apartment building. The jacuzzi was tepid and the pool, well the pool was fine.
They didn’t clean my room all day even though I had a maid service requested sign up. Apparently, housekeeping only stays until a certain hour. But I was never made aware of it.
All in all for the $ 50 a night price tag was fine, but it’s false advertising to call it a resort or spa. It’s a motel.

Our stay was GREAT! We found this little desert gem at the last minute. Vista Ventana is a great place to stay in the SPA district of Desert Hot Springs. While they are currently renovating the property, the basic amenities and casual vibe earn it a 5 Star rating. Steve the manager is an awesome host and has great plans for improving the property as well as event planning.
What to expect: This isn’t hoity-​toity Palm Springs. You come here to rest, relax and take in the «waters». They even take the phones out of the rooms to maintain the peaceful, zen-​like atmosphere. Both the spa and the pool water come from the DSH mineral water aquifer. There are massage services on premises with planned accommodations for salt, sugar and mud scrubs as well as a sauna.
I look forward to «taking in the waters» at this great venue soon! Of course I am probably shooting my self in the foot, In 6 – 9 months this place will blossom into a $ 300/​night Boutique Hotel for the LA/​Jet set that needs to decompress after a r rough week of deal making… get it while you can!

Vista Ventana proved to be an unexpected gem. It’s got a vibe that pays homage to both retro 1960s motels and European style two to three start motels, but with a smattering of upscale comfort.
Room 104 was a spacious double queen with a neat retro kitchenette including electric stove, full Fridge, sink and dishes.
Beds were both plush and firm, making for one heck of a comfortable sleep. Philosophy toiletries really added a nice touch.
Steve, the manager, was a friendly guy, really helpful, and sort of reminded me of John Malkovich. I asked questions about pets and being comped at a local day spa since I’d heard the pools were under repair, Steve wrote (yes a real letter) that we would be comped pool entry to a neighboring spa and kindly recomended a pet friendly motel for next visit. He gave us breakfast vouchers and told my friend and I some of the insider plans for this neat «South Beach meets desert» place.
Thankfully, the pools were fixed up when we got there, because the day spa we were comped was straight out of Dante’s Inferno. That pool water looked unsavory at best, unsanitary at worst. VV’s pool and hot tub were CLEAN and comforting.
Can’t wait till they extend their spa offerings!
A beer and wine license is in the works for themed weekends catering to different folks like classic movie lovers, young travelers, desert revelers etc. Outdoor barbeques also in the works.
While it’s still a work on progress it is easy to see this place well be a hit and is well on the right track with both cool and hot spring waters and a comfy chic outdoor lounge.
Touring musicians stayed while we where there and young couples of every persuasion even a few small families were welcomed as well. The vibe was relaxed, but everyone was given warm service and personal attention. Big plus!
Continental breakfast of coffee, juice, pastries, and fruit also provided in office. And staff always happy to help with suggestions.

I’m giving this place 4 stars for my experience. I’m not saving it’s a 4 star hotel.
It’s actually more like a boutique resort if I had to classify it, or an upgraded motel.
I had very low expectations when booking because the online ratings were crap (on Unilocal
etc). The prices were super low, too and it was more important for our group to save money since we didn’t plan on spending too much time in the hotel rooms.
When we arrived, we saw that the pool and jacuzzi were not closed off. I wondered if it was actually open for us but it did look a bit dirty. When we checked in (we got in around lunch time and check-​in wasn’t until 3pm), the manager Steve told us that if we waited a bit, he might be able to let us into our rooms. Score! He also mentioned that the pools are technically open but the pool guy has to clean it first before anyone could go in (dust storm the night before). I had initially booked a single king room but when he saw that we were checking in with a pair of friends, he said he could upgrade us to a bigger room with two queens that would be closer to our friends for no extra charge. Yes please! He gave us 2 free breakfast coupons (1 coupon per day per person) for Sidewinder Grill (a few blocks driving) that included 2 eggs any style, potatoes or hash brown, choice of toast, and choice of coffee, or tea. He also told us that if we wanted to go to a spa, we were comped at the Desert Hot Springs down the block from the hotel since the hotel pool/​jacuzzi may not open in time.
Once we got the keys, we went inside to find a very mod room, super spacious, with green walls and pink accents. There were two neat queen sized beds, a cute vanity sporting Philosophy Amenities (!!!) and a cute retro kitchenette with fridge, stove, sink, and a few utensils/​cups/​silverware. It was seriously so cute and beyond what I had imagined from the photos and reviews online.
There is a binder that says that if you take anything with you, they’d charge your credit card. I asked Steve for clarification and he said that the amenities and water bottles were for us to take for free but that some guests take lamps, flower pots, robes (they’ll have them soon), and other things that shouldn’t be taken out.
The first day we drove out to Joshua Tree so we only came back home to crash. The second day, though, we started the day with a breakfast at Sidewinder Grill (pretty decent breakfast — I got 2 eggs over easy, house potatoes, sourdough bread, coffee) and decided to do a spa day. The pool and jacuzzi looked pretty clean at the hotel but we thought we’d give this other place a try first. We walked over to the Desert Hot Springs a couple blocks from Vista Ventana, got the $ 10 waived, and entered… a nightmare. A clusterfuck of toddlers, kids, and unattractive orange people. We took a dip into the largest pool but we kept getting splashed by the demon children and had to witness pedo-​looking hairy men «play» with their nieces in the water. Needless to say, this was NOT the relaxing environment we were expecting so we decided to go back to Vista Ventana to enjoy the spotless pool and jacuzzi to ourselves.
When we got back, some guests were already enjoying the jacuzzi so we started with the cold pool and then moved on to the jacuzzi once it freed up. We sunbathed and lounged around. THIS was relaxing. Afterwards, we hit the town (Palm Springs this time) and came home to crash. The showers were splendid. A reviewer said the water is tepid at best? Actually the water temperature and pressure was amazing. It beats what we have at home and it felt so refreshing. We got more Philosophy replenishments and my hair never smelled so good.
Next day, the morning was full of new guests enjoying the pool and jacuzzi. We had a short chat with Steve before checking out, and then we drove to get breakfast.
Breakfast was scrambled eggs, hash browns, biscuit (added gravy for $.50), and a side of sausage (couple extra bucks), coffee at Sidewinder Café. Solid.
I think we got lucky that we stayed here right when the pool/​jacuzzi opened, at such a great price (on Memorial Day Weekend no less). Steve showed us where the new on-​site spa area was going to be (they’d have vichy massages), and all his plans to continue renovating the property.
Once everything is done, I think it will be truly a 5 star experience. Can’t wait to go back!