Sahara Resort & Spa

I paid ahead for two nights, but left within an hour of checking in and had to find somewhere else to stay. They wouldn't refund me, so I'll be contacting the Better Business Bureau. The first problem was the lack of precautions in shared areas. The pools and spas were all open without restrictions, nobody on staff or among the guests wore masks, and there was no hand sanitizer in the office. The family owners were eating and watching TV in the lobby, where I had to pass several unmasked people to reach the desk. No distancing advice was posted or followed, including around the pool. Guests had doors open, carried food to the pool deck, and gathered with families from other rooms. Tables and chairs weren't arranged to leave space between people. Then there was room 12. The chain lock was partly missing and unusable, and the stove and other kitchen appliances had cords hanging down from above. The room looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a long time: spiderwebs with spiders and dead flies in the corners, stains on the counters, furniture, and floors, dirty marks on the top comforter, and filthy, uncovered decorative pillows worn right through. The kitchen linoleum was coming up and could trip someone. The toilet wouldn't flush, and the air conditioner beside the door was filthy, with a filter I doubt had ever been changed. It was also right at head height. There was no smoke detector. I asked twice to have it replaced, but they wouldn't acknowledge it was missing. I can't say what the other rooms were like, but this one didn't appear to meet the county and state guidelines for enhanced cleaning, distancing, or face coverings.

I loved the mineral water pools and saunas most. There are two pools, one about 3-9 feet deep and the other 3-4-3, plus three saunas, including one indoors. The warm water felt great, and the mineral water left my skin soft. The showers use mineral water too, and left me feeling refreshed. Pool and sauna time was a 5/5. The place has new owners, apparently since July, and they're still remodeling. Some areas haven't been renovated yet, and there are empty pools. I expect things to improve over time. My room's toilet wasn't working, though friends' toilets worked, so it may be hit or miss for now. The public restrooms were fine to use. The room itself had good AC, plenty of space, comfortable beds and pillows, a microwave, decent Wi-Fi, and a stove that I couldn't confirm worked because it was covered in foil. Room: 3.5/5. There's also a snack bar with things like ramen, large bags of chips, and coffee. I didn't try it since I'm on a diet.

We barely rested because guests two doors down were fighting loudly, then got charged an extra $40 for sleeping in. The woman was very rude, and she kept our deposit when we were trying to check out and stay awake on our own blankets. I feel like I'm owed a refund after all that drama, especially since the room was terrible: the TV didn't work, the blankets weren't sanitary, the kitchen stove was broken, and there were bugs. We paid $300 for this.

The rooms are spacious, and there's lots of space for barbecuing. All the pools are great, too. Staff were friendly, though a little drunk.