El Rancho Robles

We’ve stayed here several times, and it’s always a lovely place. The Casitas are clean and thoughtfully equipped. This year we got to enjoy a clawfoot tub, too. And the food is AMAZING, especially breakfast.

The smoke smell in Stable 8 was so strong that my husband got a headache, and we even thought about leaving. We bought a candle in town, and the weather was good enough that keeping the door open during the day helped. If cigarette smoke bothers you, know that this room isn’t smoke-free. I can’t say whether the other stables or rooms are the same. We had an easy time booking, and it seemed like most places were available since this probably wasn’t their busy season. Oracle Patio Cafe in town said they’re usually closed until March. The grounds were lovely, with grassy areas, plenty of places to sit, greenery, and spots for short walks and hikes. Stable 8 had a little fenced lawn of its own and patio seating where we enjoyed the mornings and evenings. It worked well as a weekend family break from everyday life. There were three bedrooms and space for six if everyone was fine sharing: two rooms had queen beds, and the third had two twins. There was one bathroom, a small living room with a TV, and a kitchen with a table for four. The free WiFi worked, and each bedroom and the living room had heating and cooling units that seemed to work well. We only needed heat at night. The beds were made up with sheets, comforters, and plenty of pillows, and some closets had extra blankets. We also had plenty of towels and travel-size soap and shampoo. The kitchen had a full-size fridge and freezer, ice trays already filled, a stove and oven, a countertop toaster oven, and a microwave. There were enough forks, knives, and spoons, plus basic utensils, but not many pots and pans. None were large, and there were no baking sheets. We brought eggs, toast, butter, and a frozen pasta dish to cook, then ate our other meals in town. The staff were extremely friendly and welcoming while giving us privacy and keeping things relaxed. There was also a pool and spa available.

The casitas are beautiful, and the staff are super friendly. They’ve added a pool, too. It’s an oasis in the desert, with giant trees for Arizona and a big lawn in the courtyard where food trucks and music sometimes show up. A must-see in Oracle!

I won’t stay here again. We spent nearly $400, and it was a huge waste. Check-in was a mess: the office was locked, so we crossed the property to ask a woman in a golf cart. She sent us to a food truck, but the person there had no idea what to do. Back at the office, we eventually found an employee who sent us to the locked door, where a paper with all my information and the door code was left out. Anyone could have taken the code. That didn’t feel safe. I had booked a king bed, but our room had two twin beds and a queen. Bugs were flying around at every window, the WiFi couldn’t even load my email, and there was no TV. Later, when I went for a walk, a woman yelled at me for not wearing my wristband and said I’d have to leave the property if I couldn’t follow the rules.