Motel 6 North Palm Springs, CA - North

I give it 2.5 stars out of 5, rounded up because the front desk woman was great and I survived. I was hiking the PCT, so the location, about 10 minutes from the Pacific Crest Trail, worked well, and the total was $65 for a room with a fridge. There’s a Denny's and a gas station/convenience store next door. Check-in was easy, the front desk person was helpful, the hot water was plentiful, and the A/C worked well if you know the tricks to set it below its limit. My room had a mini fridge with a freezer, microwave, mini desk, and small table. I slept well and wasn’t bothered by other guests. The Wi-Fi didn’t work at all, which is a big deal and might have made me book elsewhere if I’d known. There was hair everywhere, including thick black hair in the shower and on the bed, plus some in the freezer. I don’t mind much, but beware if that bothers you. One of the two ice machines was broken, outlets were scarce, and pool lights shone into my room all night. It was bright enough to see without a light, even at 3 a.m. I also stepped on a small piece of glass and cut my foot. I hadn’t brought anything glass, so it was already there. The curtains had holes and marks that looked like burns. If you just need a quick, no-frills sleep on a budget before getting back on the road or trail, and don’t care much about spotless cleanliness or Wi-Fi, this could work. There’s also plenty of random hair.

I’ve been back several times over the past few months, usually for about a week, and the front office staff have always been friendly and accommodating. They even offer me the same room as before. Manager Aaron is professional and polite, and once quickly brought me extra pillows and a luggage rack. The Wi-Fi could use a boost. I’ve heard some internet providers install one for free. I expect I’ll keep returning.

My family had come in from out of town and booked a room for the night. They checked in around 4 p.m., left their bags, and went to celebrate Thanksgiving. When they returned around 12:30 a.m., their bag of clothes was gone, the beds were messed up, and the trash cans were full, as if someone had been in the room. The front desk wouldn’t give them another room or a refund and told them to call the manager in the morning. I contacted customer service, and they reached the manager, who said he didn’t know what had happened and got my number so he could call. I was still on the line with customer service and couldn’t answer, so I called back. When I asked about the refund, he said it was between him and the other party, that it wasn’t my business, and hung up while I was speaking. I didn’t realize he’d called because I was returning his call. During his conversation with my family, he got upset because they couldn’t give him the exact time someone entered the room. Our belongings were stolen, and his attitude toward everyone trying to resolve it was awful. We weren’t in the room, so I couldn’t tell him when it happened. There was no refund, explanation, or apology. We were treated like an inconvenience. The manager seemed very practiced at speaking to guests so disrespectfully. No hospitality at all, before or after. Horrible experience, definitely don’t recommend.

A cold front hit while I was camping near Joshua Tree around New Year's, and all my gear was wet. I couldn’t get warm, and I doubted I’d find somewhere nearby that was available, affordable, and pet-friendly during the holiday. Motel 6 came through with a reasonable holiday price and no extra pet fee for my dog. A long hot shower and a lot of sleep later, I felt like a new person. The front desk staff were friendly and accommodating, the other guests were courteous and quiet, and my clean room had a working hot shower and everything else worked too. The only reason I’d take a star off the room is that the neighbor’s pipes sounded like a freight train through the wall when they showered. Luckily it only went on for 20-30 minutes. Otherwise, it saved my trip.