The Dixie Orange County

The pool being closed was a letdown, since it was one of the reasons I chose The Dixie in Stanton, California. Inside the room, the walls were grimy and nearly everything seemed broken or ready to fall apart. There weren’t extra pillows or amenities, and the place felt closed off and unwelcoming. The property’s condition gave me an unsafe, sketchy impression, especially with the location. I couldn’t relax there. This was one of the worst hotel stays I’ve had, and I wouldn’t recommend it. It needs serious work on cleaning, maintenance, and management before it’s presented as a decent place to stay.

I left calmly when they asked me to, but my money still hasn’t been refunded. I had a confirmed Booking.com reservation that specified a $100 credit card deposit. At check-in, the front desk insisted on cash only, even though that requirement wasn’t listed in the booking details. When I politely asked about the mismatch, the staff got rude and disrespectful and refused to check me in. They changed the rules on the spot instead of helping with a valid reservation. They only accept cash, despite what the official booking details say, and the staff’s conduct was completely unprofessional. The service was terrible, and I’d avoid this hotel because they don’t follow the Booking.com policies they advertise.

The room smelled clean, much better than the smoke-filled rooms I’ve had at Motel 6. Hot water, Wi-Fi, and the TV all worked, and I checked carefully without finding any bugs. I paid around $250 for five nights, a lot less than Staybridge or Sonesta. It’s basic, no-frills accommodation, not fancy, but not run-down either. Parking was easy and plentiful, one of the best parts of the stay. The area felt a bit rough and some of the crowd seemed questionable, but even my fairly nice car was untouched over five days. Noise was tolerable, though I heard a loud couple and their kid next door. There was supposedly breakfast, but I skipped it because of the crowd. Check-in happens outside, which felt odd. It seemed like the owners live on-site with their families, judging by the familiar faces and cars. The owner was polite, humble, and clearly worked hard. They asked for a $40 cash deposit. When I accidentally locked my key inside, they charged $5 to open the door, which felt a little petty, but whatever. The decor was strange. Everything had been painted black, but some surfaces were still tacky and had fingerprints, and there were paint splatters on the floor and curtains. It looked rushed. For the owners, I’d suggest power-washing and properly repainting things, especially the exterior doors, posting a clear cleaning and room-service policy, and listing the deposit details online. The cleaning lady does a solid job, so keep her around.

I paid a $60 cash deposit, and now I see why. After I got into the room, I reported that the door handle was broken, but they blamed me for damaging it. I booked this cheap hotel hoping for decent service and got the worst instead. I’m not coming back, and I’d stay away if you don’t want your money taken by this scammy business. Apparently they need it more than I do.