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Sanctuary Resort & Spa – reviews, photos

11000 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
Hotel amenities
Sanctuary Resort & Spa
Sanctuary Resort & Spa
Sanctuary Resort & Spa
Sanctuary Resort & Spa
Sanctuary Resort & Spa
Sanctuary Resort & Spa
2.5 of 5 stars 48 Reviews
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48 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveller rating
    2
    7
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    4
    33
Date Rating
San Diego, California
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
Reviews in 17 cities Reviews in 17 cities
31 helpful votes 31 helpful votes
“Stay Away!!”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 August 2007
4
people found this review helpful

The pictures on the hotel's website and on hotels.com are very misleading. Don't be fooled.

We were't expecting 5 star, but it was awful. When we arrived the front desk gave us access cards to someone else's room and we walked in on a family. Some security huh?
When we finally got out room, the access card would only work 1/3 of the time. We spent 10 mins trying to open the door everytime. The pool area was very dirty and we didn't even want to venture into the water. The bed spread had noticable dirt and grim on it. We also noticed a dead cockroach on the floor of the lobby.

Trust me and stay away. Even a chain motel (motel 8, etc) would be a better, cleaner choice.

  • Stayed April 2007, travelled as a couple
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Phoenix AZ
1 review
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
“Stay away from La Toscana”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 23 April 2007
2
people found this review helpful

Total misrepresentation! From their website you would think this is a newly remodeled resort and spa where one could relax. What is offered is a rundown, low budget motel with lots of problems. I found no relaxation here. This place needs a major remodel. It's a dump.

Check in was inefficient. I could tell right from the start the customer service reps were ill equiped to handle the complaints from the 2 sets of guests already ahead of me. Also did not like their policy of charging your credit card for $100 at check in for "incidentals". It is a posted policy once you get there but you can bet I will be watching my credit card statement.

Could not get back into my room after dinner. Took 4 different attempts and several people to finally gain entry. They made me feel like I should be grateful after 30 minutes of standing outside my room when the maintenance man finally got the door to open.

Floors around the complex are crumbling and have exposed chicken wire. Entry and exit doors do not open and close properly. Trash all around complex. Gang graffiti in back of hotel. My hotel door had glass panes so it did not feel very secure.

Furniture inside room was mismatched, patched and worn. Noticed blood stain on comforter the following morning. Paint is chipped all over repainted bathroom cabinets.

Clientele on that Saturday night comprised of many families with kids running up and down the outside corridors. Others were sitting in plastic chairs outside their room in the corridors drinking and being obnoxious. Again, not a relaxing spa environment.

And don't expect a blow dryer! Our room did not come with one. When I called the front desk they said they did not have any more. They were booked solid. Best they could do was to call me when someone checked out. That did not happen before we needed to leave so if you are brave enough to stay here bring your own blow dryer.

We left without our complimentary 30 minute massage. We just wanted to get out of there before there were more problems.

Big ripoff. You are better off at Motel 6 or Hampton Inn.

  • Liked — Price
  • Disliked — The stress it created.
  • Stayed April 2007, travelled with friends
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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donster61, General Manager at Sanctuary Resort & Spa, responded to this review
20 August 2007
The La Toscana has been purchased by new owners and is now called the Hotel Shilla - the new owners have spent considerable funds on the property including fixing the walkways, new air conditioners, painting the rooms and removing the old balcony carpets and replacing them... - our bar is now open as well and the Spa has been redone - the property really looks nice and I am aware of the past problems, but we have greatly improved the hotel and I know anyone who was here before who had a bad experience will be pleasantly surprised! Thanks - Don/G.M.
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Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
“Friendly, but Needs Work”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 31 March 2007

We like to support underdogs, and we gave this hotel lots of latitude. The staff is very friendly and tries hard and we wish them great success. However...the rooms are a strange mixture of nice, rather elegant furniture and items in need of cleaning or repair. Bedspreads are stained; paint is peeling; refrigerators don't work. Whenever we brought a problem to management's attention, they did their best to fix it. But vacations are not relaxing when you are running to the front desk with problems and then waiting for them to be fixed. And problems abound. Our internet coupon deal included a free massage. We checked in on a Saturday afternoon and I had to schedule and reschedule the massage four times until I finally received it on Tuesday. Again, it is not relaxing to wait for an appointment and have it postponed because the front desk forgot to call in the massage therapist. On the plus side, management was apologetic and extended the massage to a full hour instead of half an hour.

The pool was very warm and appeared clean. All the minerals in the water make swimmers more buoyant, which is a fun experience. There was no chlorine odor and the mineral water did smell unpleasant. Two hot tubs (one indoors, one out) were also nice. But, again, general maintenance is poor. Pool side chairs are messy with bird droppings. It appears the hotel is charging low rates to attract business, but doesn't have the cash flow to hire enough staff to keep up with maintenance.

Security is an issue. Our daughter's wallet was stolen out of her purse during the night, while we slept. We neglected to deadbolt our door and we believe the regular lock did not catch. It took a bit of a handle jiggle to make sure the lock engaged. My daughter and I were frightened and wanted to check out, but my husband did not want the inconvenience of finding a new place. The police said room break-ins are rare.

I don't want to frighten people away from staying at La Toscana. Just know the adage "you get what you pay for" is true.

  • Liked — Pools
  • Disliked — Disrepair; security
  • Stayed March 2007, travelled with family
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
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Lakewood, Ca
1 review
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
“Disgusting! Filthy!”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 March 2007
2
people found this review helpful

I was "suckered" into buyng a "romantic weekend" getaway for two package at a home show held at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim Ca. I paid $139.00 for a 1 day 1 night lovers package. I did not think this was a rip off price since Desert Hot Springs is only a 2 hour drive from Anahiem. The brochure that was provided looked lovely, the web site just as convincing. Upon arrival it was a nightmare!! nothing like the advertisement. The facility is run down, smelly, and appears to be a home for people that have no other place to go and no money. When I tried to get my money back I was given the run around. It is now 4yrs later and it appears from other recent comments that nothing has changed. If the "new" management team truelly wanted to provide what is offered in their brochure and website, they would shut the facility down and renovate completely. I WOULD NOT EVEN CHANCE GOING THERE!!!!! Unless of course you have no regards for where you stay and just want a filthy place to lay your head and a cess pool to swim in, then I say you have found your place.

  • Liked — Absolutely nothing!!!
  • Disliked — Filthy, smelly, poor management and staff
  • Stayed March 2003, travelled as a couple
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
    • 1 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
California
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“OUCH. This place is badly in need of repair and in one word 'tacky'.”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 March 2007
1
person found this review helpful

The hotel needs major renovation before accepting guests. The carpet was dirty and worn, plaster exposed, walls needing paint, outside back stairs dangerous, graffeti on the back outside walls etc. Our key rarely worked and even after three different keys, we realized that the problem was in the door mechanism. The microwave did not work so a smaller one was brought in and placed on top of it. Chair had stains and drapes pathetic. Now, on the good side, the room was big, air conditioner and shower worked well and it is only a 15 minute drive to Palm SPrings. Breakfast in the hotel restaurant was fine and inexpensive. Pleaes know what you are getting if you choose to book this room. It is really a dump desperately in need of a facelift.

Stayed March 2007
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Sanctuary Resort & Spa Also Known As

  • Sanctuary Hotel Desert Hot Springs
Address: 11000 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240

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