First off I would like to get this out of the way; I'm rating this hotel with 3 stars only because we had a discounted rate through Living Social. If we had paid full price for this weekend i would have expected much more. Now that is out of the way let me begin...Our weekend at Lake La Quinta Inn was quiet and relaxing. The hotel is located in a residential area, with a few hotel/resorts sprinkled amongst the homes. The area is quiet and serene. The view of the lake from our room was great! (see pics) We arrived late, after the office had closed, but we were given a door code to get in and our key and paperwork was right where we could easily find it. The check-in was smooth, no hassle. Upon entering the room we were greeted with a cute little gift box that included some body lotions and such. Very nice. The place was clean and we had a first floor room with french doors that opened right onto the lake. Very nice. The room boasted a fireplace, but we never lit it, because it was July (hot!)

My husband and I had a super fun weekend. After arriving in a summer downpour and learning I left my iPad on the top of the car and killed the hard drive in it, I figured I deserved a big frozen yogurt. By this time the rain was really coming down hard, but we called the froyo place up the street and the awesome young man said he would stay open until we got there. YES! Thank You froyo guy! So we ate big overflowing cups of froyo covered in toppings as we snuggled up to watch the storm. Very nice!

The following day we drove to Palm Desert and strolled through the shops, had lunch at Tommy Bahama's outside balcony. Highly recommend the fish tacos and the pina colada cake. That evening we dined at The Cliffs in Palm Desert. We weren't expecting much at dinner, but were pleasently surprised with the food and service we received. The next day we spent lazing by the lake under a tree in some adirondack chairs that had been set out (see pics). The warm sun and blue sky along with the sparkly lake after a summer storm made us happy to be alive and in love.

It was a nice weekend. Now about the room....they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I've posted a few for your review. You will see for yourself that Lake La Quinta Inn is not the Four Seasons. The room, the decor, the bathroom, even the bath towels all need updating. We had heard the hotel had just undergone a remodel and it did look like there was a fresh coat of glaring white paint in the bathroom, but it seriously needs much more. The decor in the room amounted to Ikea's weekly special. The towels were dingy and scratchy. The shower tile was early 1970s. In addition, the landscaping was dead and burnt out. At the front entrance you are greeted by one of those gaudy plaster or stone cupid angels. Dead bushes and grass, no flowers, trash mixed in among the dead plants (see pics). And no, this was not due to the location (dry desert). Everywhere else was green and lush.

So, the bottom line is this- Yes, the place is quiet and clean, but unless you are visiting with a special discount or coupon you will be disappointed.