I wanted to go to my favorite boutique hotel in Dana Point. It sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean and is such a tranquil setting. But the room charge was more than I wanted to spend, so I looked elsewhere.
Hmm… where can I go in the middle of summer where the prices won’t be outrageous?
Of course— the desert! At least, as they say, the 106 degrees F. is a dry heat.
I don’t remember ever having spent time in Desert Hot Springs—the boho little sister of nearby glitzy Palm Springs, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I found had a bit of a ghost-town vibe: a few neglected buildings, closed shops, a couple of Mexican restaurants… and the darling little spa motel where I stayed.
El Morocco Inn was cute, clean, and well-appointed. I knew ahead of time that my room had a fridge and a microwave, so upon entering the town, I stopped in at one of the Mexican restaurants for a carne asada plate to go, and saved it in my fridge for dinner that night.
I stayed in an upstairs room (no elevator), overlooking the clean pool, which I discovered was almost body temperature as it is fed from the nearby mineral springs. I had the pool to myself, and once the hottest part of the day was over, I found myself in a comfy pool lounge just listening to the local birds and the nearby fountain.
I might have been the only guest there the first night (a Monday)—I certainly didn’t hear or see anyone other than the proprietor until the next day.
The breakfast room was set up with a coffee and tea service, always-available cold water and “Humphrey Bogart” (Moroccan Mint tea with lemonade). Breakfast was a notch up from a typical Continental breakfast and pre-ordered each night. It was bagged and labeled for each guest and kept in a fridge for us to pick up each morning. There were small tables outside by the pool, and couches in the nearby Kasbah Room (where the movie Casablanca played 24/7—such a cute touch).
So, while not the most vibrant or beautiful town, since I wasn’t looking for an exciting nightlife experience, it worked for me. My stay at El Morocco was relaxing and pleasant, and just the ticket for the simple retreat I was looking for.