La Casa Del Zorro Resort & Spa

Four-inch cockroaches and a deserted property. During the summer, JUST DON'T. PSA - Do not stay here during the hot summer months. Not many would anyway, but my husband and I were celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and we had held our wedding reception here in July 1999. Back then, it was a thriving resort (even in 108 degree July heat), and we had rented several casitas for our guests to spend the night. Our wedding dinner was held in the very nice Fox Bistro restaurant, and all was well back then. Now, in 2024, the resort has become old and tired. The place was all but deserted. We were told that during our three-day stay, it peaked at 30 guests. Thus, most everything on the resort was closed, including the restaurant. Thank goodness the Fox Den was open for a limited dinner menu all three nights we were there (5-9 pm). The bartender/waitress was wonderful and really the highlight of our stay. Besides the fitness center and jacuzzi temperature pools, literally all was closed. A coffee shop/store was supposed to be open mornings. However, it was closed three out of the four days we were there. So, no coffee, no breakfast, no lunch on the property every day we were there. But wait - there's more. When we arrived at our casita, we noticed spiders and cobwebs up near the kitchenette area. No big deal. Just knocked them down. The real horror began at night, with cockroaches to rival the size of those in Florida and New Orleans. Found two alive and kicking in our bathtub at least four inches long! Found another just inside our front door under my husband's shoe. The next morning, I talked to the front desk. Woman there also very nice and immediately dispatched a handyman to our casita with a can of Raid, which he left for me to use. That night, we also noticed that there was a literal parade of cockroaches outside, all along the sidewalk areas! They were everywhere! The front desk lady said they had been spraying, and yes, we did find several large dead ones right outside our door (good morning!) but the live and running ones far outnumbered them. We have stayed here several times between 1999 and now, as recently as two years ago. Not a single cockroach. And I can guarantee that 25 years ago for our wedding there were none that I saw. To wrap this horror up, I'd have given the experience zero stars, but for the excellent service of the very limited staff there. Oh, and btw, we spent over an hour shaking out our suitcases and clothing when we were repacking to come home. Ugh.

Desert Oasis We rented a casita for 3 nights. We loved it so much that we decided to stay another night. This was our second time staying at Casa del Zorro. We love the grounds, landscaping, and cheeky signage. It is truly is a desert oasis. A wonderful place to stay to relax and unwind. We ordered take out from the bar 1 night and the food was delicious. We also enjoyed the Starbucks that was onsite and had wonderful customer service. We can't wait to come back.

If you want AC in the desert then maybe try another hotel. Check in went well, staff is friendly and they can brew good Starbucks coffee. If you want AC in the desert then maybe try another hotel. Ours did not work, they gave us a fan.................. Below is an email I sent to GM, left two voice mails. Nothing back over a week later. Vivian, The front desk gave me your email asking I refer to you for a settlement on the issue of what is an appropriate remedy for the lack of AC in our room last night. When we checked in and turned it down then left for dinner. Upon returning to the room it was warmer than when we had left. 83 degrees. We called the desk and they suggested we turn it off and on and they sent someone to fix it. I left for the desert sky photo work shot and was a bit taken back when my wife called to say they could not fix it and dropped off a fan. No offer to change rooms. I have to say it was not what I expected and when I got back the lobby was closed. My wife has stayed with you before and was looking forward to me enjoying the place. I told her doubtful I would come back. My compromise to her and a potential remedy was a credit to come back one night, I had a terrible night sleep as 70 is the absolute warmest I will keep the thermostat. 77 was coldest it got, outside was cooler and there are no screens on the door/windows. Your front desk offered a 40 dollar resort fee credit which I did not feel was at all adequate. Just seems at the rate charged a working AC is not to much to ask in the summer time. At total cost spent of 650 for one night. On a side note, The chief needs to be told. His/Her mahi was not good, over cooked and chewy, it was more like tuna. I did not send it back because the server said they were very busy etc. again at that price point I expect better. My daughter had the fried chicken which was good. The Photo work shop was awesome and would get us back to the area for sure. Yoga was excellent, best class I have been to in a awhile. Overall Staff was very friendly and apologetic to the issues, just able to handle and real resolution. -Mark

Staff cannot back up their words Pros: The grounds are well maintained, attractive and peaceful. We arrived in the evening and there was a pleasant warm breeze . The room was tastefully decorated and clean, situated in a cluster of rooms that faced one of the swimming pools. Cons: The problems were communication with the staff. They seemed so eager to be pleasing, however their information was not accurate. In the long run I regret trusting their information as a basis to decide to make reservations at Casa Del Zorro, Borrego Springs. 1. The solitary reason for our stay was astronomical observation and we were sorely disappointed. When I called the receptionist on May 12 the first thing I asked was whether they had seen the northern lights. I explained to the receptionist that we were several hours away but would be willing to drive if there was a chance. Of course she said there was no guarantee - which we fully understood; however she told me that their guests had witnessed the northern lights for the past TWO nights, May 10 and May 11. I had not seen any reports in SoCal for May 11, so we immediately booked a $200+ room. The receptionist also told me they had a dark sky observation area, the “star theater”, which we were looking forward to. Upon arrival after driving several hours, the two receptionists at the front desk told us there had NOT been any northern lights sightings reported by their guests the previous night on May 11. I explained our disappointment because our impromptu trip was based solely on the report we were given by the first receptionist over the phone - that there had been consecutive sightings the previous two nights of the northern lights. We would not have made the trip if we had been told the actual situation - that the sightings were only on May 10 and not May 11. I contacted a professional astronomer in Borrego Springs on the day we checked in and he said “They were visible on Friday [May 10] … We had nothing last night nor do I expect anything tonight or for the future.” It appears the receptionist was so excited to make a booking that she did not check her facts and it was my fault for trusting her words. As far as the “star theater” astronomy viewing area, it was not very dark for observing the stars. It was a large open area, an abandoned archery range with high wooden slat walls that reduced some of the light from the city and the adjacent hotel parking lot. But it did not measure up to the “dark sky” conditions we have found in surrounding areas. 2. We made advanced reservations for dinner at Casa Del Zorro because we were told by their receptionist that they would be busy since it was Mother’s Day. When we arrived at 6pm there was a live piano player and a lively audience, and we were anticipating a fun evening. We asked how long the piano player would be playing, but the two receptionists did not know. When we came back for dinner less than an hour later, the whole place had emptied out. There was no live piano and only one other table occupied for dinner. Worse yet, the $120 menu had only 3 selections and none of them were compatible with my food plan. The busboy said that no substitutions were allowed, and he gave us the names of some restaurants in Town. About ten minutes later, the restaurant hostess called me and asked us to return. She assured me they would accommodate my dietary restrictions. But once again I was hugely disappointed when my dinner plate arrived because it was not compliant with my food plan. Finally I was brought plain broth. The waiter said he applied his employee discount for 30% off, which would make it $84 for a small dinner salad and broth and a cup of strawberries (which were brought as a dessert substitution only after we requested). We gave him a generous tip out because we were trying to be optimistic after going through so much effort to have a chance to see the northern lights, even though I felt like we had booked our stay and our dinner based on Inaccurate information from the hotel staff. 3. On the day of checkout I realized I had left a lightweight shirt in our room. I called Casa Del Zorro and the receptionist told me they would mail it to me. Three weeks later, my shirt has not been delivered and no one has returned my phone call. I suppose it would not be reasonable for me to continue to believe anything I am told by the hotel staff. Unfortunately I will not stay at Casa Del Zorro again. Three times disappointed- no dark sky observation area, wildly over priced dinner and no return of personal property.

Lovely property but needs to be moved into 2024. People need to know there is no Internet available when we stayed there. This goes also for the room phone and television. We were also on the fringe of Verizon coverage with 1 or 2 bars, and many times no connections. With temperature at 104 deg F, the air conditioner could not keep up with set temp. No wonder the windows are all single pane glass. Our casita was sold to us on the basis that astronomers love the far away location from the lights. However, the area is lit up with dark sky unfriendly lighting. There were crickets in our little kitchenette, tons of bugs in the pool. The manager was very nice as well as the front desk person. The casita appears to have been built in the 1950s, with the building surfaces having been repainted too many times. I asked if the buildings would be refurbished and was told, no, but they will be refreshed. Otherwise, it has beautiful grounds and very nice competent staff.