During my recent stay at the Harmony Motel in 29 Palms, charm and the need for maintenance defined my experience. The motel's nostalgic ambiance initially appealed to me, yet it needed some care. The assistant manager was friendly at check-in, even preparing the air conditioner. However, she left the windows open, causing the room to be excessively warm until late at night. The next morning, she confused us by asking if we were staying another night, despite our prepayment for three nights. A day before departure, the housekeeper entered without knocking, apologized, and left. I confirmed it was a mistake and later received an apology from the assistant manager. Our spacious room had a kitchen with a stove, microwave, refrigerator, toaster, coffee maker, and utensils. Mostly clean, but the kitchen walls and floor needed a thorough cleaning, and dead bugs were present. The small bathroom lacked hooks. The bed was fairly comfortable, but the pillows were old and flat. The window air conditioner struggled during hot periods, and Wi-Fi was extremely slow.
The motel grounds were charming but neglected: scattered leaves, broken pathway lights, an uninviting pool area with a makeshift fence, dirty furniture, and cloudy water with debris. Check-out involved stripping bedding and texting an unknown number, which felt inconvenient. Despite these issues, the motel was quiet and comfortable with its proximity to Joshua Tree National Park, about 7 miles away, being an advantage.
