I'm off to San Diego for a work trip in a month or so, and have a couple of days to spend in J-Tree afterwards. Can someone recommend a decent hotel to stay at while climbing there?

Thanks,

JDW

Basically - there are a bunch of cheaper motels in Yucca Valley, all are about equivalent.

I've spent a night or two at the motel that's just north of the Park intersection, I think it's this? http://www.desertgold.com/highdesert/motel.html. It'll do. If I didn't camp, I guess that's what I'd do - it's close, and there's food nearby. There's a starbucks in yucca valley now, by the way.

For a nicer ('decent'?) place, there's a B&B just next to the theater in Joshua Tree, just as you come into town. http://www.joshuatreeinn.com/

There's no equivalent to high / leaf season there, but on one random weekend when Scott & I were just going to grab a room, *all* the motels were full b/c of something at 29 palms (military base). So it's not a terrible idea to reserve ahead, but you'd probably be able to walk in just fine.

please bring me a california burrito from santana's. thankyouverymuch.

I've stayed at the Safari Motor Inn in Joshua Tree.
Simple, plain rooms, reasonably priced and right in town so we could walk to breakfast and dinner.

Jannette

There currently are at least four motels/B&B's in JT plus a host of rental homes.

From high quality to low they are:

Sacred Sands Retreat (B&B on Quail Springs Rd about a mile from the W Entrance to the park and four miles from downtown JT [www.sacredsands.com] - $250 per night, but incredible!)

Joshua Tree Inn (mentioned in this thread - on Rte 62 next to the Hi Desert Cultural Center and sort of across Rte 62 from the post office [about six miles from the W Entrance to the park and 1 mile west of downtown JT]). This place is quasi-famous because musician Gram Parsons died in room 8.

Hi Desert Motel (mentioned in this thread - across Rte 62 from JT Inn [same side of Rte 62 as the post office; about six miles from the W Entrance to the park and 1 mile west of downtown JT])

Safari Motel (mentioned in this thread - just east of Quail Springs Rd on Rte 62 in downtown JT and the only place that you can easily/safely walk to breakfast and dinner [not that driving isn't an easy option]).

Staying in Yucca Valley is an option, but it just adds to the driving and the places in JT are good enough not to justify the drive.


For eats in JT, there are at least ten places. The highlights are:
Teacakes Bakery (closed Mon/Tues - great baked goods to get you going in the morning [across the street from Santana's and Crossroads Cafe on Rte 62 in downtown JT). Check out the VERY cool outdoor seating area just to the left (west) and behind Teacakes!

Crossroads Cafe (They serve B, L & D. THE climber hangout in JT for eats.)

Sam's Pizza and Indian Food (next to the post office - very good Indian food and worth ignoring the poor plastic garden furniture decor for)

Santana's Mexican Food (downtown JT - good, cheap, fast Mexican food)

There's a new small eatery next to Sue's Health Food store that looks good, also Thai food, The Rattler (great sandwiches), Park Rock Cafe (great sandwiches), Country Kitchen (good American greasy spoon breakfast) and a Subway.


Alas, the oft-mentioned eateries in Yucca Valley, Stefano's and Edchadas, are both out of business. A memorable place toward Yucca to eat is Pappy & Harriet's (live music). Lots of other chain places as well.

Buy lunch stuff and snacks in Yucca Valley at one of the four supermarkets then stay and eat in JT, that's my advice.

I've also stayed in Hi Desert Motel, it's certainly not fancy but clean, and if I remember correctly they have mini-fridges in the room and free wi-fi, which was great for me since I was trying to keep up with email at night. Also, you might see if any of the places on www.vrbo.com are available for 2 - 3 nights instead of a week at a time - we stayed at one house for a week two years back that was REALLY nice and not terribly expensive, nestled among the boulders with a pool and hot tub. Think I paid $1,000 for a week (3 bedroom place, which you probably don't need, but boy was it swanky).

And, for your viewing enjoyment, Kaia, at 5 months (now 26 months) hanging out at the belay playing with Daddy's harness.

Very cute.

Thanks to all for the information!

I'm going to stay at the High Desert Motel and get a couple of days of climbing at the tail end of a business trip.

JDW