Turtle Back Mesa Bed & Breakfast - Desert Hot Springs, California

Paul R.

Is it possible to have an unforgettable and completely regenerative experience in just a single night stay... At TBM B&B it is! Don't delay, book your stay, and please tell Ernest I said hello!

Denis E.

We were greeted (and treated) like a family here, Ernest (the owner) showed us the place and shared a bit of history about the house and the mineral spring. We were the only guests in the house for that night, Ernest called us in advance to check if we wanted to have mineral bath and what temperature we prefer, which was extremely nice of him.
The room was immaculate, very cozy, with nice hand made furniture and a lot of little details that added up to the comfort of the place. We totally loved it.
We booked because of the mineral hot spring, and the bath was amazing - clean, warm, located outdoor with very little light pollution - so we could watch the stars and the moon while soaking in the mineral water. What a special experience!!!
In the morning Ernest cooked us a filling breakfast, so we had a great start of the day.
We went hiking in Joshua tree National Park, which is located 30 minutes away from the property.
Next time we are in the area, we will definitely stay at Ernest’s place again, what a great experience!

Dan C.

A beautiful home between Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs with naturally fed soaking tubs heated to the preference of the guests. While the entire place is clothing-optional, it's pretty much a live and let live vibe. Great place to try out naturism with a reluctant partner. I concur with previous reviewers that the shared bathroom situation could be a bit awkward, but you could avoid that by booking the larger room with two beds where you have your own bath and an accessible shower with a large window view of the desert scenery. It's sort of a quirky place, but the architecture and hot springs are truly unique, and Ernest, the innkeeper is kind and welcoming.

Rhonda K.

Ernest was a great host. He made Hawaiian French toast with fruit for breakfast. The mineral hottub was warm and relaxing in the cool 43 degree night air under the stars and moon. The shared shower was a bit different, but worked out. Bed was comfy and slept well. Would recommend this place. It's farther out of town, but we didn't mind the desert drive.

Amy P.

My husband and I found this place online. The owner, Ernest, was as welcoming as could be. The home seems perfectly suited for a B&B as the guest rooms open to a courtyard with a pool. Our room and bed were comfy. The ensuite shower was shared with another couple, a surprise, but not a problem. We checked in late, and Ernest had the geothermal-fed hot tub ready for us. Lovely amenities, including robes, to use. The hot tub was huge and so relaxing. No nasty chlorine smell. We sat there under the stars, appreciating the quiet of the Desert. |We were meeting friends for breakfast, so could not take advantage of Ernest's cooking, but it looked and smelled great. Definitely recommend this place for R&R. Lovely!

Patricia L.

Quaint little 3 room resort. Pros - great pool and mineral water hot tub. Great grounds to walk. Hiking across the street and the views are awesome! Earnest is a great host and very accommodating! Cons - rooms are outdated (80's decor) but nice. Room could use dusting in corners/ceilings. Marlyn is kinda pleasant, at least she was when talking with us but we did hear her cussing and yelling at Earnest. Not sure if she thought we were out of earshot or not? They also have a dog and a cat, in case that's not your thing. They were friendly and didn't bother us.The large mineral bath didn't get filled and I don't blame him - It's rather large for just the two of us and only one night. I will say the pool area is very relaxing and the weather was beautiful!

Eben E.

This is a true gem. Earnest was exceptionally accommodating, friendly, and helpful, and our stay couldn't have been more relaxing. We suffered a flat tire on the way, and though we arrived close to midnight as a result Earnest waited up for us, cheerily greeted us, and showed us around the property before we turned in. The following morning he also helped us locate a place to fix it, pointed us to some local trails, and granted us a late checkout so we could do some hiking before we left.

The accommodations themselves are fantastic. The room was cozy and warm, and well outfitted, including robes and beach towels for the hot tub, which is secluded and absolutely lovely. Due to Covid, Earnest is only booking one room at a time, which effectively turns the whole property into a private spa retreat. Breakfast was amazing, with a giant bowl of fresh fruits and a mushroom omelette befitting a French cafe.

I can't say enough good things about this place!

Janette A.

Loved the mineral hot tub, pool, and just the overall property-its gorgeous and with alot of meaning put into it. Enjoyed my conversations with the host over breakfast. Room was very comfortable and I loved stepping on the heated floors. Would love to come back again as a solo traveler or with family/friends.