Hotel Shadow Mountain Resort & Club (Palm Desert, USA)

Tennis enthusiasts were thrilled to find that the resort has 16 courts, including three clay courts and six lit up for playing at night. Their tennis academy offers private and semi-private lessons for players or all levels and is consistently rated as one of the best tennis academies in the nation.

The resort's beautiful 5,800 yard, par 70 course was designed by golf legend Gene Sarazen. Guests who came to golf not only loved the course, they were also delighted to find that the area is home to over 110 other courses.

Previous guests happily reported that the rooms were quite spacious, clean, and well lit. The in-room amenities were rather comprehensive, containing everything they needed for a comfortable and relaxing vacation, including a full kitchen, DVD player, and a private balcony or patio.

It wasn't until after many guests had arrived that they realized Shadow Mountain Resort is sub-divided with different owners for different rooms there. Some guests claimed this led to inconsistencies between the rooms, with some being better appointed and maintained than others.

Shadow Mountain Resort is an older property, and guests could not help but notice it is showing it's age in places. Much of the furniture was worn, with threadbare upholstery and scuff marks. Peeling paint and cracks could be found both on the exterior of the building and inside the rooms, and some of the decor is beginning to look unfashionably old.

A significant number of guests complained of a musty smell in their rooms of an undermined origin. Those that brought this up with the hotel staff did not feel their complaints were adequately addressed.