As soon as I saw the hot tub for this Airbnb property in the desert, any of the other properties we looked at just couldn’t compare. But it wasn’t just the hot tub that won me over, because after spending 2 nights at the Kindred Ranch in Yucca Valley, I just KNOW I have to book there again.

Deciding Where to Stay

The only item on our agenda for a last-minute excursion to the desert was a visit to Joshua Tree National Park to get a passport stamp (and hit every single thrift shop in the area), so it didn’t make any sense for us to stay in Palm Springs when all the action was happening near Joshua Tree. Even though I love Palm Springs, I equally love the Yucca Valley area and even suggested staying at another Airbnb that I stayed at right before the pandemic. But since we were going in the middle of summer, we wanted to make sure air conditioning was part of the amenities….and I’m always down to try somewhere new!

Keep in mind, I love my Tub Tours, and for obvious reasons, that joy of mine has taken a pause. But with the tub at Kinfolk Ranch, that could get me back in the game! It didn’t take much convincing for us to book the spot. It was only slightly more expensive than some other options, but because of all it offered, it was well worth it.

Booking Tip

For popular and pricier properties, find discounted rates for stays in between existing bookings.

We loved this place so much we were sitting at the dining table trying to find out when we could go back, even though we didn’t leave yet. We noticed that the rates were WAY more than we booked at, if we could find any booking at all! We realized we were really lucky to score on this spot, because our midweek travel dates were between existing bookings so there was a discounted rate.

About the Property

Driving Up

This place totally feels like a ranch. When you first drive up, you hit a dirt road so you know it’s real! Even the Kinfolk Ranch sign in front makes it official.

It’s not officially a ranch unless there’s a wooden sign.

But aside from the amazing hot tub, what really drew me towards this property was the abundance of Joshua Trees all over the property. It was like our own little Joshua Tree National Park!

Inside the House

The house was cool with A/C with remote controls, and the concrete floors added to the cool factor- by all definitions of cool. The main living area was so inviting and we absolutely loved all the desert decor.

Bags are from all the thrift shopping we did!

The kitchen island came to be our main hub where we met to discuss which thrift shop to go to next. And right off the kitchen was a large laundry room that I must have done over 10 loads of laundry- from all the thrift shopping we did! It was very convenient!

There were 2 bedrooms that had open closet space and separate AC units. It felt so spacious in there with the exposed beamed ceilings and minimal vintage decor.

There is one bathroom in between the bedrooms in the hall. I loved the vintage light in the bathroom, and we could not stop talking about the Turkish waffle towels and robes. We all made a vow to slowly start to replace our towels at home with the same ones from here because they felt like luxury.

Outside the House

There are steps that lead to the hot tub from the laundry room, and each step closer gets you even more excited. The deck is built with such precision and perfectly outlines the hot tub. You almost feel like you’re on a UFO, and when the multi-colored party lights are on, it definitely feels like that! We made sure to enjoy the tub each day, from hopping in at sunset until the stars came out, to catching the sunrise from the water. Even though you’re not too far from downtown Yucca, it feels like you’re in the middle of the desert when you’re in there.

Aside from the amazing hot tub, it’s fun to walk around the property and explore all the various cacti. You really feel that ranch vibe with the barn-like shed. We even made sure to eat dinner at the outdoor table because it’s just too beautiful outside not to enjoy!

Bonus Points

One thing that I will have to say gives this property bonus points is how there was an oracle and tarot deck on the kitchen island. I usually travel with my own decks, but I was trying to travel light so I didn’t even bring any. So when I saw this beautiful deck by ____ on the table, I knew even more this was the place for me. We actually incorporated a cute ritual with this deck: each day before we left, we each pulled a card and read about it.

Kindred Ranch gets another set of bonus points for all the punny puns they have around the house. These little blocks of info are quite helpful, ranging from ______ to how to use the diffuser, and it was like a pun scavenger hunt going around to read all of them. It was a cute touch that gave us a chuckle.

I DIG IT!

I really liked my stay at the Kindred Ranch and this spot will stay on my Tub Tours list for some time to come. I would love to stay here again my next visit to the desert. Check out the listing for yourself and let me know if you book a stay!

Book Kindred Ranch

Where to Stay: Kinfolk Ranch in Yucca Valley