Meet the Alt Hosts.
Alt Hosts are local residents. Some have families and many are retirees with a fixed and limited income.
Alt hosts care about the desert environment, the community and being good neighbors.
Alt hosts are responsible and in turn educate their guests on how to be good visitors.
Meet Jenn
Hi! I'm Jenn and I live in Joshua Tree on 5 acres with my husband and our two children. We have one Airstream which is located directly next to our primary residence. I was one of the few local hosts who was able to secure a Special Use Permit from the County. My permit will be up in a year and I'm very concerned the county won't renew it. I love hosting guests here in the desert.
Our Airstream sleeps four but we only allow up to two guests. There is designated parking for up to two cars, but we rarely get more than one. There are trash and recycling cans located behind the Airstream, which is behind a fence. I have a dumpster with regular trash service and we are hooked up to septic. I have all the safety requirements (and then some!) including a fire extinguisher, smoke and CO2 alarms. I have strict rules for my guests and don't allow outdoor music at any time. I do have a wood burning fire pit with a spark screen but I lock the cover and guests must ask for the code before using it. If there are winds over 10 mph or if there's a burn ban, I do not allow wood burning.
I know my neighbors and have never gotten a complaint from any of them.
One of my neighbors cleans the Airstream between guests and she depends on this income.
My guests have all been fantastic. They love coming to the area, learning about the desert from someone who lives here and they learn to appreciate and respect the desert environment.
Guest feedback:
"Beautiful, quiet oasis in the desert. Perfect getaway for us. Thank you, Jenn!" - Ngoc-Linh
"Scenic, peaceful retreat complete with creature comforts!" - Keira
"We had such a great stay! Jenn was super responsive and always able to answer our questions." - Natalie
"Jenn’s Airstream is such a dream. She’s really created the perfect desert oasis. Despite the wind advisory preventing us from being able to use the fire pit, we still had the most amazing and peaceful time. We were still able to lounge, read, and talk on the outdoor patio and the hammock. And the Airstream interior has everything you’d need for a quick and cozy stay. It’s also close to the park, meaning exploration was a quick drive away. The only thing I’ll say is come prepared knowing that weather conditions could prevent you from being able to use the fire pit. We were a little disappointed at first, but that’s the risk of staying in a desert and the stay was still completely worth it!" - Judie
"I really enjoyed my stay at the Airstream. It was exactly what I needed for a mini vacay in the desert. A nice alternative to renting a house, and really fun. The place was clean and adorable and had everything I could want. I appreciated that it was heated during a really cold couple of nights. Perfect for a solo traveler wanting some time to get away from the city and find themselves again." - Jordan
Meet Reenya
Hi! I’m Reeyna and I live on 5 acres in Wonder Valley with my husband and 2Husky/German Shepherd pups we rescued from a local shelter. We have 2 geodesic domes located at the rear of our property less than 100 ft from our home.
Our domes are placed so we can be available easily to greet and assist our guests but still give them a feeling of privacy. We worked hard not to disturb any native flora
and our home and domes run almost exclusively off solar power. Our site is currently
permitted under the Alt SUP but we are very concerned about the permit not being
renewed. We enjoy hosting and providing a safe, affordable and unique option for
our guests. Over 40% of our guests are single women who want to experience the
outdoors, stargaze or explore the park but do not feel safe camping alone in the
park or at larger commercial campsites. Our wonderful guests are almost
exclusively looking for a relaxed escape and are often so quiet we often wonder if
they are even here.
Our regular housekeeper is a local artist who depends on this income and also
values the relationship she has with us. Having experienced housing insecurity
herself, she also really respects that this model does not take a home out of
occupancy. My husband volunteers heavily in our local community delivering food
to elderly neighbors, helping take lost dogs to the shelter among other things.
We provide several guest conveniences, on-site parking and bins for trash which we
collect after a guest leaves. Since we live onsite, cleanliness and sanitation are
extremely important to us. Our nearest neighbor is a quarter of a mile away and we
are mostly surrounded by Wonder Valley’s distinctive abandoned cabins. Since we
consider our neighbors friends, we routinely ask if there have been any issues and
only host guests when we are present at home. Our site is monitored and managed
24/7.
My husband typically greets our guests as soon as they arrive giving them a brief
history of the area, showing them know our property boundaries and going over the
rules before letting them settle in. We have strived hard to provide a great
experience for our guests, promote other local businesses and be stewards of our
land and neighborhood. We consistently receive the highest ratings from our
guests.
Guest feedback:
“I loved staying in the Dome! It was private/secluded with plenty of space to relax and enjoy the desert--especially the stars at night! Very close to Joshua Tree National Park. And Reeyna's husband shared a bit about the history of the area, which was a nice bonus. And both provided good recommendations for food and other points of interest in 29 Palms. I'd book again!” – Bunmi
“Reeyna and Evan are wonderful hosts in a quiet area near Joshua Tree. The outdoor shower was awesome (stargazing while showering!) and fire pit with comfortable lounging chairs. The beds and sheets are all lovely.Evan gave us some fun local suggestions, like the Glass Outhouse if you like the funky desert vibe. La Copine was the hands down winner for food (it’s near the Integratron sound bath).” – Molly
“What a really cool place to visit! Reeyna and Evan were great hosts, from our first
email communications to Evan giving us a history of the area when we arrived. Very
friendly hosts, better than we've experienced before.You really have to be there to
appreciate all of the effort that they have invested into making this an awesome place to stay. I'm thinking of the gas firepit, hammock, lights along the driveway, shower, picnic table, and all of the amenities inside the dome.
If you're anywhere near this area, you really should stay here at least one night. It's
really close to Joshua Tree National Park, and your opportunity to see the stars at night is unparalleled. I highly recommend that you consider staying here!” – William
“Staying at Reeyna's was a great experience! The night sky is beautiful here. I laid in
the hammock for the majority of the night just enjoying the stars. Also the dome was
clean and the bed was comfortable! I would highly recommend staying here.” - Carrie
Meet Katie
Hi! I'm Katie and my husband and I moved here 20 years ago. When we moved here I was a bartender. After becoming a mother I wanted to be able to stay home with my kids. Renting out this trailer has helped out with the financial burden of being a single income family.
I often have single women that stay in the trailer. They've told me that they are grateful for the fenced-in yard and the feeling of safety they get that we are on the property. I am able to and always handle any situation that arises. I feel deeply that if someone is going to have a vacation rental on their property that they will do their best to make sure it does not cause any problems for the neighbors.
My neighbors have been totally happy with my trailer. I only have one neighbor that is anywhere around the trailer and we've never had an issue. We have trash service and the trailer is plumbed to our septic. I only allowed two guests at a time. I do not allow music or fires. I have more than enough parking but almost never have more than one car. My guests have always been respectful.
I have horses, goats and dogs so I never leave the property unattended with guests overnight. And my guests enjoy seeing our animals.
Guest feedback:
"Lovely place to stay! The camper had a super comfortable bed. The property was beautiful, a perfect place to watch the sunset and stargaze. Adorable animals all around. Katie was super communicative and friendly. Would definitely stay here again" - Amanda
Katie and her family were great hosts and very accommodating. A gem of a spot that has everything you need in a cute little package. My girlfriend and I really enjoyed our weekend and will definitely be staying here again. Thank you for everything Katie! PS. The animals were adorable!" - Joseph
"Staying in Katie's Trailer was definitely a great experience! The location has easy access to hikes and town. Katie was super accommodating to my boyfriend and L, and went out of her way to make sure we were comfortable. Her trailer is super clean and has all the essentials along with being in a very beautiful location. I would definitely recommend staying here if you want a nice small private place to hangout and chill in Joshua Tree." - Emma
" My friend and I had a great stay in Katie's trailer. It was clean, comfy and the grounds were awesome. She was so kind and welcoming and made us feel at home. I've never stayed in a trailer or gone camping before but they was truly such an awesome experience!! It's also only 15 mins away from Joshua Tree's West entrance and about 25 mins from the North entrance. I highly recommend Katie's trailer and would stay here again." - Christine
Meet A.
Hi! I'm A. My partner and I live on a rural 5 acres in Joshua Tree with our dogs. We are both retired and in our 70’s. Crucial to our financial security are our two small “alt” STR trailers since we are on a fixed income. Our trailers are newly renovated, safe and sanitary.
Each trailer is tied into our septic system and since trailers are meant for people to travel in, they are safe. They have fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. There is a card posted with the telephone numbers for the police, fire and closest hospital. Rules include no parties and quiet time if from 9:30 at night until 8 a.m.
Since we live next to the trailers, there is never a problem. There is dedicated parking next to each trailer - room for two cars. We include an information book with locally owned restaurants, art galleries, local places of interest and information about the flora and fauna in the area, which my guests love! We have roadrunner visitors just about every day and several have mentioned that is the highlight of their trip. We have over 600 reviews - mostly mentioning the quiet and tranquility of the desert. Because of the proximity to the house, we have had comments from single women travelers that they feel comfortable staying here. They have privacy - yet we are on the property in case they have an issue. Additionally we have our privacy. We respect our guests need for privacy and some guests we never interact with for their entire visit, we communicate by text. Others are eager to learn about the desert and we always love to teach them about the local plants and animals.
Since we are retired, we are on a fixed income the value of which is diminishing quickly with our current rate of inflation. Our trailers allow us to keep our home and lifestyle and also afford the necessities of life. Our trailers do not remove a single family home from the rental market but do allow visitors to the area to have a unique desert experience with locals who have a knowledge of the area.
Guest feedback:
"As a solo woman traveler I especially loved how safe I felt on the property, while also enjoying privacy... ...The camper is located on a large plot of land way off the main road which makes for a peaceful and quiet stay with incredible sunrises & sunsets. We woke up every day at 6 am to watch the sunrise. Can't wait to go back."
"I booked as a nervous parent for my adventurous 19 year old daughter. A was awesome at communicating and gave me peace of mind as to the welfare of my kid and was an awesome host! Thank you."
"The location is FANTASTIC! Huge piece of land in the middle of the desert! It’s beautiful, we loved waking up and having coffee on the patio in front of the trailer."
"Just what I was looking for, and just as A described the property. It’s both close to area attractions like the national park, but secluded enough to provide the relaxing calm (and starry skies) of the undeveloped desert. And the trailer itself is very well appointed, nicely decorated and super clean. A is a rockstar of a host - friendly, efficient; and beyond prompt in communications . Would be happy to visit again and will definitely recommend."
"This Trailer is awesome. Almost in the middle of nowhere and Perfect for a time out. The surrounding is absolutly breath taking and A is a Perfect Host. We would definetly come back."
"The little trailer was perfect for our quick stay in Joshua Tree. Not too far from town but far enough to be very peaceful and quiet (just a few minutes drive to shops, etc.) The trailer is close to the house but still felt we had privacy. Very clean with all the amenities we needed. Loved sitting on the deck to take in the desert energy and sun. A was a great host as well! Keeping this little gem in mind for the next time we visit Joshua Tree."
Meet Alex
Hi! My name is Alex and I live on 5 acres in Morongo Valley, CA, with my partner Shawna. We have lived in Morongo Valley for many years, raising our kids here, owning 2 local businesses, and Shawna recently took a position with the CSD to help our community through a challenging time.
We have a one-bedroom travel trailer that we gutted and remodeled with a real bathroom and kitchen. Our guest space is located 150 feet from our primary residence. Natural landscaping (creosotes and cactus) separates our family space from guest space.
Our guest max is 2 people and we do NOT allow children. We have two designated and marked parking spots even though only one spot is used for most bookings. We have trash and recycling cans provided for guest use. We have a dumpster with weekly pickup. We are hooked up to septic. We have many safety rules in place as well as a fire extinguisher, CO2 alarm, and smoke detector.
We do not allow campfires, parties, extra guests, music that can be heard outside the trailer, bright lights or pets. We live away from any neighbors and have never had a complaint. We are Airbnb SuperHost with 236 Five Star reviews. We take pride in providing a peaceful environment for ourselves and our guests.
We have had fantastic guests from all over the world. Some of our favorite guests have been from less than 3 hours away, who just want a place to spend the night after hiking Joshua Tree National Park all day.
As an LGBTQ friendly STR, we offer a safe place for those traveling! This is very important to LGBTQ travelers.
One of the reasons we need to do short term rental is to help offset our mortgage and utility bills (our SCE bills can run $900 a month if we dare turn on our A/C).
Guest feedback:
"So, so glad to have stayed here instead of one of the local hotels. The drive to Joshua Tree is totally doable, the ranch is central to everything, and there's a very excellent hammock for stargazing. Don't skip the ranch tour- I fell instantly in love with Rio and his pals." - Jenn
"It was such a wonderful stay- space had everything we needed and the location was perfect for a Coachella weekend. We even fit in a meet and greet of the animals with Shawna and I definitely recommend this if you are staying here. It made our stay even more special! Thanks for everything Alex and Shawna!" - Annie
"Alex and Shawna are fabulous hosts- their farm is gorgeous, the care they show the animals was wonderful and they helped us be part of that too. The trailer is warm, well equipped and spotlessly clean with the softest bedding we’ve ever had. A true gem and you should definitely book. They are great!" - Rachel and Maxine
"A unique Airbnb experience! The trailer is clean, cute, surprisingly spacious, and well-equipped. Excellent location for our Joshua Tree adventures. We really enjoyed meeting the animals on the ranch and eating ice cream at our hosts’ adorable shop in town." - Alyson
"One of our favorite stays EVER. We only stayed one night but will absolutely be back for a longer stay. We had everything we needed in the trailer and the bed was a cozy haven. Love the deck, just sat out to soak in the sun. Waking up with coffee and wandering around to say good morning to the animals was a dream. I was pretty sure this stay would be a perfect tangent to our vacationing in the area, but I didn’t realIze how much we’d cherish our single night at True North ranch. We’ll be back for longer, someday. My partner and I are queer and my partner is a Black trans guy, finding slices of heaven in countrylands can be a bit trickier for us which is why we are so thankful for Alex and Shawna’s safe and welcoming property with absolutely no weird vibes. We enjoyed meeting folks in town too! Thank you so much for hosting us, your home was such a blessing to us." - Vanessa
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