Spectacular Desert View Guest House

Photo gallery for Spectacular Desert View Guest House

A swimming pool with a mountain backdrop, a fenced area, and a building with outdoor seating.
An outdoor patio with two green cushioned chairs, a small round table, and a red chair.
A gated area with a dirt path leading to a building.
An open refrigerator with multiple shelves and a water dispenser.
A television mounted on a wall, a wooden cabinet with drawers, a bed with a plaid blanket, and a window with curtains.

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Highlights

  • Room to spread out
    Enjoy spacious layout that give everyone more room to relax.
  • Firepit available
    One of the few properties with a dedicated outdoor firepit.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Private pool
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Pet-friendly
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View map
Tucson, AZ
  • Place, Brandi Fenton Memorial Park
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Place, Rio Vista Natural Resource Park
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, Rio Vista Natural Resource Park Labyrinth
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Airport, Tucson, AZ (TUS-Tucson Intl.)
    ‪34 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

Add dates for prices

Similar properties

Living area
Central East 1BR/1Bath Near Hospitals & Mall
Colonia Del Valle
  • Kitchen
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (1 review)
Central East 1BR/1Bath Near Hospitals & Mall

About the area

Tucson

Located in Catalina Foothills, a neighbourhood in Tucson, this holiday home is in the mountains. Pima Air and Space Museum and Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church and San Pedro Chapel. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Tucson Convention Center or Kino Sports Complex. Discover the area's water adventures with nearby swimming, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain climbing, mountain biking and cycling.
View more Holiday homes in TucsonOpens in a new window
Map
Tucson, AZ

What's nearby

  • Brandi Fenton Memorial Park - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Rio Vista Natural Resource Park - 5 min drive - 2.3 km
  • Rio Vista Natural Resource Park Labyrinth - 10 min drive - 5.7 km
  • University of Arizona - 12 min drive - 6.8 km
  • Saguaro National Park - 35 min drive - 27.2 km

Getting around

  • Tohono Transit Center - 7 min drive
  • Tucson Station - 14 min drive
  • Tucson International Airport (TUS) - 23 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Circle K - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Circle K - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Caravan Grill - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Seven Cups - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Spectacular Desert View Guest House have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is Spectacular Desert View Guest House pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at Spectacular Desert View Guest House?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Spectacular Desert View Guest House?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Spectacular Desert View Guest House?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Spectacular Desert View Guest House located?

Located in Catalina Foothills, this holiday home is within 2 miles (3 km) of Rio Vista Natural Resource Park Labyrinth, St. Philip's Plaza and St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church. Rillito Park Horse Racetrack and The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

8.4

Very good

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 18 out of 38 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 14 out of 38 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 38 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 38 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 38 reviews

8.0/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.2/10

Location

8.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful views. Active wild life. Saw a family of baor.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The host was wonderful. Th place was in a great location.
Stayed 51 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

It was a great location with amazing views.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice spot

Cozy guest house, lovely views, lots of outdoor space.
Stayed 34 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location for my photo trip

Desert View Guest House was the perfect location as a base my photo explorations of the Tucson area. Meg was a great host.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful & Spectacular

Comfortable, quiet, beautiful views, close to restaurants and trails. Great place to chill out. Would stay again. Thanks to Meg- very accommodating.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness
Guest house is poorly maintained, outdated, the entire property shows a lack of pride in ownership. Views are great owner is attentive.
Stayed 58 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just what we needed

Perfect for my wife and myself. Very affordable and functional rental.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tucson mountain

Beautiful views, nice neighborhood.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Review Catalina

The property was small buy perfect for my husband and I. The view was beautiful and we enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Private Desert Getaway

We loved the private desert getaway. It was warm and relaxing. The views and sunsets were great. We enjoyed the pool every day. Would absolutely come back.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A peaceful & quiet getaway

Had a great stay! Was looking for solitude and quiet and that’s what I got. Loved the quaint guesthouse & enjoyed the pool and spacious back yard. Sunrises & sunsets were spectacular! Meg was responsive & communications were easy. Will definitely be going back
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great private guest house

This little guest house was great as a base for hiking in Tucson. It's located between the two Saguaro National Parks and the Santa Catalina Mountains. I had great privacy, everything I needed in the house and a beautiful setting to sit outside. I enjoyed the pool, the decks, the sunrises and sunsets. A great horned owl perched on a tree at dusk and hooted for a while.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Location

Nice location, old apartment

View was nice, the apartment was old. Not the charming kind of old.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jun 2026
The guest house is one of the oldest homes on River road in Tucson. It has been renovated and it is very charming casita. But thank you for your opinion.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

For the most part, no surprises...

First time using Vrbo. We knew the unit was small and somewhat dated...but the large property gave us a quiet and secluded "get-away" feel. The location was ideal for us to explore Tucson and the surrounding area. If the amenities where up-graded and better stocked we would have little to complain about.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jun 2026
The amenities are as shown in the pictures. Everything works great. Kitchen is fully equipped. Not sure what you were missing as far as saying “better stocked”? Would be nice to know.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Views Sunsets and Tranquility

The views of the mountains, the city and the sunsets were breathtaking. The pool area is delightful and peaceful place to hangout and the environment is tranquil. The bed was comfortable, the kitchen was clean, updated and useful. The owner was responsive, helpful and kind. Although it feels like you are up and way from everything, I was 10 minutes to campus, and 5 minutes to anything else I would want to access. Perfect. I would stay here again.
Stayed 21 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice setting

Nice setting. Neat old house. Good WiFi. The well water was pretty funky (brown) when we arrived but the property manager advised letting it run until it cleared. It took quite a while but that did the trick. We especially liked the owl that roosted in a nearby tree every night.
Stayed 17 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Nov 2025
The house was on the well water with old pipes. Now it is updated to city water and new pipes. No more rust.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tucson

Overall experience was not up to par compared to past VRBO experiences, of which we have had many.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

3327 E River Rd, Tucson

We stayed a week at this property exploring areas of Tucson. I was a little confused at the layout of the property but the property manager was quick to respond and very helpful. The casita attached to the garage was comfortable and had enough kitchen ware that I could cook what I needed to. Not knowing anything about Tucson it was a pretty sweet pick. Although close to River Rd, at night the traffic was minimal and it was quiet. Good eats, nice parks, the Rillito River path were all very close.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location!

It was difficult to find the unit when first arriving. The house was small, but quite cozy. The owners need to give some attention to the home such as replacing the door to the laundry room. The door will not shut and during a storm it just slammed open and shut all night long.. Overall, I enjoyed staying there and would so again.
Stayed 21 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Nov 2025
Laundry room doors have been replaced.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spectacular location. Property needs some updates.

The pictures are accurate, but the site is even better then I expected. The whole pool area is private to the rental and includes a bonus sheltered area. The main house isn't occupied so there's plenty of privacy...even from the other rental unit. It's very close to The Loop and many shops and restaurants. It is on top of a hill that that take effort to walk or with a bike. The interior is quite dated but serviceable. It need paint and new carpet.
Stayed 45 nights in Feb 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Nov 2025
Carpet has been replaced with tiles.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

week long stay in Catalina foothills

We enjoyed our stay - in particular the location and views afforded by the property. It is small, but comfortable - however the pictures were obviously taken some time ago, as the interior of the property is showing a bit of wear and tear. We looked for an extra blanket for the bed with no luck. The outer areas really need cleaned up and the BBQ was dirty enough to be considered unusable. So, it was good, but could have been great with a bit more attention to details.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jun 2026
I would be happy to address your issues if you mentioned them to me.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Super Location!

The property is very private and above all the hustle bustle, but in proximity to everything you may need. Perfect. As the description states, the pool is in not heated, which made it useless in mid-February. A bummer, but it worth complaining about. Sipping tea on a 56 degree morning while sitting on the patio with sun on your face was glorious
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Mar 2025
Most pools in Tucson are not heated during the summer. Probably big hotels can afford it. Most people don’t realize that heating the pool could cost about $100 a day. It would have to be added to the rental cost, which is fine with me if the guests want to pay for it.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, communication

Somewhat disappointing

The location of the property was excellent as far as accessibility to most destinations of interest in the Tucson area. The views of the Mountains and Desert were great. The only negative issue was the constant traffic noise as the property is close to a major thoroughfare. The House is small and only suitable for 2 people and it still felt rather confined. When we first entered the house it smelled musty like it had been shut up and hadn't been used in a while. The pool is not heated and the water was in the 40-50 degree range and therefore not usable(Note: we stayed in January, later in the year it may warm up?). The outdoor space is very nice and has a portable firepit which we used several times. The listing amenities state there is a private driveway with remote opening gate, this was not the case as the driveway "appeared" to be shared with a neighboring house and the gate was always in the open position with the control pad no longer usable. The Kitchen sink plugged up on us and had to be plunged out by the Host, they did correct the problem right away. By far the biggest issue/problem is the NOISE the water heater makes every time it fires up to heat the water(which is quite often) As another reviewer stated, it sounds like a pair of tennis shoes tumbling in your dryer and this noise is transmitted throughout the house and woke us up many a night. In conclusion if someone where to ask me if we would stay there again the answer would unfortunately be no.
Stayed 22 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Mar 2023
The house is located on the hill about 900 feet from the road. The traffic is barley heard but if you try to hear it, you will from some spots. You won't even see the road from the property, and it is shielded by the main house. The road to the house is not shared with anyone, which is implied by the guest based on no verification of this information. Pool is not heated and yes water in winter is not warm. Obviously, the guest house was not a good fit for Jeff, but we had lots of guests who loved our rental. Getting a beautiful, private location with lots of space in Tucson Foothills for a price of hotel room is a bargain.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

nice place

just right
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback