I have stayed at the Desert Inns formerly La Pinta Hotels for over 8 years. The used to sell the Baja Travel Pass that was a great deal for frequent Baja travelers. They have sold off several of the hotels in Catavina, San Quintin, and Guierro Negro. My stay last week was one of my worst hotel experiences. They have pulled out the Satellite TV, no Internet, and no menus for dinner. They had two choses beef or chicken. I choose the beef and it was rancid. For breakfast they had a menu. I ordered the Denver omelet, OJ and coffee with milk. The waitress came back out in 10 minutes. No ham for the omelet, no OJ, no milk for the coffee. Don't waste your money. Even the waitress said the place was messed up. They Fonatur should just board it up.

The most important thing to know about the Desert Inn is that it is there and worth finding. While it does not engage the town or the travel routes, it is right on a very pleasant and expansive swimming beach with great bay vistas. Whether you choose to swim in the ocean or the pool, the same views make a very relaxing oceanfront experience. The open portico check-in leads to a large patio overlooking the pool and the bay, and the huge vaulted ceiling dining room is to the side. It was very easy to find a place to read, relax, have a beer, or a morning coffee, with-in this public area. The rooms are clean, commodious, and the room blocks laid out so that circulation faces town, and parking, and private patios/balconies face the water. One can leave open the balcony doors on the second level without loss of privacy and listen to the waves.
The pools are very attractive to families with children, and parents have the option of watching from either the cabana or a patio table.
Service was always there if you needed it, (you might have to look in the kitchen) and staff was very pleasant.
In reading the other reviews, I am reminded that the fans did not work in the billiards room, and the parking lot pavement is a bit sketchy, but I would not have thought to comment on either otherwise.

My fishing Buddy and I just spent five nights here, and had a great time. On the downside, the shower had no hot water, there was no clock, no phone (Of course), no hand towels or wash-cloths, and pillows that should have been thrown away a long, long time ago. The cable was being 'repaired' the entire time we were there. Don't bet on WiFi. Probably not in the lobby, and definitely not in your room. There are also no fans in the room (How can a hotel in Baja not have FANS??). The pools are great, but warm! If you really want to cool off, walk 100 feet into the ocean!
On the plus side, our room was big, clean, and right on the beach! (I was disappointed when we drove in; the door opened onto the parking lot. Go inside, however, and you can walk through your room, through a sliding door, and onto a small patio on the beach. How cool is that?). The ac worked well, and the staff was exceptional. They will stand on their heads to take care of you.
The truth is, all of Baja is suffering from this lousy economy. The guests are now few and far between. Many of the business's in town are closed, and the ones that are still open are struggling to get by as well as they can. The Desert Inn has problems, but they work very hard at keeping the place clean and pleasant.
I would offer a few tips to make your stay here a little more enjoyable:
1. Buy a TelMex telephone card in town before checking in (Just leave your cell phone at home. It's useless in Mexico).
2. Bring your own hand-towels and wash-clothes.
3. Bring your own pillows (If possible).
4. Take a shower when it is still warm. If you wait until morning, when the ac has the room nice and cool, that cold water can be a bit... 'bracing'.
5. Don't expect ANYTHING in a hurry in Baja. Really. Just chill out, and be patient.
(Oh, and if you are driving, bring your own tp!! This is an important one!)

On a recent Road Scholar trip to Baja we stayed in several government run Desert Inns and most were very nice. This one, however, has seen better days. While it is located directly on the beach, and has a lovely pool area, the rooms are located in Soviet style blocks, some quite far from the main lobby. The restaurant had little to offer on a Sunday night. Free internet was available only in the lobby area. It is a 15 minute walk to town.