Star power is Pioneertown Motel’s not-so-secret weapon. For a start, its dark skies are ideal for stargazing on peaceful evenings by the fire. And then there are the movie stars such as Gene Autry and Roy Rogers who stayed here when the town was still a working Western set. These days, it’s music stars you’re more likely to bump into, playing sets at neighbouring Pappy & Harriet’s, where everyone from Arctic Monkeys to Paul McCartney have filled the house. The hotel's abiding star quality, though, is its lo-fi loveliness – inviting you to slow down, take a hike, ride a horse. There’s no tech or TV – just sprawling desert grounds, a horseshoe pit and coffee on tap.