JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

Just a note to share my dissatisfaction with the golf at this JW. We have been coming here for 20+ years and I have enjoyed both these courses consistently, UNTIL about 3-4 years ago. I was told around then some "new management" had come in and I could notice changes. First, the owner green fees quickly started climbing. I was used to playing around $100-120 as an owner in the timeshare villas. However, now they are charging almost $200 per round, IF you play at the earlier tee time (before 9am mostly). To make this worse, the conditions this year were very poor. The greens were very spotty in turf and putting was inconsistent. I played five times over a week and the practice tee assigned area never moved! So, you can imagine it looked like moon craters to the point you had to actively search for some grass to hit off of! I asked some of the associates and got only very non-committal responses that seemed to indicate that's just the way things were nowadays. Hopefully, if we come back next year, we will see some improvements, but given the last few visits, I am doubtful.

I had a brilliant session with Stacy. He was friendly, fun, helpful and I thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Would recommend him to anyone.

Overall nice place. The room can be quite far from elevators and hard to navigate around. The bed is very comfortable. The housekeeping needs some improvement. Didn’t reset previous guest alarm (so it went off at 5am) and also didn’t change shampoo bottle (was empty). The pool water is comfortable but got some bugs floating around. The food is pretty good. And party space is beautiful.

I was deeply disturbed by the indoor “aviary” at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. Many large and gorgeous tropical birds are kept in cages inside a room for guest viewing — flighted, intelligent animals confined indoors with no meaningful freedom. So sad. Not only does this conflict with widely accepted animal welfare standards, including the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, and with guidance from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) on species-appropriate space and enrichment, but it is also especially troubling in California, a state with strong animal welfare expectations (including Penal Code §597), where the public reasonably expects humane, ethical treatment of animals! This is not conservation or education at all, it’s confinement for entertainment. I hope Marriott leadership seriously reevaluates this practice and transitions to humane, animal-free alternatives.

I am a frequent traveler and a Marriott Titanium Elite member, so I base my hotel reviews on both the brand’s standards and my personal experiences. I had an extra day over a weekend in Southern California and decided to stay at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. I used a Nightly Upgrade Award and was confirmed into a suite. The room was very nice and spacious, with a great view overlooking the pool area. The bathroom was particularly large and well designed, featuring both a soaking tub and a separate shower. There was also a good-sized desk, which allowed me to get some work done comfortably. The property itself is very large, and it is a bit of a walk from the parking garage to the main lobby. Check-in was slower than expected, and I did have to ask about Titanium Elite breakfast benefits rather than having them proactively explained. I was ultimately told that breakfast at the restaurant was included as my benefit, and the breakfast buffet was quite good, with a nice selection of items. There is no Concierge or Executive Lounge at this property. The resort is expansive, and it is easy to see why it is frequently used for large group events. During my stay, there were several groups and celebrations on property. The hotel was beautifully decorated for Christmas, which added to the overall resort atmosphere. That said, the property does feel somewhat dated for a JW Marriott. While nothing was significantly wrong, there were small maintenance and wear items that stood out and detracted slightly from the experience. Service at the front desk was adequate but not at the level I typically expect from this brand. The location is fairly isolated, so having a car is necessary. There is a full Starbucks in the lobby and several restaurants on property. I also ordered room service, which was very good and convenient. Overall, this is a pleasant resort-style property with a nice atmosphere, solid accommodations, and good food. However, between the aging facilities and service that fell short of JW Marriott expectations, it did not quite rise to the level I would expect from this brand. That said, I would still consider staying here again, particularly for a relaxed resort stay