JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

Disappointing experience in the middle of a beautiful scenery.
My room wasn’t ready upon checking-​in (when it should have been ready the night before as I arrived a day late), I was given a two-​double, low floor, atrium-​facing room which was exactly the opposite of what I had requested — until the front desk was eventually able to accommodate me.
Pros: the staff was very nice through all interactions. The room is quite big and the bathroom even nicer (nice toiletry products as well).
Cons: the rooms feel dated. If you’re not facing the pool you’re either on the Atrium (super noisy) or facing the parking.
Huge con: food at the Rockwood Grill was very poor. My rotisserie chicken salad was deli-​grade at best and not fresh. It lacked true roasted chicken and the other vegetables were flavorless. Our side salad of tomatoes and avocado was poorly seasoned and brownish.
The hotel feels huge and impersonal. Can be tricky to navigate and definitely not a good choice if you want a more intimate, boutique experience.

I give the resort 5 stars for beauty. I loved the birds in the lobby. and the service is top notch. I came here for my birthday and I really enjoyed the resort. The pool area is fabulous! The mini golf was a lot of fun. I want to one day come back to play the real golf course. I will for sure come back.
I give the resort 3 stars for the rooms. They are in need of updating. They have popcorn ceilings, the bathrooms are looking dingy and they have UGLY grab bars. I know they make better looking grab bars — come on JW… The cleaning service sprays the room with a fragrance that does not smell good at all… I had to ope the sliding glass door to air it out.

This review was from my experience January 2013!
I had an amazing time in this hotel! I came here with hubby for our 1^st anniversary and it simply LOVELY! The pool was amazing! Friendly people just having fun. We get to meet people from Croatia, pretty fun people ;).
The staff at the front by the way were amazing! They are helpful and friendly. We stayed for two nights. Palm Spring downtown get pretty wild on summer nights. We took a taxi to get to downtown, had so much fun at this club and lost his nephew on the way back! His nephew was drunk and arguing on the phone when we left the club. We realize he was lost when we turned around! He ended up at the airport!!! LMAO!
The bed was very comfy! I slept very well while my hubby looked for his nephew. I was too tired to be looking for waldo! I was dacing in heels so pardon me sleeping and not helping him find his nephew. He was 22 years old.
At the end he found the hotel! He said the couch was amazingly comfy he slept good (it is either very comfy or he was very tired walking for miles, drunk) Either way I am giving this hotel 5 stars for the ROOM and POOL!

Will NEVER return back.
I have been to this hotel over ten times, and this was my very last time.
What a disappointment! Such a shame for a place that once was the jewel of Palm Desert.
Dirty, super filthy pool with food, trash floating.
The server at the pool refused to serve me a beer and ask for ID, I am almost 40 with kids! What a BS! Who caries ID in the pool ?!
The room was stinky and shower had molds!
Refrigerator was not working. The sink was clogged up and did not get fix.
to make the matter worse «John Frazier» the pool boy Boss came over started yelling and rudely defended his pool boy for denying the drink. He was so unprofessional about the issue that does not even deserve to be the janitor in this hotel.

Love this spa!!! favorite spa in all of SoCal. It is big, nice and has a calm pool separate from hotel pool. There are two steam rooms one which smells of essential oils and they offer cold towels which is nice touch. The guy out at the pool who moves chairs for you and brings you water was such a sweetheart. I had a great 30 minute massage from and older foreign man he was really good and kind! I wish I could remember his name I highly recommend him.

Beautiful villas & the property is huge and nice. The shuttles around the hotel are convienent, rockin Rodger is the most fun driver! Made our trip a blast! Fun place for a bachelorette or girls trip

Our company retreat held here last year was terrific. Everything went wonderfully and the staff was very accommodating with some last-​minute changes. Garfield was a pleasure to work with.

I heard a lot about this hotel. The golf course is amazing. Doug was very helpful. The rooms are about average. I would have thought based on the price that it would have been a little more extravagant.
We went for my friend’s bachelor party. A day of golf, and then go party in the town. I know what you’re thinking, bachelor party, guys getting wild and out, equals mischief. Saturday night as we were wrapping up our dinner at the Rockwood out on the patio, and 3 members of the security team came at us, accusing a member of our group of «cat calling» the female employees. He first called my friend by another name, and then chose 3 other first names. All wrong names. I had asked what the problem was, and who are they looking for because NONE of us are a Larry, Jason, or Don.
The security guard then proceeded to ask my friend to step aside from our group to discuss the matter. My friend pulled his I.D. out and said there is nothing to discuss because you obviously don’t know who you are looking for and nobody from our table is NOT «cat calling anyone.» We continued to figure out our bill situation and the guards kept chiming in that we had been harassing some female employees.
In our section we had male servers. It just so happens when the few of us went to use the restrooms the guys went in pairs. I asked our guys if anyone even spoke to a female in passing, nobody had. The only women we spoke to was the hostess. I tried to set the record straight, that they had the wrong group, and that it was a mistake. We paid our bill, and began leaving and they continued to escort us to the stair case as if we where being thrown out and kept asking one of our guys for his info, name and to step aside to discuss the matter. He thought he was about to get robbed by these 3 goons if he went with them. I repeatedly asked them for a manager and they told us that a manager was not needed. I felt like I tried to help solve the issue but they had their own agenda. When a member of our group went to customer service to put in a complaint, the employee was quick to brush it off.
I would have given this place 5 stars had it not been for the harassment of the security guards trying to intimidate our group. The bar in the lobby, the staff was friendly and fun. The entertainment was great. The Rockwood had an amazing buffet both dinner and breakfast. Golfing was very relaxing and fun

Huuuuuge, as Trump would say.
A few things led me to come here:
1) Life was absolutely stressful.
2) Friends recommended this place
3) Purchased a sweet deal online that included a reduced resort fee, a $ 50/​per night room credit, and a free appetizer from Rockwood Grill
If you’re coming here from San Diego or heading back to San Diego from here, keep close attention to that GPS, and don’t fear the drive.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from here, in all honesty. From the pictures, this seemed like a grand resort with so much land, and it was. I knew golf would be a huge deal in this entire area. Upon reading past reviews for this place, I saw a bunch that regarded this place as awesome, and I saw a bunch that regarded this place as horrible. So… I figured I’d just go and figure it out for myself and not trust anybody.
Check-​in was smooth. Our room was great. It had a nice view of the putting course. It had free parking, free internet, open use of the mini-​fridge, free games at the putting course, and a ton of other perks and amenities we did not take advantage of.
We didn’t really spend a great deal of time in our actual room besides sleeping, showering, and getting ready to go out. However, from what I remembered, our room was great. Comfortable king-​sized bed, plenty of room to run around, giant bathroom. Zero deficiencies from the room itself.
There’s usually a long line for the free boat ride around the resort, which poses the question of whether it’s worth waiting for if there are other more important plans that same night. But for the kids, it’s great.
Staff is helpful and friendly. I commend them for having to put up with all the different kinds of clientele. During my stay, I saw families, young couples, old couples, groups of high school kids, tourists from beyond the United States, and a few old golf grumps who feel it is beneficial to wait for a very long time just to tell the golf store attendant he’s upset with people ahead of him on a golf course holding up the holes from others despite the understanding that the staff has no power over that.
After we checked out of our room, we went to the spa. We wished the resort was able to transfer the remainder of our room credit to help cover some of the cost at the spa, but apparently, that didn’t happen. I’m not really bent out of shape about it, but it would have been nice.
Apparently, from long-​time guests, this used to be somewhat of a prestigious resort for the so-​called dignitaries, the wealthy, or others of the sort. Yadda yadda yadda, times have changed, so focus on current conditions and save the speech for a conversation over a nice scotch by the fire.
I’m sure they offer deals for this place fairly often, either through Travelzoo, LivingSocial, or Groupon. I think the one we got (Travelzoo) was the best one, but check anyways to make sure.
Have a nice vacation/​getaway!

Beware Newly Value-​Engineered Resort for those who prefer their creature comforts and the good old days of this facility.
If you don’t mind plasticware, disposable plastic cups at breakfast and lunch, optional placemats, single-​ply napkins and toilet paper, outsourced internal restaurants, 45-​minute waits for Sunday breakfast, very short concierge hours and concierge and maintenance staffing, and non-​existent outdoor heaters during cold spells including late afternoons and evenings, this could be the place for you.
This resort has some outstanding staff, especially the PBI tennis pros and more seasoned service, spa and event staff, and so much natural potential to become a truly exceptional stay and community, but current management challenged by lower yields has chosen a short-​term path to profit at the expense of long-​term value.
Wish list: daily yoga classes, other non-​athletic classes and local tours, and on-​premise live music/​entertainment.

Worked with Customer Service agent after stay and every email was smugly replied to without addressing my comments, remarks, or experience. Instead they simply just replied to what they wanted and turned everything I said into some sort of twisted version of the truth against me.
So sad and pathetic that Marriott is purchasing Starwood Hotels and Resort, a hospitality company that is actually based on providing positive customer experiences and owning up to their errors.

This place is huge.
Also, fair warning: if you’re planning a trip from San Diego, be wary of the route the GPS tells you! On the way here it took us through the mountains, winding roads, thin lanes, and utter darkness. On the way back we took the «safer» route, a.k.a., main highways. Anyway…
Upon arriving, you can either have them valet your car OR park off to the right in their «checking-​in» parking. The employees here were all rather amiable and were more than willing to assist you with directions (as you would expect at a resort). Checking-​in was super easy — gave them my name, number, I.D., and credit card. I got a map, a quick explanation of my surroundings, and viola — ready to go.
My Marine Corps ball was here. Since there were so many of us, we got a discount of $ 99/​night and our resort fee was $ 1/​night. Now, the resort fee on the card they gave us showed a price of roughly $ 35 BUT it was for $ 150+ worth of activities/​fees. Either way, you’re saving a good amount of money. I did not buy any drinks from the main bar in the front, nor did I dine at any of the establishments.
Our room was great. We were located on the 7^th floor (there are 8 floors); front door led out to the walkway from which you can look down upon the entrance and see the bar, the boat-​ride-​thingy (we didn’t ride it [yes there’s a small boat inside]), Starbucks, etc. Our outside view was of the ballroom entrance and parking structure. Nothing too fancy, although you could see the tennis courts, some golf course, etc, off in the distance. We had a good sized TV (which has all the connecting ports you need for a gaming console, if you’re into that); the fridge was located under the TV; good sized table; a coffee table and couch; king sized bed with luxuriously soft pillows, comforter, and blanket; multiple lamps around the room. You had the standard iron and ironing board; safe inside the closet; hangers and dry cleaning papers if you need anything dry cleaned; extra pillows and comforters up top in the closet. Our bathroom had a tub and a small shower; there was a cosmetic mirror attached to the wall (which my fiancée had some minor complaints about, e.g., no light around the rim, only tilted up/​down; too high [she’s short]); plenty of towels, etc… you know, the typical bathroom essentials.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here. Although we didn’t, I suggest that if you have the time, take advantage of the amenities of the resort. We did drive out into town and do some shopping, as the resort is located near some good shopping centers. We’ve considered coming back out, probably for a longer stay though — we’ll skip the mountainous road next time though.

Beautiful resort. Definitely out in the desert, but it’s beautiful. We were lucky to get a special price since my Fiancé’s Marine ball got group pricing. We stayed for $ 99/​night and paid $ 1 for the resort fee which included a free cocktail drink from 4−6pm, wi-​fi, and access to other things. The room was clean, bed was comfy, and the bathroom came with both a shower and a tub. The one thing I didn’t like was that the cosmetic mirror in the bathroom wasn’t adjustable and it wasn’t lit around the rim.
The Grand Ballroom was spectacular and the event was beautiful. Banquet staff were amazing, and even gave the Marine next to me a second steak. Haha! Check out was smooth and easy and all the employees gave quality customer service.

Ducked in for a conference and it was a fine time, here’s why:
* Big
* Well managed
* Lots of stuff onsite
* Boat rides
* Golf
* Spa
* Disco
* Great restaurants
* Sat in Palm Springs, playground of the rich and famous.
I was there for a healthcare conference and another time for a party weekend and both times were outstanding.
Cabeza OUT!

This resort is stunning! There’s a Starbucks (enough said). There’s also a boat ride in the evening to take you around the lake and to the restaurants. The nature of my stay was to see family, so I didn’t hang around the hotel a lot. However, I definitely will be coming back here when I’m in town!!!
The staff is very accommodating and everyone I encountered, room service, bellman, valet, front desk, Starbucks barista, they all asked how my day was going, can they be of any assistance.
The room overlooked the Springs Pool and the balcony was spacious! I’m pretty sure this hotel is set up so that every room has a great view of something! I was surprised to see that the bathroom had a separate shower and tub! A definite plus!!!
This is a huge resort with many amenities… This why there’s a $ 30/​night resort fee, which included self parking, wifi, golf, and fitness center. I’m from vegas… I’m use to this. But what I’m not use to is the $ 27/​valet fee… Not included in the resort fee. Luckily for us, our room was near the side of the parking garage… But you will be walking a bit until you get to the lobby from there. California in general is crazy about the fees they charge for parking! For some reason I didn’t expect Palm Springs to fit in that category. The resort fee is fine… The valet fee is crazy! I’m just use to tipping for valet and not having a set fee.
With all of that being said… I’m still coming back! Lol. No other resort like this one!!! Hands down!!! You will not be disappointed as long as you accustom yourself with that hefty valet fee or the scenic walk to the garage!

I won’t deny it, I’m a huge SPG lover over Marriott. Upon arrival, I was definitely blown away by the hotel grounds and the attention to detail and service.
We had a short trip to Palm Springs as a mini getaway from the LA chaos. This hotel was exactly what we both needed as the peace, quiet and relaxation we were looking for. During our check in process, the hotel went well out of their way to reserve their signature view room to us, as we celebrated a birthday. The staff was very courteous and explained the grounds to us, as this was our first stay here.
We took advantage of the boat tour at the hotel. Very cute way to get a nice overview of the grounds and the captain was very sweet enough to show us around. The room was very spacious and had a balcony overlooking the pools — absolutely stunning! You never would have felt like you were in the middle of a desert when you looked out.
The room service was excellent and prompt. The spa staff was very very friendly and gave us a tour of the premises to inform us about all the amenities included. We had drinks at the Blue Start lounge while catching up on some Sunday football. It was fairly quiet in there, but the atmosphere was definitely nice.
The biggest dud for me during our stay was the Oasis pool. The staff was completely MIA, or just flat out ignoring us. No one ever came to ask us for drink orders or food orders. We ended up getting a round of beers towards the last 30 min of our time. It took quite a long time from the start of our order, to getting our beers, to closing our tab out. The whole process made me just think it would be faster to walk to the bar myself.
The absolute highlight of the trip was the spa facility. It’s that little slice of heaven you need from time to time. With the various amount of amenities and treatments, you definitely can’t go wrong here!

Beautiful resort but considering the price of staying there, it’s ridiculous that they’d have a cover charge for their night club and main pool. Everyone staying at the resort should have equal access to all the pools instead of charging $ 20/​person for entrance into the main one. Charging $ 15/​guy and $ 10/​girl when we arrived there at 12:30 AM was so frustrating considering the club closed at 2 AM.
My group was in one of the upstairs villas and within the first hour of being there after arriving at 10 PM, we received a noise complaint despite the fact that all we were doing was talking in normal voices and walking around. It was also Friday night, which made the noise complaint even more annoying.

Let me first of all start off by saying that I actually prefer this resort because of its grandeur and location. I was definately comfortable and happy, but here are some tips I hope they’ll take to heart and polish up!
1.) My girlfriend and I were sharing a room, and when we opened our door, my girlfriend gasped and said «this room looks nothing like the online photos!» So obviously that was a bummer.
2.) It was 117 degrees on a June day, and there were more than 2 water coolers filled with fresh fruit for flavoring in the lobby, and not ONE cup anywhere, let alone an employee to offer help.
3.) Speaking of hydration, the pool offered no refreshments (especially H20) … Nothing in sight! You had to either bring your own or dine in one of the sit down restaurants. I could’ve drank the pool!
Other than these complaints, guess what? I actually really like this hotel and I’ll be happy to stay again… as long as I bring my own H20 lol

This hotel is absolutely amazing and very unique in its own kind in palms springs. The hotel was built in the 1980s but yet they have done a great job with renovation! I highly recommend taking the gondola ride for a 15 mins tour ride around the 45,000 acre property! You will be riding along side to around 30 beautiful black and white swans!!! I have never seen these magnificent creatures this close before! It’s is so majestic to be so close to them. The ride opens at 5 pm and you can also take the ride down to your dinner location. There are 5 different restaurants on this property! The rock grill is my top pick! They also offer 48 spa rooms with a variety of treatments for your pleasures. They also offer 2 18 hole golf course! This is a pretty popular spot for tee time!
Don’t forget to check out the huge pool!!! There are 2 pools. The oasis the is main pool. On a hot day, make sure you are either in the water or relaxing in the shade. Lots and lots of sunblock…
I highly enjoyed my mini vacation and looking forward in coming back. This is a nice spot for a short getaway from LA but not as far as a drive to Vegas. Agua Caliente is 15 mins away and the casino has the same swanky feel like Vegas but on a smaller scale.

This update is for golfing on one of two golf courses located on the property of the JW Marriott. Our group was staying at the sister Marriott vacation club Shadow Ridge which is minutes of this resort. I booked a foursome online for a tee time at 11:00 am for the Saturday after Christmas. We checked in upstairs at the golf shop and warmed up on the manicured range and practice green.
The tee times were running behind and we teed off about 10 minutes late and played on the Palm course verses the Valley course BC I feel it’s more scenic. We were saw a marshall on the course several times and received complimentary apples and was tended to by the cart gals throughout the day. The course which was over seeded recently so it was in beautiful condition — including the fairways, traps and greens.
If you’re looking for a resort with a great spa, several restaurants and two 18 hole courses look no further, this JW Marriott has it all and more!