November 20, 2024
Featured Resort Review: Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas, Palm Desert California
California’s Coachella Valley has many timeshare vacation options, including Marriott and Westin properties and resorts from several other timeshare systems. Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas in Palm Desert is one of the most loved destinations in this area.
This article provides detailed information to help you plan your stay at this resort, including the pros and cons for each resort phase!
Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas comprises two resorts with the same amenities. Desert Springs Villas I was the first Marriott Vacation Club resort built in Palm Desert. Due to incredible popularity, this was quickly followed by Desert Springs Villas II. These two sister resorts are sometimes called DSV I, DSV 1, DSV II, or DSV 2. While they share amenities, we will cover some distinct differences in this article.
The local Palm Springs and Palm Desert area is serviced by Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). Serviced by all the major US airlines, Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas is about a 20 to 25-minute drive from the airport. All the major rental car companies also have desks at the airport, and renting a car there is very easy. However, it is always recommended that you rent in advance for the best rates.
Do You Need a Rental Car?
Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas only has a couple of onsite dining options, and several others at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. With limited nearby attractions and dining, you will want some transportation. If you wish to see many of the attractions in the Coachella Valley, go to restaurants, or even head out shopping for groceries without a car, you would need to utilize rideshare services to go anywhere off-property. While you can walk to the nearby Ralph’s supermarket for groceries, getting there in a car is much easier. Rideshare costs can also add up quickly. A taxi from the airport to the resort might cost between $45 – $60. If you plan to spend more than just a few days at the resort, you will certainly want to rent a car.
Resort Shuttle Service
Desert Springs Villas offers a shuttle service around the resort. You can also use the shuttle to easily travel between Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas and the JW Marriott Resort & Spa.
Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas
The resort only offers a couple of onsite food and beverage options.
The Water's Edge Bar & Grill
Grab a bite to eat or a beverage by the Palmeras Pool at Desert Springs Villas II. Standard pool bar fare includes, sandwiches, wraps, salads and more. Full bar service is also available. Additional bar service is also available outside the main Desert Springs lobby ny the Clubhouse Pool at Desert Springs Villas I.
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
For additional dining options, you will find the JW Marriott Resort & Spa, which is only a short walk or shuttle ride away. Best of all, you can have your restaurant charges put on your Desert Springs Villas room to help you earn extra Marriott Bonvoy points.
Here is a list of food and beverage options available at the JW Marriott Resort & Spa. Dress code is casual unless otherwise noted.
Grocery
About a mile away you will find Ralph’s which is part of the Kroger grocery conglomerate. A large grocery store with a wide selection of fresh and other grocery items.
Restaurants
The Palm Springs and Palm Desert areas are filled with many culinary options. A few located near Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas are:
- Grill-A-Burger – Featured by Guy Fieri on multiple episodes of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Come here for their famous burgers and salads, and if you want a bit of Canadian fare, they even have poutine!
- Sherman’s Deli offers a wide selection of sandwiches, soups, salads, and specialties, so everyone in your group will find something to tempt their taste buds.
- Pueblo Viejo Grill – Featuring standard Mexican fare. From tacos enchiladas to sizzling fajitas, and your favorite cocktails too!
- Bucatini Trattoria & Pizza – Featuring pizza and other Italian fare.
Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas I and II consist of all two-bedroom, two-bathroom villas. These two-bedroom villas are also known as “lock-off” units. This means the villas can be reserved as two smaller and separate units. Each two-bedroom can be booked as a one-bedroom and a studio unit.
Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas I
Studio Villa
Floor plan
One-Bedroom Villa
Floor plan
Two-Bedroom Villa
Floor plan
Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas II
Studio Villa
Floor plan
One-Bedroom Villa
Floor plan
Two-Bedroom Villa
Floor plan
The resort villas don’t have any assigned views, so you can’t book a mountain or golf course view. All rooms are assigned before or on the day of check-in. If you wish to request a specific location within the resort or type of view, contact the resort a few weeks before check-in.
Most of the Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas units have golf course views. If you are in a one-bedroom or two-bedroom villa, you will have a golf course view from many units and can see the mountains in the distance. Unfortunately, most studio units have views out to the parking lot. Due to their orientation, studio units at the end of each building do have golf course views. Those studio units in the middle of the buildings don’t.
At Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas II, most units have views of the golf course with distant views of mountains. However, some units may overlook other grassy areas or roadways within the resort itself, leading to more inconsistent views at Desert Springs Villas II compared to Desert Springs Villas I.
It should also be mentioned that the patios of most upper-floor units do not have any cover to protect them from the sun. This may be important during the summer or the heat of the day. It can get hot sitting on the patio. The first-floor units have patio shades, due to the second-floor patio above.
All buildings within Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas are two-story structures. They have no elevators. That means if you are assigned a unit on the upper floor, you will need to be able to navigate the stairs.
If you have special mobility needs or desire a first-floor unit, contact the resort a few weeks before arrival to request one. We’ve also noticed that some lower floor units in Desert Springs Villas I do have a step or two to the first floor from the parking lot. So be specific with your request if you have special needs with a wheelchair or other mobility device.
While Desert Springs Villas I and II feature studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom villas, the rooms can differ. Each may also not be ideal for the dynamics of your traveling party. Desert Springs Villas I rooms are somewhat unique, with an entry into a small vestibule-type room with individual doors (and locks) into the studio and one-bedroom side of the lock-off the two-bedroom unit. If you are only staying on one side of the unit, you may share the vestibule with another family you don’t know. If you are staying in a complete two-bedroom, your party seems to be split into two separate rooms with a long walk between them.
The two-bedroom configuration of Desert Springs Villas may not be ideal for a family traveling with young children staying in the studio. This would lead to those staying in the studio being separated from those staying in the one-bedroom. However, this setup might be good for a pair of adult couples traveling together, giving them better privacy when they enter their own bedroom. The studio side of the Desert Springs unit may be problematic for couples as it doesn’t have a king-size bed.
The two-bedroom lock-off in Desert Springs Villas II is more like a traditional Marriott Vacation Club two-bedroom unit, with an interconnecting door between the one-bedroom and studio sides of the lock-off unit. The only downside is that the studio at Desert Springs Villas II is much smaller than its counterpart at Desert Springs Villas I.
Over several stays in Desert Springs Villas I, we’ve noticed that sometimes the apartment-size refrigerator in the studio unit contains an ice-maker, and sometimes it doesn’t. We don’t know which units have an ice-maker in the studio and which don’t. The refrigerator in Desert Springs Villas II doesn’t have an ice maker, but there is a small ice box or freezer. Ice is also available at larger ice machines in each pool area. Laundry facilities are also located in or near the pool areas for those staying in a studio unit without a washer and dryer.
Red Timeshares’ services are not endorsed by or affiliated in any way with Marriott International, Inc., any of its related companies, or any of its properties or licensees.
The Pools
While staying at Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas, you can enjoy any one of the pools. In fact, you can use a different pool every day for a week-long stay and not use the same one twice. That’s right! There are seven pools available to you during your stay. Three are on the Desert Springs Villas I side of the resort, and four are available on the Desert Springs Villas I. It doesn’t matter which resort section you are staying in; you can utilize any pool area.
Clubhouse Pool at Desert Springs Villas I
Desert Springs Villas I
Three Pools – This side of the Desert Springs Villas resort has the Clubhouse Pool and smaller North and West Pools.
Desert Springs Villas II
With four pools available, there is one for those looking for fun and excitement and another for quiet and relaxation.
Gas BBQ Grills
At Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas, you will find gas grills located in many areas around the resort property. This gives you plenty of places to grill up that perfect steak or even the simplest of hamburgers and hot dogs. Your options at the grocery store expand greatly with the availability of an on-site gas grill, which is never very far away from your villa.
Fitness Center
There are two on-site fitness centers. One is located in the main clubhouse, where you check-in. This is the fitness center available for those staying in the main sections of Desert Springs Villas I and II. A fitness center is also available in the clubhouse building in the Jasmine Court section of Marriott Desert Springs Villas II.
Pickleball & Tennis
Tennis courts and pickleball are available to Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas guests. They can utilize the tennis facilities at the adjacent JW Marriott Resort & Spa. Pickleball courts are also available in the Jasmine Court section of Desert Springs Villas I.
Golf
The map shows that the resort is surrounded by a golf course. This is the Desert Springs Golf Course, associated with the nearby JW Marriott Resort & Spa. Ted Robinson designed the Palm and Valley courses, both 18-hole par 72 courses. Contact the resort concierge to book your tee times.
Shade Recreation Center
This hubs many of Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas’ activities. You will find a small rock climbing wall, ping-pong, games, activities, social events, and more. The active staff will happily help you find something to do as a family or entertain your kids at Desert Springs Villas.
Perhaps one of the most controversial things about Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas II is Jasmine Court. You might ask yourself how this could be controversial. When Marriott Vacation Club built Desert Springs Villas II, they created a separate section completely detached from the rest of the resort. You must drive about a mile on surface roads outside the resort to get between the two sections. This separate section was named Jasmine Court.
Why You Might Not Want to Stay in Jasmine Court
With this section being removed from the rest of the resort, you must travel to the main section of Desert Springs Villas to participate in on-site activities. This might necessitate utilizing the resort shuttle or driving your own car. While you could walk, expect the trip to be over a mile. Walking through the golf course is not recommended or advised. Even if you were to attempt this shortcut, the walk is nearly a mile between the Jasmine Court clubhouse and the clubhouse at Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas I.
Why You Might Like to Stay in Jasmine Court
That said, there are several benefits to staying in the Jasmine Court section of Desert Springs Villas I. This section has several Pickleball Courts available for Desert Springs Villas II guests. Desert Springs Villas I guests can use the tennis and pickleball facilities at the JW Marriott Resort & Spa. We will touch on that in the next section of this article.
If you are looking for a quiet stay away from the hustle and bustle of the main resort, Jasmine Court can be a perfect place to get it. It has a pool, fitness center, and on-site gas BBQ grills. If you are staying in this section and know ahead of arrival, you can even check in there, too. Just be sure to arrive before 4pm when the Jasmine Court clubhouse closes.
One benefit of Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas is its co-location with the JW Marriott hotel in Palm Desert. This provides guests with additional dining options and amenities.
Desert Springs Villas I guests have access to the pools and other facilities at the JW Marriott Desert Springs hotel Monday through Friday.
Desert Springs Villas I guests may also utilize the Spa Desert Springs day passes. This is the onsite day spa at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. The Spa Desert Springs is also home to the only adult pool in the entire hotel and villa complex. To take advantage of the spa, Desert Springs Villas guests can visit the spa, provide their name and room number, and be provided with access to the spa facilities. This includes treatment rooms and the adult-only pool. Specialty treatments, like massage, do have a service fee. If you are staying at Marriott Desert Springs Villas I, visit the Spa Desert Springs to learn more.
Guests at either Marriott Desert Springs Villas I or Villas II can visit the hotel and also take advantage of any of the restaurants listed earlier in this article. Don’t forget to charge anything you purchase at the JW Marriott Desert Springs hotel back to your room at Desert Springs Villas.
Located in the Coachella Valley, Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas offers many things to see and explore during your stay.
Joshua Tree National Park
Palms to Pines Scenic Byway
Joshua Tree National Park – Located about 45 minutes to an hour from the south or northwest entrances, a day visit to Joshua Tree National Park is easy. You can simply drive through and admire the amazing landscape that spans two deserts. Or you can get out of your vehicle and take on many hiking trails. If you plan to go in the hotter months, hiking is not advisable as temperatures can be extreme and have been known to go over 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you plan to hike, check the park website and follow all the recommendations. Be safe.
Palms to Pines Scenic Byway – Start in Palm Desert, just a short drive from Desert Springs Villas. Taking Highway 74, you will zig-zag your way up multiple switchbacks. Be sure to stop at the viewpoint on the left-hand side on the way up for sweeping views of the Coachella Valley. Continuing on, the landscape will change from arid desert to tall pines. You will pass by Lake Hamet and then through the picturesque town of Idyllwild. Take special care if you take the scenic bi-way in winter. You will leave warm temperatures in Palm Desert and likely see snow in the highest elevations. In the summer heat, temperatures in the valley to the higher elevations can vary by up to 40 degrees.
Downtown Palm Springs – The city of Palm Springs, known for its mid-century modern architecture, is a destination all in itself. Stroll through the historic downtown, taking in the boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. Check out the Thursday night Palm Springs Village Fest, a street fair featuring arts, crafts, food, and entertainment.
Experience Desert Springs Villas for Less!
Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas presents a fantastic vacation destination for your entire family. Experience this resort’s ideal location in the Coachella Valley in Southern California. Its extensive amenities, nearby restaurants, activities, and the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa make this resort a perfect place to spend your next vacation. As you plan your next vacation, we hope this review will help ensure you have a memorable stay at one of Marriott Vacation Club’s premier resorts.
Looking to stay at Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas? Check our current listings for rent here:
