74855 Country Club Dr, Palm Desert, California, United States | (888) 252-0567
Gorgeous grounds complete with championship golf course views and flamingos on the front drive
Desert contemporary rooms; some with separate soaking baths and furnished balconies
Four outdoor swimming pools with waiter service and a snack bar
Six restaurants range from sushi to a grill to a five-course tasting restaurant with a rotating menu
Starbucks in the lobby
Two championship golf courses and a driving range
Full spa and fitness center with regular yoga and cardio classes
Nightclub for weekend DJ and dancing
Gondola rides depart from the lobby and take guests around the grounds by boat
210,000 square feet of event space for conferences and weddings
Ongoing renovations and constructions through 2019
Daily resort fee for Wi-Fi, fitness center, cardio classes, self-parking, and range balls
Charge for valet; can be difficult to find self-parking
Busy and bustling atmosphere with constant commotion (a pro for some)
Cover charge in the nightclub
Some rooms are a trek from the pools/lobby/restaurants
The upscale JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa looks and feels like a resort oasis (complete with flamingos and a moat) in the middle of the desert. The sprawling property, with gondola rides in the lobby, four outdoor pools, six restaurants, a full spa, and two championship golf courses, is one of the largest in the Palm Springs area. It houses almost 900 rooms in several wings, so guests can choose if they prefer to sleep closer to the spa or pools. The decor is desert contemporary, though some rooms are still undergoing renovations as of 2019 (so was the lobby Starbucks). This place is bustling with both families and business travelers adding to the cacophony of screeching caged birds in the soaring lobby. For something more chic, quiet, and directly downtown, check rates at the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Large desert-style resort surrounded by golf courses and a moat with flamingos
The JW Marriott provides a memorable sense of arrival. Guests arrive via a long driveway flanked by gorgeously green golf courses, then cross a moat-style river home to flocks of flamingos before arriving at the massive entrance, complete with towering palm trees and a massive water fountain. Inside, the lobby is no less of a (slightly dated) showstopper. The interior atrium space is festooned with hanging plants and huge windows that overlook the pool complex and back golf course grounds. A set of stairs leads down to a large bar and seating area, then down another flight to the gondola rides. Add a Starbucks, screeching caged birds, and the hustle and bustle of hundreds of guests and you've got quite the symphony of sounds. There are quieter corners of the resort, such as the spa and back room annex. Past guests have complained about navigating from their rooms via a maze of elevators and hallways to get to the facilities. As of our visit in 2019, the resort was undergoing construction in some of the rooms and Starbucks.
Location
In Desert Springs, about a 30-minute drive from downtown Palm Springs
The JW Marriott is in Desert Springs, a city of about 25,000, located 30 minutes away from downtown Palm Springs by car. The resort, with its moat and golf courses, feels like a world unto itself, but guests could easily walk to an outdoor shopping mall, wine bar, and Morton's Steakhouse in about eight minutes if they wanted to. Other tourist attractions require a car to reach.- 24-minute drive to Empire Polo Club (where Coachella and Stagecoach are held)
Rooms
Contemporary rooms with desert stylings and furnished balconies
As of our visit in 2019, not all of the rooms were renovated at JW Marriott Desert Springs. Still, renovated or not, each of the rooms are spacious and nicely maintained. The main difference is that the renovated rooms have been freshened with blue accents, while the older rooms still have a desert color scape of oranges and sand browns. Features include a large flat-screen Smart TV, single-cup coffeemaker, closet, and Wi-Fi (included in the resort fee). Bed configurations come in either a single king bed or two queen-size beds. There's a huge inventory of suites with extras like dining rooms and pull-out sofas. Adjoining rooms are popular with families. Bathrooms provide large vanities, and either a shower/tub combo or separate tub and shower. Aromatherapy Associates toiletries are provided. Most of the rooms have furnished balconies, with either views of the pool or grounds. Some rooms overlook the parking lot.
Features
Three outdoor pools, full spa, and two golf courses -- plus gondola rides
Features at the JW Marriott Desert Springs are over the top and unparalleled in the area. For leisure visitors, it's imperative to take at least one gondola ride from the lobby through the back golf course and grounds -- an excellent way to see how massive and maintained the property is. There are two 18-hole, par 72 championship golf courses, and green fees cost extra. Golf balls are included in the resort fee. The Spa at Desert Springs offers a wide range of relaxing and beauty treatments, plus it has an outdoor pool and a restaurant. The spa is next door to the fitness center, which offers two rooms, modern equipment, and a few free cardio and yoga classes per day. There are two pool complexes, with three pools total. The main pool complex is just behind the lobby, and it holds whirlpools, sun decks, two large pools, and a snack bar. The third pool is tucked back by the back annex and is quieter. Food and beverage service is provided poolside.Business and event travelers have access to over 210,000 square feet of event space, including ballrooms. There's also a full business center. Dependable Wi-Fi is included in the resort fee.
All-Inclusive / Food
Six restaurants, Starbucks, room service, and a nightclub
If you want to do all your dining at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort, there are loads of good options -- especially for dinner. Room service is served until late.- Rockwood Grill serves American cuisine for all three meals. It's family-friendly and offers lovely views of the back water area.
