Marriott's Desert Springs Villas II

You’ll see mostly families and vacationing couples at this time-share resort, but many business travelers attending conferences at the nearby J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa also stay here. This is a modern and well-maintained property, with beautiful grounds graced by towering palms and fountains, and an attractive lobby decorated in bright colors. It’s generally a quiet place, with patios that face peaceful golf course fairways, but the main pool area can get crowded. The Shade recreation center also buzzes with activity throughout the day, as guests of all ages participate in various activities. It’s especially lively on free movie night.

You’ll need a car to get the most of your time at this timeshare, nestled around two golf courses in Palm Desert. Nothing of note is within walking distance, but a free shuttle takes guests to the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa (a four-minute ride). A few restaurants, a supermarket, and a pharmacy are three minutes away by car, and several other resorts and golf courses are nearby. Palm Springs International Airport and the Palm Springs Convention Center downtown are about a 25-minute drive. Joshua Tree National Park Visitors Center is 55 minutes away by car. Drives to Los Angeles can take a little more than two hours.

The guest rooms and villas have decor that mixes vibrant accent colors like red, aqua blue, and orange with soft brown tones on the walls, drapes, and patterned carpet. Overall, the look is pleasant but not upscale, though space is a big plus. The Standard King room we saw resembled a studio suite, with a kitchenette that included a sink, mini-fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, and utensils. It also had an oval dining table with two chairs, a sleeper sofa, and a small furnished balcony that overlooked a golf course fairway. The bathroom was only average in size, but nicely decorated with a roomy granite vanity, magnifying mirror, and shower/tub combo framed by tan tiling. Larger, one- and two-bedroom Villas feature washer/dryers, multiple flat-screen TVs, and bathrooms with separate soaking tubs and walk-in showers. Their full kitchens also have dishwashers, ranges, and full-size fridges. The rooms are tidy, quiet, and generally well-maintained, and most feature golf course views. Free Wi-Fi is provided. 

This sprawling time-share resort has a solid crop of amenities, but the on-site restaurant only serves lunch, with staples like burgers, salads, and other casual fare on the menu. The hotel runs a free shuttle to the nearby J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, which has more dining options, as well as two golf courses and a full-service spa that are open to time-share guests for a fee. Some past guests have reported rather lengthy wait times for the shuttles, however. Seven separate outdoor heated pools are part of the Villa's complex, which also has whirlpools and kiddie splash pools, though some past guests have noted that the main pool can get crowded. The Shade activity center has a fitness center, yoga studio, dedicated recreation areas for youngsters and teens, and supervised kids’ activities. Other on-site amenities include bicycle rentals, a tennis court, a putting green, and guest laundry facilities. There's also a marketplace that sells food, drinks, and sundries. Babysitting and valet dry cleaning and laundry are among the concierge services offered, and Wi-Fi and on-parking are free. Guests with limited mobility should be aware that there's no elevator to reach second floor rooms.