Marriotts Desert Springs Villas I

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

644 reviews

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  Great Hotel and Service

  Fantastic service and lovely property. Jose H signed us in and was helpful, accommodating and knowledgeable. We appreciated the great front desk service. Our room in V building was large, with two queen size beds and several kitchen amenities. There was a huge bathtub in the room - really fantastic. The pool was open late and there are 4 hot tubs!! Wonderful experience; will definitely return.

  May 03, 2025
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  Will not be returning!

  We gave this another try after our last stay of having a dead rat and rat feces on our Patio as well as an uncleaned villa and it will be our last time! Aside from all of the issues with booking (not the resorts fault) we had cigarette butts and piles of hair down by the pool in a non smoking area (not what i want my kids being around). Additionally the AC/Heating unit was not working. The front desk was completely useless in resolving or compensating. Told me "sometimes people smoke" and "you have to do is message the desk". I messaged the desk about the heater and the cigarettes. Neither were resolved!

  Apr 18, 2025
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  Simply Amazing!

  Beautiful resort & gorgeous desert location. Agreed to wait until 5:15pm to get a suggested room with a mountain & JW view and so glad we were patient. From our balcony in P building we enjoyed watching golfers tee up every morning & watching the sunset each evening. Michelle at the front desk check in assured us it would be worth the little extra wait for our week stay and she was absolutely correct. Abraham was also fantastic (morning stretch & water aerobics). Ordered grocery delivery from Albertsons (adult beverages included in order) which was convenient. Don’t bother going to Palm Springs for their Thursday night village fest-we didn’t feel the need to stay long there & wanted to get back to them s resort. Having access to JW Marriott main resort was a huge bonus of staying here too.

  Apr 11, 2025
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  Exceptional, Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas, a fabulous resort/vacation destination

  We’ve been fortunate to enjoy vacations at Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas I since the resort first opened. Over the years, in my opinion, the resort has only improved, with numerous upgrades and enhancements that have made the resort even better than when it first opened. On a positive note, we absolutely love Palm Desert and the location of Desert Springs Villas. It’s a place where we feel completely at ease and can truly unwind. The resort is impeccably maintained and spotless. The two-bedroom villas are spacious, thoughtfully designed, and optimized for both comfort and functionality. The landscaping is beautiful and well-designed, and the DSV maintenance and housekeeping teams, along with the outsourced landscaping company, do an exceptional job maintaining the property. As is our usual practice, our interactions with DSV staff are generally limited to the check-in desk, concierge, and housekeeping/maintenance team. On this visit, we checked in during an off-peak time, avoiding the long lines that others have mentioned at the Front Desk (though I’m curious why DSV hasn’t restored/expanded “Gate Check In,” to ease the demand on the Front Desk). We did, however, have the pleasure of meeting Michelle, a Front Desk Supervisor, who was particularly helpful, professional, and efficient. Donna and Jan, the concierge staff, continue to be exceptional ambassadors for both Desert Springs Villas and Marriott Vacation Club. One employee who has stood out to us on this visit, and previous stays, is Maria, the housekeeper responsible for maintaining the pool area and Club House. She is an incredibly hard-working and dedicated employee, displaying a level of care and pride in her work that truly stands out. I’ve often watched Maria cleaning the pool area, early in the morning, and her efforts are really remarkable. On the rare occasions when Maria is off, her replacements don’t seem to share the same level of commitment that Maria does, they spend time on their phones, or socializing with other employees, rather than staying focused on their work. Related, if you want to see something remarkable, go to the Fitness Center between 5 and 6 AM, and watch the extent that DSV maintenance employees go to, to steam clean the pool deck and chase lounges at the Club House pool. It is impressive, and especially noteworthy. As for areas of improvement, I’d start with the Fitness Center. The maintenance of the equipment needs attention. It’s frustrating to find equipment that isn’t functioning or is in poor repair. Additionally, there’s a lack of signage encouraging guests to disinfect equipment after use, which would decrease the risk of cross-contamination and the spread of germs in the Fitness Center. I’d also recommend placing more focus on improving the interactions between guests and Front Desk staff when reporting mechanical issues or service needs. Making that process efficient and reliable would improve the guest experience. Another area of concern is the Desert Springs Villas Marketplace. I believe that outsourcing the Marketplace to an outside vendor was a mistake. The food is subpar, overpriced, and served by apathetic staff who are not of the same caliber as Marriott Vacation Club employees. The marketplace, under the current ownership, is sub-par, resembling a bodega, in an inner-city, more than a quality retail outlet. The DSV Marketplace was in much better hands when Desert Springs Villas operated it directly. Lastly, with the outstanding JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa right next door to Desert Springs Villas, it would make sense for Desert Springs Villas to partner with them for food and beverage services. The food at the Palmeras Pool outlet, for example, is both poor and overpriced. In conclusion, despite these areas for improvement, I can’t speak highly enough about our experiences at Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas. The resort is exceptionally well-managed, and it continues to provide an outstanding vacation experience.

  Apr 02, 2025
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  Meh

  I've stayed at the Newport MVC and Desert Ridge MVC but this was my first time at one of the Palm Springs MVC properties. We were very underwhelmed. Everytime I stay at one of these properties I thank God I'm not an owner. The landscaping is nice and the units are clean but that's about it. Desert Springs I is very understaffed. Long lines at check in, only one server at the Palmera Pool (for the entire pool and restaurant), and no housekeeping the entire week. Not even a mid-week tidy up. At check out guests are ask to take their trash to a dumpster and strip the beds. Seriously????? Most of the Staff at the Front Desk and at the Golf Course seem like they hate (really hate) their jobs. Try calling the Concierge or At Your Service-they don't answer their phones. They tell you to make reservations for activities, like pickleball, but they are impossible to get. Food is very mid and prices extremely high (ie-$20 for a really bad margarita). Finally, the staff will tell you that you can only use the pool at the JW Monday-Friday which is a joke because the pool gates are unlocked seven days a week and the place in overrun with locals taking chairs from paying guests. I know Marriott will address these comments with their canned response on how they "value feedback" and "will work to address these areas", blah, blah, blah. But based on all the negative reviews it's obvious they don't care. Owners are forced to use their weeks and pay their Mainteance Fees so why bother? In the meantime, guests (like me) and potential new owners will continue to steer clear. You've been warned.

  Mar 22, 2025