JW Marriott Desert Springs Review: Family-Friendly Palm Desert Resort Over Thanksgiving
We spent five nights at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa over Thanksgiving week, staying Sunday through Friday with our toddler, and it turned out to be a great choice for our family. Our goals were simple: warm weather, toddler-friendly, and a convenient location. The resort delivered on all of these fronts.
This JW Marriott Desert Springs review covers our experience with rooms, dining, pools, kids’ activities, and using Marriott Bonvoy points. I’ll also share practical tips for families planning a Thanksgiving or holiday-week stay.
Arrival and Check-In
Staying Sunday–Friday was a great choice for us. Arriving on Sunday, the resort felt calm and manageable. The lobby wasn’t crowded, elevators moved quickly, and check-in went smoothly, though the line did stretch through the lobby at times. At check-in, we were given a map of the resort and a list of their activity offerings.
As Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members, we were given a choice of 1,000 Bonvoy points or a $30 breakfast credit per adult every day of our stay. We always take the breakfast option as it’s a much better deal than the 1,000 points.
Clearly the resort was a popular destination as we saw college basketball teams from Utah, Iowa, Ole Miss, and Minnesota and their supporting fans filling up the resort starting on Sunday.
By Tuesday afternoon, the resort began filling up with travelers finishing up with school and work for the holiday week, but the property’s size allowed us to find quiet pockets for walks and playtime with our toddler. Staying early in the week helped us avoid navigating the heavier crowds later in the stay.
Tip: A Sunday–Friday stay is ideal for families who want a calmer start to their holiday-week trip.
Booking, Cost, and Marriott Bonvoy Points
One reason we chose JW Marriott Desert Springs was the points value. We booked five nights using 217,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, leveraging the Stay 5, Pay for 4 promotion, which saved us over $2,500 compared to paying cash. Was this the lowest cents-per-point we could have found? Probably not, but it let us stay somewhere we wouldn’t have felt comfortable paying cash for during a holiday week, so the redemption was worth it to us.
During Thanksgiving week, cash rates were upwards of $500 per night, and even in low season, rates hover around $350–$400 per night. For families, redeeming points here is a great value, particularly during high-demand periods like Thanksgiving.
For things that we had to pay for, we used the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card to earn more points for our future travels.
Resort Fee
Even though we paid with points, Marriott does charge a $45 resort fee for all guests. This resort fee covered:
- Daily Golf Range Access for two guests
- Daily Instructor-Led Fitness Classes for two guests
- Daily Miniature Golf for up to four guests
- Daily 2-hour Bike Rental for two guests
- Daily 1-hour Hard Court and Racquet Rental for two guests
- Daily 1-hour Pickleball Court and Equipment Rental for two guests
- Daily Resort Fish Feeding Activity for family
- Daily Enhanced High-Speed Internet (let’s be honest, pretty much every hotel should be offering this and we already get good internet access with our Marriott status)
So yes, $45 a day adds up, but it does cover a lot of activities if you and your family are interested.
Our Room Experience
We stayed on the top floor, in a room with a mountain and pool view. The balcony had two chairs and gave us amazing views of the property and the surrounding areas.
The room was spacious for a family of three, accommodating a crib. There was a circular table pushed up against the longer desk/banquet – it was a bit strange but maybe for someone who wanted to move it and work elsewhere in the room?
Room notes:
- Night upgrade award: Our requested upgrade appeared approved in the app prior to our arrival but was not honored at check-in. The room was still fine, and it’s understandable we didn’t get an upgrade during such a busy week. What wasn’t great, however, was the process to get those NUA added back to our account. That, however, is a knock on Marriott corporate, not on this hotel.
- Bathroom lighting: The switch was located outside the door, which was slightly inconvenient during evening toddler routines.
- Shower safety: Slippery floor; when you open the door to the shower, it pushed the bath mat away from where you needed it. I had to pull the bath mat closer to me with the door partially open to safely leave the shower.
Overall, the room suited a family-friendly Palm Desert stay, providing a quiet retreat after busy pool days and outings.
Dining at JW Marriott Desert Springs
The resort has several on-site dining options for guests.
Rockwood Grill
The main restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
As I mentioned, we accepted the $30 per day per adult credit at check-in as Platinum Elite members. That $30 a day covered the cold buffet. If we wanted access to everything in the cold and hot buffet, that was an extra $10 per person, which we took advantage of. You could also use the credit to order off the menu, but we preferred the buffet option. Even for $10 per person, we figured that was a better deal than most places we’d find for breakfast in Palm Desert. Our toddler ate free.
- Cold buffet: Sliced fruit (watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, honeydew), pastries, bagels, bread, cereal, and a “deli” section
- Hot breakfast: Omelet station, scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, pancakes, and chilaquiles verde
We were frequently the first (and some of the only guests at breakfast), which opened at 6:30. This surprised me a bit, but I guess the other patrons weren’t traveling with a toddler whose internal clock was still on Central Time.
On two of the mornings, we received the full buffet completely free. The hotel staff didn’t exactly explain why, but we weren’t complaining. Staff were accommodating, and high chairs & crayons were available for our toddler. They also brought a child sippy cup out at every meal.
Mikado Hibachi
Japanese hibachi and sushi. They take reservations on Open Table, but we didn’t see any available during the five nights we were there. We decided to take our chances with putting in our names and hoping for the best. Mikado opened at 5, so we placed our names right at opening and were told we’d be seated at 5:30.
A high chair was provided for our toddler, and there were lots of families with small children enjoying the teppanyaki. The menu included choice of miso soup or salad, shrimp, vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, red peppers, carrots, and onions, selection of protein, and white or fried rice. The staff and chef were all great and made our experience eating with a toddler very easy.
Palm Court Café
Casual lunch and poolside dining with sandwiches, salads, and lighter fare.
Lobby Grab-and-Go
This is a standout feature for families and anyone looking for convenience: $5 breakfast sandwiches and burritos. This is an exceptional deal for hotel food—we haven’t seen other hotels offer grab-and-go options at this price point, and we definitely saw lots of families taking advantage of this option.
Perfect for a quick breakfast before heading to the pool or out for the day. Or, if you were a family heading into Palm Desert to grab breakfast – that $5 deal might be too good to resist.
Poolside Dining
Available at multiple pools, menus accessible via QR codes, with food delivered in disposable containers—practical for families.
Specialty Seasonal Dining
The resort occasionally offers holiday or seasonal menus, like Thanksgiving-themed options during our stay. We did not opt to partake in the Thanksgiving meal at the hotel, but the cost was $129 per adult, with seatings throughout the day.
Pools and Poolside
The resort has multiple pools, and they boasted three were designated as kid-friendly. Children under three must wear a swim diaper. Pools were busy over Thanksgiving but never impossible to find chairs, including shaded areas.
Pool highlights:
- VIP chairs available for a fee; regular chairs accessible to all guests
- QR codes to view poolside menus – but you couldn’t order on them
- Attentive staff delivering food and drinks
- Food was delivered in disposable bags and containers, making clean-up easy
The pools were extremely popular with guests – and why wouldn’t they be? Weren’t we all in the desert to enjoy 80-degree weather and sunshine?
Boats
The resort’s lakes and canals feature boats for guests. Tickets are $15 per adult, free for children under three. You can reserve tickets online, or you can walk up and request seats. We tried the walk-up option and were able to be seated on a boat leaving one hour later.
On our boat tour, there were eight people (including two toddlers), but it looked like they would seat 10 on boat rides. Two boats departed at a time for a 10-15 minute ride around the property. Watching the boats from shore became a daily activity for our toddler, and taking a short ride is a fun family experience.
Arcade
The JW Entertainment Zone (Arcade) was extremely popular. Not included in your resort fee, you have to purchase a card that you swipe for games. A card is $2 (which then becomes $2 towards game play), and you could load your card in $15, $30, $50, $75, or $100 increments. Technically you could add any amount, but these were the ones they showed on the screen.
Each dollar became a set amount of points which were then used for game play. Most of the games we saw were 6-8 points per play, with prizes loaded onto a card to be redeemed at the prize stand (like you’d see at a typical arcade). A few claw machines guarantee small wins like rubber ducks, ideal for toddlers who just wanted any prize.
Games included air hockey, pop-a-shot, racing games, small-bowl bowling (this was more points), and more.
The hotel also had an area offering additional things to do for kids.
Extra activities (typically $12–$15) include:
- Face painting
- Ceramic painting
- S’mores
- Movie night
On-Site Amenities: Spa, Golf, and Mini Golf
- Spa Desert Springs: Full-service spa offering massages, facials, and wellness treatments. While we didn’t partake, it’s popular for adults seeking relaxation.
- Desert Springs Golf Club: An 18-hole, par-72 championship course. Green fees vary by season; reservations are recommended.
- Mini Golf: Included in the resort fee, making it a convenient and fun activity for older kids and families.
Navigating the Resort
With eight floors and multiple wings, walking is unavoidable. Elevators move quickly, with two banks on each side. Despite holiday-week crowds, there were quiet spots along walkways and by lakes.
Tip: Bring a stroller—resort walking distances can add up when traveling with toddlers.
Parking
- Valet: $45/day
- Self-parking: $23/day
We opted for self-parking because we prefer not to have to wait for our vehicle any time we want to leave the resort. It also was less expensive, so saving money is always nice. It got more challenging to find parking as the resort filled up, but it was never impossible.
Final Thoughts: Thanksgiving Week in Palm Desert
JW Marriott Desert Springs is a family-friendly resort that balances activity and relaxation.
- Staying Sunday–Friday was perfect, giving us calm early days before the resort filled up as Thanksgiving approached.
- Holiday travelers later in the week made the resort much more busy. The Starbucks line was sometimes 40 people deep!
- Marriott Bonvoy points redemption offered excellent value, saving us $2,500+ compared to cash rates.
Would we stay again? Absolutely. For families, holiday-week travelers, or anyone seeking a relaxing Palm Desert resort, JW Marriott Desert Springs delivers on comfort, pools, dining, and amenities.
Tips for Families
- Arrive Sunday for calmer crowds
- Book Mikado Hibachi early or arrive just before opening
- Use elite breakfast credits at Rockwood Grill
- Plan pool visits in the morning for best seating
- Bring a stroller
- Redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for high-value stays
- Take advantage of $5 grab-and-go sandwiches and burritos for quick, affordable meals
FAQ Section
Q: Does JW Marriott Desert Springs have kid-friendly pools?
Yes, multiple pools are designated kid-friendly. Children under three must wear swim diapers.
Q: How much does a night cost at JW Marriott Desert Springs?
High season (Thanksgiving) can exceed $500/night; low season is around $350–$400.
Q: Can I use Marriott Bonvoy points?
Yes, points redemptions offer excellent value, especially during holiday weeks.