Marriott's Desert Springs Villas II reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

4.0 Very Good

  • Cleanliness 4.3
  • Location 4.4
  • Rooms 4.3
  • Service 4.1
  • Value 4.1

1396 TripAdvisor reviews

TripAdvisor users rated this property 1 out of 5

Terrible Service

Dream51364545452 (Guayaquil, Ecuador) on Jun 17, 2025

This is the fisrt of many opinions I will write in here regarding my stay in this villas and how awful the service in this hotel is and how incredibly ridiculous is the customer care service in all Marriott chain (bonvoy progam). I stayed there from May 28th until May 30th. At the end of my stay i went back to LA, but I realized I have left my passports in the security box. When I called them to see if they have got them and if they can send to another Marriott proporty I was staying, they told me that another guest was in my room and they cannot get in to get my passports back until the guest answer the phone or the door. They make me wait for my passports for 3 days until the guest checked out making me lose my flight and rent hotel nights in LA. The last day, when the new guest was checking out, I called them to see whether they have got my passports back, shockingly, they told me that no guest was in the room since I left, but still they cannot get my passport until someone from the security department arrived, that was 3pm in the afternoon. THEY HAVE LIED TO ME ALL THE TIME!!!!! At that moment I decided to take an uber from Downtown LA to this villas (350 dollars). Ten minutes after that last phone call I received an email saying they have already got my passports asking me where to send. I deceided to dont trust them anymore and heat to the hotel anyway. When I arrived they gave me my passports, they hid the receipt, they didnt make me sign anything and I was not attended by no one else that a clerk. I decided to go to the front desk and complaint to the Manager, DEREK, who did nothing and didnt evet say sorry. They just didnt care I lost my flight, paid hotel nights and an 350dollars Uber. So I opened a complain ticket in Bonboy app, and it has been a terrble, sooo terrible that 17 days later I have been talking to 4 different customer service ppl, all of them with Indian names, no last name (Most Probably they are bots) who have open ticktets, make me do everything again, re start the proces, asked me questions, and no solutions at ALL!!!!!. Everything has been terrible, service and customer service in Marriott its terrible. I will continue writting opinions if I dont receive a propoer answer from a real person.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 2 out of 5

Disappointing First Visit – Over-Policing Guests, Under-Managing the Real Issues

Derek T on Jun 08, 2025

This is my first stay at Marriott Desert Springs Villas II, and while I had high expectations, I’ve found several aspects of the experience disappointing and not in line with what I would expect from a Marriott-branded resort. At the Palmeras pool, guests are subjected to bag checks and restrictions on cooler boxes, reportedly to prevent glass and outside alcohol. While safety is understandable, the way it’s enforced feels intimidating, with staff actively patrolling the pool area in search of violations. It creates an uncomfortable atmosphere — especially for owners and other paying guests who simply want to bring their own drinks in safe, non-glass containers and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Ironically, this strict control hasn’t improved the pool environment. Since guests are forced to rely on the expensive poolside bar, the area ends up littered with single-use cups by day’s end — cups provided by the bar but never cleared up. There seems to be no consistent cleanup effort, and many guests just leave their cups behind. It’s unsightly and completely undermines the rationale behind restricting personal drinks in the first place. Fridays and weekends bring a different issue: around 4:00 p.m., large groups — many of whom clearly do not appear to be resort guests — start arriving and taking over pool areas. The atmosphere quickly shifts from peaceful to overcrowded and noisy, impacting the experience for registered guests and owners alike. Unfortunately, there appears to be no active monitoring or control of this. Overall, it feels like the focus is misplaced. Rather than supporting responsible, paying guests — including owners who have invested in the property — the resort policies seem to target them, while leaving the real causes of disruption unchecked. To make matters worse, there’s also a lack of regard for guest rest during early morning maintenance. On one morning, palm tree trimming began at 7:00 a.m., a few feet from my bedroom window, with a full crew loudly shouting instructions and operating power tools. It was extremely disruptive and far from the restful, resort-style experience I anticipated. Quiet hours and guest comfort appear to be an afterthought. This resort has potential, but it’s clear that priorities need to be rebalanced. As a first-time guest, I expected a premium and relaxing environment — but sadly, my experience has not lived up to that expectation. I’m still here at the resort, and I truly hope that the remaining days of my stay show improvement.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 4 out of 5

Was Nice Enough ..........

Countrydude4444 (Bullard, Texas) on May 27, 2025

Was a nice place but thought it would be nicer. Friendly staff and place was for the most part ..... clean. They have some strange towel rule that if you ask for to many towels .... they will charge you. Also when you check out they ask if you wouldn't mind putting the trash out and the used towels out. Wait ....... what ?? Aren't you gonna clean the unit anyway ?? It's just odd ........

TripAdvisor users rated this property 1 out of 5

Terrible Room, do NOT expect hotel-class services.

Liz J (San Francisco, California) on May 07, 2025

Room #2116 was DISGUSTING AND SHOULD NOT BE RENTED AS A STANDALONE UNIT. Water stains on walls, musty smells in the bathroom, paper thin walls, the constant sound of rushing water by my head every time the upstairs unit flushed the toilet (ew), the unending whoosh of air because the bed was next to the locked HVAC closet for the entire unit, broken porch lights that made the entrance corner pitch black at night (as a single woman traveler, this was very disconcerting), and a giant puddle of standing water at my entrance that did not move for three days (and was clearly growing things in it). What's more, there were ZERO full-length mirrors. I was traveling for a work conference with multiple formal/theme evening events, and I find this oversight unacceptable. Moreover, there was just a general lack of empathy and service from everyone at this "resort." I originally booked on Amex Platinum and was told at check in that I got zero consideration as I normally do for early checkin, late checkout, or possible upgrades. The answer/excuse to all this was "we're a vacation property." Well, THEN YOU MUST MAKE THAT OBVIOUS TO THE GUEST BEFORE THEY CHOOSE TO BOOK! I find it absurd that for more than $400 per night, I got less than the standard level of service for a tiny, dank room that was poorly maintained. Every question or request was responded to with "because we are vacation club, we can't..." Not only does that make a paying HOTEL guest feel like a second-class citizen, it also does NOT sell me on ever considering becoming an MVC member. You would think they would want to make a good impression on Amex Platinum and Bonvoy Gold elite members. Instead they're telling these people they don't matter, and they're showing them your very worst rooms. Front desk staff were very friendly (Johnny was the best!), but you could tell they were resigned to the fact that they were "only" a vacation club. I felt cheated, overcharged, and completely undervalued as a guest. Never staying here again.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 5 out of 5

This is a Villa Resort not a JW or Ritz you don’t get elite status at the Villas!

esparky321 (Huntingtown, Maryland) on May 07, 2025

04/27/25 Helpful Tip for Future Guests Let me start by clarifying--this is a resort, not a hotel. That means you won't receive typical hotel perks tied to Bonvoy status, and there are no on-site restaurants. Guests either dine out or use the fully equipped kitchen in their villa to cook. Who has there towels and sheets changed daily? Well maybe if you can afford a house keeper, but most people don’t so they are used for a few days. Before booking, take time to read the resort description and amenities. Many negative reviews come from people expecting hotel-style services that this property and other villa resorts does advertise. It's all about managing expectations--if you're looking for a relaxing, self-contained stay with home-like comforts, this place is a great choice. There is a golf course and it has to be maintained, my room backed up to a green and tee off area and we never heard the mowers. Review: Marriott Newport Coast Villas My wife and I recently stayed at the Marriott Villas in Newport Coast, and check-in was a breeze. I had requested a villa near the main pool, and we were pleased to be placed close to the main building. We stayed in a one-bedroom unit on the ground floor--important to note, as there are no elevators in the buildings. Our unit backed onto the golf course, and we enjoyed sitting on the patio each morning for breakfast while chatting with passing golfers. The villa had all the comforts of home. We stocked up on groceries and made breakfast daily, plus two dinners--grilling steak and chicken on the community gas grills just across the street. This is the largest Marriott Vacation Club property we've visited. While there are only two pool areas, they are spacious. The upper pool has a kid-friendly slide and a beach-style entry, while the main pool area has multiple pools, ample seating, and a game room, movie room, and activity center with crafts and games. During our stay, we also visited Indian Canyon for hiking and rode the tram to the top of the mountain. The views were stunning and the hikes were enjoyable. We look forward to coming back!

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