It had been seven years since I last visited the Coachella Valley and more than 10 since my first stay at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert. I returned in February to revisit the Living Desert, where the Stephen B. Chase collection of California landscapes rivals the exhibit at the incredibly rich Palm Springs Art Museum, which I also revisited.

The moment I turned into the long drive on the 450-acre property and saw the imposing eight-story Modernist building (with more than 800 rooms), I recalled every detail of my first visit, particularly the gondolas transporting guests to various restaurants on Venetian-inspired waterways.

My room had a great location in the central building, close to the elevator and on a high floor. The view from my balcony was positively spectacular, with a trio of pools and the lake fronting a backdrop of mountains. It was spacious and recently redone, with a large granite and marble bathroom housing a separate tub and shower.

Two newly refreshed, Ted Robinson-designed, championship 18-hole golf courses, a putting green and a tennis facility ranking among the world’s Top 50 all attract guests. The stand-alone spa was expanded and renovated in 2014, long after my first experience there. It’s a 38,000-square-foot, 48-treatment room facility with a Turkish-style hammam, a saltwater pool and spa bistro. The treatment room where I had a massage has a window looking out at the lake, birds and sky. The 600-square-foot VIP couple’s suite — also used for small private groups — boasts a private entry, shower, hydrotherapy tub for two in an adjacent courtyard (plus an indoor tub) and private lounge with butler service. As for the organic products and treatments, they use two familiar brands — Eminence and Kirsten Florian — and custom-blended healing ingredients using locally sourced dates and citrus.

During my three-night stay, I sampled the spa bistro, had a Bellini in the Blue Star Lounge (where one exotic cocktail featured local, organic dates), two grand buffet breakfasts, an impressive dinner at Rockwood Grill and after-dinner drinks in the bar on the lower level of the Atrium lobby.

Along with full-service facilities for group meetings, it is also a family-friendly resort with lots of activities and the convenience of being located across from a small shopping center and close to Palm Desert attractions, including The McCallum Theater, the galleries, shops and restaurants on El Paseo and the art-filled public park.

JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

74-855 Country Club Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92260