Mother’s Day Pampering at the JW Marriott Palm Desert

Hello guys, it’s been a while since I’ve written a review on hotels but I feel like this one tops the cake. I recently stayed at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa for Mother’s Day weekend with the kids and my parents because I wanted to treat my mom to a well deserved pampering weekend and what a fantastic stay it was. The JW Marriott Desert Springs is one of the best resorts around Palm Desert and Palm Springs, many of my friends with young children loves to stay there because it is super family and kid friendly with many activities and amenities designed for extended stay.

The restaurants are excellent, services is exquisite, and they have multiple pools to keep everyone plenty entertained. There is a world class full service Spa and a memorable boat ride on their man made lake with plenty of greenery to enjoy along the ride. I have been to the property a few years ago for my birthday when husband and I were still dating and remembered how wonderful it was to stay there so I was excited to revisit with the whole family this time around. Many of the great things I fondly recalled were still there and there were some pleasant upgrades that l will get into details below.

From the moment we arrived at the property, we were treated with a warm hospitality. Because we were stuck in the LA long weekend traffic, we didn’t get to the property until pretty late in the evening. There was a small miscommunications with regards to the rooms but they were able to quickly resolve and get us checked in and situated. While we were waiting to be checked in, I checked out the hotel lobby. The JW Marriott Desert Springs recently gone through a transformation with a modern mid century design incorporating a refreshing cooler desert colors and organic lush greenery. There is plenty of open space and natural light with flowing waterfalls and a sleek bar in the center setting the tone for the guests to be transported into a desert paradise.

Our rooms are newly renovated with contemporary decor with sophisticated desert motifs and color scheme along with new hardwood and carpeted flooring. The modular furniture in the rooms allows guest to move and configure the space according to their needs. The bathrooms have sleek and bright designs and rain-style shower. Some of the rooms have an open bathroom layout so that while taking a relaxing bath, guests can look into the bedroom and beyond through a set of sliding glass doors. I personally really liked this open space design that allows more natural lights passing through but perhaps the ones who enjoyed this the most are the kids.

During the day, there are so many options for activities. The vast spacious grounds of the property allows guests to take leisurely strolls along the man-made lake in the morning or around sunset. There is also a boat ride that takes guests around the property and check out exotic birds, swans and ducks that resides on the property ground. For guests who loves playing sports , the JW Marriott Desert Springs features a world-class tennis facility, with all three court surfaces and two Ted Robinson-designed championship golf courses, as well as an 18-hole putting course.

Since it is Mother’s Day weekend, my mom and I are treating ourselves to a massage at The Spa while husband and my dad took the kids to the pool for a fun dip. The Oasis pools feature umbrellas and lounges throughout the decks for all the resort guests while a more kid friendly family pool offers a more shallow water safe for kids to splash around. There is also mini water squirts for kids to keep themselves plenty entertained. But let’s get back to the Spa. I have been to many Spas in various resort properties and The Spa at Desert Springs is THE best one I have been (yes you read that correctly!)

Palm Desert spa resort features a vast 38,000-square-foot facility with 48 treatment rooms, salon, bistro, VIP suite, fitness facility and saltwater pool. An extensive treatment menu incorporates ancient healing methods and exotic ingredients. We were treated by the Spa to their VIP suite and it was just magical. The VIP suite offers a private lounge and relaxing room with its own bathroom and showers as well as a tub. But perhaps the most eye-dropping feature is that it has its own outdoor cabana day bed, a private dining area and heated whirlpool. Of course, I have to maximize these amenity and ate a light lunch from the Spa Bistro outside on the patio after our body treatments followed by plenty of relaxing time between the whirl pool and the cabana. The Spa at Desert Springs is a must on my list for those staying at JW Marriott Desert Springs!

For our treatments, my mom and I each got a 90 minute massage, she got the Lavender Dreams massage and I got the custom aromatherapy massage. Both of our massages uses Kerstin Florian products featuring some of her best selling essential oils and hydration products and we even got a gift set from Kerstin Florian to take home!! Kerstin Florian is a top of the line spa brand who got her start by selling products at The Spa at Desert Springs decades ago, the brand has grown tremendously since then and was integral in designing The Spa’s first full-service spa and retail center. Her products uses natural ingredients and essential mineral oils that calms and soothes as well as hydrates and nourishes the skin. You can check out her products on her website or Dermstore.

Of course, what is a vacation without plenty of eating? At the JW Marriott Desert Springs, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Their signature restaurant, Rockwood Grill, renowned as one of the best restaurants in Palm Desert serves innovative American cuisine and offers a sophisticated dining experience. On our first night there, we had the prime rib and seafood buffet; it was the perfect choice after long hours of driving and famished adults and kids. We also had breakfast buffet the next morning before hitting the pool and both the food and service from the staff was “egg-cellent”.

On our second night, we at at Mikado Japanese Steakhouse, known for authentic Teppanyaki dining, an ancient Samurai tradition involves knife-twirling chefs using fire and steam to create a fun and interactive dining experience. The kids were plenty entertained watching live cooking actions and attempted to catch the shrimp in their mouth. Aiden was so good at it, he caught 3 shrimps, while I wasn’t very successful and only got 1 haha. Our weekend of extravagant eating ended with a Mother’s Day brunch at Rockwood Grill. They say that a mother shows her affection by feeding their kids and JW Marriott at Desert Springs’s annual Mother’s Day brunch buffet is definitely  a full display of a mother’s love. It is an over-the-top spread of classic brunch items including a waffle & pancake station, omelet station, carving station, seafood and sushi display and raw bar as well as a curated room full of specialty desserts by their executive pastry chef.

As we loosen our belts and pack up our suitcases, I was reminded how much I loved traveling with my parents when I was little. To be able to have this Mother’s Day experience with my mother and my kids is truly a sweet and memorable time. I am so glad that I get to treat my mom to a relaxing getaway and bond with the kids and I am also grateful for JW Marriott at Desert Springs to host us for such a wonderful experience. We will be back very soon!

**Although my stay at the JW Marriott Desert Spring is hosted by the property, all review and opinions are entirely my own**

Thank you all for reading!!
~ xo Sheree