
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
Best for families, groups, golfers, and anyone who wants lots of on-site activities and meeting/wedding space.
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JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa is a large Palm Desert resort with extensive pools, two golf courses and a 38,000 sq ft full-service spa — good for families, golfers, and groups. Avalon Hotel & Bungalows Palm Springs is a smaller boutique Palm Springs property with bungalows, multiple pools and a spa focus — good for travelers seeking a downtown Palm Springs bungalow experience and relaxed pool time.
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Best for families, groups, golfers, and anyone who wants lots of on-site activities and meeting/wedding space.

Best for travelers who want a compact, design-forward Palm Springs stay with private-feeling bungalows, multiple plunge pools, and walkable downtown access.
When JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa wins: choose JW Marriott if you want a wide variety of on-site activities (golf, gondola, pickleball, many restaurants), large meeting and wedding venues, and the biggest spa facilities in the area.
When Avalon Hotel & Bungalows Palm Springs wins: choose Avalon for a smaller, more intimate Palm Springs experience — bungalow-style rooms, three outdoor pools, a pair of hot tubs and a quiet downtown location within short drives of cultural attractions.
Bottom line: pick JW Marriott for scale, choices and resort programming; pick Avalon when you prefer a boutique Palm Springs stay with bungalow options and simpler, centrally located pool-and-spa leisure.
| Category | JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa | Avalon Hotel & Bungalows Palm Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Large suburban resort with resort activities, landscaped lakes and extensive event spaces | Boutique Mediterranean-style hotel with standalone bungalows, courtyard pools and a neighborhood feel |
| Location | Palm Desert — near El Paseo and on-site golf courses | Downtown Palm Springs — walkable to galleries, museums and restaurants |
| Size | 884 rooms across 450 acres and many facilities | 72 guestrooms and bungalows (smaller footprint) |
| Audience / age policy | All ages welcome; family-friendly resort (spa areas may be adults-only) | All ages welcome (not an adults-only property) |
| Pools | Five outdoor pools plus hot tubs and family/chilled/specialty pools | Three outdoor pools and two hot tubs; some spa-oriented facilities |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple outlets (Rockwood Grill, Mikado, Aquifer65/JW Sushi Bar, Fisherman's Landing, Spa Bistro, pool bar, Starbucks etc.) | One main poolside restaurant (Marlowe's) plus 1 bar/lounge and room service (limited hours) |
| Spa & wellness | Spa Desert Springs — 38,000 sq ft, 47–48 treatment rooms, hammam, saunas and outdoor saltwater lap pool (adult access rules apply) | Full-service spa, sauna and spa treatment rooms; reservations required for treatments |
| Known for | Golf, large meeting/wedding venues, extensive on-site activities and a gondola across resort waterways | Bungalow accommodations, three pools and a downtown Palm Springs address |
| Meeting & event capacity | Hundreds of thousands sq ft of event space with large ballrooms (Sinatra Ballroom ~25,000 sq ft) and many venues | Conference/meeting space about 1664 sq ft (one main meeting area) |
| Parking & transport notes | Self and valet parking onsite; no airport shuttle; rideshares and rental cars common | Self parking (surcharge) and street parking nearby; Palm Springs Intl. Airport is the preferred airport |
JW Marriott sits in Palm Desert on a large property close to El Paseo and local golf courses.
Choose JW Marriott if you want a resort location with golf and expansive grounds rather than downtown walkability.
Avalon is in downtown Palm Springs, steps from museums, shops and local dining.
Choose Avalon for easy access to downtown Palm Springs attractions and a more pedestrian-friendly location.
JW Marriott offers a wide range of room and suite types across a large resort footprint.
Book JW Marriott when you need flexible room types, larger suites, or family-friendly configurations.
Avalon offers 72 guestrooms including studios, suites and true 1- and 2-bedroom bungalows.
Choose Avalon for bungalow-style stays and a smaller, more intimate room inventory.
JW Marriott has numerous on-site dining options for casual and formal meals.
Pick JW Marriott for a broad mix of cuisines and meal styles without leaving property.
Avalon's dining is slimmer in scope and oriented around poolside Californian cuisine.
Avalon is best when you want simple poolside dining and plan to explore downtown for other meals.
The JW Marriott’s pools are varied and part of the resort’s main draw for families and leisure guests.
JW Marriott suits travelers who want multiple pool options and activities around the water.
Avalon focuses on a compact set of pools and hot tubs designed for relaxation around bungalows.
Avalon works if you want quieter pool time in a low-rise, bungalow setting rather than large resort pool scenes.
JW Marriott emphasizes a large spa complex and many activity options across its grounds.
Pick JW Marriott when you want a full-service spa, classes and active evening programming on-property.
Avalon provides spa treatments, a sauna and a quieter evening scene centered on the pool and Marlowe's.
Avalon is a better fit for low-key evenings and spa-focused downtime with downtown nightlife a short walk/drive away.

JW Marriott — multiple family pools, kids programming, miniature golf and extensive on-site activities.

Avalon — central location in Downtown Palm Springs within walking distance of museums and galleries.

JW Marriott — Spa Desert Springs is the largest spa in Palm Desert with broad facilities and many treatment rooms.

Avalon — true 1- and 2-bedroom bungalows and a smaller property scale for a residential Palm Springs feel.
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa — it has multiple family pools, children’s programs and family-friendly activities across its large grounds.
Avalon Hotel & Bungalows Palm Springs — it’s in Downtown Palm Springs, within short walks or drives of the Palm Springs Art Museum and local restaurants.
JW Marriott — it offers many on-site venues (American, seafood, teppanyaki, sushi bar, a Starbucks and poolside options) compared with Avalon’s smaller restaurant and bar lineup.
No — both properties welcome guests of all ages, though specific spa areas at JW Marriott have age restrictions and some spa services require reservations.
Yes — Avalon’s spa requires reservations for treatments; JW Marriott’s Spa Desert Springs also recommends/reserves treatments and enforces cancellation policies.
Explore how JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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