This review is mainly for people exchanging timeshares through Interval International.

"I'm sorry but we're at 100% capacity..........."

This was the standard excuse for why you shouldn't book here during spring break or other high periods.

We checked about 20 minutes prior to the 4 pm check-in. Our room was not available until 4:35, annoying after several hours on the road and no space to sit in the lobby. 90 degrees outside also. "I'm sorry but we're at 100% capacity..........." , I only got action once I complained, otherwise we probably would have waited another hour.

Our toilet was not draining properly at check-in and then finally backed up after the first night. . One hour after I called, I called again and received the standard reply...."I'm sorry but we're at 100% capacity..........." Again, only after speaking to the manager and requesting he either fix it or move us did we get any action. That was 1.5 hours after calling it in and all of us having to walk a few hundred yards to use the pool bathroom.

Message to management: If you know you are going to be at 100% capacity, staff more housekeepers and maintenance people for those weekend check-in and check-outs!

Also don't book the "lock out" room or "studio 1 -bedroom". It's basically a small hotel room with a tiny bathroom as it is intended to be the second bedroom of a two bedroom villa. With no room service or housekeeping other than the limited service from the pool grill, you are much better off just booking a hotel room a the Marriott Desert Springs or other comparable in the area. The "lock out" rooms also appear to be only given out on the first floor, saving the uptsairs premium two bedroom villas for timeshare owners. My room is like walking into a little cave.

On the plus side you do get free WiFi (of which I'm using now) and the pools are nice. I'm glad I'm using a free bonus week on this because it is a waste for a full exchange. We will be cutting our stay to only three day.

I really wish I could enjoy the place more.

This is my fourth visit ot the Palm Springs/Desert area. I just wasn't "thrilled" by this property. The rooms were spacious and nicely detailed. When we arrived for our one bedroom the second unit was open to us. We debated but decided to put our teen to bed on the sofa as someone came in their room in the middle of the night. How awkward that would have been! The maid service was non existent the first day so I called and they sent someone over who still didn't "make the bed". After my call things seemed to get a bit better but it appears that the Marriott provides new towels and trash service - not much else. My timeshare in Cabo at least gets a full maid service. For 380.00 a night I expected more. This is the first time that I have not tipped a maid in a very long time.

Who travels with shampoo/conditioner and lotion anymore? Better here - all you get is shampoo.

When we checked into the hotel my husband was told that he could not park near the lobby - no valet that we saw. Thus, we never used the main pool or services and felt very isolated in our villa on the golf course. Our pool had no food or drink service which I enjoy when on vacation. Too many turkey sans made in the room for me!!

At our villas - there were plenty of chairs but not enough chaise lounges, I heard people complain on a daily basis. When the timeshare people called for the third time I made mention. I will fill out my comment card.

Though they knew we had a third person that needed the sofa there were no sheets - we raided the closet of the adjoining room. I'm sure that they would have brought some but it was just one more "thing" that should have been in the room.

No garbage in the bathroom.....

Request an upper floor room - every morning at 8 a.m. I heard the neighbors opening drawers. My daily wake up call.

On the positive side - if you want quiet - this is the place for you. There is nothing going on. The basketball court was a nice touch along with the game activities. The villas that we stayed at had a small market. We drove to Ralphs for groceries. This entire area is spread out so ber ready for a lot of driving..

The TV is terrible.

We found the Desert Springs Villas II to be an somewhat dated, but clean and well maintained property. The grounds are beautiful and quiet, even with it being spring break & a lot of kids around. The Villa pool area was very nice with a bar to buy drinks, but you also had access to ice water so weren't forced into buying drinks. There was a snack bar to buy lunch also and at a reasonable price. On Saturday they had a live band by the pool so that was a nice touch. You also have access on the grounds to the Marriott Desert Springs Hotel and shops. The Bar in the lobby of the Hotel is great for evening activity or for leaving your husband on a couch watching a big screen TV during the day while you shop! The property is gated so it was very safe with no riff-raff roaming around. Maid service was, I would say, less than attentive, and could use some improvement. If you are in a guest room and not in a 1 or 2 Bedroom Villa with a washer and dryer there are washer and dryers available at no charge at specific locations which is handy.

Our only real complaint was that they gave us a "Privilege Card" that entitled us to 20% off on meals at certain restaurants. The Mikado Japanese restaurant gave us a hard time about using the Card. When we gave the Mikado our Privilege card and our VISA on a $200 plus meal charge, they charged it to the VISA and brought it back to the table and said, "you cannot use this unless you charge it to your room". No one told us it was exclusively room charges and the other property restaurants said they would take a VISA and give us the discount. When we said to the Mikado, okay, void the VISA charge and charge it to our room they didn't want to do it. The restaurant was very busy and we dropped it to avoid making an embarrassing scene. When we complained to the front desk the next day it was kind of "oh too bad, you'll have to take it up with the restaurant".

Other than that pleasant stay.

We spent a week in early Oct 2006 using our time-share exchange. We had a great experience. Staff was friendly and the area was quiet enough that we had pool areas basically to ourselves... The 2 Bedroom (lock-off) allowed us to share the unit with another couple and have enough space for comfort. We were able to enjoy the sunrise from our balconies.
One consideration at that time of the year... it is "off-season" so many of the golf courses were out of service as they were being repaired, etc. But, with other options for the area we loved our stay there. Joshua Tree Nat'l Park is within driving distance, Idlle wild (spelling?) is another great day trip... we even took a hot air balloon ride at day break! Enjoy!