Who are we? My wife and I celebrated our 30+ anniversary while we were on this Vacation. I am sixty one, my wife is five years younger. We are time share owners, since 1997, in Florida, Westgate Vacation Villas. We exchanged one of our weeks for Desert Springs II and another for Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas (Newport CA). (I have written reviews on these.) We were on our first California visit. We were on holidays, in California, from January 26 to our return to Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on Valentines Day February 14th. We arrived home to -40 degree temperature. (It is the same temperature in C. or F.). We often travel with another couple but this time we were just the two of us. Unforeseen circumstances prevented another couple from joining us.
We stayed one night at “Old Town Inn” in San Diego, “Hotel Hermosa” in Avon,Catalina Isl., and “Desert Hills Hotel” in Palm Springs.(In the Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas, Newport Beach Review, I mistakenly called it Desert Springs Inn, perhaps a Sixty Something Thing?) I plan to write up on these as well. We followed Trip Advisor for the last three hotels mentioned and found the reports to be very accurate when one considered the consistent comments. (Also checked the reviews on the timeshares, but we were confident we knew what to expect at them.)
My cousin and husband have used our “Get Aways” through Interval International (II) to go to Palm Springs and Palm Desert for the last few years. They have experienced Five Star rated time shares in Palm Desert but they like “Sunterra’s Palm Springs Marquis Villas Resort”. It is not a Five Star rated timeshare, but it is very nice. They enjoy the central location. They also have been here enough times, their third year, that they know what room they like, and request it. Because of limited mobility the main floor works for them! (The suites maybe larger on the main floor as well?)
This resort is best described by all the positive comments that have been reported previously. I notice that the really negative comments are, generally, from a few years ago. They did put down new carpets, at least on the main floor hallway, a week before we were there. My wife and I slept on the hide a bed, for two nights, and it was very comfortable. It was one of the best “hide a beds” I have slept on! The T.V.'s were not special, but not old, they had a lot of channels and were fine! (I can not imagine anyone going on holidays to watch T.V.! Well maybe my oldest son, but no one else!) You also have a fully equipped kitchen and, in the pool area, a B.Q. The grounds are well kept! There are very nice views of the mountains from the grounds. Although my wife and I like the idea of cooking while on holidays, they do not. They are close to everything and that includes restaurants and bars. They could walk to the Legion but drive. (They are quite religious, about visiting "American Legions", where ever they travel, and have found the Legion in Palm Springs to be a "Shrine"!) We, and they, have found the staff most helpful and pleasant. A very large, private balcony covers the living room and bedroom area with large patio doors. There was nothing tattered about the furniture in the unit. My cousin and husband have no children; their home is neat, clean and tidy. If things weren’t right, they wouldn’t be going back year after year! (She was a Nurse and he was a Police Sergeant.) They stayed for almost three weeks this year. They plan to return next year! They must feel it represents a very good value. (Did I mention he is Scottish!?) Part of the reason we went to this area was to see what keeps bringing them going back year after year! We see the attraction!
If you can get a "Get Away" or, I believe, are with "Sunterra" you can get this place for about a third of the average price listed on Trip advisor. This would also likely require that you book for at least a week.

On the whole “Time Share Question”: I agree with the arguments put forth, that it is very difficult to justify a purchase of $20,000.00+ and $1000.00 year maintenance. So why do I have a timeshare? If that interests you, I have written this up in the “Marriott’s Newport coast Villas” review. “A Nice Place to Spend a Thirty Something Anniversary”.