Hilton Grand Vacations Club Palm Desert

As owners, we expected a comfortable stay, but this “villa” really wasn’t. There were only two chairs, or places to sit, and the lighting was poor. Tiny bugs were on the counters, there was no microwave unless you rented one, and the only TV option was DirecTV. It also feels like a dog park everywhere. I’m allergic, so I worried about how thoroughly the rooms are cleaned after pets leave. The refrigerator was packed with ice. Maintenance had to use a blow dryer to chip it out, and our food still wouldn’t get cold. We lost three hours waiting for the repair and for the fridge to cool down. The door also opens opposite the cabinet door, making it almost impossible to get into.

The resort is still lovely and in a great location, but it needs a refresh and better upkeep. On this visit, the grounds looked neglected, with leaves and weeds in the beds, and water was on our stairs every day from an outdoor hose bib that had apparently been leaking for a while without being fixed. We’ve returned every year for 19 years, and this time the rooms seemed especially tired. The carpets and upholstery were dirty, and the roll-out mattress was barely usable. It was thin, its four corners curled up, and it didn’t fit the sofa frame properly.

We’ve stayed here several times, though we chose a different resort this year. We stopped in to see our home away from home and were welcomed so warmly by Darlene, Grace, and Larissa at the front desk. Darlene introduced us to GM Ramiro, who had helped us 13 years ago when we left our passports in the safe. Back then he was in maintenance and helped GM Phillip, who drove our passports to the airport. What a great team. The grounds still look amazing, and the units are lovely. Thanks for all the good work!

There are nice decks, and some units even have outdoor showers. The resort sits beside Desert Willow Golf Course, and there’s a pool and hot tub near every unit. Inside, the beds are comfortable and the self-contained units have well-equipped kitchens. The front desk was great too. A really good resort.