Marriott's Shadow Ridge I-The Villages

We had a pleasant four night stay at the Marriott Shadow Ridge over New Year's, from 12/30/2025 to 1/3/2026, though the noisy neighbors were a real downside. We had the smaller side of a two bedroom lock-off, and the people in the larger unit were loud much of the time. The connecting door barely blocked any sound. They should add sound insulation between the units when the lock-off is split. We'd enjoyed a visit back in 2019, but some changes since COVID made the resort less appealing to me. The movie theater was turned into a multi-use area, and movies moved to the video game room. They now show one kids' movie in the theater during the day and another at the Snakebite pool in the evening, instead of having several showings throughout the day. There are still plenty of daily activities for adults and kids. The pools were well maintained, and there were lots of people playing pickleball on converted tennis courts, with a couple courts still set aside for tennis. Staff at Chuckwalla Bar and Grill were very friendly, and the front desk handled check-in and checkout efficiently. We skipped the owner update and timeshare presentation without being pressured. The concierge also let us turn some soon-to-expire club points into resort credit, which was better than losing them. With kids now 18 and 13, we probably won't return since the resort seems best for children under 12. J.W. Marriott Desert Springs is a better fit for adults. Westin Desert Willows, where we own, and Westin Mission Hills are other Marriott system options. Shadow Ridge is close to the freeway for easy access, and near Costco, Regal movie theater, and restaurants by the freeway.

We chose Palm Springs, CA for spring break because the rate on this Marriott Vacation Club presentation trip was good. As a Titanium Member of Marriott Bonvoy, we're often invited to these presentations, but this property didn't meet the Marriott standards I've come to expect. It's tired, dated, and poorly maintained, and my Titanium status wasn't acknowledged or helpful. Check-in took a long time, our room wasn't ready until after 4:20 p.m., and checkout was at 10 a.m. The room was too small and poorly laid out for three people, including with its pullout sofa. It also hadn't been prepared for three: there were no linens or bedding for our daughter, and not enough towels, glasses, or utensils. A tea kettle was repeatedly promised but never appeared. The mini-fridge leaked badly overnight and had to be replaced the next morning. Shampoo and conditioner weren't refilled until we asked. This felt like a self-service unit, with only one housekeeping visit in five days, and an awkward hybrid of a hotel and Airbnb rather than a full-service place. The bathroom was cramped, the towels were poor quality, and the room itself felt old. We spent the first night at a much higher-quality Westin a few miles away. It wasn't exceptional, but was definitely better by comparison. Service here was mostly indifferent, and there weren't good restaurants or decent places to eat on property. I'm giving it two stars rather than one only because the rate was low. Next time I'll stick with full-service Marriott hotels instead of Vacation Club properties.

All these small problems added up to a low-quality, substandard feel, and I wouldn't stay here again. The towels, toilet paper, and linens were incredibly poor. I could see right through the hand towel. I understand that theft may be why they don't provide better items, but it leaves guests who don't steal using amenities that feel like prison quality. There was no weather stripping under our door, so wind came through, and we could hear people talking and rolling luggage outside as if they were in the room. That was especially unpleasant late at night. It's such a basic, inexpensive fix that I don't understand why it hasn't been addressed. Next time I'll pay more and hope the hotel doesn't cut as many corners.

I was frustrated that the pool slide required kids to be at least 48 inches tall. There was no option to sign a waiver or have my daughter take a swim test. A family-friendly place should have a lower height limit or let kids demonstrate they can swim from the slide to the wall.