During a recent trip to Palm Desert, my husband and I had the pleasure of staying at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa—an iconic luxury hotel that is home to world-renowned golf and tennis facilities, a stunning lake and swimming pools, world-class meeting and event space, and a luxury spa.

Spa Profile: The Spa at Desert Springs

Our last day at the property was designated as a spa day, the perfect way to unwind after a long weekend of fun activities including golf. The Spa at Desert Springs, which recently reopened its doors after undergoing a major refresh as part of the hotel’s multi-million dollar design, is 38,000 square feet—making it the largest spa in Palm Desert.

The Spa has its own building located on the northeastern end of the property, just past the JW Garden that was created in collaboration with Lily Kwong. After going through an extensive update, the Spa’s redesign is inspired by Palm Desert’s stunning physical, historical and social environments.

Palm Springs Spa Guide: The Best Desert Spas

Here’s what you’ll love about The Spa at Desert Springs: 

• It’s located at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, a renowned luxury resort situated on 450 acres of desert gardens with signature lakes, mountain views, and two championship golf courses.

• At 38,000 square feet with 48 treatment rooms, it’s the largest spa in Palm Desert.

• After undergoing a major refresh as part of the resort’s multi-million dollar redesign, the Spa’s design is inspired by Palm Desert’s stunning physical, historical and social environments.

• The Spa’s luxurious amenities and upgrades include co-ed and gender separate relaxation lounges, an aromatic Hammam, Finnish sauna, Turkish steam room, outdoor salt water lap pool, and a Spa Bistro.

• For special occasions and large parties, there is an exclusive Spa Sanctuary Suite that includes personal butler service, a private entrance and a courtyard with whirlpool, among other bonuses.

• The extensive Spa service menu features new offerings ranging from massages and facials to body treatments that incorporate ancient healing methods and naturally, locally-sourced ingredients.

We walked into the spa’s bright and open reception area, which had a soothing water wall on one side and a large Spa Shop on the other where guests could purchase clothing, skincare and wellness products, along with other desert-themed resort merchandise. Some of the noteworthy brands they carry include Eminence Organic Skin Care, Kerstin Florian International, and Lululemon, among others.

After checking in, we were greeted by the Spa’s director, Dawn Dixon-Ferraro, who gave us a tour of the entire facility. She led us down numerous long hallways, which featured beautiful desert-inspired artwork on the walls. In addition to a large co-ed relaxation lounge, there are also separate men’s and women’s relaxation areas that include locker rooms and changing areas, showers, steam rooms, saunas and a Hammam.

One of the things I loved about the Spa at Desert Springs was the generous amount of indoor and outdoor space. Because the hotel has a lot of guests on a regular basis, including people in town for conferences, the Spa was designed to accommodate more people than the average spa. Despite the fact that I saw quite a few people at the Spa while I were there, it never felt cramped or crowded due to the fact that there are plenty of different places to relax so everything felt more spread out.

In addition to the various indoor amenities, there is also a relaxing outdoor area where guests can lounge by the heated salt water swimming pool while enjoying views of the golf course. There is also a Spa Bistro adjacent to the swimming pool that serves healthy cuisine ranging from fresh fruit and smoothies to salads, sandwiches and juices. They even serve sushi rolls and a selection of wine and beer as well.

Dawn was also kind enough to give us a sneak peek of the Spa’s more luxurious suites which include a Couples Spa Suite with its own soaking tub; and the Spa Sanctuary Suite (a favorite among celebs when they visit) that includes a personal butler, two treatment rooms, a bathtub, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, courtyard with with its own entrance and whirlpool, and food service (fruit, cookies and champagne). The Sanctuary Suite can be booked for groups of two to 10 guests, making it the perfect space to host a special event like a bridal shower, bachelorette or birthday.

A recommended treatment for couples is the Couples Revive ($485/120-min), a two-hour experience that includes 60-minute side-by-side massages in the Couples Spa Suite accompanied by a mineral bubble bath, lavender body spray, cooling gel mask, champagne and fresh fruit. Talk about the ultimate luxury experience!

For those looking to work up a sweat, the Spa also has a 4,000-square-foot-plus fitness center with cutting-edge machines and equipment, along with an array of classes that guests can enjoy during their visit.

After our tour had concluded, my husband and I went our separate ways to the men’s and women’s facilities. Once I had changed into a robe and slippers, I headed to the women’s relaxation lounge to hang out before my treatment. I sipped on infused water while enjoying views of the swimming pool and golf course.

When it was time for my service to begin, my therapist greeted me and brought me to my treatment room, which was dimly lit with relaxing purple tones. I was going to experience one of the Spa’s signature treatments: the 90-minute Desert Journey, which is inspired by the blooming desert’s fragrant scents.

Among the Spa’s other popular treatments to try include:

• CBD Wellness Massage (stress and anxiety relief, reduces inflammation)

• Percussion Therapy Massage with Hypervolt (promotes circulation, aids in faster recovery)

• Pro-Collagen RED Light Facial Treatment (stimulates collagen and elastin, targets wrinkles/fine lines)

• Decadent Caviar Facial (renews skin; hydrates, lifts and smooths)

• Dermyoung Rapid Recovery Facial (developed by Harvard Medical School dermatologists and skin biologists, it rejuvenates stress skin with peptides, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals)

I started out lying face down on the treatment bed while my therapist mixed a creamy body butter with a sugar date scrub that she proceeded to gently rub over my back, arms, legs and feet. It was moisturizing and exfoliating at the same time; I enjoyed the soft grittiness of the products she was using to remove the dead, dry skin on my body from head to toe.

Then she placed hot stones across my back to warm and loosen my muscles before giving me a relaxing Swedish massage with lemongrass body oil to get rid of any knots. After I turned onto my back, she repeated the exfoliation process on my chest, arms, tummy, legs and feet. She also performed a paraffin treatment on my feet for further hydration, and while my feet were wrapped in bags containing the warm mixture, she also gave me a relaxing scalp, neck and shoulder massage.

Instead of removing the body scrub mixture, after my treatment was finished she recommended that I sit in the steam room for 10 to 15 minutes so that the ingredients could further penetrate my skin, saving a shower for last. She also pointed out that if i wanted to skip the steam and shower, I could just leave the products on my skin and go about my day.

Since we had lunch plans right after, I opted for the latter—and my skin felt so soft and smooth for days after my treatment. As an added bonus, my therapist gave me a small plastic container with the remaining unused scrub so that when I took my next shower, I was instantly transported back to the desert.

Overall, my experience at The Spa at Desert Springs was incredible. From the expansive facilities and luxurious amenities to the excellent treatments and service accompanied by the beautiful desert backdrop, I highly recommend indulging in a spa day at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, whether you’re a guest at the hotel or you simply want to enjoy an afternoon at the Spa. I’m already planning on a future visit and next time I would like to take my spa visit to the next level by trying the Spa Sanctuary Suite!

Cost: Desert Journey ($275/90 min)

Insider Tip: Arrive 15 to 30 minutes early to enjoy the facilities. Bring a swimsuit for the swimming pool/water features.

Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Daily)

Address: 74855 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260

Phone: 760-341-1874

Email: desertspringsspa@marriott.com

For more information and to book a service, visit the website. Follow on Instagram: @desertsprings

[Photos by Kamala Kirk]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk