kierland or mission hills? (Starwood)

[djp]

Beginning to make my plans for next March and am looking for a warm weather escape for the family. Debating between a week at mission hills or a week at kierland. 3 young kids. Kierland would be a little further drive for us, but would be willing to drive further for a better experience. Looking for advice/reccomendations.

 

[Henry M.]

Re: kierland or mission hills?

I liked Mission Hills better than Kierlan, but a lot will depend on your own personal preferences.

Mission Hills was a little more removed from a large city, it had a lot of nice hiking trails, horseback riding and a mountain lift with somee snow at the top of the mountain in March. There also seem to be other nature oriented treks nearby, like the Joshua Tree park. San Diego was a couple of hours away as was LA and Disneyland (didn't go to either so I'm not sure about the driving times)

The Kierland property was nice, but it was in Scottsdale, close to Phoenix. I enjoyed going to Sedona but it was close to a 2 hour drive. The Grand Canyon is a little further away. They had a nice golf course, but that does not interest me. I guess if you make a trip to the Canyon and are willing to spend more time on the road then Kierland could work.

 

[dcdowden]

Re: kierland or mission hills?

We haven't been to Mission Hills, but we have been to the Marriott Palm Desert before for a business conference in February and it was quite nice. We like Scottsdale because of spring training baseball in March - plenty of action in the cactus league. We used to take our kids to spring training games in Florida when they were young, and they seemed to enjoy it. We also enjoyed visiting Taliesin West - Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home. Scottsdale has plenty of nice restuarants and shopping, although I would expect Palm Springs to have plenty too.

Doug

 

[stevens397]

Re: kierland or mission hills?

Our decision to purchase at Kierland vs Mission Hills was solely driven by logistics - one flight to Phoenix and two for Palm Springs. I felt the areas were very similar, especially when it came to golfing. I can't imagine you would have a bad time in either place - they're both great. Hopefully, within a few years you will have been able to see both.

 

[Henry M.]

Re: kierland or mission hills?

As far as the SPG properties themselves, I liked both places. I stayed in the hotel side in Kierland (business trip) and at a villa in WMH. You won't go wrong with either property.

As you can see above, opinions about location vary and it depends on what you like. I didn't even think of the sports aspects of Scottsdale, but I know that can be fun. I had never been to Palm Springs and liked it. On the other hand, I know people who think it is a pretty boring place.

Consider the drive over to each and what you'd like to see along the way. That might make more of a difference than the final destination. Given that both are nice resorts, it seems the journey itself would be a good way to decide in which direction to head.

 

[kapish]

Hope to get answers to a few questions about amenities...

• How are the amenities compared at these 2 locations?
• Do they have activities for kids (13 yo)? Do they have game rooms?
• Are these free (like that at the Four Seasons Aviara?)
• At the WKV - are there hiking/biking trails nearby, for liesurely strolls?
• Which one has the better pool(s)?
• Do the pools have swim-up bars?
• Do both of these resorts have pools with slides etc.

We stayed at the FSA recently and enjoyed the pools, onsite restaurants, free kids activities at the game room, and being able to walk around the resort along the Batiquitos Lagoon etc. Which of these Starwood resorts would be best for us?

Thanks.

 

[kapish]

Pat - please explain

I have stayed at WMH as has your friend ArtsieAng ... and we both greatly enjoyed our stay and the area .....
But for a family used to the amenities of Four Seasons Aviara :ignore: - maybe WKV would be best

Pat: Thanks so much for the quick response. Could you expand a bit more about your statement (above, in bold), please?

 

[GrayFal]

Pat: Thanks so much for the quick response. Could you expand a bit more about your statement (above, in bold), please?

From what I have heard - WKV is more upscale and luxurious - similar to 4C-sons. I mention this because I believe you have recently stayed there - so used it as a point of reference. I have never been to WKV but have been to Aviara

I have stayed at WMH and I really did enjoy it - it has the NICEST master bathroom I have ever seen in a TS (other then the one at 4C-sons )
There is a gas fireplace in the bedroom and living room - which was a very nice feature - it has a BIG patio/balcony - and I would request the second floor for more privacy.

I enjoyed the GREAT flea market on Saturday and Sunday - I think your son would enjoy visiting - and there are so many nature areas within a few minutes up to a half hour drive away - Joshua Tree National park - several Native American sites - a casino - gondola - golf - a nice spa/health club.....

http://www.codalumni.org/default.asp

http://www.hotwatercasino.com/agua_interface_new.html

http://www.nps.gov/jotr/

http://www.palmsprings.com/palmcyn.html

http://www.all-palm-springs-tours.com/

http://www.palmsprings.com/golf.html

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=636

http://www.pstramway.com/

http://www.palmsprings.com/points.html

 

[dougp26364]

• How are the amenities compared at these 2 locations?
• Do they have activities for kids (13 yo)? Do they have game rooms?
• Are these free (like that at the Four Seasons Aviara?)
• At the WKV - are there hiking/biking trails nearby, for liesurely strolls?
• Which one has the better pool(s)?
• Do the pools have swim-up bars?
• Do both of these resorts have pools with slides etc.

We stayed at the FSA recently and enjoyed the pools, onsite restaurants, free kids activities at the game room, and being able to walk around the resort along the Batiquitos Lagoon etc. Which of these Starwood resorts would be best for us?

Thanks.

Right now I'm at work and, because of the internet filters here I can't get and post the direct link to our Webshots album of our latest stay at Westin's Kierland Villa's. However, if you follow the link in my signature below you can access my Webshots page and easily find the Westin Kierland Villa's photo album. It should at least give you an idea of that particular resort. How it compare with the other I can't say since we've only been to the one.

 

[julienjay]

Kierland

I would say Kierland has a better pool for a 13 yr old bc there is a water slide and a lazy river. When we stayed there, there was also a "dive in movie" at night, along with kids campfire. They have a kids club but it is additional $$. Also Kierland is right next to a complex with lots of restaurants etc.

 

[kapish]

julienjay, Doug and Pat: Thanks so much for your responses.

Doug - I have seen the pictures in your webshots album. Those are great! Definitely a place I want to spend a Winter week

Pat: Thanks for the links. I will check them out.

I think I am leaning more towards WKV, just because I would like to explore that area a little bit more

Sounds like the WKV is newer than WMH. Could someone confirm?

Also, I would love to hear from folks who had stayed at both places, and find out what your recommendation would be.

 

[DeniseM]

Some how this thread didn't get moved when we opened the new Starwood board, so I'm gonna move y'all over there now...

 

[damorgan]

julienjay, Doug and Pat: Thanks so much for your responses.

Doug - I have seen the pictures in your webshots album. Those are great! Definitely a place I want to spend a Winter week

Pat: Thanks for the links. I will check them out.

I think I am leaning more towards WKV, just because I would like to explore that area a little bit more

Sounds like the WKV is newer than WMH. Could someone confirm?

Also, I would love to hear from folks who had stayed at both places, and find out what your recommendation would be.

Have stayed at both (twice at WKV, more at WMH as I own there). I like them both for different reasons:

WKV is within very short walking distance of life 'off camp', if you know what I mean, whereas WMH entails a drive to get anywhere else at all.

WMH is a nice sprawling, small buildings, well-landscaped, slow-down resort, whereas WKV has a slightly more compressed, hotel feel to it.

Slightly more right on your doorstep for golf at WKV although WMH has loads within no real distance, including one course on-site

Better villa pools provision at WMH (both have a main, with small slide, but WMH has an additional adult pool compared to WKV) although both resorts rely on the adjacent hotel pools as well. The Kierland hotel pool is much better than the Mission Hills one.

I suppose every location has it's good/bad rooms although I suspect it's much harder to get a really good view at WKV unless you own there, compared to WMH.

Lots to do around both resorts, not much to separate them really other than WKV has a closer main city if that's something you're after. Feels a bit nearer to civilisation than WMH.

Both resorts have older and brand new parts, all down to getting the right unit numbers.

You'll love it, whichever one you go for. On balance, I prefer WMH but only just. Kids all grown up, just my wife and I, really feel instantly relaxed when we arrive and, apart from golf and lazing by the pool, we don't look to do anything too active. Overall good points about WKV for me: the golf, the nearby shops, Phoenix and Scottsdale, Red Rock. My wife prefers the spa at WMH, by a long way.

 

[Henry M.]

I prefer WMH because I like the areas close to Palm Springs better than those close to Scottsdale.

I think WKV as a resort is perhaps a little nicer than WMH, but they are really close and you wouldn't go wrong with either. What I would do is to base my decision on what my family and I would like to do in either Palm Springs or Scottsdale rather than on the resort itself. Are you looking for more of a city feel or do you prefer outdoor activities like hiking? The former is better in Scottsdale and the latter is better in Palm Springs.

 

[Catazog]

I enjoyed going to Sedona but it was close to a 2 hour drive.

Does anyone have a sense for how late in the year you can drive to Sedona before it gets too cold/snowy? We will be at Kierland the last week of October this year and would like to visit Sedona if possible. Thanks!

 

[Henry M.]

I was there in late February/early March and there was no snow. I would guess October is still OK too.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Better villa pools provision at WMH (both have a main, with small slide, but WMH has an additional adult pool compared to WKV) although both resorts rely on the adjacent hotel pools as well. The Kierland hotel pool is much better than the Mission Hills one.

WKV has an additional adult pool.

 

[pointsjunkie]

Does anyone have a sense for how late in the year you can drive to Sedona before it gets too cold/snowy? We will be at Kierland the last week of October this year and would like to visit Sedona if possible. Thanks!

we were in sedona 2nd week in october 2007 and the weather was fabulous.needed a jacket at night.

 

[Catazog]

Thank you Pointsjunkie and emuyshondt!

 

[damorgan]

WKV has an additional adult pool.

Your right, my mistake. One of the adult pools at WMH belongs to the hotel part. So both WMH and WKV have a family pool and an adult pool.