Marriott's Canyon Villas, Phoenix, AZ. Have you stayed there in 2024?

[JT]

The "AquaRidge" area at the JW is very nice. We were just there, so, as you can imagine, there were a lot of kids (summer, school vacation), who appeared to be in absolute heaven, as evidenced by the smile on their face. If Marriott is smart, they target their product design, and subliminal marketing to these kids, who "pull on their parent's heart strings" to vacation at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge.

AqaRidge has several parts, there is the excellent lazy river, two water slides, and a private island-like retreat (Adult Only). The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge has maxed out their "cash-grab capacity," at the AquaRidge/pool area, by converting a lot of poolside chase lounges, to private cabanas, and adding the private island, that have huge price tags/upcharge potential associated with them. The number of non-additional revenue generating chase lounges around the pool, have been dramatically reduced, and are in non-premium areas of the pool deck. However, it is hard to have anything but a great time, pool-side at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge.

If you are a guest at Canyon Villas, presently, Canyon Villas guests have access to the JW, Sunday to Thursday. The JW has the ability to otherwise "black-out" seven days a week, if they anticipate high demand, pool-side. There is no longer a shuttle between Canyon Villas and the JW, which, in my opinion, is disappointing, but, that could have been done to control the Canyon Villas foot traffic at the JW. If you want to visit the JW, and you are staying at Canyon Villas, you can walk (forget that when it's 115 degrees out), or you can self-park at the JW for $12.00 (for 12 hours).

Poolside food and beverages at the JW are very expensive, as are snacks from the hotel lobby Gift Shop. The only "affordable" venue is the Starbucks, in the lobby of the hotel. For example, two chicken ceasar salads, at the golf club restaurant, no beverages, nothing else, were $56.00 plus tax and gratuity. The JW does not allow you to bring food and beverage into the pool area, and they inspect your bags, as you enter the pool are, and confiscate your food.

Fri-Monday there is no access to pool for JW this weekend?????

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Newport Coast Villas used to have a free shuttle to a local shopping center, Laguna, and Crystal Cove park, but we haven't been there in a few years.

We were at NCV a few weeks ago. They have reduced the shuttle service but on the half-hour a shuttle goes to Crystal Cove and on-the-hour a shuttle goes to Laguna Beach. I think that the one to the shopping center to the north has been discontinued.

 

[WBP]

Fri-Monday there is no access to pool for JW this weekend?????

If my memory is right, the JW is blacked-out to Canyon Villas owners and guests, Friday’s and Saturday’s. We have been at Canyon Villas, at a variety of times, throughout the year, when the JW has been blacked-out for the entire week that we are at Canyon Villas. From what I can tell, the JW is taking appropriate measures to protect the pool experience of their hotel guests, when the hotel is at or near 100% occupancy.

We’ve experienced the same thing at the JW in Palm Desert, throughout the winter months, and when Ernst and Young holds their annual meeting and celebration at the JW Marriott Desert Springs, in November, each year.

 

[JT]

It has been a few years since I stayed there but have never had an issue. I did call to find out and Saturday and Sunday is ok this weekend but Monday is not.
Down the road this would be a deal breaker for us no doubt. Had no clue.