Club Intrawest Resort

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  • 3 Willow rdg
    Palm Desert, California 92260
    (760) 674-1200
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mcioci
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
4
Reviews
5
Photos

A Private Home Away From Home

A Private Home Away From Home

Club Intrawest is on Willow Ridge, just off Country Club Road, a very long strip of gated resorts in Palm Desert. We stayed here because we're members and have the equivalent of timeshare points, but, depending on availability, anyone can stay here. It's a popular place, though, so you'll want to plan about a year in advance. We went in January because it's an off-season and cost us fewer points than anytime from October through March. Officially non-mebers can stay here, too, but it seems impossible to find rooms, so it's impossible to say what a one-night stay would cost.

Although nothing is within walking distance, except maybe Ralph's Supermarket, which is about half a mile away, there's a world of shopping, drinking, eating, films and hiking less than an hour's drive.

The Club consists mostly of one and two-bedroom apartments and studios; terraces cost more points than first floor. (The only disadvantage to the first floor is that when you're sitting outside you're very close to the paths, so there's far less privacy any time someone passes by.)

We reserved a one-bedroom terrace apartment that managed to be cozy and luxurious. If we were golfers, we would have been in heaven, as we were surrounded by two beautiful golf courses.

Our apartment had both outdoor and indoor showers and a private terrace equipped with its own gas fireplace. Every morning we sat with our coffees, watched the fire and listened to that little china-clinking sound of club hitting ball. The kitchen was fully equipped, not only with a dishwasher, ice-maker, freezer and fridge, but with all of the pots, pans and dishes you'd need to make and serve any kind of meal.

There are four swimming pools and four hottubs on the premises; half of them carry adult-only designations, so people with kids can have fun and relax, and people without them can swim in peace.

The exercise room is modest but has what you need: free weights, bikes, elliptical and a tredmills. Several people were in it every day, but it was always possible to get on whatever equipment we desired.

If you get to the lobby before they run out (before 900 AM), there are complimentary copies of the Desert Sun newspaper daily.

There's also a mini movie theatre on the premises and the first guest thre gets to choose the movie (many from a selection that's about a year or two old and very family friendly.)

The staff is cheerful, accomodating and attentive; the grounds are immaculate and colorful. There's a country club on the premises, but its bar closes at 5:00, so if you want to go for a nightcap or dinner, you'll need to drive.

Overall it's a comfortable, lovely space that is well run and worth the trip.

From journal Palm Desert Culture and Adventure

Editor Pick

Club Intrawest

  • August 3, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by debramae from columbia, Tennessee
Best Things Nearby:
Shopping at El Paseo. Known as the "Rodeo Drive of the Desert." Hiking in Indian Canyons - Soak City Water Park. Tennis at resort. Bike rental at Palm Springs. Great grocery store, Ralph's, with wonderful deli right around the corner from resort. The Mexican restaurant in this same plaza was also very good.

Best Things About the Resort:
Very nice resort. Beautiful landscaping and great units. Clean and very well maintained. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Great pools (there are several), lake, golf courses, and BBQ facilities. Very private and quiet. The resort main building had a nice big pool with a pergola over an area with lots of tables if you have a large group. There's also an outdoor fireplace at this pool. Resort also has a free 24-hour small movie theatre that seats about 20 people. You pick the movie or rent one and bring it in.

Our one-bedroom unit was very nice. Bright Indian colors and lots of tile. The outdoor shower on our second-floor unit was great. You can enjoy a view of the mountains while you're taking a shower. We never used the indoor shower the whole week we were there. There's also a great outdoor patio with a table that seats four and an outdoor fireplace that lights up with the touch of a button - very nice! This resort exceeded my expectations. I would love to go there again in the winter, when the temperatures are very comfortable. It was over 110 degrees when we were there. But that's OK as long as you plan your outdoor activities in the early morning.

Resort Experience:
Beautiful mountain views in every direction. The whole town (including the nearby communities of Indio, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, etc.) was very nice. Gated communities with wrought-iron fences, waterfalls, lakes, and beautiful desert landscaping everywhere. Even the stores and plazas look like the houses, and everything blends nicely into the landscape. Almost nothing is over two stories, so your view of the mountains is unobstructed from almost anywhere. They have a low-light city ordinance at night, so as not to obstruct a view of the stars at night. It's like driving through a botanical garden at night with all the plants lit up. Very beautiful.

Shopping - head to El Paseo. Known as the "Rodeo Drive of the Desert," this mile-long eclectic mix of shops offers jewelry, apparel, art, home décor, and haute couture. You won't want to miss the Gardens on El Paseo, a 200,000-square-foot complex noted for its spectacular national retailers. There also are more than two dozen restaurants, bistros, coffee cafes, and bakeries - many with outdoor terraces, which are just right for sipping a latte and savoring the moment.

Hiking in Indian Canyons is about a 20-minute drive (just south of Palm Springs). These canyons have creeks, waterfalls, and huge palm trees that offer some very much appreciated shade. Very cool! I took advantage of the water and went in up to my neck - it felt great! There are picnic tables here, and it's a great place to find a rock by the creek and read a good book. There are also great, huge rock formations.

There are bike paths in downtown Palm Springs also, but the rental places were closed during the summer months when we were there (too hot!).

  • Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
  • Activities: Not Available
  • Amenities: Excellent
  • Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
  • Family Friendliness: Excellent
  • Service: Excellent

From journal Week in the Desert

Club Intrawest

  • July 5, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by NordyK from Victoria, British Columbia
Best Things Nearby:
Fabulus shopping, restaurants, and activities. A superb restaurant, Pacifica, had an incredible 2-for-1 wine deal during the month of August, which we enjoyed thorougly. "Boomers" is an activity area near the resort which is great for kids; we spent a whole day there between trips to Disneyland, which took about 2 hours of driving to get to. There is a grocery store just at the end of the street from the resort. Very handy when you need more margarita mix or cilantro for that special recipe.

Best Things About the Resort:
The amenities at this resort are outstanding. The numerous pools, theatre, arcade, and covered baskeball court made the resort seem like a real desert oasis. There is a gym located in the golf clubhouse which is very impressive, immaculately clean, and well stocked (water, towels, lockers, equipment). The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful.

Resort Experience:
When you drive onto the resort, you are amazed by how well it is set into the surrounding scenary. Check-in was a breeze, and we felt right at home. There is a pool within steps of almost any unit, and the entire environment was extremely kid-friendly while leaving areas for adult fun and socializing. The art, furniture, and decor really create a dramatic "WOW" factor.

  • Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
  • Activities: Very Good
  • Amenities: Excellent
  • Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
  • Family Friendliness: Excellent
  • Service: Excellent

From journal Palm Desert Oasis

Club Intrawest

  • June 24, 2004
  • Rated 5 of 5 by mcioci from parlin, New Jersey
Best Things Nearby:
Water Park, Tram up mountain, great restaurants.

Best Things About the Resort:
clean, friendly, nice pool, free game room, golf course on site. Free movie theatre, open 24 hrs a day and you pick the movie you want to see.

Resort Experience:
It was a great vacation. I'm thinking about going again next year. The people were very friendly and courteous. Great restaurants nearby. Huge Gold's Gym nearby. Shopping close.

  • Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
  • Activities: Very Good
  • Amenities: Very Good
  • Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
  • Family Friendliness: Excellent
  • Service: Excellent

From journal Club Intrawest

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