Diamond Resorts Marquis Villas Resort

Diamond Resorts Marquis Villas Resort is located in Palm Springs, California. Palm Springs is very much a place of travel and a luxury legend. This is thanks to Hollywood and years of hearing about trips to the area from the rich and famous.

Video by California Through My Lens

Day One Travel & Arrival at Diamond Resorts Marquis Villas Resort

A trip to California from Virginia for me begins today with a few flights to get to the area of the resort. I am happy to do it however because I have only been to Palm Springs once before and the area is so legendary.

Palm Springs International Airport is just 6 minutes away from the resort. It is as close as you can be yet, never hear a jet. Talk about convenience. I needed that after my flight. I was able to time things so that when I arrived it was just after check-in time started an hour earlier. This made checking in simple and easy since they had my room all ready to go.

The 1 bedroom villas here are 1,000 sq ft and that nice size means all the options you are looking for.

Villa Amenities

Then the resort itself offers all of these options.

Resort Amenities

After getting settled in the room I went and walked the resort to check things out. I was happy to find that there were several tennis courts and a very nice outdoor pool.

Recent Reviews

Let’s start off by saying I really enjoy this hotel. The location is perfect, the pool is never really too busy, and the view of the mountain is beautiful. The rooms may have a bit of dated decor, but they are always clean and huge. like 1000 square foot apartment huge- I never feel cramped. If you want a low-key weekend without big pool parties this is your place. They have underground parking and are so close to the main downtown you never have to drive. It’s within walking distance of the casino and arena area if you decide to go out at night. The staff is awesome. Big shout out to Brian who was so thoughtful. I had a friend who checked in a day earlier and Brian (without me asking) arranged my room on the same floor as my friend. It was a great surprise at check-in, and Brian even followed up to see how the stay was going. I really appreciate that and made my stay much more enjoyable. Thank you, Brian!

An older building but very clean and well-maintained. Our one-bed unit was huge. The pool area was compact but not busy during our stay. Best of all is the location, just 2 blocks from downtown and dozens of bars and restaurants within walking distance.

Much larger condo than expected, much better than web site pictures depict. Great location, fantastic staff, decor a bit dated but would not prevent a return.

Nice large 1 bedroom unit. A bit dated, but still nice. Rates great and very competitive for what you get. Conveniently located to where you need to go to in downtown Palm Springs by walking.

Nice hotel close to the center of Palm Springs. Good Staff. Nice and clean room. The pool was not crowdy. Good price. I like it!

The location was close to downtown and could walk everywhere. The room and bathrooms were spacious. The staff was friendly and eager to help.

Location, it’s very near downtown palm springs and within walking distance of many of the restaurants and nightlife. The other thing was that it’s a full condo compared to a small hotel room.

Very comfortable, well-equipped, spacious units within walking distance of downtown shops and restaurants. We usually stay at a more expensive boutique hotel but decided to give the timeshare a try. The 1 bedroom units are quite spacious at 1,092 Sq ft and have a kitchen with full-size appliances, a dining room, and a living room with 1.5 baths. The pool was heated. Lots of pool seating. Hot tub and tennis courts on site. Underground parking is gated and secure.

Myself, I was shocked at how centrally located this resort is to downtown Palm Springs. When you stay here, you are literally 2 blocks from tons of things to see and do. I think couples would love the resort because of the calm atmosphere but its location is so close to many nightclubs, bars, and restaurants. In the daytime, you can walk 2 blocks downtown, and at night find all the activity one could want just by walking. That is a great feeling when you need a break. I hate to see one member of a couple having to take it easy. Here you can safely both let your hair down and have fun together.

Day Two Downtown Palm Springs

Along with shopping, the Downtown Palm Springs area has art galleries, antique stores, vintage clothing shops, and HomeGoods. If you go north on Palm Canyon Drive, you’ll find yourself in the Uptown Design District, which is a two-mile stretch of stores that includes mid-century modern art, designer boutiques, and restaurants. Now let’s visit some of the local shops. In Downtown Palm Springs, in the Uptown District, Downtown Palm Springs is a must-see for anyone who is visiting the desert.

You can spend a whole day exploring the many shops, boutiques, and places to eat.

Peak season in Downtown Palm Springs is really January through April. If you want to avoid heavy traffic and crowded streets, then you should try to visit the area during the week because weekends are always very busy. Visiting earlier in the day is also a good idea as some shops close early during the week. There’s lots of available free parking in Downtown Palm Springs as well. And it’s a good idea to make dinner reservations at many of the popular local restaurants because they do fill up quickly.

And you’ll want to wear comfortable clothing, especially shoes since you’d be doing a lot of walking. The two main streets in Downtown Palm Springs are Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive. Palm Canyon Drive is one-way, starting at West Alejo Street and heading south, while Indian Canyon is now a two-way street, heading north and south.

Downtown Palm Springs is a fun place, and also, all of Palm Springs is bike-friendly. We found this group of ladies running bikes at the Downtown Palm Springs Bike Rentals and the Tour Shop.

You can rent standard pedal bikes, mountain bikes, kid’s bikes, and electric bikes, and they have all the accessories you’ll need. Shopping is always fun.

Notable stores in the area include Chico’s boutiques, which sell women’s clothing, jewelry, and accessories, and Johnny Was, which sells vintage-inspired items and much more. And the locally owned shops are what really make shopping in Downtown Palm Springs really special. Let’s check out Balboa Candy.

They carry the largest selection of saltwater taffy in the world. They have a large selection of nostalgic candies, retro sodas, chocolates, Jelly Belly, gummies, and a lot more, and they also make their own fudge. Right next door is Sinfulicious, and they’re giving out free samples today. They carry a wide assortment of bath and body care products for your very own at-home spa experience. They also have deep cleaning scrubs, soothing oils, hair care, and body moisturizers.

Looking for a place to eat? You pretty much can find whatever you’re looking for in Downtown Palm Springs. Las Casuelas is a really popular Mexican restaurant with lots of outdoor patio seating, and make sure you check out their margaritas.

Lulu California Bistro is very popular with locals and visitors alike. They have a large all-day menu and their famous three-course weekend brunch.

Shermans is a Palm Springs institution, and many people are really surprised to find a New York-style kosher deli in Downtown Palm Springs. Bring your appetite as they serve really large portions of all classics, like a hot pastrami on rye and stuffed cabbage, and leave some room for their homemade desserts. There are just so many places to dine, you can really make those a big part of your Downtown Palm Springs experience.

There are lots of things to see and do, and, of course, people-watching is one of them. For example, the Lucille Ball Statue at 100 North Palm Canyon Drive.

Lucy was a Palm Springs resident and spent a lot of time here. The statue allows visitors to sit next to Lucy for a souvenir photo. Speaking of statues, Downtown Palm Canyon Drive is the Sonny Bono of Sonny and Cher famed statue. It’s at 155 South Palm Canyon Drive, and it depicts Sonny during the time he was the Palm Springs mayor.

And, of course, Marilyn Monroe. This small statue is near the Lucille Ball Statue, but Forever Marilyn is returning to Palm Springs.

She’s not back yet, but she’s on her way. Forever Marilyn was here in Downtown Palm Springs where the Rowan Hotel and Starbucks now are located. She was here from 2012 to 2014. This cement pedestal near the new Palm Springs Art Museum on Museum Way is getting ready for her return. While downtown, check out the Palm Springs Art Museum.

It’s a 75,000-square-foot building designed by renowned local architect E. Stewart Williams. Palm Springs Art Museum has a wide-reaching and growing permanent collection of over 12,000 objects rooted in modern and contemporary art, architecture, and design. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Palm Springs Art Museum has 28 galleries, two sculpture gardens, four classrooms, a resource center, an artist center, five storage vaults, an 85-seat lecture hall, a 433-seat theater, and a 1,000-square-foot store, and it also has a popular local bistro.

Also in Downtown Palm Springs is the new Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza, which is under construction.

It features a new Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, the Spa that celebrates the sacred Agua Caliente Hot Mineral Springs, a gathering plaza, gardens, and an oasis trail. The new cultural plaza is located at the corner of North Indian Canyon Drive and East Tahquitz Canyon Way in Downtown Palm Springs, and it’s scheduled to be open in 2021. Also in Downtown Palm Springs is the Agua Caliente Casino. It’s open 24 hours a day with 1,000 slot machines and 22 gaming tables plus restaurants. Another point of interest is McCormick’s Auctions at 244 North Indian Canyon.

It’s a family-owned and operated classic car auction house, and it’s open year-round, but the two main auctions occur in February and November each year with over 500 classic and exotic cars.

While walking on Palm Canyon Drive, you’ll notice the Golden Palm Stars. It’s the Palm Springs Walk of Fame, honoring various people who have lived in the Palm Springs area, like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe. They all have stars here.

Day Three Palm Springs

Yesterday, I visited local art, historic sites, Hollywood legends, and shops. Today I want to see more of what drew those legends to this unique area.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway features the world’s largest rotating tram cars and takes you from the desert floor up 8,516 feet to the top of Mount San Jacinto. It’s two and a half miles trip that takes about 10 minutes and the views all along the way well they’re just amazing.

Here’s a tip, if you don’t like heights too much, stay in the middle of the tram car, and then when you reach the top of the mountain station, you can enjoy two restaurants, an observation deck, a natural history museum, two documentary theaters, a gift shop, and over 50 miles of hiking trails. Within the Mount San Jacinto state park and wilderness area, there are six primitive campgrounds. The closest to the tram is the picture rest of Round Valley. In the winter, you can enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Mount San Jacinto State Park offers over 50 miles of hiking trails located within a 14,000-acre pristine wilderness, which is one of the last here in California.

All trails are accessed by exiting the mountain station and then descending a concrete pathway to Long Valley.

There you’ll find picnic tables, the ranger station, toilets, and several easy trails. The second thing to see and do is the Indian Canyons in south Palm Springs. The Indian Canyons are the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The Indian Canyons are home to the Andreas Canyon, Murray Canyon, and Palm Canyon, and they’re especially sacred to the tribe today.

The Agua Caliente people have thrived here for thousands of years. Spending time outdoors is an excellent way to take care of your physical and mental health, especially now. While in Palm Canyon, be sure to visit the trading post for hiking maps, refreshments, Indian art, Indian artifacts, books, jewelry, pottery baskets, weaving, and conversational cultural lore. When going to the Indian Canyons also remember they always have a minimum water requirement and they strictly enforce it.

The third place to visit is the Palm Springs Air Museum.

It’s a great museum to visit if you have any interest at all in aviation. The Palm Springs Air Museum is a living history museum dedicated to educating the public about the role air power has played in preserving American liberties and the American way of life. The museum preserves exhibits and flies aircraft from world war II, Korea, and the Vietnam wars.

Most of the aircraft are in flyable condition. Many of the museum docents are veterans and they’re willing to share their experiences and sacrifices for the education of future generations.

In addition to flyable and static aircraft, the museum also uses permanent and temporary exhibits, related artifacts, artwork, and a library resource to perpetuate American history. The Palm Springs Air Museum is home to one of the world’s largest collections of flyable world war II and Korean and Vietnam aircraft. And unlike many other museums, our air condition hangers have no ropes to keep you from interacting with the exhibits.

You can actually climb into the cockpit of a B-17. I am an aviation fan and even have been to the newest exhibits at the Smithsonian, but this was my first time sitting in a B-17. It instantly made me think about the men who risked their lives in the battles during WWII.

The closest experience I can compare this to was visiting the Holocaust Museum and standing in one of the actual rail cars used to transport people to the camps. It just overpowers you when you make those mental connections.

I know Palm Springs has much more to see and offer, but in just a few days I have seen much of the history, as well as the current art, and present-day influences from this amazing area. I certainly want to come back again and see more.

To see all that Palm Springs has in store for you, book this resort through Tzort.