"Why book Heavily geared towards families, if you’ve got kids in tow or a multi-generational trip planned and want to make sure your crew has plenty of activity options on property, this mega-resort is for you. Set the scene The JW Desert Ridge—one of the largest resorts in the area—feels almost like a small city packed with everything and anything you can imagine including nearly 1,000 rooms spread across several buildings, multiple pools, two 18-hole golf courses, a driving range, an array of restaurants (including the new not-to-be-missed Tia Carmen) plenty of pickle ball and tennis courts, a spa and fitness center, lawns and lounge areas throughout, and lots of experiences geared for children, from a large kids’ club with a long list of daily activities to a lazy river to an arcade. Not surprisingly, families make up a big portion of the guest population and the pool areas are more energetic than serene—including the pools lined with private cabanas, which offer sofas, misting fans, couch, flat-screens with DirectTV, towel service, fridges stocked with water, and dedicated chaise lounge chairs at the pool, which are worth booking if you’ve got a group. The backstory The resort first opened two decades ago and, in 2022, completed the first phase of an $80 million renovation—updating rooms, the lobby, and common areas, plus unveiling its new signature restaurant. Both a waterpark and an adults-only pool area are slated to come online later this year. The rooms Post-refresh, rooms are now stylishly understated and doused in desert hues with muted wallpaper reflecting a desert sky, sage green sofas, sliding glass doors leading to balconies, textured carpeting, and bathrooms with soaking tubs, new tile-and-glass showers, and single-sink vanities. Ground-floor patio rooms come with just that, and there are several suites of different sizes, including the 900-square-foot Sundeck Suite with a full living room and private rooftop terrace. Food and drink The most design-centric portion of the property is the new Tia Carmen, a glam Tulum-esque indoor-outdoor eatery centered around contemporary Southwestern cuisine. Here, Top Chef alum Angelo Sosa has created plays on dishes inspired by his real-life Tia Carmen, many of them infused with smoky flavors from the wood-fired grill, like the mesquite-smoked chicken and the must-order grilled whole trout served alongside a punchy oregano-and-parsley sauce. Day to day the kitchen is under the leadership of talented chef de cuisine Penny Tagliarina, who’s added some of her own dishes—like a ceviche tostada and grilled head-on prawns over a creamy corn puree – to the menu. Pair them with a pretty paloma done with yuzu and bergamot or an aguachile margarita. For more casual options, the lobby restaurant and bar Twenty6 has a mixed menu of appetizers, flatbreads, and salads and is always humming with groups inside at communal tables or outside on the fire pit-laden patio, where you’ll find live music some nights. There’s also the golf course-adjacent Meritage Urban Tavern and daytime poolside restaurant Just a Splash. Later this year look for chef Sosa to open a new Asian concept on the property. The spa There’s a solid selection of treatments here ranging from specialty massages including one that incorporates bamboo sticks and ginger oil. Body treatments reflect desert ingredients – like the Prickly Pear Sugar Scrub and the Turquoise Cocoon that utilizes a sage desert salt body polish. While the locker rooms aren’t as luxurious as many other hotel spas in town, they’re serviceable and have everything you need to relax thanks to steam rooms, saunas, and hot tubs, plus an attentive staff. The pool here is a tranquil hidden gem and, even if you don’t opt for a treatment, it’s worth the nominal $35 day fee to have access to what I found to be the nicest – and quietest -- pool currently on property, only open to adults. The neighborhood/area Situated in North Phoenix, the resort is within walking distance of Desert Ridge Marketplace, an outdoor mall of mainly chain stores and restaurants, and a short drive to the more upscale High Street, home to many independent retail and dining options. If you decide to dine off campus, check out Buck and Rider, a scene-y seafood spot with an impressive raw bar offering and always-packed happy hour. The second location of the beloved Camelback original recently opened about 10 minutes from the JW. The service A property this colossal is staffed by thousands, so while service could easily vary, it’s noticeably consistent. The front desk and valet areas can get a little backed up, but employees are all friendly, helpful, and on-point and I found the staffers working at the spa and restaurants to be especially polished. Eco effort The resort has made many back-end processes environmentally friendly, donating food waste safe for consumption to the United Foodbank of Mesa, composting other waste, and growing some of its produce in an on-site garden. Its guest rooms now feature networked thermostats with occupancy sensors and LED lighting with motion sensors. The Wildfire Golf Club is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary and uses heat-and-drought-tolerant turf. Accessibility There are 27 ADA rooms on the property, available upon request. Anything left to mention? The resort fee includes daily tennis, pickle ball, bike rentals, and access to the driving range (plus some high-end loaner clubs), so take advantage." - Lizbeth Scordo
