Canyon Villas/ JW Desert Ridge vs Westin Kierland

I am getting options when I see what is available in October for Phoenix of Canyon Villas and Westin Kierland Villas. I do have a few questions regarding the difference:

Since you can use the facilities at the JW from Canyon Villas, is it practical to do so? (according to the Tug reviews it is noted that it is a 1/2 mile) My kids would love the "lazy river" but wasn't sure if those saying in the vacation club were able to use? The Westin I did notice has the lazy river on site.

Also, between the two, the Westin vs Marriott which is a better choice for those of us with children? what are the advantages/disadvantages vs staying in Phoenix vs Scottsdale? Is October a time of the year to go?


Thanks!

Don't forget to check the TUG reviews!

Never been to Westin.

CV is kid friendly with pools and playground. Canyon Villas last year expanded the pooside bar and grill, and it's nice.

There is a shuttle that runs very often which will take you to the JW or nearby large shopping center. (Lots to see and do there, including a movie theater, Target, Kohls, grocery store and restaurants.)

The JW pools are keyed, but you will receive a key when staying at the villas.

The JW is within adult walking distance, across a non--busy road. I don't know how old your kids are, but they probably have more energy than I do for walking. We do it every day we are there.
Jolene

Both resorts are kid friendly and I would take whichever one I could get a two-bedroom. My vote would be for the Westin because the grounds are nicer, but I don't think you could go wrong either way.

We have stayed at both. We are Marriott owners but there prefer the Westin,
although we did not have kids with us. Thinking back with kids a slight edge to the Marriott - because of the hotel. Strictly timeshare for adults the Westin is better.

Thanks! Any thoughts on staying in Scottsdale vs. Phoenix vs things to do and the area in general?

Marriott Canyon Villas is on the edge of Phoenix next to Scottsdale. I don't think location is a big issue if you would like to visit Scottsdale.

Lots of fun

buzzy said:

Thanks! Any thoughts on staying in Scottsdale vs. Phoenix vs things to do and the area in general?

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We went several years ago and our boys (now 7 and 9) still talk about it!

We went horseback riding in a state park.
Took a day and drove the Apache Trail in our rental car... gravel stagecoach road (zero problems in rental car). Was very easy to imagine yourself in the middle of an old western movie. We stopped at an old mining ghost town (a VERY SHORT stop) and at the only restaurant half way along the Apache Trail (lunch and prickly pear catus ice cream for dessert).

Because of ability to go to JW, we went over and ended up spending most of the day (and the JW made some revenue off of us). Wonderful pool area. We rode the shuttle... later in the week, we walked.

Also did a day trip to Sedona. Beautiful.

Empty Nest said:

Never been to Westin.

CV is kid friendly with pools and playground. Canyon Villas last year expanded the pooside bar and grill, and it's nice.

There is a shuttle that runs very often which will take you to the JW or nearby large shopping center. (Lots to see and do there, including a movie theater, Target, Kohls, grocery store and restaurants.)

The JW pools are keyed, but you will receive a key when staying at the villas.

The JW is within adult walking distance, across a non--busy road. I don't know how old your kids are, but they probably have more energy than I do for walking. We do it every day we are there.
Jolene

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Never stayed at the Marriott.

But everything said above about the Marriott is also true of the Westin Kierland, although its shuttle takes you to the Westin Kierland Hotel or its adjacent shopping center (Kierland Commons). Oh, I am not positive about a playground; we were without kids so we didn't notice.

We will definitely go back to the Kierland, but it sounds as if there are no bad choices.

We've been to both with kids.

The lazy river is over at the Kierland hotel, probably a similar distance from the CV to the JW, so not at the timeshare.

We like both, probably give the edge to the Westin. DH liked the proximity of much more food and restaurant options. We went last Oct and the kids practically had the pool to themselves and really enjoyed the chess, pingpong and maybe foosball tables right by the pool. The pool at Kierland villas has a slide, I don't remember one at the Canyon Villa pool. I think we all liked the lazy river at the JW best. The week we were at Kierland we only went to the hotel pool/river once, the kids were happy at the pool at the villas, when we've been to Canyon Villas we've gone to the JW every day. We also like the two bedroom setup at Kierland, each of our 3 kids can have their own tv and sleeping area.

Thinking more about it, we would pick the Westin first.