The Westin Desert Willow Villas, Palm Desert

The resort and its setting

The Westin Desert Willow Villas is a Westin Vacation Club property at 75 Willow Ridge, on the grounds of the Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, California. It's a villa-style resort rather than a straightforward hotel, built around three outdoor pools, a pool bar and an on-site restaurant, with a gym for guests who want to keep up a routine while away from home. The golf course setting gives the property a quieter, more spread-out feel than resorts closer to the centre of town, and its 4.5-star rating from nearly 2,000 Google reviews points to a resort that is consistently well maintained and well run.

Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley

Palm Desert is one of the Coachella Valley's more laid-back towns, known for its golf courses, the shopping and dining along El Paseo, and easy access to hiking in the surrounding desert and mountains. It sits a short drive from Palm Springs, which brings the wider valley's art, architecture and spa scene within easy reach, while the desert landscape itself — washes, palm oases, mountain trails — is very much part of the appeal for owners who return year after year. Because this is a desert climate, the cooler months (roughly November to April) are the most sought-after time to visit, which is worth bearing in mind both as a renter choosing dates and as an owner deciding when your week falls.

Selling or renting a week here

If you own a week at The Westin Desert Willow Villas and no longer use it, you can list it for sale or rent directly on BidMyTimeshare.com as a private, owner-to-owner listing. You set your own asking price, buyers and renters contact you through the platform, and there's no commission on the sale — sellers simply pay a one-time listing fee to get the week in front of interested buyers. This keeps the transaction between owner and buyer, without a broker taking a cut.

Before you list, it's worth confirming directly with Westin Vacation Club (through the Marriott Vacation Club owner services team) what the current resale transfer fee is, since this is set by the brand and can change — ask for the figure in writing rather than relying on what a previous owner paid. It's also standard practice with branded timeshare resales for the resort or club to hold a right of first refusal, meaning the home resort association can step in and match an agreed sale price before it's finalised. This is normal and shouldn't put off a genuine buyer, but it does mean the final transfer isn't guaranteed until that right has been waived. Transfers typically take several weeks to process once paperwork and fees are settled, so build that into your timeline if you're selling to fund something else.

A resale buyer at this resort should expect to receive the usage rights and the annual maintenance fee obligation tied to the week, but should ask upfront whether any Westin Vacation Club or Marriott Vacation Club points affiliation, ongoing benefits, or Interval International exchange enrolment carries over with the resale — this varies by contract type and isn't automatic with every resale. The resort's exchange affiliation with Interval International is a genuine plus for buyers who want flexibility to trade their week for stays elsewhere, so it's worth highlighting clearly in your listing if your unit is enrolled.

What renters typically look for

Renters researching The Westin Desert Willow Villas tend to ask about pool access, proximity to the golf course, the restaurant and pool bar on site, and whether the villa suits a family trip or a couple's getaway around El Paseo and Palm Springs. Being specific in your listing — unit size, view, exact week or dates, and what's included — helps cut down on back-and-forth and gets you quicker, more serious enquiries.

Practical notes for owners and buyers

Keep any documentation from Westin Vacation Club on hand — your deed or contract, the current annual maintenance fee statement, and details of your Interval International membership status, if applicable — as buyers and renters will ask for these before committing. Being upfront about fees and the right-of-first-refusal process builds trust and tends to move a sale along faster.