JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Vs The Westin Kierland

Question

Traveling in March with family-2 kids aged 7 and 9. What resort would you recommend or is there a different resort that’s better?

Answer

For a family trip in March with kids aged 7 and 9, both the and the are very strong choices. They each offer family-friendly amenities and resorts built for comfort, but the best choice depends on what kind of experience your family values most (relaxing resort vs. resort + some extra activity) and what trade-offs you’re comfortable with.

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge – Highlights

Large resort set in the Sonoran Desert north of Phoenix, with lots of on-site amenities including multiple pools, a full water-park style experience for kids, and a big footprint so you feel like you’re staying in a resort destination rather than just a hotel.
Kid-friendly features: A big lazy river, water slides, kids club / family escape center, arcade and lawn games.
Great if you want the resort day experience—lots of fun for kids, plenty to keep the family on-site, and a comfortable base for outings if you do decide to explore outside.
Potential trade-offs: Because it is large and resort-style, you might spend more time moving around the property; depending on its location you may need to drive for off-resort activities.

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa – Highlights

Also a very good family resort. Located in the North Scottsdale / Scottsdale/Paradise Valley area, with lots of family-friendly amenities: kids club with supervised activities, a water park / lazy river / pool complex, and proximity to shopping/dining areas like Kierland Commons.
Advantages: Good mix of resort comfort plus perhaps better access to opportunities for dining, shopping and exploring outside the resort. If your family may want to hop out for a half-day trip or easy outing, the Westin may have a bit more flexibility in location.
Potential trade-offs: Depending on how resort-centric your stay is, the Westin might feel a bit more busy or slightly less secluded compared to a very large resort campus like JW Marriott. Also, check the pool/waterpark size relative to the large water-park resorts—it may be slightly more compact but still high quality.

Which to choose?

If I were to recommend based on your family’s ages (kids 7 & 9) and your travel timing in March, here are some thoughts:

If your priority is resort fun (pool time, kids entertained on-site, minimal need to leave the property), then JW Marriott Desert Ridge is arguably the stronger pick. The water-park elements and broad “resort destination” feel give a lot of value for families with young kids.

Other things to check / questions to ask:

Confirm the pool & water-park hours in March (sometimes resort pool/waterpark amenities have seasonal hours or maintenance).
Check if there are family rooms or connecting rooms available for your group (some resorts allow suites or multiple rooms close together).
Ask about kids club / supervised activities: how many hours, any extra cost, age ranges.
Consider location relative to airport (if you’ll be flying into Phoenix) and your planned outings: how long to drive from resort to any off-site activity you might do.
Check resort fee, parking costs, and any extra charges for kids club or water-park access, so you know total cost.

Summary Recommendation:

For your family trip in March with young kids (7 and 9), if you were my family I would lean toward the JW Marriott Desert Ridge because it delivers strong “resort vacation” feel with lots of amenities for kids, which means you can have great fun inside the resort even if you choose to chill one or two days. If the Westin Kierland is similarly priced and you like the idea of stepping out into nearby shopping/dining, then it is also an excellent choice and may fit better if you want a mix of resort + town. Either will be very good; the decision comes down to whether you want more of the “resort destination” experience (JW) or “resort + easy local outings” (Westin).

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Vs The Westin Kierland

More Arizona (AZ) Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions