Desert Springs Marriott beckons

Until the end of this year, Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, CA offers rates starting at just $199/night, plus free breakfast and a $50 resort credit for each night of your stay.  The credit can be used at the award-winning restaurants, spa, or golf facilities.

A sprawling oasis in the Coachella Valley, the four-diamond property's rooms include a private balcony in wings surrounded by swimming pools, lakes, verdant fairways, lush English gardens and manicured lawns.

Recreation facilities include two championship golf courses, an 18-hole putting course, 20 tennis courts, basketball courts, lawn croquet and biking.

Also on property, year-old Spa Desert Springs was named to Condé Nast Traveler magazine's Hot List for luxurious details such as Turkish-inspired hammams, desert-inspired citrus scrubs, indoor and outdoor communal areas, programmable Desert Rain Showers and a decadent VIP suite staffed by a personal butler.

To add to the adventure, local Jeep-tour company Desert Adventures has exclusive access to a 1,000-acre parcel of land directly on the San Andreas Fault. Led by knowledgeable naturalists/guides, participants learn how tectonic forces created the slanted, wave-like structures, then hike through box and slot canyons to a breathtaking overlook of the entire Coachella Valley.

The three-hour trek also visits a natural palm oasis and touches on the area's Cahuilla Indian history.  Until the end of this year, Desert Adventures is offering $20 off tour price in celebration of the company's 20^th anniversary.