I had the opportunity to check it out on a few recent stops at SFO, and it gives the flagship Alaska Lounge in Seattle’s North Satellite a run for its money.

Related: The best credit cards for airline lounge access

Alaska Lounge location at SFO

The Alaska Lounge opened in June at SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1. It’s across from Gate B6 and not far from the brand-new The Club at SFO lounge, which I reviewed last month.

The new American Airlines Admirals Club is about a 10-minute walk down the terminal.

The Alaska Lounge’s design is sleek and modern. Once you enter the sliding glass doors, you’ll find a large lobby area with a bank of elevators that will take you upstairs to the actual lounge.

When you step off the elevators, friendly employees at a check-in desk will greet you. I had great interactions on both my visits. One agent even offered to take the names of my guests to let them in automatically when they arrived later. This way, I didn’t have to wait around and could just start enjoying the lounge.

I visited once in October and once in November. There were no lines to get in, and the lounge was nearly empty. The lounge is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Alaska Lounge SFO entry requirements

Entry requirements for this new Alaska Lounge are a little more restrictive than in years past when they regularly allowed entry to Priority Pass cardholders. That may help explain why it’s not too crowded.

Those with an Alaska Lounge or an Alaska Lounge+ membership can get in for free. (An Alaska+ membership also offers access to a network of partner lounges, including all American Airlines Admirals Clubs, Qantas Club locations and some United Clubs.)

Those with an American Airlines Admirals Club membership can also use Alaska Lounges when flying a same-day American- or Alaska-operated flight. That includes holders of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees). Note you’ll need to show the physical card in some instances.

Related: Complete guide to Alaska Lounge access

Single-entry lounge passes will also be available for sale for $60 per person, but only as space is available. Given how few people I saw on my visits to the lounge, I bet that passes will be available for sale fairly often. To purchase a pass, you’ll need to be flying on either Alaska, a Oneworld airline or one of Alaska’s other global partners like Icelandair or Starlux.

Finally, you can also use the lounge if you are a first-class passenger with paid or award tickets on flights of 2,000 miles or more.

There are a few additional ways to enter this lounge. See Alaska Airlines’ list of lounge policies and rules for more information.

Related: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card review

Alaska Lounge SFO amenities

One of the highlights is a giant wraparound bar where bartenders make cocktails like Alaska’s famous bloody mary and also serve West Coast wines and beers. Among the top-shelf options are Jim Beam, Crown Royal and Maker’s Mark whiskeys and Aviation and Bombay Sapphire gins.

The new lounge comes in at a whopping 11,000 square feet and has 55% more seating than the old lounge in Terminal 2.

You won’t find showers here, but there are large, clean restrooms with Salt & Stone products from La Bottega.

There are plenty of seating and lounging areas, including four-top tables, individual desklike setups and comfy high-back chairs with views of the tarmac.

There are also high-back sofa chairs and some private booths for sound-resistant work areas.

My favorite seating area was a long row of lounger-style chairs where you could catch views of the airport … or a few ZZZs.

There was no fireplace feature like you’ll see at some other Alaska Lounges, but there were a few communal couches that looked cozy.

The lounge is also fully wheelchair accessible.

I really enjoyed the wide variety of seating and working areas.

Alaska Lounge SFO dining

The Alaska Lounge at SFO has a rotating menu of snacks and small bites. Fresh fruit and oatmeal were available along with other breakfast items. Deli meats and cheeses were also available. During one of my visits, there was also vegetable fried rice.

Of course, there’s also the famous Alaska Lounge feature: a pancake machine by Popcake. It’s a fully automatic pancake machine that has now become standard at Alaska Lounges. Yum.

As has also become standard at Alaska Lounges, there was a barista station where you could order espresso or grab a pastry to enjoy in the lounge.

There was also a beverage station offering two high-end Eversys coffee machines, a Coca-Cola soda machine, teas and a few other treats. This lounge serves coffee and espresso from San Francisco-based Ritual Coffee Roasters. The company is independent and woman-owned, and it’s a nice touch in a San Francisco lounge.

I loved the self-serve candy station, which featured Ghirardelli chocolates, Alaska Air-colored jelly beans, M&M’s and fortune cookies made by the Oakland Fortune Factory.

Another particularly endearing nod to San Francisco was the giant sculptural mural on the wall of the main dining area.

I really loved all the tributes to the Bay Area spread throughout the lounge, from the art to the food and beverage selections.

Bottom line

SFO has really stepped up its game in the lounge space. Three lounges in the new T1 alone make lounge-hopping a fun activity if you have the access and the time before a flight.

While I loved the new Priority Pass lounge, The Club, it can be crowded. That hasn’t been a problem so far at the new Alaska Lounge (nor has it at the nearby Admirals Club, for that matter).

I definitely recommend checking it out next time you are passing through SFO.

It doesn’t have massage chairs, nap rooms or showers, but then again, most Alaska Lounges don’t. The San Francisco Alaska Lounge is my new favorite.

Related reading:

• Best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status

Los Angeles has a dizzying array of accommodation options, from budget motels to ultraluxury hotels. The sprawling metropolis of more than 500 square miles can be overwhelming for a first-time visitor like myself to select the perfect location, noting the beachfront neighborhoods can easily be an hour’s drive from downtown, thanks to LA’s notoriously bad traffic.

As a World of Hyatt loyalist, keen to earn another Brand Explorer Award, I narrowed my search to lesser-known Hyatt properties close to the city’s top tourist attractions and settled on the Dream brand, smack bang in the middle of Hollywood.

Despite colleagues living in the city expressing concerns that, while central, the property wasn’t in the most desirable location due to safety concerns at night, I wanted to see if a Hyatt group property could deliver a solid guest experience in the city’s heart.

Here’s what it’s like staying at Dream Hollywood, a World of Hyatt property.

Related: The 27 best hotels in Los Angeles for your next visit

What is Dream Hollywood?

Opened in 2017, Dream Hollywood offers 178 guest rooms and suites at the corner of Selma Avenue and N. Cahuenga Boulevard in the Hollywood Hills. The brand is known for its upscale amenities and a focus on nightlife with in-house cocktail bars and rooftop lounges.

The Los Angeles location is one of just six Dream properties worldwide, with two in New York and one each in Nashville, Miami Beach and Doha. Future locations are planned in Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas and more.

Related: What it’s like staying at Dream Nashville, Music City’s downtown lifestyle hotel

Part of World of Hyatt’s “Boundless Collection,” the Dream brand is not to be confused with the Dreams brand, an all-inclusive World of Hyatt brand with numerous properties across Mexico, the Caribbean and southern Europe.

How much Dream Hollywood hotel costs and how to book it

Dream Hollywood offers King Bed Bronze base rooms starting from $248 per night on the cheapest dates and up to $516 per night on the most in-demand dates, though most dates across the year have rates less than $400 per night.

I booked a King Bed with Balcony Bronze for $274 per night for a midweek October stay.

Suites start at $516 per night for a 430-square-foot King Suite Platinum, a relatively good value for a pricey city like Los Angeles. Note these rates include a pesky $42 per night mandatory “destination fee,” which includes minimal benefits like two bottled waters, Champagne on check-in, electric charging stations, premium Wi-Fi and fitness and pool deck access.

As a Category 6 property, you can book this hotel from 21,000 World of Hyatt points per night on an off-peak date up to 29,000 points per night on a peak date. Remember that World of Hyatt redemptions are not charged a destination fee.

When booking Dream Hollywood, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Hyatt stays and one that possibly offers automatic World of Hyatt elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• World of Hyatt Credit Card: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts; automatic Discoverist status; and 5 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts; automatic Discoverist status; and 5 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.

Guest of Honor benefits

A TPG colleague with top-tier Globalist status kindly gifted me a Guest of Honor award, which allowed me to apply Globalist benefits to one upcoming Hyatt stay. Using this at a premium property for a longer stay is advantageous to maximize the benefits.

While receiving the award was simple (I needed to provide my colleague with my World of Hyatt number, and I soon received an email stating the award was in my account ready to use), applying it to an existing booking wasn’t. I had to call Hyatt to have them manually add the Guest of Honor award to the booking, which was time-consuming, though I understand if you are making a new booking and have this award in your account, you can choose to add it online during the booking process.

Fortunately, the process was smoother at the property, and the benefits were tangible. The friendly check-in agent advised me he could see the Guest of Honor award on my booking and would waive the destination fee, a Globalist benefit on cash stays. He also advised me breakfast would be complimentary on the rooftop and to mention to the restaurant staff that I had a Globalist benefit to use. He also proactively offered me a 2 p.m. checkout on my final day, which was valuable before an evening flight home.

I didn’t automatically receive a room upgrade at check-in. When I asked if there were better rooms still for sale that night, I was told there was only one single room available at this nearly 200-room hotel, so I didn’t push my luck, given that there may have been legitimate Globalist members arriving to upgrade instead.

In hindsight, I should have saved the Guest of Honor award for a stay where plenty of superior rooms and suites were available to upgrade to. However, the free breakfast and waived destination fee saved me $100 per night and made me “Dream” about my path to earning Globalist status.

Rooms at Dream Hollywood

I received the same King Bronze Balcony room I had booked, a compact but well-appointed and light-filled 300-square-foot space on the third floor.

Having recently toured the spectacular new Park Hyatt London and being surprised to see hardwood floors in the bedrooms at such a premium property, I much preferred the soft carpet underneath the queen-size bed at Dream Hollywood.

A proper desk and leather-padded chair provided a useful, comfortable space to work underneath the huge flat-screen television.

Knowing I had to fly back to my home in dreary, gray London immediately after this stay, I appreciated how much natural light this room was bathed in.

Whether guests were looking to get into the spirit before hitting the town or continuing the festivities after nearby venues closed, the in-room minibar reflected the property’s party vibe. Half-size bottles of Patron tequila, Hennessy cognac and Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne were all available for an extra charge. However, the basic amenity of a coffee machine was nowhere to be seen.

The balcony, with its cafe-style wooden table and chairs, was a great place to soak up the SoCal sunshine; however, the lower-floor level I was on didn’t provide much of a view beyond neighboring rooftops.

The bathroom also enjoyed plenty of natural light thanks to the full-length window on one shower wall. However, with the curtain on the outside, two guests sharing a room may not be comfortable with how easily someone could peek into the bathroom from the bedroom.

The spacious walk-in shower featured sparkly silver tiles for a touch of Hollywood glamor and the Karl Lagerfeld toiletries also added some luxury.

What I ate at Dream Hollywood

I was surprised that a property of this size offered only two dining venues. One of them was the upmarket TAO Asian Bistro next door, whose menu was beyond my budget.

That left the rooftop Highlight Room Grill, a small but pleasant outdoor space with views of the Hollywood sign on a clear day.

Breakfast is served daily in this space, and the omelet with your choice of three fillings ($24) paired with a well-crafted espresso-style coffee ($5) proved a healthy way to start the day.

My second breakfast of a ham, cheese and egg muffin with breakfast potatoes ($18) didn’t scream premium, being more fancy McDonald’s than Michelin-starred.

I also tried out the room service menu, which could be easily ordered by phone in the room. My order was delivered in a paper bag with a receipt stapled to it, which felt a little low-rent and made me wonder why I didn’t just order through an external food delivery service with a much wider range of cuisines instead.

The taste of my crispy chicken sandwich ($28) was there, and the food had been very recently cooked before being whizzed down to my room, but the shiny plastic cutlery and sauces in tubs made it one of the more underwhelming room service meals I’ve had.

Dinner at Highlight Grill back on the rooftop was a more sophisticated affair. It started with tuna poke wonton tacos with spicy mayo ($19) and a Peaches and Spice cocktail ($23), a punchy mix of Avion Silver tequila, mezcal, Cointreau, peach, club soda and habanero.

My entree of grilled branzino with panzanella salad and tomato vinaigrette ($34) was one of the best fish dishes I’ve eaten recently. It was perfectly grilled while being moist, fresh and flavorful, and I would return to Highlight Grill for this dish alone.

Amenities and things to do

• The rooftop pool is a casual, relaxed and social space to work on your tan; though on weekends, you’ll need to be up early to secure a sun bed.
• Open 24/7, the hotel’s gym is well-equipped to stay in shape during your stay.
• The rooftop also has a cocktail club named The Lounge at Highlight Room that is only open Friday and Saturday nights for a few hours at a time, with table bookings required.
• Hollywood’s famous Walk of Fame is an easy five-minute walk from the hotel. However, the stars stretch for 15 blocks, so finding your favorite celeb might take some time.
• Valet parking is available directly in front of the hotel for $60 per night.

Insider tips for staying at Dream Hollywood hotel

• The property seems popular with party-ready weekenders, so expect chaos and noise if checking in on a Thursday or Friday afternoon, with guests balancing cases of booze on their luggage.
• Request a high floor (five or above) if you’re hoping to enjoy a view from your room, and remember some rooms face the famous Hollywood sign.
• A terrific, quiet and peaceful coworking space is available near the fitness center, which is ideal if you want a break from working in your room.
• The area surrounding the hotel felt safe and quiet in the evenings, with plenty of security and valet parking staff outside the hotel.

Accessibility

Dream Hollywood has wide, flat paths from the entry through reception to the elevators. Guest floor hallways are similarly accessible.

Though the rooftop pool has steps down to the Highlight Grill restaurant, a thoughtful ramp assists guests with mobility issues.

The hotel also offers several tiers of mobility-accessible guest rooms and suites with roll-in showers.

Bottom line

Dream Hollywood is a smart choice for a first-time visitor to Los Angeles ready to let their hair down. While the Dream brand is a little forgettable and lacks identity within a global hotel group, it gets most of the basics right.

The rooms are comfortable, well-equipped and reasonably affordable in a pricey city like Los Angeles. The lack of dining options is slightly puzzling, with a wide divide between the fine-dining TAO restaurant and the Highlight Grill rooftop, which offers basic fare for breakfast and room service while becoming more elevated for the evening meal service.

Families and solo business travelers are unlikely to appreciate weekend guests downing welcome drinks at the front desk while carting in as much alcohol as they can carry, though if that’s your vibe, this is a decent accommodation option in Hollywood.

Related reading:

• Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What is World of Hyatt elite status worth?
• Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
• The best hotel rewards programs in the world
• Best hotel credit cards

Editor’s Note: JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa provided a complimentary stay so that TPG could get an inside look at the hotel and its amenities. The opinions expressed below are entirely those of the author and weren’t subject to review by Marriott, the hotel or any other external entity.

Luxury resorts are commonplace in the Phoenix area, but the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa is anything but common. The resort boasts two championship golf courses, one of the city’s premier pickleball facilities, two restaurants helmed by a “Top Chef” alum, a recently renovated 140,000-square-foot water park, a world-class spa and so much more.

With such a breadth of activities and amenities, the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa can just as easily play host to your next family vacation as it can to a romantic getaway or an action-packed weekend of hiking, biking and golfing.

Here’s everything you need to know before booking your stay at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.

What is the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa?

With its earth-toned hues, ample natural lighting and artwork inspired by Mother Earth, the understated decor and color scheme of the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge reflects the green cacti, sandy desert and clear blue skies that guests will find outside the hotel’s front doors.

This is a true resort property, with enough activities, dining and amenities so that you can have just as much fun exploring the resort as you would exploring the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. Families can start their day by feeding the fish, turtles and hummingbirds who call the resort home before splashing all afternoon at the AquaRidge WaterPark. Those traveling without little ones in tow can spend the morning golfing (after grabbing a coffee from the on-site Starbucks, of course) before heading to the adults-only Sky Island pool to relax.

The property is a member of the Marriott family, so you can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points when you stay — the icing on top.

How to book the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

It’s best to book your stay at this resort directly through Marriott for the best rates and points redemptions. This ensures that you can earn Marriott Bonvoy points on paid stays and benefit from the perks of Marriott Bonvoy’s elite status.

Standard room rates start at $354 per night if you visit in the hot summer months, and average closer to the $500 to $700 range during the rest of the year. The room rate includes a $55 per night resort fee, which covers the following:

• Enhanced high-speed internet and local calls
• Daily pickleball or tennis for up to two people (includes paddles or racquets and one hour of court time based on availability)
• Daily access to Wildfire Golf Driving Range for up to two people with unlimited balls and use of clubs (proper golf attire required)
• Daily bike rentals for up to two people for up to two hours

Marriott Bonvoy point redemptions start at 41,000 points per night. According to TPG’s November 2024 valuations, those points are worth $348.50. The equivalent cash price listed by Marriott on a 41,000-point night is $587, making this a great points redemption.

Additionally, since the hotel is part of Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, those holding The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can book via FHR to receive elitelike perks such as upgrades (based on availability), up to a $100 credit to use on-property, complimentary daily breakfast for two and guaranteed late checkout.

When booking the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Marriott stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Platinum Elite status; and 25 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Gold Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Gold Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Gold Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Silver Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Silver Elite status; and 5 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The location is quiet yet convenient

The resort is located in north Phoenix, about a 30-minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). From the resort, you can reach many popular local attractions in under 30 minutes, including Old Town Scottsdale, Camelback Mountain, the Phoenix Mountains Preserve and the Phoenix Zoo.

Despite being close to several restaurants, shopping centers and attractions, the resort is set back about a quarter-mile off the main road. This keeps the location convenient but also quiet, with unspoiled views of the surrounding desert. From my balcony, all I saw were mountain vistas and blazing sunrises.

Rooms feel tranquil with earth-toned decor and modern amenities

The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge has several room categories to choose from, including standard one-king or two-queen rooms with resort, mountain or pool views; patio rooms with fire pits; studio suites with Murphy beds and sofa beds; wellness suites with yoga nooks or Peloton bikes; and one-bedroom suites.

We were in a one-bedroom suite that had a sofa bed, sitting area, desk and large TV in the living room and a king-size bed and second TV in the bedroom. The beds were soft and comfortable, with bedding that wasn’t so heavy you’d feel overheated with the warm outdoor temperatures.

There were storage cabinets in the bedroom and the bathroom, giving my family of five plenty of space to hide away our luggage and souvenirs we picked up along the way.

The living room also had a minifridge and coffee maker with Illy espresso pods.

Upon entering the room, there is a short hallway with a bench and a closet that holds an iron and ironing board, robes, hangers, a laundry bag and a scale. This hallway leads to the bathroom, which is one of the largest hotel bathrooms I’ve seen — even in a suite of this size.

The first section of the bathroom had a double vanity with a few handy additions to the standard amenity lineup, including facial wipes and mouthwash. A door separated the vanity from the rest of the bathroom, which included a stand-alone shower, a toilet and a large soaking tub. Sitting atop the tub was a small tray with slippers, bath salts, facial soap and body wash.

The bathroom was stocked with Aromatherapy Associates Balance scented products, which had relaxing notes of lavender and ylang-ylang.

My favorite part of the room wasn’t inside the room at all, but rather the spacious furnished balcony outside of our room (and every room at the resort). I started each day here with a hot cup of espresso and watched the sun rise slowly over the Sonoran Desert.

Some rooms come with exclusive club access

Our room also came with access to the hotel’s exclusive JW Griffin Club. The Griffin Club is open for breakfast, lunch and evening hors d’oeuvres. It also has coffee, tea and juices and a bar with beer, wine and spirits, plus snacks, sodas and water that you can grab at any time.

You can purchase access to the club for an add-on fee of $150 per day for adults and $50 for children or book a room that includes access. These rooms run about $200 per night more than standard rooms and include Griffin Club access for two people.

Not one, but two restaurants helmed by a celebrity chef

The restaurant scene at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge has gotten a major overhaul in recent years, with two concepts from acclaimed “Top Chef” alum Angelo Sosa.

Tia Carmen

Tia Carmen opened in 2022. Both the name (which translates to Aunt Carmen) and the menu are inspired by chef Sosa’s aunt, with a menu of fresh Southwestern flavors in a light, airy setting that felt as inviting as you would expect the kitchen of the aunt who loves cooking for everyone to feel.

Standout dishes here include the pan frito with honey butter ($14), the tuna crudo in a corn coconut broth ($23) and the chicken guisado with turmeric rice ($34). The latter I felt obligated to try, because it is based on Tia Carmen’s own recipe.

My kids weren’t as excited for the Dominican stew as I was, but the restaurant luckily has a dedicated kids menu with fallback fare like chicken fingers and fries.

Kembara

Open since December 2023, Kembara is chef Sosa’s most recent addition to the resort. Consider it the Asian-inspired, edgy counterpart to Tia Carmen’s warm, inviting atmosphere (it is worth mentioning that the service was exceedingly friendly at both).

The decor at this restaurant was much darker, with graffiti on the walls and pink neon lights strung across the ceiling. Most dishes were designed to be shared, so we sampled a little bit of everything. Our favorites included the tuna Thai jewel in a lemongrass-ginger broth ($23), steamed pork dumplings ($14) and lamb spring rolls ($18).

My kids were equally impressed with their meals, which were served in bento boxes and came with chicken, fruit, cucumbers and rice. What I think they liked even more, though, was that the kids menu came with a piece of paper and instructions for making an origami bird.

Other dining options

Guests can also dine at Twenty6, a lobby lounge serving American fare along with beer, wine and cocktails; at Meritage next to the Wildfire Golf Club; or at the Just a Splash Bar & Grill at the AquaRidge WaterPark.

The on-site Starbucks is also open from morning until late afternoon for coffee or grab-and-go items.

There are plenty of on-property activities (both energizing and relaxing)

One of our biggest takeaways was that JW Marriott Desert Ridge really does have so much to keep guests busy during a visit.

In addition to at-your-leisure activities like yard games on the large outdoor lawn, a 24-hour fitness center, bike rentals, and walking or jogging paths are available (the hotel also provides maps for area hikes). The property also boasts both pickleball and tennis courts (including group and private instruction), fitness classes and personal training available for an additional fee.

The hotel also provides a rotating monthly schedule of activities, some complimentary and some for a fee. During our visit, we fed fish, turtles and hummingbirds, and there are also weekly wellness walks around the property, sound bath experiences, horticulture tours, arts and crafts and more.

Several of the kid-friendly activities take place at the Family Escape kids club. Day care is available for kids ages 4 to 12 for a fee, but they also have daily family activities like craft time and movie nights, which are complimentary.

Treatments at the full-service Revive Spa include everything from massage, cupping and reflexology to facials, body scrubs and wraps. Spa services included access to the complex’s pool, cabanas, sauna, steam rooms, bistro and salon.

To give you an idea of pricing, a 50-minute massage starts at $209, a 50-minute facial starts from $214 and a 50-minute full-body magnesium detox wrap starts from $224.

The Wildfire Golf Club’s two courses were designed by PGA legends Arnold Palmer and Nick Faldo. Guests can reserve a tee time at either course or sign up for lessons. Rental clubs are also available if you don’t want to lug yours to the airport.

There is a full water park for splashing, sliding and sunbathing

Of everything on offer at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge, we spent the majority of our time at the AquaRidge WaterPark. Most of the 140,000-square-foot water park was part of a resort-wide $80 million transformation in 2023, $18 million of which went toward expanding the water park.

AquaRidge is home to several sections designed to let you swim and sunbathe however you prefer. If you want family-friendly fun like wild waterslides, a splash pad and a meandering lazy river, head for the Havasu Playground area.

This is where we spent most of our time. On the day when we had a full afternoon to swim, we set up shop in one of the resort’s cabanas. Our cabana had a fan with a mister to keep us cool, a refrigerator and safe, towels, water pitchers and ice and ample seating in both the sun and the shade. We also had a server who delivered food and drinks from the nearby Just a Splash dining outlet.

If you prefer a quieter spot to swim away from the splashes and squeals of the kiddos, head for one of the pools and the hot tub in the Sedona Springs and Sedona Cove areas. These are not limited to adults only, but during our visit, they definitely had a more relaxing vibe than Havasu Playground.

For the true luxury of not seeing or hearing a single child, you’ll need to reserve paid access to the resort’s 21-and-older Sky Island pool complex. This area has a pool and a hot tub, with the option of daybeds, chaise lounges or cabanas for seating.

Accessibility

The JW Marriott Desert Ridge has several accessible guest rooms with features like widened doors for wheelchair access, roll-in showers and hearing or visual assistance devices.

The resort’s public areas are also wheelchair accessible, including wheelchair-friendly elevators, wheelchair lifts at the pool, convenient ramps and more.

Checking out

With comfortable rooms, family-friendly activities, an impressive new water park and mouthwatering restaurant menus, the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa was an ideal location for our time in Arizona. I wouldn’t hesitate to return to this property if our travels bring us back to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.

Even when traveling without children, this resort can pull double duty as a relaxing getaway for grown-ups, thanks to its adults-only spaces and more sophisticated offerings (though I would recommend even adults take on the JW Marriott Desert Ridge’s thrilling waterslides … you’re never too old for a water slide).

Related reading:

• Best hotel rewards programs in the world: Which one is right for you?
• Best Marriott credit cards
• Best hotel credit cards
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Marriott elite status: What it is and how to earn it
• Marriott Bonvoy: Complete guide to the hotel loyalty program

Pros

• There are comfortable, wide seats with great legroom in an intimate cabin.
• It offers a comprehensive mix of new-release movies and lightning-fast Wi-Fi.
• This is an excellent way to redeem Avios.

Cons

• Madrid’s Terminal 4 remains a stressful and confusing airport to transit.
• Passengers must pay for all spirits and snacks.
• The prearrival meal was not suitable for premium economy.

Here at TPG, we regularly promote what a great deal it is to book Iberia flights across the Atlantic using Avios. In business class, you can part with just 34,000 Avios on off-peak dates to get from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., or Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Spain — one of the very best sweet spots of any airline loyalty program.

Premium economy is also a great redemption option if you don’t have enough Avios or can’t find the availability in business class. But how does the product compare to other leading airlines flying between Europe and North America?

After a mostly impressive experience in Iberia’s new business-class suites on the Airbus A350 to Mexico City International Airport (MEX), I decided to try the premium economy product from the airline’s home at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

Here’s what the experience was like.

How to book premium economy on Iberia

Round-trip cash fares in Iberia premium economy are usually only 50% more than the cost of a regular economy ticket. Business class is usually around three times the price of premium economy. This makes premium economy a savvy investment if you are looking for extra perks and comfort but can’t stretch to business class.

Award availability is readily available on this route, and the Iberia Plus website has a handy calendar view feature that will show you all dates with availability, along with the peak or off-peak prices.

We booked this flight on an off-peak date for 31,750 Avios, plus $131 in fees, taxes and surcharges.

Here are the ranges of airfare and award redemptions in all three cabins on this route over the next year.

Avios are one of the easiest currencies to earn, and there are three Avios-branded credit cards available, including:

• British Airways Visa Signature® Card
• Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card
• Iberia Visa Signature® Card

Each card offers 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Avios are worth 1.4 cents each per TPG’s November 2024 valuations, making the full bonus worth $1,050. Each card has a $95 annual fee and earns 3 Avios per dollar spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and Level. Plus, you can earn 2 Avios per dollar spent on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel and 1 Avios per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Additionally, at least one Avios program partners with all major transferable currencies. (Remember, you can transfer Avios between any Avios programs at a 1:1 rate.)

The information for the Aer Lingus Visa Signature  Card and Iberia Visa Signature Card have been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. 

The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you could easily convert to Avios at a 1:1 rate:

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Checking in to premium economy on Iberia

I commenced my journey by flying on Iberia from London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) to MAD.

Iberia does not offer priority check-in for premium economy passengers, creating a less-than-premium experience. Nonetheless, there was no wait to check baggage at the regular economy line.

Passengers in premium economy, whether booked with cash or Avios, are entitled to check two pieces of baggage weighing up to 50 pounds each. They can also take a full-size carry-on bag and a small personal item (such as a laptop or handbag) on board.

Premium economy passengers did not receive priority security or lounge access on my flight. Although my flight from London arrived in Terminal 4S, just a few gates from my next flight to Dallas, I had to go upstairs, clear security and then return to the departure gate for my next flight.

While Terminal 4’s design is visually beautiful, I found the transfer process disorienting and stressful, even after multiple visits.

Hundreds of people were trying to get through security at once, seemingly about to miss their next flight, and the long distances between gates meant a simple transfer could become time-consuming.

Fortunately, the gate area for my flight to Dallas was well set up, with plenty of seating and a calm atmosphere.

Premium economy passengers and Oneworld Ruby customers were invited to board in Group 2 (out of four groups), and separate lanes were set up for each boarding group, resulting in a civilized and orderly boarding process.

How comfortable was premium economy on Iberia?

Iberia operates four times weekly from Madrid to Dallas (Thursday to Sunday) during the winter months, increasing to daily service from April to October. The flight departs Madrid at 4 p.m. local time and arrives in Dallas at 8:35 p.m. local time, around 11 hours later.

Behind the single cabin of 29 business-class seats, the premium economy cabin of 24 seats takes up just three rows and is configured in a 2-3-2 configuration in rows 11 to 14. (Like many airlines, Iberia does not have a row 13.)

My first impressions of the cabin were good because of its intimacy and exclusivity.

Unlike certain other airlines I’ve flown, I appreciate that the airline has installed a proper divider between premium economy and the economy cabin behind.

I selected an aisle seat in row 11, the front row of the cabin. I recommend these seats, as you will not have anyone reclining into your personal space because there’s only a bulkhead in front.

The amount of legroom was great. I especially appreciated that the passenger in the window seat could easily get up without me having to move on this full flight.

I could manually recline the seatback and pop out the legrest with the touch of a button in the center armrest.

The headrest could be manually adjusted up and down, and the side wings could be pulled inward to rest on either side of my head.

I found the seat very comfortable for taking an hourlong nap on this long daytime flight across the Atlantic.

Rather than having legrests, seats in rows 12 and 14 had footrests that manually folded down from the seatbacks in front. These did tend to get stuck, though.

There was a universal charging point and a USB-C port for each seat in the center console.

The shared center shelf proved handy for resting a drink or placing my phone during meal service, and rows 12 and 14 also had water bottle holders to free up space in the seatback pockets.

The bi-fold table from the center console was large enough for my 15-inch laptop computer.

Amenities in Iberia premium economy

A plush pillow and a lightweight fleece blanket were waiting on my seat.

Premium economy passengers received solid Iberia-branded over-ear headphones and amenity kits from Spanish fashion designer Teresa Helbig in fun pouches. You could reuse them to store a camera, charging cables or reading glasses.

The contents were decent for premium economy, with socks, an eye mask, a toothbrush, toothpaste and earplugs inside.

Wi-Fi was available on my flight across the Atlantic, with free messaging for business class and Iberia Plus members, up to 20.49 euros (about $22.25) for a full flight browse and stream package. I selected the latter and registered incredibly fast speeds of up to 56 Mbps for downloads and 8 Mbps for uploads. This made for a very productive workday up in the air.

On the left side of my seat, a large, crisp touchscreen folded out from the floor.

It was loaded with 66 new-release movies, including “Back to Black,” “Dune: Part Two” and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.”

Five lavatories were shared with the economy cabin behind. Although the A330 flight to Dallas was full in all classes, there was rarely a wait to use them, and they were kept clean.

How was the food in Iberia premium economy?

The crew served guests water or orange juice in plastic cups during boarding. This was a little disappointing because some other airlines serve welcome drinks in proper glassware and offer sparkling wine as an option in premium economy.

About an hour after departure, crews rolled trolleys up to the front of the cabin to serve lunch. Unfortunately, no menus were provided, so each passenger was verbally advised of the two options being beef cheeks or vegetarian pasta.

I selected the beef cheeks served with an orzo and feta cheese salad, an orange sponge cake, a bread roll with butter and cheese on the side, and metal cutlery.

The fresh and light salad appetizer was the highlight of a pretty underwhelming meal. The beef in the entree was tasty and soft, but the presentation was sloppy, and everything was swimming in a gooey mess of mashed potatoes and gravy, a heavy dish for a Monday lunch. The dry dessert wasn’t a great way to finish the meal.

Related: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?

The crew offered a choice of beer, wine, soft drinks or juice to accompany the meal. These drinks were served in plastic cups, again without proper glassware. My seat neighbor asked for some whisky with her soft drink, and my jaw dropped when the crew member said that all spirits require payment.

I’ve now flown on 10 different airlines in premium economy, and this is the first time I have seen beverages other than Champagne require additional payment.

Related: Is Singapore Airlines premium economy worth it on the Airbus A350?

A few hours after the lunch service, I wandered through the cabin to see if any snacks were available. Snacks are often set up in a galley area for passengers to help themselves. There were none, so I asked the crew if anything was available, noting I had come from the premium economy cabin.

My eyebrows raised again when the crew told me all snacks cost extra.

Midway through the flight, the crew rolled trolleys through the cabin, and I was excited to see them hand out small tapas boxes to the premium economy and economy passengers. These boxes were a fun gift to unpack on this long flight, and I anticipated a bounty of cured meats, sliced cheeses, olives and nuts.

The contents weren’t as good as I had imagined. The box contained a small packet of miniature breadsticks, marinated olives and a gouda cheese spread, which I had never seen on my dozen or so visits to Spain. The olives were good, but I only ate the rest because I was hungry.

With no complimentary snacks available and an underwhelming midflight offering, I was looking forward to the prearrival meal. I was hoping for a proper hot meal, given the hour was approaching dinner time in Dallas.

About 75 minutes before arrival, the crew offered a ham and cheese or cheese and tomato sandwich, plus a choice of water or juice.

I chose the meat option and was handed a cold panini-style sandwich in a paper bag — the same as the economy cabin passengers received.

This was not what I’d consider an acceptable second main meal service in premium economy on an 11-hour journey, and it certainly was a disappointing end to the flight.

The crew on my flight to Dallas was cheerful and professional throughout. They didn’t pick up on passengers’ frustrations about paying for snacks and spirits in the premium economy cabin, and they did their best with what they had available.

Was Iberia premium economy worth it?

Iberia gets a lot of the basics right with its premium economy product. The seats are noticeably more comfortable than those in economy, with more legroom and recline. The Wi-Fi was impressively fast, and the large, crisp screen had plenty of entertainment options.

The significant issues with Iberia’s products are the food and beverages. There is nothing premium about charging for spirits and snacks, and I haven’t seen this on other airlines in premium economy. None of the food I ate on board was great, particularly the cold panini I had as my second meal.

Given the reasonable cost over economy on the same flight, whether in cash or Avios, it’s worth upgrading for the better seat alone. However, you may wish to bring your own food. British Airways may be a better option if you want to redeem Avios for a well-rounded premium economy product.

Related reading:

• The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
• Best airline credit cards
• 9 things to know about flying premium economy
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights