snowrooster

Dh and I get away once each year for a couple of days each July, without our kids, for our anniversary. We had been thinking Santa Fe but the nicer hotels are a bit pricey ($300 a night at least) and we do like to stay in nicer hotels/resorts.

In the past we've gone to New Orleans (last two years) and summer is definitely their off season so we get great rates at nice hotels. This year we'd like to go out west - we enjoy beautiful scenery, hiking, outdoor activites but want a nice town w/good dining as well. I was wondering if some of the standard ski focussed towns might fit the bill? Any thoughts on places to consider?

GoTravel

The Arizona Biltmore or Phoenician in Phoenix Arizona.

SAnParis

You may want to take a look @ Sedona. That will place you closer to hiking & Jerome is also worth a visit. One of the the best meals my wife & I have ever had was at http://www.lauberge.com/. I would think you get also get some deals + Sedona will be a tad cooler than PHX. Enchantment also gets good reviews. Our last trip we stayed @ the Inn on Oak Creek, more of a B & B, but you can't beat the views. If you have an interest let me know, & I'll see what else I can dig up. There is probably an old trip report on here as well.

doug_stallings

If you think $300 is a big too pricey, then I don't think either of the Phoenix resorts will work for you, though the discounts at both the Phoenician and Arizona Biltmore can be substantial at that time of the year (also at The Boulders). Pay particular attention to resort fees at Phoenix-area hotels, though, because these are typically pretty steep. I think the idea of Sedona is a better one, and there are a lot of nicer places you could stay at for less than $250 a night in the summer.

SAnParis

Just topped my prior report, can't believe it was that long ago + we're still trying to get back out there. (Actually I have but my wife has not).

Dayle

Hi Snowrooster,

You should check out Stein Erickson's Lodge at Deer Valley. It's a AAA 5 diamond rated property, rooms are heavenly, service outstanding, food fabulous. Spa too. Summer rates are within reach!

Lots to do in Park City in the summer and temps are perfect. I don't leave town in the summer, nowhere to go that can beat it.

abram

Steamboat Springs, Colorado is a beautiful place.

DebitNM

Where are you coming from? That will help with desitnation.

Without knowing that:
We stayed at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort in July 06. Yes it was hot, but the deal was too! And there is hiking [early in morning before it is too hot]; museums, national parks, etc with good dining.
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/TUSSP

How about Durango/Telluride/Ouray/Silverton/Mesa Verde?
I just posted some places to stay in that area:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34896285

Grand Junction is also really nice. There are some nice wineries to visit and do tastings [Two Rivers Chateau is one} and a wonderful national park that you can drive through and see sites without hiking.

Colorado National Monument has a 23 mile rim drive. It was excellent with many opportunities to hike a variety of trails if you wanted to . The formations were quite spectacular and unique.

I have a TR that would give you some ideas:http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34852993

And one more recent post I did might give you some more ideas.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34895941

Hope this helps...
Debi

snowrooster

Thanks for all the info. We are coming from Cincinnati, Ohio. I have a free comapnion ticket on Delta and we'll be flying so we can go anywhere in the continental US. I thought somewhere out west would be a nice change since the landscape is so different than the midwest/south/northeast and dh haven't spent much time out west together.

Not to sound dim, but if folks could post the state/city they are referring to in their suggestions that would be helpful as I'm not at all familiar w/some of these destinations.

Regarding price, we can do about $300/night max, but it seemed in Santa Fe during the summer that would get you a small basic room w/no view (not to mention the surcharges per night on top of the $300 rate).

DebitNM

For my post -
JW marriott Starr Pass is in Tucson AZ
Grand Junction in Colorado, as is Telluride, Durango etc.. To go to NM [Santa Fe, Taos etc] and also Telluride, Durango etc fly into Albuquerque. To go to Grand Junction, fly into Denver.

And I think you should be able to find some nice places in Santa Fe under $300 a night during summer.

Hope this helps...
Debi

Kerry392

Palm Springs, California has incredible deals in the summer. We stayed at the Renaissance Esmeralda for $89 a night. It was a beautiful hotel! I am sure there would be other deals there to.
There are definitley good restaurants and an interesting town.
Joshua Tree National PArk is about an hour away; there is some nice hiking there (even though it is hot). Once you reach the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, there is some gorgeous hiking on Mount San Jacinto.

DebitNM

I just did a bit of poking and found the following [using tripadvisor.com to get prices] and came up with the following in Santa Fe:

Picked these random dates -- 7/12 to 7/15 and found the following:
Inn of the Governor - AAA Rate, Traditional Rm 2 Queen Beds Free Breakfast, Plaza Location Free Parking Dataport Bathrobe $224

Inn on Alameda - AAA Rate Traditional Room With 2 Queen Beds, Southwestern Decor, Non Smoking, No Pets [AAA rate] (Deposit required) $185

Las Palomas Santa Fe [B&B] Hot Promotional Rate, Fireplace Studio-Private Garden-Kitchen-, Internet-Robes-Iron-Double Cont Breakfast $169

Hacienda At Hotel Santa Fe
Hacienda Fireplace King-Incl Breakfast-With Butler Service-Internet Access-Fireplace $289
And even Priceline has good prices [without even trying to do a name your own price] for Santa Fe at 3 & 4 star properties, so if you want...Santa Fe can be done under $300.
Hope this helps...
Debi

Van_Ness

I recommend the Desert Pearl in Springdale, Utah. This is a wonderful motel along the river with stylish and spacious rooms, pool and hot tub. The little community is right next to Zion National Park, one of the Southwest's most beautiful. You'll find plenty to do in the park, and you'll have the Desert Pearl as your haven. Check out its Web site and you'll see how spectacular the landscape is there.

DebitNM

Moab Utah would be another great place to go. Arches NP is amazing.

A beautiful B&B with gracious hotsts, Cali Cochita B & B
http://www.moabdreaminn.com/

Read my TR for more info:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34868124

Debi

snowrooster

Thanks, I'll look into those options! I know we can find something for under $300 a night, but we'd to stay someplace special, and it seems the highly recommended places in Santa Fe are more. Unfortunately we aren't members of AAA so we can't take advantage of their special rates. We also need a king size bed (we are tall and use to sleeping in a king - two doubles wouldn't make for a very romantic anniversary). If we do go to Santa Fe, I was only considering hotels in walking distance of the plaza since we prefer to drive less & walk more.

We may still do Santa Fe, but it seems like summer is their peak (or at least almost peak) season and whereas our money may get us a room there, it may go further somewhere else. We have explored very little west of the Mississippi & east of California together. I did visit Palm Desert for work once and spent my day off at Joshua Tree - loved it!

Dayle

Snowrooster,

Stein Erickson's Lodge is in Deer Valley, Park City, UT. 30 minutes drive from SLC Intl airport. Altitude about 7,000 ft. You don't have to go bake in the desert in the summer to have a nice discounted getaway. Highly recommend you check out their web site and also www.parkcityinfo.com

Dayle

Also, Stein's rooms go for something like $800 - $1,200 per night during the ski season. And worth it. Summer = HUGE discounts.

TahitiTams

Hi snowrooster..
Great deals to be had are in Phoenix area for 5 star hotels which I love to take advantage of when I can get a stunning room for less than $200+..
My Fav's are:
Phoenix/Scottsdale..
The Phoenican 5*/AZ Biltmore 4.5*
The Sanctuary 5*/ The Boulders 4.5*
Sedona: Enchantment Resort 5*
Fly into San Diego and go to La Jolla which is about 20 minutes north of SD and can be done for under $250 a night at The Grande Colonial Hotel and what a great beautiful place to be in July..it is a 4 * hotel but the town is a 10!
Perfect weather and the water at the LJ Cove will be lovely to snorkel/kayak/swim and just relax..LJ Shores for boogie boarding..Sea Lodge Hotel is a 3.5* but oceanfront and the water is clear and clean and so wonderful to swim and ride waves..
Great place for your anniversary dinner in LJ would be Georges at the Cove, either the terrace or the formal dining room..
I have gotten great deals on Expedia for the hotels.
Wishing you a very Happy Anniversary!

www.thegrandecolonial.com
www.georgesatthecove.com
www.ljbtc.com
www.lajollabythesea.com