Hi Gang...it's me again. The honeymooner!
I'm looking into some hotels in Phoenix/scottsdale as well as Sedona for our May 06 honeymoon.
I looked up some hotels & they all look OK on their website but I live in Hawaii & I know that websites of resorts can be deceiving! If you could put these hotels in order starting with #1 being the nicest I would really appreciate it! (And any opinions/feedback too). I have the rates per night if that makes a difference in ranking!

Phoenix/Scottsdale area hotels:
- Boulders Resort $199/night
- Arizona Biltmore $145/night
- Pointe South Mt Resort $100/night
- Copperwynd Resort $159/ni
- Wyndham Buttes $109/ni
- Fairmont Scottsdale Princess $199/ni
- Wigwam Resort $89/ni

Sedona Hotels:
- Amara Creekside $161/night
- Adobe Village Graham Inn $198/night
- Enchantment Resort $296/night
- L'Auberge de Sedina $206/night

Thank you soooo much! Aloha!

I would strike Point South Mountain Resort from the list. Old, kinda seen better days and due to the pool set up its very popular for families with kids. Not very romantic for a honeymoon.

Copperwynd, Boulders and Fairmont Princess are all lovely but are more removed from the action if you plan to take in any Scottsdale nightlife. Copperwynd is in Fountain Hills where you would need to drive a bit to even get to many nice restaurants. The Fairmont Princess is lovely and has many very nice restaurants right at the resort that get raves. The Biltmore might be better located for activities in the immediate Scottsdale area. If I could stay anywhere it would be Sanctuary on Camelback but it is much more expensive...but NOOOOOOOO kids and a fab spa. And in Sedona its Enchantmant all the way.

Please ditch South Point. I stayed there twice this year because I had to (client choice; I was working in Chandler and wanted to stay at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass (my favorite in Phoenix area) but they wouldn't pay the rate. South Point was terrible. Big sprawling place with a water park (not a slide in the pool - a real water park). Run Down, stains on the carpet, stuffy rooms. NOT for a honeymoon.

$296 is a good rate for Enchantment in May.

Of those, I would go for AZ. Biltmore, which is in a great location, but would probably go for Camelback Inn if the price is right.....Might check out Hermosa Inn.......Phoenician is also nice and Princess would be on my list too. Wigwam is wonderful, but probably 30 miles west of Phoenix...Boulders is an absolutely gorgeous place, looks like AZ....In Sedona, we always stay at The Orchards, right above L'Auberge, and part of that hotel, but Orchards is on street level, wonderful views and rooms are nice too....it is more in the middle of the action, if that's what you want...L'Auberge is below street level alongside Oak Creek, beautifully laid out, but I don't think the views are as good.

Sounds like a great honeymoon! There's no doubt for me that I would pick the Boulders as #1. This is a drop dead beautiful resort that blends with the natural landscape in a very dramatic fashion. It is removed form the hustle and bustle of Phoenix and Scottsdale and I would say that it's about a 30 minute drive from Scottsdale if I remember correctly. As long as you have a rental car this place is tops!

I'd skip Wyndham Buttes. It was not very nice and the air conditioning sounded like an old refrigerator.

I'll add one to the list (one of my personal favorites): The Royal Palm. It's the place where Pres. Bush always stays when he's in town. It's absolutely PERFECT for a honeymoon. Their fine dining room is called T. Cook's and has consistently been rated as one of the best restaurants in the area.

The Wigwam is nice, but not exactly honeymoon material. (Although they are just completing a renovation, I believe...)

Avoid the Pointe South Mountain. It's packed with kids due to the on-site water park and doesn't feel like luxury.

The Boulders is beautiful but somewhat removed from the Phx/Scottsdale area. I stayed there several years ago during the month of June and it was dead, as in very few guests.

The Biltmore has a great reputation here but I personally have never stayed there nor seen a guest room.

The Princess is also nice... but my vote goes to the aforementioned Royal Palms.

As far as Sedona, the only place on your list that I've been to is Enchantment. It's lovely and first class all the way.

Best wishes to you in your upcoming marriage.

Enchantment is the perfect honeymoon spot in Sedona...about 10 minutes from the village, it is a self contained resort... you may even get a room upgrade at no charge for off season stays... its worth every penny!!!

Wow! You guys are so great!
I think I have forget about Royal Palm, Phoenician & Camelback Inn for our trip. From what I remember, their rates were around $500+/night. I'd rather use the extra money for some great adventures!
As far as certain hotels being far out of town, that's OK. I am looking forward to driving. I'm over here stuck in Hawaii & all I can do is drive around the island (over & over again!). I feel like a hamster running on its wheel! Haha!
Ok, I've ruled out some hotels but added others! This is difficult b/c there are so many beautiful hotels in AZ!
Phoenix/Scottsdale area:
- Boulders
- Copperwynd
- Biltmore
- Fairmont Scottsdale princess

Anyone have opinions on the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass?
I think I would like somewhere with an awesome pool. The weather should be nice around memorial day (hopefully). It's funny, I live in Hawaii with beaches surrounding me and I want to go swimming in a pool!
And, is Enchantment really worth the $130+/night??? I'll be staying in Sedona for 4 nights. What makes it better than, say, Amara Creekside?

Wild Horse Pass is wonderful. It is my favorite place to stay in Phoneix. You have to realize that it is not anywhere near Scottsdale. It is out by itself just past Chandler. You exit the hwy. and go about a mile and a hlaf out a road towards the mountains and there it is, all by itself. Unassuming from the outside as you drive up, but once you are inside it is tranquil and beautiful. The architecture of the common areas of the hotel is really lovely. It is on Gila reservation land and it is all American Indian decor and ambience. Lot so stone and natural wood in the great common lobby and bar areas. The more upscale restaurant, Kai, is great, and the less formal one is also good. Both overlook the mountains on the back of the hotel, and the pool area. The people and service are inviting and very good. The pool is large and good w/it's own bar and overlooks the mountains, but I am not sure how it measures up to the larger resorts in Scottsdale. Rooms are all Southwest/American Indian decor, but refined and lovely, esp. the ones w/private rooms overlooking the golf course adn the mountains beyond. Great golfing, and there is an equestrian center where you can go out on rides w/a guide out to the mountain area, and a WONDERFUL spa, AJI, in a separate bldg. The spa is great. And there is a casino somewhere around the property - they have a boat ride that takes you on a man-made canal to get to it. I have not gone to the casino.
The place grows on you while you are there. I like that it is away from the hubba of Scottsdale, but you have to decide what you want for your honeymoon. There is really nothing else out there, so Wild Horse is a place to go and stay for a few days hopefully without having to leave, except maybe to hike at South Mountain park, which is a short drive away in Chandler.

I've stayed at the Phonecian also. A large resort and incredibly nice and luxurious, many pools, great golf, fine dining at several restaurants, spa, service w/white gloves. Impressive. Completely different feel than Wild Horse. Wild Horse is much more relaxed, although upscale and very nice.

Enchantment is set right IN a canyon, away from Sedona proper, so when you lok around, there are cliff walls rising on the sides of the resort, and there is nothing else out there. Remote location, close to what IMP are some of the best trails in Sedona area off of Dry Creek Rd. But as you are finding, there are other nice places to stay in Sedona that have great locations and views, even if they aren't set in a canyon. And in my experience (have stayed a few times), Enchantment can be somewhat pretentious and have an attitude about itself. But a lot of people love it and say hands down that it is the place to stay if one can afford it.

I meant to say private balconies overlooking....

Of those I'd scratch out the Wyndham. From what I'm told the Biltmore would be a good choice and I know the Princess is nice.

I love the Arizona Biltmore and it was one of my favorite hotels in the world.

First class resort, the FLW inspired design is gorgeous, the grounds perfect, service impeccable, scenery awe inspiring.

Inside the service and rooms are excellent. I think they have something like 12 swimming pools but the main one is enormous.

The Arizona Biltmore is old Arizona at its absolute best. Great service, great resort.

In Sedona, only Enchantment. Don't be fooled into L'Auberge; wildly over-rated. Stay away from the restaurant. Snobby service, mediocre food, two-stars (at best) in NYC.

The Scottsdale/Phx resorts you list are all tops. I would add Hyatt Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch. Beautiful pool areas, lounge, grounds. (Never seen the rooms). If you are planning to check out the night spots of Scottsdale/Phx I would reconsider the hotel in Fountain Hills because of its more isolated location. However, if you really don't mind driving I guess it is ok.