We are thinking of a few days in mid June, mid week. Looking for a great hotel with great spa in Phoenix. We may not have a car, so would like a place where we could settle in for a few days, lounge around, get spa treatments, have our meals etc.

Just 2 of us, we want to relax, be pampered and enjoy life.

I love the Royal Palms, it's my first choice. Looking for suggestions for other comparable hotels.

Thanks~~

I have had some wonderful girls weekends at Sanctuary. Excellent spa, great pool, tennis, hiking, etc.

You mentioned Phoenix, so don't know if you'd be interested in Scottsdale. If you are, have a look at the Hyatt at Gainey Ranch. www.scottsdale.hyatt.com

Gainey Ranch is a small, very upscale mall with several good restaurants www.theshopsgaineyvillage.com The hotel has a spa (I think there is also one in the mall) and offers a shuttle to nearby sites.

Phoenix area is ok, we will need transportation from Sky Harbor to hotel.

Scottsdale works.

Here are links to the Mobil (now Forbes) ratings for four star spas, restaurants (one five star), and hotels in Arizona. There are 12 total and all but one are in the Phoenix area (one Tucson spa is listed). This is the shortest list among the various rating systems (AAA has 3x as many 5 star restaurants, for example) so presumably only the highest quality properties (only 13 5 star spas and 20 5 star restaurants in the USA for example):

http://www.forbestravelguide.com/four-star-spas.htm

http://www.forbestravelguide.com/four-star-hotels.htm

http://www.forbestravelguide.com/fiv...estaurants.htm
http://www.forbestravelguide.com/fou...estaurants.htm

Only ones we have used are the Aji Spa (which my wife likes -- I've gifted her wraps and treatments for birthdays and Christmas) and the Kai restaurant (the only five star restaurant in Arizona, and the best restaurant I've ever eaten at). Both are part of the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass resort, which I think is a three star AAA property.

Good stuff!

Been to almost every 5* resort and agree that the Royal Palms is hard to beat but in June, prices come down big time.
We are headed this year for our annual 4th of July to the new Inter-Continental Montelucia in Scottsdale/Paradise Valley..it's new and last years deal on expedia was around $149 for a resort room vs. $800 a night..this is where Obama stayed.

Sheraton Wild Horse pass is a great resort & spa along with the casino they have an excellent restaurant, Kai.
Phoenician is nice and they have great pools and spa.
Sanctuary is isolated but stunning property.

Boulder's in Cave Creek is nice but I didn't
like the staff and the villa we had was nice but I wanted more of a resort vs. home on a golf course with small pools.

We are staying this week at the AZ Biltmore which we enjoy but I like the new suites vs. the older rooms but a lovely Frank lloyd Wright designed hotel.

Keep us posted!

www.icmontelucia.com

Great info everyone! Planning will be almost as fun as the getaway.

I know June brings a big drop in prices; got some great offers for the Royal Palms last year - hoping they do so again.

Thanks!

Are you set on Phoenix? The reason why I ask is because Mii Amo in Sedona is really amazing and would fit what you're looking for. You can stay at Mii Amo (which I would recommend...pool benefits, all meals included) or at the Enchantment resort onsite.

It's a ~2.5 hour drive from Phoenix.

Since we will fly into PHX, we'd prefer to stay in the area. I will keep Mii AMo in mind for other trips. Thanks!

If you are not renting a car, this makes all the difference. I suggest Hotel Valley Ho in Old Town Scottsdale where you can walk to all types of restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, etc. They have a great spa and a fantastic outdoor pool. Here's more info: http://planeteyetraveler.com/2009/12...tel-valley-ho/

Also, consider the Westin Kierland where you can also walk to Kierland Mall that features great restaurants and all types of shopping.

For more things to do in AZ take a look at my blog - http://planeteyetraveler.com/travel/...erica/phoenix/

I have been to the Phoenician and a few other properties there - one was small and was mentioned in a luxury magazine - It was not as great as I would have liked. Will need to go back and find the name of it...

Okay - It was the Royal Palms - I feel bad now - looks like everyone loved it but me. I was there - now it has been a good 8 years...at least? Dh was there on business and I tagged along...
I stayed at one of the Hilton Properties as well and a Marriott?

They did a HUGE renovation about 8 years ago at Royal Palms..
Maybe you got there before it was gutted.
It is a stunning property and I'm very picky on luxury hotels.

*that is why I was shocked Ksucat.. I know your taste and it is the finest - no doubt (not being sarcastic!) - I am always, 100% in line with what you recommend. I am still wondering if it was a different property... We stayed in a Casita - it was not a large property and I do not remember a spa... it was out of a travel magazine and I really wanted to stay there. We headed off the Belagio afterwards in Vegas.. it was a fun trip and it very well could have been 10 years ago now that I am thinking about it.

Are you sure you stayed at the Royal Palms?
It is pure elegance of old Spanish charm..
I'm hoping sf chimes in since she stayed at the Montelucia resort and love a 5* resort for around $100-$150 a night that goes for 6 times that in high season!
I love when its really hot in AZ.
Have you thought of going to PHX during the summer months with your family at the 5* resorts for around $100+ a night?
Cheap good time road trip with luxury digs..lots of pool fun!

No, I am not sure it was Royal Palms... I cannot remember the name. I looked at the photos and it looks about right. We have gone a few times in the summer and love those prices.

Here I am!! We did stay at the Montelucia, but didn't use the spa (except the fitness facility, which is excellent). We loved the hotel (beautiful big rooms, incredibly comfortable bed and linens, great pools, even good coffee in the little bakery/shop). FWIW, I got it on Hotwire for $95 (last weekend of June 2009). We would definitely stay there again. (As I recall, some buildings are one-story, and some are two-story --- we were in a one-story building, which I think is preferable).

Oh, I forgot, and it's very important, the Montelucia is one of [many] resort-area hotels nowadays that opens its doors to the paying public for weekend pool parties. We stayed at that pool one day, and hit the "quiet" pool the other day.

Oh... 95.00 is a GREAT rate!!

What do you mean about pool parties?