I just returned from a really fun 3-night girl's trip to Scottdale. We stayed at the Mondrian Hotel at a great rate of $165 per night. We paid a little premium for a poolview balcony, which was not worth it at all, but still can't complain about the price. The staff was very friendly, and the pool scene was a lot of fun. It kind of felt like we were on MTV spring break, but it made us girls in our early 30's feel much younger for a couple days.

We did not need a car, and after the first day we realized in lower heels we could walk to just about anywhere. This was after being totally ripped off by taking a car service from hotel to restaurant for $34. Live and learn!

Below are my restaurant reviews from the trip:

The Breakfast Club - cute cafe with patio, I had delicious burrito with fruit and potatoes. They had both traditional omelettes and benedicts, and also some dishes with southwest flair. Recommended

Stingray - fun trendy sushi, very reasonably priced. We ordered a ton of rolls, rock shrimp (amazing), gyoza, sashimi, and somehow it was only $40 pp (split amongst 6 girls).

Olive & Ivy - this place was recommended by many people, and the food was excellent (pastas, flatbreads, lamb, hummus, etc). The atmosphere felt chain-like, and the service was awful. I mean really, really bad. We met a local who said on weeknights its SO much better, but I was a little disappointed in overall experience based on the hype.

Grazie Pizzeria and Wine Bar - favorite meal of the trip! I was jogging and this place caught my eye so went back for dinner. I had an amazing thin-crust pizza with fresh mozz, ricotta, ham and salami. The caprese salad was great (and huge) and the lasagna was also a winner. It was a cozy atmosphere with a nice patio.

The people were all super friendly and laid back. I would highly recommend Scottsdale for a weekend getaway, and hope to get back myself!

Glad you had a good time. Thanks for the restaurant reviews.

How'd you like the decor in the lobby? (We stayed there one night last month)

I thought the lobby was pretty cool, and I really liked the outdoor fireplace mantle at SkyBar. The stuffed sheep was quite odd though!

I did love the pool (nice chaises, good service, pretty) - they didn't even charge me for club soda!