Scottsdale/Phoenix hotel recs?
Dec 10th, 2015, 02:57 AM
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Scottsdale/Phoenix hotel recs?
We're going to Scottsdale in April to attend the wedding of the daughter of two of our closest friends. The wedding and reception are being held at the Omni Montelucia.
I've only been to Scottsdale once (in 2003); DH never. We will not be renting a car. We'd like to stay at a 4 or 5-star hotel that has an excellent pool for real swimming (IOW, we're not looking for a place that has only a "family fun" pool with slides etc or only a party-scene pool with loud groups just hanging around). Prefer not to be in a place that caters really heavily to kids, or if it does, still has some more adult areas (adult pool, for example). We'd like to be within an easy cab ride (or shuttle if the hotel offers one) to a nice shopping area with restaurants, cafes etc. We don't play golf, so that isn't a consideration.
You recommendations appreciated. Our friends have suggested staying at the Omni and it's a likely option, but am interested in other ideas as well (example: Sanctuary Camelback, Westin Kierland, or...?). Also interested in any feedback on the Omni.
Thank you!
I've only been to Scottsdale once (in 2003); DH never. We will not be renting a car. We'd like to stay at a 4 or 5-star hotel that has an excellent pool for real swimming (IOW, we're not looking for a place that has only a "family fun" pool with slides etc or only a party-scene pool with loud groups just hanging around). Prefer not to be in a place that caters really heavily to kids, or if it does, still has some more adult areas (adult pool, for example). We'd like to be within an easy cab ride (or shuttle if the hotel offers one) to a nice shopping area with restaurants, cafes etc. We don't play golf, so that isn't a consideration.
You recommendations appreciated. Our friends have suggested staying at the Omni and it's a likely option, but am interested in other ideas as well (example: Sanctuary Camelback, Westin Kierland, or...?). Also interested in any feedback on the Omni.
Thank you!
Dec 10th, 2015, 05:51 AM
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We absolutely LOVE The Royal Palms Resort. It has few children, is a small (119 rooms) that is simply a perfect spot for relaxing. Great spa and excellent restaurant. They have a special on for 2 $50 spa credits and a $50 restaurant credit, not sure of dates that are valid for special.
We have been 3 times and each time has been perfect.
We have been 3 times and each time has been perfect.
Dec 10th, 2015, 05:52 AM
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Dec 10th, 2015, 06:21 AM
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Thanks! It looks VERY pretty...BUT...what about the pool? The oval pool is too small for lap swimming. There's what looks like a longer pool with fountains in the middle -- is that a swimming pool or just a decorative fountain? If it's also a swimming pool, then it's a contender. If that oval pool is the only pool, then regrettably, it's not what we're looking for. We really want a place with a pool big enough to swim laps in (at least 50 feet long).
Dec 10th, 2015, 06:33 AM
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(We found the Omni to be a bit isolated, FWIW)
We stayed here too for a night; not sure if this pool would work, it really isn't "lap" but you could swim.
It was nice but no where in the league of Royal Palms. Great location though.
https://www.kimptonhotels.com/stay/f...spa-scottsdale
We stayed here too for a night; not sure if this pool would work, it really isn't "lap" but you could swim.
It was nice but no where in the league of Royal Palms. Great location though.
https://www.kimptonhotels.com/stay/f...spa-scottsdale
Dec 10th, 2015, 06:38 AM
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That's too small as well. Our friends have a gorgeous 5-bed home in Scottsdale with a large infinity pool that would be perfect, but with so many people flying in for the wedding, they decreed that we all have to stay in hotels (so that nobody felt rejected when they weren't invited to stay in their house). Fair enough.
Dec 10th, 2015, 06:53 AM
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I'm out of ideas, hopefully others will join in with suggestions. I think that unless it's a huge hotel {Phoenician or the like} you aren't going to find a "swimmers" pool. Enjoy the trip, April will be lovely. Eat at T Cook's at The Royal Palms in any case. Top notch.
Dec 10th, 2015, 07:57 AM
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Yes, you're probably right. We might stay at the Phoenecian as it is close to the Omni. Or maybe the Westin Kierland, even though that's more of a conference hotel. If we were traveling in mid-winter when we really wouldn't be swimming, the Royal Palms would be perfect. We will dine at T. Cook's, though, I really appreciate the time you took to come up with suggestions!
Dec 10th, 2015, 07:59 AM
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You recommendations appreciated. Our friends have suggested staying at the Omni and it's a likely option
We have stayed at the Montelucia. It's a very lovely hotel, but it is a little far from anything without a car. Also, when we were there, the main pool was open to non-hotel guests on the Saturday, which meant a gazillion 20 and 30 somethings in the pool with beer. Fortunately, there is a separate quiet pool.
The Hyatt Regency Gainey Ranch is a beautiful resort. The website says they have 10 pools, so I would call them and ask if one of them is a lap-pool.
We have stayed at the Montelucia. It's a very lovely hotel, but it is a little far from anything without a car. Also, when we were there, the main pool was open to non-hotel guests on the Saturday, which meant a gazillion 20 and 30 somethings in the pool with beer. Fortunately, there is a separate quiet pool.
The Hyatt Regency Gainey Ranch is a beautiful resort. The website says they have 10 pools, so I would call them and ask if one of them is a lap-pool.
Dec 13th, 2015, 01:39 PM
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I wanted to thank everybody for their suggestions. We looked at dozens of hotels on TripAdvisor, but we decided we didn't want to stay at a big resort, we wanted to be within walking distance of restaurants and shops and we wanted a pool for swimming rather than "family fun"...
So, after much consideration, we booked a room at the Bespoke Inn. It's right in the Arts District of downtown Scottsdale, has only four guest rooms, and does have a 43-foot pool.
http://www.bespokeinn.com/
So, after much consideration, we booked a room at the Bespoke Inn. It's right in the Arts District of downtown Scottsdale, has only four guest rooms, and does have a 43-foot pool.
http://www.bespokeinn.com/
Dec 29th, 2017, 06:05 AM
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This is delayed, but here's how our stay at the Bespoke Inn went in April 2017:
We wanted to love this inn, we really did. The setting is gorgeous and it really does look like the inn's website photos. But on reflection, considering what we paid (about $500 a night) and the experience we had, it didn't add up to anything more than a mehhh.
Most annoying problem: the pool. First, if you're a morning swimmer and it's not already very hot outside, be prepared for COLD water. Second and more serious problem: access to the pool. The pool itself has only one ladder -- on the street side. But the stairs that lead up to this side were blocked every day, all day long, by a serving table for the restaurant (the inn is on property owned by the restaurant, I believe). I did mention it, and they promised to unblock the staircase, but it never was.
That meant entering the pool from the other side by simply jumping in (no matter how cold the water) and then pulling yourself out, or getting out by the ladder at the opposite end and then inching across the ledge to get to the other side where the room-side staircase was located. As noted in my OP, a decent pool was high on our list of priorities and this turned out to be a fail.
The room itself was pleasant -- excellent bathroom -- but the bedsheet covering the mattress kept coming undone and balling up (this does NOT happen to us at other hotels). It seemed like the flat sheet that was used in place of a proper fitted sheet was simply too small for the thick mattress. When you're paying several hundred dollars a night, it's annoying to have to remake the bed at 3 am.
The breakfast was absolutely delicious (provided by the restaurant, which is independent from the inn). But you paid extra for it and given the high rate charged for the rooms, it should have simply been included (after all, it bills itself as a B & B, not a B & $B).
There were a few lesser issues -- no room safe, the taxi contact provided by the hotel telling us the wait would be about 90 minutes for a five-minute ride (no wonder people prefer Uber), the swarms of mosquitoes (somewhat alleviated by the citronella candles placed in the hallway after we brought up the problem) and the bedside lamps that were simply too bright if someone wanted to read in bed while the other person slept.
A friend who was also visiting Scottsdale at the same time stayed at the Saguaro and, looking back, we wish we had stayed there as well. If we ever go back, we will stay at the Saguaro. https://thesaguaro.com/scottsdale/ Had we stayed there, we would have paid a LOT less and enjoyed our stay just as much, probably more.
Although the Bespoke Inn was a disappointment, we had a great time in Scottsdale and would like to visit again. And the wedding we were there for (the daughter of a close friend from childhood) was truly a special occasion. Not only did the daughter get married to a wonderful young man, my friend's parents celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary that week. It was beautiful to see three couples waltzing on the dance floor at the same time: the newlyweds, their parents (married 35+ years) and the bride's grandparents.
We wanted to love this inn, we really did. The setting is gorgeous and it really does look like the inn's website photos. But on reflection, considering what we paid (about $500 a night) and the experience we had, it didn't add up to anything more than a mehhh.
Most annoying problem: the pool. First, if you're a morning swimmer and it's not already very hot outside, be prepared for COLD water. Second and more serious problem: access to the pool. The pool itself has only one ladder -- on the street side. But the stairs that lead up to this side were blocked every day, all day long, by a serving table for the restaurant (the inn is on property owned by the restaurant, I believe). I did mention it, and they promised to unblock the staircase, but it never was.
That meant entering the pool from the other side by simply jumping in (no matter how cold the water) and then pulling yourself out, or getting out by the ladder at the opposite end and then inching across the ledge to get to the other side where the room-side staircase was located. As noted in my OP, a decent pool was high on our list of priorities and this turned out to be a fail.
The room itself was pleasant -- excellent bathroom -- but the bedsheet covering the mattress kept coming undone and balling up (this does NOT happen to us at other hotels). It seemed like the flat sheet that was used in place of a proper fitted sheet was simply too small for the thick mattress. When you're paying several hundred dollars a night, it's annoying to have to remake the bed at 3 am.
The breakfast was absolutely delicious (provided by the restaurant, which is independent from the inn). But you paid extra for it and given the high rate charged for the rooms, it should have simply been included (after all, it bills itself as a B & B, not a B & $B).
There were a few lesser issues -- no room safe, the taxi contact provided by the hotel telling us the wait would be about 90 minutes for a five-minute ride (no wonder people prefer Uber), the swarms of mosquitoes (somewhat alleviated by the citronella candles placed in the hallway after we brought up the problem) and the bedside lamps that were simply too bright if someone wanted to read in bed while the other person slept.
A friend who was also visiting Scottsdale at the same time stayed at the Saguaro and, looking back, we wish we had stayed there as well. If we ever go back, we will stay at the Saguaro. https://thesaguaro.com/scottsdale/ Had we stayed there, we would have paid a LOT less and enjoyed our stay just as much, probably more.
Although the Bespoke Inn was a disappointment, we had a great time in Scottsdale and would like to visit again. And the wedding we were there for (the daughter of a close friend from childhood) was truly a special occasion. Not only did the daughter get married to a wonderful young man, my friend's parents celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary that week. It was beautiful to see three couples waltzing on the dance floor at the same time: the newlyweds, their parents (married 35+ years) and the bride's grandparents.
Dec 29th, 2017, 10:36 AM
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Stayed at most of the 4-5* resorts in PHX/Scottsdale and for pools...Phoenician or the Fairmont Princess..
Love the Four Seasons, Royal Palms, Keirland and Sanctuary.
Biltmore has a great pool but make sure you stay in the newer wing!
Stayed at Montelucia for a long weekend and the pool was OK..
Love the Four Seasons, Royal Palms, Keirland and Sanctuary.
Biltmore has a great pool but make sure you stay in the newer wing!
Stayed at Montelucia for a long weekend and the pool was OK..
Dec 30th, 2017, 02:39 AM
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Pretty much all my hotels I suggested are in Scottsdale...
You're not going to get a hotel in downtown Scottsdale.. .that's what uber is for!
In minutes, you're in downtown Scottsdale.
Maybe Valley Ho..or JW Marriott on Camelback.
You're not going to get a hotel in downtown Scottsdale.. .that's what uber is for!
In minutes, you're in downtown Scottsdale.
Maybe Valley Ho..or JW Marriott on Camelback.
Dec 30th, 2017, 03:43 AM
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"You're not going to get a hotel in downtown Scottsdale.. .that's what uber is for!"
Of course there are hotels in the heart of Scottsdale, why would you say something so ridiculously untrue? The Saguaro is downtown. I looked at all the hotels you mentioned and we decided against them. At any rate, our trip was completed months ago, so we don't need any more suggestions.
As for Uber, we (which includes my friend who stayed at the Saguaro) got around perfectly fine by walking or taking the free trolley. There are people who don't want to go everywhere by car, you know.
Of course there are hotels in the heart of Scottsdale, why would you say something so ridiculously untrue? The Saguaro is downtown. I looked at all the hotels you mentioned and we decided against them. At any rate, our trip was completed months ago, so we don't need any more suggestions.
As for Uber, we (which includes my friend who stayed at the Saguaro) got around perfectly fine by walking or taking the free trolley. There are people who don't want to go everywhere by car, you know.
