Tucson hotel, kids, pool
 

We are thinking of Phoenix &/or Tucson for spring break. Any recommendations for hotel with a great pool in Tucson?
Thanks, Betsy

We stayed in the Holiday Inn Palo Verde, near the airport. Not a great but certainly a nice pool.
Do visit Arizona Desert Museum, beautiful situated in the Saguaro NP West. Flowers, plants, animals etc.

I believe the Westin La Paloma has the best pool (it's also in the foothills and has a beautiful view out over the city). I live in Tucson and quite frankly would not recommend any hotel near the airport, including the H.I. on Palo Verde, as that area of town is just not very pleasant. Might be OK for an "overnighter", but certainly not for a vacation.

You might look into the new Marriott Starr Pass - their grounds are also lovely. While the hotel itself is beautiful, as are the grounds, the drive to it is not the most pleasant in all Tucson.

I'd look into La Paloma as my first choice if I were a tourist here and wanting a resort hotel with a good pool.

Also look into Westward Look - great views and a couple of pools. Has large rooms. Agree with Lori - avoid the airport area and avoid downtown.

Our kids love the Westin La Paloma in Tucson. Has a very nice pool with a water slide.

Thanks for your replies! I will look into the Westin. Any thoughts on the Hilton El Conquistador?

Been there and didn't much care for it. It certainly doesn't hold a candle to La Paloma or Westward Look.

Another vote for the Westin. If you kids are old enough to ride it, the water slide will be a big hit. Even I got a kick out of it and I'm pushing 30.

okay, looking at rates for the hotels -
Westin $359
Marriot Star Pass $379
Loews Ventana $249
Westward Look $243
Hilton El Conquistidor $239

Which would you choose considering we need 2 rooms & really want a great pool?(& want to get the most for our travel $). If anyone has an idea on how to get a better rate at the Westin, let me know. Thanks again, Betsy

I have not been to Star Pass, so I can't comment on that.

Of the remaining ones, at those prices (unless price is of no concern), I would choose Westward Look. I really love Loews Ventana, but the pool there has shade for most of the day, which is not good during cooler months. And I'm not sure that La Paloma is worth an extra $100/room/night.

Yes, money is an issue(to some extent)& we usually get 2 rooms as there are 5 of us. Spring break is the last week of March, if that makes any difference. I will keep watching for deals. Thanks for all the help, Betsy

Keep watching, but usually no good deals until after Memorial Day. Again, I don't think you could go wrong with Westward Look.

Still trying to decide on hotel in Tucson, will be staying a few nights in Phoenix at Tapatio Cliffs. Any opinion of Hacienda del Sol? We are planning to get to a spring training game, Colorado Rockies, at Hi Corbett Field if that matters. Its between Westward Look, Loews Ventana & Hacienda del Sol at this point so any restaurant suggestions close to those would be great. Mexican or southwestern but not fancy. Thanks, Betsy

I'm not familiar with Hacienda del sol, but I do know the other two are very nice. Maybe someone else can help with that.

Restaurants:
Mexican -- There is an El Charro at Broadway and Wilmot. One of my favorites. It is about 4-5 miles East of Hi Corbett.

Southwestern -- For Steak Houses, Pinnacle Peak, on Tanque Verde Rd would probably be the best known. There is a whole little faux western town there with some shops. And El Corral is on river Road, which would probably be the closest to Hacienda del Sol.
For New Southwestern, Red Sky Cafe on Norht Swan, Dakota Cafe, near Pinnacle Peak, and City Grill, also on Tanque Verde, would be some fairly close ones.

Do you have a map?

Also check this web site
http://tucsonrestaurantguide.com/

Have fun

Twice now we used priceline for Tucson. They have a resort category. A few years ago (in March) we got the El Consquistador at a great price, and this past Christmas break for got the Loews less than 1/2 of any other price I could find ($105). There were 4 of us, we had 1 room with 2 queen beds and a rollaway. You can bid on 2 rooms.

Check www.BiddingforTravel.com for more info.

We ate at a very nice restaurant near the Loews call the Red Sky Cafe.

Thanks for the info. Maybe I need to check into Bidding for travel.
Betsy

Hi all - I ended up bidding on Priceline, got Loews at a very good price, we'll see how it goes. Mike, which of your restaurants are closest to Loews, besides Red Sky. Looks like Pinnacle Peak is not far. How early does one need to go for dinner without waiting at the places that don't take reservations? MFNYC thanks so much for the nudge to Priceline!

Red Sky really isn't all that close, unless they opened another one. The only one I know about is on North Swan.

Close to Loews is one of my favorite Italian -- Gavi. they actually have 2 in that area -- gavi and Piazza Gavi. Menus are slightly different and Piazza has (or did have) a jazz player. Either would be good. Out along Sunrise, there are a number of good restaurants, too. Anything on East Sunrise would be probably within a 10-15 minute drive.

Pinnacle Peak is fairly close, as is Dakota Cafe (southwestern, and they take reservations) and City Grill (also take reservations). Another one of my favorites, which I have neglected for a few years is the Tucson Cork, right in the same area as Pinnacle Peak. Also OK Corral is quite close to the others. Let me check a bit more in the morning and will let you know. Or send me an email and I will get back to you.

Mike - thanks for the all the ideas! Unfortunately we only have 2 nights in Tucson, staying in Phoenix for part of the time. Will save your ideas for another trip. Betsy