We will be visiting Tucson in March for the basketball playoffs and would like input regarding a hotel that is less than $200.00. We can get reservations at the Sheraton on Grant, the Holiday Inn Express at Tucson Mall, and the Holiday Inn on Palo Verde for this amount. Does anyone have any feedback regarding these hotels? We have found that many of the Tucson hotels are very expensive or booked during this time period, including most of the hotels that have been recommended in previous postings.

I would appreciate any comments and reviews anyone can provide.

Thank you,

DTS

I stayed at the Sheraton on Grant about three years ago--nice place. They had a great free buffet breakfast. The rooms were pretty standard for that class of hotel--nothing fancy, but everything was clean and comfortable. Oh--and FWIW, their room service prices were excellent, better than what I've seen elsewhere. The hotel's on the other side of town from UA, but Tucson's not that big.

If you get a chance to see the Sonoran Desert Museum just west of town, I highly recommend it. Temperatures at that time of year should be comfortable.

Hope this helps...

of those three I would say the Sheraton on Grant is the best. Also it's in a convenient location. Did you check out the Marriott right at the U of A? Also, there's a Hilton on East Broadway that is pretty nice and Broadway is a major East-West thoroughfare. Consider using hotwire.com. You won't know exactly which hotel you get but you can pick a part of town and the quality of hotel you're looking for. This has worked well for us in Portland and Tacoma. March in Tucson is really nice - thus the high prices. Plus, people tend to come here for Spring Break.

Thank you for your valuable input. I found an equivalent rate at the Hilton Tucson East. Would you recommend this hotel over the Sheraton on Grant?

DTS

I live in Tucson. I would not recomment the Holiday Inn on Palo Verde, it is an industrial area and there is not much else there. The Sheraton on Grant is nice, we use it alot where I work when we have out of town guests. I think it is better then the Hilton.

I would really recomment the Windmill Inn and Suites at River and Campbell tho. We also use that one and our guests all love it. All rooms are actually 2 room suites. It is in a pleasant plaza with many good restuarants nearby. Of any of the ones you consider I would rank Windmill above them all as the entire area is more upscale and just nicer to be in.

The Holiday Inn Express you mention is new, it is across the street from a Wal-Mart and many fast food places. It is down the street from the Tucson Mall.

March is expensive here, but trust me the weather most likely will not be warm - it can rain quite a bit in March and we have had alot of rain so far this year already.

I think the Hilton and the Sheraton are comparable and the Sheraton is a bit more central - so you might as well stick with that.

Thank you for your valuable suggestions.

DTS

Consider checking with Extended STay America and Red Roof Inn. Both clean, well maintained and cheaper than what you are looking at. Also have locations near where you are already looking.

The best deal is to bid on a resort property on Priceline. A few years ago we landed the SHeraton El Conquistador resort (I think it may no longer be a sheraton)for about $100. This is a really nice place.

We got the Loews Ventana Canyon last April for about $100 / nt.

Update on El Conquistador (which is now a Hilton). We just stayed there with an AARP rate -- around $150/night. Nice place.