I'm thinking of a trip from LA to Arizona for a weekend. I've spent weekends in Santa Barbara, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, San Diego and thought this would be a nice change. Questions: if flying into Phoenix where would the best place be to head to and stay? Will have a rental car and would like a upscale, comfortable hotel with lots of amenities. Don't need terribly exciting day or nightlife - just good scenery, good food, some shops and museums to wander through. No chain restaurants. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Sedona sounds like what you're looking for. Pull up some previous posts on Sedona and I'm sure you'll find plenty of info.

The top resorts in the PHX area are The Boulders (north of Scottsdale) and Phoenician (east PHX). The new Four Seasons in north Scottsdale really doesn't make it into the same class in my book due to poor aesthetics, poor location and slow business.
The Princess (now a Fairmont hotel) is a notch below, as are the Hyatt Gainey Ranch and Biltmore.
The Phoenician is the most convenient (location wise) and prettiest overall, but the service and 'class' began to slip when Sheraton bought it.
The Boulders is a long way out, but has a very unique appeal aesthetically (surroundings) and has nice size casita accommodations.

Overall, the most beautiful place to spend a couple days is at Enchantment in Sedona (have to have one of the newer junior suite rooms to make the most of it...the standard rooms are older and clean but not special). The location is amazing, the food top notch and there's plenty in the area to see to occupy a weekend.

I agree with Lindsay on staying at Boulders. For us, it is THE most memorable place. We stay there every trip. Also sugggest checking Auberge De Sedona cottages in Sedona.

Never been to and but I am considering staying at the Four Seasons Troon in March. I see, as Boulders, they were
also selected as a 5 Diamond Hotel and are in the same vicinity. Lindsay, would you mind letting me know a little more why you wouldn't chose them?

Location is poor. Away from Scottsdale Road and the restaurants/retail, BUT without the advantage of being in a secluded location....if a resort is 'out of the way', it should be in a beautiful, quiet place like the Boulders. FS Troon is essentially right in the middle of a subdivision of homes in north Scottsdale.
Appearance is unattractive as there is no greenery (which is OK in the desert as long as there's SOME type of natural beauty to enhance things). It looks just like an overdone Scottsdale apartment complex on the outside.
Rooms are nice, but very dark (little natural light). In the desert, where there's so much sunshine to enjoy, making use of natural light should be a must IMO.
I think FS Troon will have a VERY tough time becoming and staying profitable in this area of intense resort competition. I'm picky about resorts and FS is my favorite chain by far (Peninsula on a par with it in the cities where Peninsulas exist), but I think the planners responsible for FS Troon missed the mark.
Before booking a trip there, simply stop by on your next trip out to AZ. I think you'll see what I mean.

Lindsay

Thanks for writing back; cancelled FS Troon and booked Boulders