10 Best Hotels in North-Central Arizona, Arizona

One of the great railroad hotels, La Posada ("resting place") exudes the charm of an 18th-century Spanish hacienda, and its restoration has been a labor of love. Architect Mary Jane Colter, famous for her work at the Grand Canyon, designed and decorated the 68,000-square-foot hotel. Individually finished rooms are restored to 1930s style (although some have been modernized and include whirlpool tubs) and named for the famous guests who stayed there. If you can't stay for the night, take a self-guided tour of the hotel and visit the restaurant. Although most things here are a trip back in time, the stately Turquoise Room---serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner---is decidedly modern. The spectacular menu stays true to original Chef John Sharpe's vision and incorporates traditional fine-dining fare with locally sourced foods of the Southwest. It's a unique culinary experience in this part of the state, well worth the trip from Flagstaff.

So clean it sparkles, the Drury Inn sits at the edge of Northern Arizona University's campus and packs in the amenities, like happy hour dinner and drinks, an indoor pool, and comfy lounge areas with mountain views. Solar panels heat the water for the entire property, and the staff—many are student interns—are friendlier than you typically find at large properties. Rooms are spacious and modern.

Designed to resemble the train depot's original Fray Marcos Hotel, this upscale place features attractive Southwestern-style accommodations with large bathrooms and comfy beds with upscale linens. Neoclassical Greek columns flank the grand entrance, which leads to a lobby with maple-wood balustrades, an enormous flagstone fireplace, and oil paintings of the Grand Canyon by local artist Kenneth McKenna. Original bronzes by Frederic Remington also adorn the lobby. Adjacent to the lobby is Spenser's, a pub with an ornate 19th-century hand-carved bar; next door is the Fred Harvey Restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Built in 1927 for early automobile travelers, the Hassayampa Inn has a lot of character; the ceiling in the lobby is hand-painted, and some rooms still have the original furnishings. Don't get a room by the old-fashioned elevator or you'll be jarred by the clanging metal gate every time it opens and closes. The Peacock Dining Room, the hotel's pretty—and pricey—dining room, serves Continental food. In the cocktail lounge, listen to live jazz while you sip a martini.

With its hip, ’60s vibe, this renovated motel attracts weary travelers and locals alike for live music, cocktails, and artisan pizzas at its on-site restaurant. Rooms are basic but clean and comfortable. The property boasts Arizona's first Nordic spa, available for use for an additional fee.

This deservedly popular hotel is a little distance from the roar of the trains, the grounds are surrounded by evergreen forests, and it's one of the few places in Flagstaff with room service. Plush rooms have comfortable sitting areas with contemporary Western decor. Other pluses are an above-average in-house restaurant, courtesy van service to the airport and the Amtrak station, a deli, and a great Southwestern gift shop.

On a hill on the outskirts of town, this upscale property run by the Yavapai tribe has views of the mountain ranges surrounding Prescott and the valley, although many guests hardly notice, so riveted are they by the poker machines and slots in Prescott's only hotel casino. There are plenty of recreational facilities, including a saltwater pool, full-service spa, and good restaurant, to occupy those able to resist the gambling.

All the rooms at this inn south of Sedona have either wood-burning or gas fireplaces, and some of them also have Jacuzzi tubs and balconies that look out onto the red rocks. The four spacious villas each have separate entrances and a fireplace that opens into both the sitting area and the bathroom, which is outfitted with a two-person Jacuzzi tub. What makes this place really special, though, is the impeccable yet casual service.

Rooms in this rambling wood-and-stone Craftsman house have a refined rustic style; most have fireplaces, and some have jetted tubs, redwood decks, or hot tubs. For solitude, walk the seven-path classic labyrinth (made of local rock) and through the gardens. A chef prepares a lavish and healthy breakfast, as well as "sunset snacks" in the evening.

There may be no better vantage point in town from which to view Sedona's red rock canyons and sunsets than the private patios and balconies at Sky Ranch Lodge, near the top of Airport Mesa. Some rooms have stone fireplaces and some have kitchenettes; all have refrigerators and microwaves. Local wines and craft beers are served at their garden bar. Paths on the grounds wind around fountains and, in summer, through colorful flower gardens.