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The Valley of the Sun now offers locals and visitors some of the country's best choices when it comes to funky, high-fashion accommodations.
Developers and hoteliers have taken advantage of the Valley's wide-open spaces to introduce super-size, luxury resorts like the Westin Kierland and the JW Marriott Desert Ridge, offering everything from their own golf courses and water parks to four-star restaurants and shopping villages. Places like the retro-hip Hotel Valley Ho and the sleek, mountainside Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain have brought Arizona to the forefront of luxury-hotel style. Regal resorts like The Phoenician, the Four Seasons, the romantic Royal Palms Resort, and the Moroccan-inspired Omni Scottsdale keep lodging grounded in traditional, unsurpassed elegance, while plenty of boutique and business hotels keep it grounded in price.
Downtown Phoenix properties tend to be business hotels, close to the heart of the city and the convention centers—and often closer to the average vacationer's budget. Many properties here cater to corporate travelers during the week, but the lively weekend events downtown are more than enough to entice leisure travelers. With more than 60,000 hotel rooms in the metro area, you can take your pick of anything from a luxurious resort to a guest ranch to an extended-stay hotel. For a true Western experience, guest-ranch territory is 70 miles northwest in the town of Wickenburg.
Many people flee snow and ice to bask in the warmth of the Valley, so winter is high season, peaking from January through March. Summer season—mid-May through the end of September—is giveaway time, when a night at a resort often goes for half the winter price, but be forewarned: in the height of summer it can be too hot to do anything outside your air-conditioned room.
Hip and unabashedly quirky, this urban hotel has kicked up Phoenix's cool factor a few notches and offers a compelling reason to stay in Downtown. Luxe modern furnishings and amazing city views, coupled with a fantastic location within CityScape, make Palomar a great spot to rest your head—or party the night away.
This luxurious boutique hotel is the only resort on the north slope of Camelback Mountain; secluded mountain casitas have chic modern furnishings, which contrast with the breathtaking views of Camelback Mountain, the Praying Monk (from some vantages), and the setting western sun. Bathrooms are finished in modern details with elegant sinks and roomy tubs. An infinity-edge pool, Zen meditation garden, and Asian-inspired Sanctuary Spa make this a haven for relaxation. The hotel's restaurant, elements, is a local hot spot for sunset cocktails and award-winning cuisine.
A comfortable base for travel, this affordable hotel is within a short drive of great recreation areas (Piestewa Peak) and great dining options, and is less than 1 mile from AZ 51, meaning quick and easy access to major freeways, Valley shopping, and Sky Harbor Airport. Pillow-top mattresses, flat-screen TVs, and upgraded furnishings are highlights of the rooms, which are frequently updated.
Conveniently located just off the intersection of 24th Street and Camelback Road, this four-story hotel is great for business travelers, with spacious and accommodating rooms appointed with comfortable yet modern furnishings. Breakfast and Wi-Fi are free.
On 6 acres of lushly landscaped desert, the Hermosa is a blessedly peaceful alternative to some of the larger resorts nearby. This boutique hotel's ranch-style lodge was the home and studio of cowboy artist Lon Megargee in the 1930s; today the adobe structure houses Lon's at the Hermosa, justly popular for its New American cuisine. Villas as big as private homes and individually decorated casitas hold an enviable collection of Western art.
This hotel has a great location along the Scottsdale Road corridor, with trendy restaurants and shopping opportunities within easy walking distance, making it a comfortable, affordable, and family-friendly option. The three-story glass entryway is bright and welcoming. Rooms are utilitarian but moderately updated, clean, and include free parking and Wi-Fi.
Located right off the 101 freeway, this affordable hotel is a convenient base of operations; cool and modern throughout, it has clean, large, simply decorated rooms. A pool and waterfall are great for escaping the summer heat. A large shopping and dining area is less than a mile away.
When it originally opened in 1956, this hotel was a hangout for celebrities, including Natalie Wood, Robert Wagner, and Tony Curtis, but it remains a hot spot today, especially the main pool. The hotel has been restored to its former '50s fabulousness, and the rooms don't disappoint with retro furnishings and styling.
The convenience of Downtown Phoenix's light rail makes this convention-center hotel an attractive destination for vacationers, too. The seven-story atrium has huge sculptures, colorful tapestries, potted plants, and comfortable seating areas. Don't miss a trip to the revolving Compass restaurant, which offers panoramic views of the entire Valley.
One of the city's architectural marvels, this Downtown Marriott has an appealing mix of classic comfort and modern accommodations. Spacious rooms are designed for the business traveler, and are relatively quiet and well lit, with large desks and ergonomic desk chairs. They're also convenient for pro baseball and basketball fans as well as theater- and concertgoers.
Popular with the Spring Training and bachelor/bachelorette party crowd, the Scott---both trendy and eco-friendly---is a place built for fun. Dip your toes in the sand-bottom pool, toss back a drink or two, and relax. Rooms are done in pleasing contemporary-beach decor and have crisp linens, cozy bathrobes, and brand-name bath amenities.
The grande dame of Downtown Phoenix hotels has positioned itself as the go-to residence of convention goers, but its service and proximity to sports and arts venues make it desirable for leisure travelers as well. Rooms feature all the mod cons associated with a convention-caliber hotel, with the generous addition of unobstructed views of the Valley.
Intended to satisfy the needs of business travelers, there aren't many frills at this four-story hotel, though a lap pool and Jacuzzi await in the landscaped courtyard. Rooms are efficient, with clean duvets and ample space for work. A small café serves breakfast, but why stay in when you could walk to an excellent meal nearby?
Directly adjacent to the Gainey Village development, with boutique shopping, upscale dining, and a spa, this hotel is a rare find for both amenities and price. Floor plans vary from studios to two-bedroom suites that sleep eight, all with fully equipped kitchens and flat-panel wide-screen TVs.
A handsome, casual lobby and an energetic young staff set the tone at this three-story courtyard hotel with comfortable, Southwestern-style rooms. Between the Arizona State University campus and Old Town Tempe, this is a convenient place to stay if you're attending ASU sports events.
A taste of youthful but sophisticated elegance, this hot-spot hotel in the heart of Scottsdale's shopping and social scene caters to the wants and needs of the fashionable but fickle traveler with "Whatever/Whenever" service that provides guests with anything they want ("as long as it's legal!"). Live like a celebrity in the top-notch bars and lounges, or lie low at the posh pool or Away Spa—all things that make this a metropolitan desert oasis. If you're looking to hang your hat somewhere modern, hip, and downright fabulous, look no further.
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