8 Best Hotels in Tucson, Arizona

This hotel, built in 1919, has been artfully restored to its original Western version of art deco; it's now the center of Tucson's hippest scene and a great place for younger and adventurous travelers to stay. The gangster John Dillinger was almost caught here in 1934—apparently his luggage, filled with guns and ammo, was suspiciously heavy. Each room has a black-and-white tile bath and the original iron bed frames. The convenient location Downtown means it can be noisy, so make sure you don't get a room over the popular Club Congress (a nightclub with dance parties) or Century Room (a jazz lounge with live music nightly), unless you plan to be up until the wee hours.

For a more authentic desert experience, head to this intriguing complex of lodgings, a café, a trading post, and an observatory, set on over 5 acres just off the main road to the Desert Museum and Saguaro National Park. Some rooms have mountain views and a wraparound porch, while others share a flower-filled courtyard; all are colorfully decorated with indigenous art and include a voucher for each guest for breakfast at the adjacent Coyote Pause Café. Say hi to Juanita, the resident desert tortoise, as you meander through the desert gardens and labyrinth. Stargazing with an astronomer through a 14-inch Celestron telescope (for an extra fee) is a rewarding on-site activity in this dark sky zone.

A sprawling, 1970s-era hotel and conference center, the Doubletree sits directly across the street from Randolph Park, Tucson's best municipal golf course and tennis facilities, and Reid Park, which houses the city zoo, a lake with paddleboats, and numerous play areas. A pleasant jogging/walking trail encircles both parks. The hotel property is well tended though generic-looking.

A stone's throw away from campus, the Graduate is the newest and hippest hotel in the University area. The youthful, college-y vibe is felt from the lobby's coffee bar and lounge area, with multiple workstations, to the top (14th) floor, where you can soak in spectacular mountain-city-sunset views from both the rooftop pool and Moonstone, the hotel's swanky bar with a wraparound patio. 

This 32-acre hideaway in the Santa Catalina Foothills is a charming and more intimate alternative to the larger resorts, combining luxury with Southwestern character. Designed in classic Mexican hacienda style, this former finishing school for girls was converted to a guest ranch during World War II and attracted stars like Clark Gable, Katharine Hepburn, and Spencer Tracy. Expanded in recent years, the lodging options range from smaller, historic rooms, some with fireplaces and private porches, to spacious, newer rooms boasting private outdoor showers or views of the mountains and city lights.

This 1960s motor lodge has been reborn as a Santa Fe–style boutique hotel with a Latin theme. Though most rooms in the three-story building have Saltillo-tile floors and hand-painted Mexican headboards, a few are whimsically decorated with blue-and-lime-green–checkered bedspreads and curtains, along with kitschy furniture and lava lamps, as a tribute to the hotel's past life. Upper-floor rooms have balconies with mountain and city views. A full breakfast at the on-site restaurant, Gringo, is included.

A charming hacienda-style hotel built in the 1930s offers modern comfort in an old-world setting. Many rooms have fireplaces and private patios, and the lovely gardens (croquet, anyone?) are a midtown oasis. A restaurant, bar, and meeting rooms are also on-site.

Originally the 1912 homestead of William and Mary Watson, this laid-back lodging with gorgeous city views and desert gardens has Southwestern character and all the amenities you expect at a major resort. The Watsons' original living room, with beautiful, dried ocotillo branches draped along the ceiling and antique furnishings, is now a comfortable library-lounge. The couple probably never envisioned anything like the Sonoran Spa, with hot desert-stone massages and three-mud body masks. Spacious rooms have wrought-iron beds and Mission-style furniture.