Scottsdale hotels

While Palm Springs, California, may be one of the most popular destinations for design in the West, there’s a good case to be made for Scottsdale. Hotel Valley Ho is a mid-century retreat to rival any swanky Palm Springs getaway.

Originally a hideaway for celebrities, the architectural marvel opened in 1956 and is one of the best hotels in Scottsdale for design lovers. Every room offers floor-to-ceiling windows leading to either a private patio or balcony, while wide-open studios and chic tower suites have living rooms and walk-in closets.

Relax by the circular pool with its turquoise lounge chairs and umbrellas, and make sure to order a dirty martini in the hotel’s main restaurant and bar, ZuZu, which specializes in shareable plates.
Located in Scottsdale city centre, the hotel is close to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, while Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and studio, the UNESCO-protected Taliesin West, is another must-visit.

If you appreciate mid-century design as much as I do, you’ll love Mountain Shadows Resort. Originally built in the 1950s, it fell into disrepair and had to be demolished. The current owners rebuilt it in 2017, with architects creating clean-lined structures that pay homage to the original site and complement the arid landscape.

Now it’s one of the best hotels in Scottsdale, and the most beautifully designed. Guestrooms feature bold Southwestern-print rugs and floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of emerald golf course greens and Camelback Mountain (the hotel’s name is a nod to the shadows the mountain casts on the property).

There’s a first-class fitness centre, while the hotel’s two 23-metre pools, connected by an overwater walkway, are as inviting for lap swimming as for relaxing with a cold drink. If it isn’t too sweltering, consider hiking up Camelback Mountain. The Echo Canyon Trail, with its large boulders and handrails, makes for a fun scramble.

The Spanish Colonial architecture of the Royal Palms Resort and Spa, built by wealthy industrialist Delos Cooke in the 1920s, transports guests to another time and place. When I stayed here, I loved how they used lights to illuminate Camelback Mountain, just behind the hotel. The lush grounds, with their fountains and bougainvillea shrubs, make this feel like a real desert oasis.

Consistently ranked among the top-rated hotels in Scottsdale, the Royal Palms has 119 guestrooms with European furniture and private outdoor spaces. Each one recalls the property’s past as a private estate but have been brought up to date with high-tech features.

The Mediterranean restaurant T. Cooks, which has two outdoor patios lit by candles in the evening, is Scottsdale’s most romantic dinner destination. Cooke originally built the home as a wellness retreat for his wife, and the spa offers memorable treatments, such as the desert sage and salt stone massage.

The Phoenician has been setting the bar for luxury Scottsdale stays since 1988. Despite having over 600 guestrooms and suites, there’s no lack of considered service or attention to detail here. The sophisticated Southwest design complements the Sonoran Desert landscape, while private balconies and terraces provide intimate spaces to relax and soak up the scenery.

The property’s multiple restaurants include a steakhouse and tea room. Meanwhile, the state-of-the-art Athletic Club offers two levels of fitness fun, and the three-tiered pool and signature spa inspire rest and relaxation.

One of the best hotels in Scottsdale for golfers, the 18-hole championship golf course is challenging and scenic, built to complement the desert’s gentle slopes. Toast a great day on the green with a crisp pilsner at The Phoenician Tavern.

Tucked away in the desert town of Fountain Hills, ADERO Scottsdale is made for travellers looking for full desert immersion. The 177 oversized rooms and suites feature high-end bedding and colourful art, as well as private balconies for taking in the sweeping views and starry skies (Fountain Hills is a certified Dark Sky Community).

One of the best hotels in Scottsdale for outdoor access, ADERO also has a trailhead on site for hiking and mountain biking and a therapeutic spa offering activities and treatments inspired by the healing powers of the desert. Chilled cactus water and a pocket guide to meditation and desert bathing will help regulate your body temperature as you explore.

Whether your schedule at ADERO includes sound healing and sunrise yoga sessions or plenty of pool time and farm-to-table meals at CIELO restaurant, you’ll leave feeling refreshed and revitalized, just like I did.

If you’re looking for a sophisticated spot in the desert, this is the place to come. Five minutes from Old Town Scottsdale, the six-storey Senna House Hotel feels like a sleek urban escape. One of the best hotels in Scottsdale for walkability, it’s easy to reach restaurants and nightlife on foot, including the stylish French restaurant Francine at the Scottsdale Fashion Square shopping centre, and the rooftop pool has views of Camelback Mountain.

Guestrooms are available in various configurations, from rooms with two queens to one-bedroom suites. All have plush mattresses and modern wooden furniture. Popular with business travellers, the lobby is home to well-dressed worker bees taking meetings and attractive socialites flocking to the on-site Mediterranean restaurant, Cala.

Helmed by acclaimed chef and television personality Beau MacMillan, Cala serves crowd-pleasing Greek, Spanish, Italian and Moroccan mash-ups. Hot tip: order the Moroccan chicken with green olives, heirloom squash and preserved lemon. I couldn’t get enough of it.

As someone who has experienced many wellness resorts in Arizona, I can tell you that Sanctuary Camelback Mountain is a cut above the rest with its beautifully manicured guestrooms and tastefully decorated rooms. As East Coast-based hospitality company Gurney’s Resorts’ first property in the West, this is one of the best hotels in Scottsdale for disconnecting.

The top-notch Asian-inspired spa lulls you into a zen state as soon as you arrive. The 12 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms are situated around a rock-filled courtyard, offering healing methods like cupping, zen shiatsu and tok sen, a Thai treatment meant to even energy flow.

The hotel is in the shadow of Camelback Mountain, and every casita, suite and villa comes with desert views. The design is refreshing and modern, with natural finishes and tile flooring that plays off the surrounding topography. The hotel’s Elements restaurant serves farm-fresh American cuisine with Asian influences, while the Jade Bar is a sultry spot for a nightcap.

Home to over 100 art galleries, Old Town is a vibrant arts district. You’re sure to rub shoulders with chic art collectors and gallerists alike at the Bespoke Inn Scottsdale. The butter-yellow boutique hotel, patterned after the bicycle-centric inns of Europe, offers a more intimate stay than Scottsdale’s myriad resorts.

The shady tiled courtyard feels like a secret garden and offers respite from the desert sun. While the hotel may only have 10 rooms, including a garden room with high ceilings and a two-storey loft with a clawfoot tub, it doesn’t lack amenities.

There’s an infinity-edge swimming pool and complimentary cruiser bikes for touring the town. One of the best hotels in Scottsdale for foodies, I strongly recommend making a reservation at the Inn's James Beard award-nominated restaurant, Virtù Honest Craft. Menu highlights include charred octopus with burnt orange sherry pancetta and smoked duck with miso cashew puree.

Another storied Scottsdale property, Camelback Inn has hosted silver-screen legends like Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart and Bette Davis over the years. It also happens to be one of the Marriott family’s favourite vacation destinations. Originally opened in 1936, the Marriott Hotel Corporation bought it in 1967, making Camelback Inn the first resort in its portfolio.

Located between two of the Scottsdale area’s most recognizable landmarks, Mummy Mountain and Camelback, Camelback Inn is undoubtedly one of the best hotels in Scottsdale for dramatic mountain views. The rooms are stylishly decorated with warm colours and natural textures, inspired by the shapes and shades of the desert.

Camelback Inn offers multiple hiking and biking trails for guests to explore. Meanwhile, the resort’s adobe-style architecture – the lobby’s brick adobe walls were handmade in the 1930s – embodies the authentic spirit of the Southwest.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is hands down one of the best hotels in Scottsdale for families. Vacations here are fun for every age group, with camp-themed summer activities and mini-golf on offer. Your kids will never want to leave the Trailblazers kids’ club, which has its own arcade, jumbo Jenga and crafts.

The Camp Canteen serves child-approved slushies and snacks during the summer months, and there’s even a drop-off day camp for kids aged 6-12, so adults can get plenty of well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Set across 65 acres, the guestrooms offer easy indoor-outdoor access and are designed as serene Southwest modern sanctuaries. The resort has five pools, including an adults-only rooftop pool and a waterfall pool and grotto in the Well & Being spa. There’s also a more exclusive spa within a spa, the Sisley-Paris spa, one of only 27 worldwide.