The Phoenician Rating: 5.0 Pearls

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

Pros

• Huge property with immaculate grounds and gardens
• Great sporting facilities including a golf course and tennis complex
• 10 restaurants and lounges
• 9 pools, with attentive pool attendants
• Modern fitness center and spa with 24 treatment rooms
• Spacious rooms all feature private balconies or patios
• Egyptian cotton sheets, flat-screen TVs, and mini-bars
• Marble bathrooms with large oval tubs, separate showers, and bathrobes
• Retail Arcade with designer shops and boutiques
• Conference center with indoor and outdoor event space
• Free parking

Cons

• No coffeemakers in rooms
• Only one set of elevators in the main building
• Views from rooms vary -- make sure to ask in advance
• Fee for Wi-Fi

Bottom Line

This 250-acre Starwood resort and conference center is a luxury property ideally situated on the edge of Camelback Mountain in Phoenix's Sonoran desert. The massive property makes a striking first impression, with its lush green landscaping, waterfalls, koi ponds, and palms set against a rugged backdrop. Meanwhile, communal interiors have an old-world luxury appeal with marble floors and chandeliers. For activities, there is a USGA 27-hole golf course and pro shop, 11 tennis courts with various surfaces, and a winding cactus garden for beautiful sunrise walks. The nine pools have attendants who will regularly deliver towels and pitchers of ice water, and a spa with 24 treatment rooms. Comfortable accommodations include 643 rooms in the hotel, 119 casitas near Necklace Lake, and a number of residential-style suites. Guests have their choice among 10 restaurants and lounges, as well as easy access to both Scottsdale and Phoenix.

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