The Saguaro Scottsdale

The bright pink and orange signage that first greets arrivals certainly sets the tone that radiates throughout this vibrant and artsy hotel. The hotel housed in a boxy complex, but an all-out effort has been made to jazz up every corner of the upscale Saguaro with a palette of colors inspired by Mexico and the Arizona desert. The hotel's lobby looks straight out of the '60s with glowing bulbous lamps shining down on purple lounge chairs. Colorful artworks and potted palms evoke the spirit of the tropics. The maximalist color scheme combines with a cool retro vibe and one of the city's hottest pool scenes to attract a lively clientele of hip young professionals, up-for-it clubbers, and local scenesters -- especially for the hotel's legendary Saturday wet parties.

This hotel is located in the heart of Scottsdale's Old Town -- an arts, dining, and shopping district that also draws a trendy crowd to its happening nightclubs. It's also easy walking distance from the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art (around 10 minutes) while Scottsdale Stadium is less than a mile away. The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a 20-minute drive away.

The 194 rooms continue the hotel's bold color scheme -- inspired by native desert flowers -- together with simple, contemporary fixtures and handcrafted Mexican furnishings. Some rooms also feature vintage artifacts such as antique cameras and outdoor magazines from yesteryear, but some interiors are also showing signs of wear. 

Amenities include free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, minibars, and wall-mounted 42-inch flat-screen TVs with cable channels and movies on-demand. Bathrooms also have bright colors; most have shower/tub combos while some suites have walk-in showers and separate tubs. All rooms open to furnished terraces or step-on balconies, with either pool or city (usually car park) views. A younger, occasionally boisterous crowd inevitably leads to some rooms being prone to noise.

The two swimming pools are the highlight here. They are both heated and chilled depending on the weather, and one is the focus of pool parties (with poolside DJs and live music) while the other offers a more relaxed vibe. Bright orange daybeds and loungers are plentiful and there's also a spa offering a range of desert-inspired massage treatments. The restaurant serves excellent contemporary twists on Mexican street food, alongside frozen margaritas and craft beers. A coffee shop is also open for snacks and hot drinks. Beach cruiser-style bikes are available to guests, and Wi-Fi and valet parking are free of charge -- though there is a fairly hefty daily resort fee.