W Scottsdale

Stylish from top to bottom, the W Scottsdale appeals to a youthful clientele. The lobby -- with colored club lighting reflected off of sculptures and polished stone surfaces -- opens into a hip cocktail lounge with an open stairway that leads up to another bar in view of the private pool cabanas. The party vibe makes it a good place for groups of friends and maybe even couples, but families might want to look elsewhere. 

The W Scottsdale sits on Camelback Road, a major thoroughfare in the heart of Scottsdale's Old Town, an arts, dining, and shopping district that also draws a trendy crowd to its happening nightclubs. The area is well-lit and welcoming at night, though it can be loud on the weekends, especially since the hotel hosts its own pool parties. It's walking distance from the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art (about 20 minutes), while Scottsdale Stadium is a five-minute drive away. The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a 20-minute drive away.

As with all W hotels, the 230 rooms at the W Scottsdale have a stylish edge with a muted, somewhat retro decor. Colorful accents play off of natural materials such as stone-facade walls. Most rooms have feather beds without headboards, plus work desks and roller chairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows brighten the mood and dark-wood furnishings, and higher-end rooms add more colorful designer pieces, as well as better views of Camelback Mountain. Flat-screen TVs and iPod docks come standard, but Wi-Fi costs extra. Sliding Shoji doors open to the bathroom vanities, with frosted glass doors on either side (partially) concealing walk-in showers and toilets. A variety of suites add perks ranging from furnished balconies to expansive bathrooms with huge rainfall showers and separate soaking tubs. 

Most of the action at the W Scottsdale centers around its large pool (off the second floor), with a sprawling sundeck that hosts weekend parties and live DJs. It's open 24-hours and there are 13 private cabanas available to rent along the perimeter that come with with flat-screen TVs, personal attendant service, and Wi-Fi. Right off the pool, Shade Lounge is an open-air nightclub with bottle service that can get boisterous on weekends. The lobby has another cocktail lounge, with a sleek bar under an open staircase, cowhide accent chairs, and a hip atmosphere. The fine-dining Sushi Roku serves contemporary Japanese cuisine, with its own full-serve bar and wine list. There's also a 24-hour fitness center, and Bliss Spa offers the usual treatments along with a hair and nail salon.