top 5
Hot Arizona Hotels
Whether you want to rub shoulders with hipsters or tuck yourself away at an all-organic resort, these five Arizona hotels do it differently in order to offer you a little cool under the hot sun.
The Frank Lloyd Wright–inspired Biltmore (opened in 1929) carries the mantle of grande dame of the valley, which it does with a demure class befitting its storied heritage. Rooms are fitted with Mission-style furniture and marble baths, and villas look over the famed Catalina Pool (where Marilyn Monroe once regularly frolicked).
Who are you likely to run into: Interesting and thoughtful conventioneers.
This small intimate hostelry on the south side of Camelback Mountain seeks to import a slice of Tuscany to the desert landscape. The result is a low-slung, low-key gem, catering to a well-healed clientele. Staid, yes; stodgy, no. They’ve recently added a “director of romance” to ensure that your stay at the Royal Palms is, ahem, unforgettable.
Who you are likely to run into: “Oh, we don’t give out our clients’ names,” says Royal Palms’ Sally Cooper, but rumour has it that one recent guest flew in on his private airplane: Air Force One.
Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa
Both Sanctuary and Royal Palms feature casita-style accommodation that snakes up the valley’s tallest monument, but they couldn’t be more different. Whereas Royal Palms goes for a Mediterranean vibe, Sanctuary eschews excess ornamentation for a sleek modern ethos. Rooms feature exposed polished concrete and expansive decks upon which to gaze out at the mere mortals living on the valley floor.
Who you are likely to run into: Hollywood producers successful enough to no longer have to network at whatever scene is “happening.”
The “world’s coolest motel” might seem like damnation by faint praise, but a few nights at this temple of retro shows that they have kept the good (old-school diner, mid-century design) and discarded the bad (motel bathrooms) in recreating this Happy Days–era gem. Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood held their wedding reception here back in the day, and a trip to the centrepiece pool shows that gorgeous, fun-loving Californians are now flocking back to the Valley Ho. Neat-o.
Who are you likely to run into: The above-mentioned producers just before their first big hit.
In 1985, this resort set itself apart by opening in the (then) sleepy bedroom community of Carefree, which, given Phoenix’s monumental growth, may soon be attached to the ever-growing North Scottsdale. Still, this 1,300-acre resort has managed to keep its outsider’s status intact by boldly aiming to go full-blown 100-percent organic. The soap is organic, as is the minibar fare, and the on-site garden offers up fruit, vegetables and herbs for the hotel’s terrific restaurant, Latilla, so they’re well on their way.
Who you are likely to run into: Al Gore and all others who want to enjoy sustainability from the comfort of a personal hacienda.
(Neal McLennan is a freelance writer based in Vancouver. He recently wrote a cover story on his childhood hero, Mark Messier, for enRoute magazine.)
Getting There
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