Free Furlough Fridays

Fridays in Arizona. You don’t have to be a California state employee to get in on the “Free Furlough Fridays” deal at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa outside Phoenix — you just have to be a California resident. Present a valid California ID to get Friday night accommodations for free at this resort along the Gila River when you stay a Thursday or a Saturday at rates starting at $199. Deal also includes $25 Aji Spa credit and $50 gasoline card. Use promotional code CALI2009 when booking. (602) 225-0100

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Hotel – Click to Play Dining – Click to Play Golf – Click to Play Spa – Click to Play

The resort is located in the Sonoran Desert on an expanse of rugged Arizona landscape where the ancient vistas, mountains and roaming wild horses remain untouched. A unique blend of two cultures, the resort offers the quiet serenity created by Native American tribes who found haven here.  This destination resort includes two 18-hole Troon-managed golf courses, the Aji Spa, a 17,500 square foot spa with 17 treatment rooms, the Koli Equestrian Center for riding lessons, trail rides and outdoor events, and is also equipped with tennis courts and jogging trails. We offer four pools with cascading waterfalls and a 111-foot waterslide modeling the ancient Casa Grande Ruins.

Enjoy the 2-1/2 mile replica of the Gila River that meanders through the resort grounds with scenic boat rides to shuttle guests to the Whirlwind Golf Club and nearby Wild Horse Pass Casino. Let the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort’s professionally trained staff plan your event, for groups of ten to 2,000, in extensive function space including a 17,376 square foot ballroom and an abundance of scenic outdoor venues. Experience a truly unique resort with a multitude of on-site activities in a spectacular setting.. ]]> http://arizonaresortsgetaway.com/travel/2009/02/28/phoenix-az-spa-resort-special-for-california-drivers/feed/ 0 http://arizonaresortsgetaway.com/travel/2009/02/24/arizona-resorts-great-savings-and-vacation-travel-deals/ http://arizonaresortsgetaway.com/travel/2009/02/24/arizona-resorts-great-savings-and-vacation-travel-deals/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:52:38 +0000 Arizona http://arizonaresortsgetaway.com/travel/?p=660 Peak tourism season in metro Phoenix usually means sunburns, spring training and sticker shock.

Except for this year. The sun and baseball are still fixtures, but sky-high prices night in, night out, are mostly a memory. Hotels and resorts from Litchfield Park to Scottsdale, socked by the economy and the country’s biggest jump in room supply, have slashed rates or added freebies to lure vacationers and business groups.

Call it the hospitality industry’s economic-stimulus plan, an effort to save a season that financially carries tourism-dependent businesses through the summer doldrums.

Hotels and resorts that routinely command $300 to $500 a night during the winter are on sale for 15 percent to 20 percent off, with some dangling rates of $199 a night and less on select dates, as well as previously unheard-of last-minute deals.

The Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa has rooms for sale on Expedia.com for as low as $179 a night during the second week of March, the peak of the peak season. Stay a minimum of four nights, and the resort will throw in a $50 gift card.

The new InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley is offering rates on Travelocity .com starting at $195 a night in early March.

Hotels normally in those price ranges, such as the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas, suddenly find themselves battling luxury competition they never had to worry about, on top of the recession. The result: Rates that have dipped below $100 a night on certain dates – rates normally seen only in the summer.

“The season as we know it is not happening,” said Susan Baer, area director of sales and marketing for the Hilton and its sister Scottsdale Road resort, Doubletree Paradise Valley.

Steve Moore, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau, is even more blunt.

“We’re in a very horrible situation,” he said.

Industry officials say the circumstances are more dire than after the 2001 terrorist attacks because the economic downturn is longer and more far-reaching.

“This is just in every facet of life,” Baer said.

The greater Phoenix hotel market registered the biggest drop in occupancy among 25 major markets last year, down 11.5 percent, according to Smith Travel Research. It also registered the biggest decline in revenue per available room, down 8.3 percent.

The pain has continued into 2009.

In the week that ended Feb. 14, which included the first part of the NBA All-Star festivities, occupancy was down 15.9 percent, with the average daily rate off 2.4 percent and revenue per available room down 18 percent, according to Smith Travel.

Year-to-date figures are not yet available, but preliminary estimates for January show Greater Phoenix with among the biggest declines in all the major categories, especially revenue per available room. Those figures are skewed somewhat by the 2008 Super Bowl in Glendale.

The area has taken a disproportionate hit for several reasons, the biggest being a significant increase in hotel rooms for sale. Metropolitan Phoenix led the country in room-supply increases in 2008, at 4.4 percent, thanks to the opening of W Scottsdale, Montelucia and the 1,000-room Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, among others.

No other major city topped 4 percent. The U.S. average was 2.7 percent. Big newcomers opened late in the year, making this their first peak season.

Other factors:

• Luxury hotels dominate the landscape, and they have been the segment hardest hit by the Wall Street meltdown and general economic malaise. In January, occupancy in that category nationally was down 15 percent to 17 percent. Revenue per available room was off 22 percent to 24 percent, according to Smith Travel. That compares with averages of 10 percent to 12 percent and 15 percent to 17 percent, respectively.

One reason: Big businesses, which fill a majority of the rooms at the area’s largest resorts during peak season, are cutting back on their meetings and incentive trips because of the weak economy and increased public scrutiny of lavish events.

• Phoenix also has the disadvantage of being a fly-in destination. People have the added expense of an airline ticket to get here, and until recently, airfares were up sharply because of dramatic flight cutbacks by airlines coping with high fuel prices and, now, the recession.

“We don’t enjoy a huge population within 300 miles of greater Phoenix that many other destinations do have,” Moore said, citing California, Florida and Texas as examples of states that do. “That puts us at a disadvantage when these crises occur.”

In response, the Phoenix convention bureau this weekend launched its first-ever peak-season promotion of bargain room rates. The “Spring Stimulus” promotion at visitphoenix .com/springstimulus features a roundup of hotel and restaurant deals.

It is aimed at visitors and local residents and businesses seeking a bargain for a getaway or a meeting, something normally out of reach until the temperature creeps past 100 degrees and stays there for weeks.

The bureau has stepped up efforts in Southern California, too, to lure more spring-training fans given the addition of the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Cactus League. It also is targeting more trade associations, which meet once a year in good times and bad.

Potential tourists and business groups are getting a similar sales pitch from the hotels themselves.

“This is probably the best time in recent history to come to Scottsdale and the Phoenix market,” said Clark Albright, director of sales and marketing for the luxury Camelback Inn, a JW Marriott Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley.

“You’ve got all these four- and five-diamond hotels with distressed inventory.”

Albright said Camelback Inn is holding up relatively well because there was a lot of pent-up demand from regulars who stayed away last season during its $50 million renovation. It is seeing a payoff from a marketing and PR blitz about the makeover of its rooms, restaurant lineup and lobby. Still, its rates are far from usual levels.

Camelback Inn has extended its renovation introductory offer of $299 a night into peak season, which is down from the high $300 to low $400 range during the renovation a year ago. Its golf business is off 15 percent to 20 percent despite a decrease in rates of 25 percent.

Pete Ells, general manager of Royal Palms Resort and Spa, said that the luxury boutique resort in Phoenix surveyed its competitors’ leisure rates and found they each were down about $90 to $100 a night.

That’s not to say they’re giving away rooms. Top-of-the-line resorts command $400 to $500 a night and more on certain March dates with big demand.

Royal Palms and others are having to fill rooms with more vacationers than normal because of meeting cancellations. Ells said the decline in meeting attendance at Royal Palms, which gets 70 percent of its business from groups in peak season, has averaged 10 percent.

Albright said attendance at a doctors’ association meeting, a regular peak-season client, was off 45 percent as companies sent fewer representatives or skipped it altogether.

Resorts are using online travel agencies and discounters more than they have in the past during peak season. Albright said about 80 percent of Camelback Inn’s leisure business comes through Marriott reservations channels. That figure will drop to about 70 percent by the end of March as it sells rooms on Expedia.com and other Web sites.

“We’ve got to get our product on the shelf at a lot of different places in order to get the occupancy we want to get,” Albright said.

The sprawling Arizona Grand Resort, off Interstate 10 and Baseline Road in Phoenix, last week advertised on Travelzoo.com a special of $199 a night that included free golf, a $30 dining credit and $20 toward a massage. A year ago, the resort’s lowest price was $250, and that didn’t include freebies, managing director Richard Behr said.

“Everybody is prospecting,” he said.

More resorts are selling a limited number of rooms at fire-sale prices through deep discounters like Hotwire.com, where travelers don’t find out where they are staying until they’ve agreed to the price and location.

Winning bids for March stays include rates as low as $40 a night at Hilton and $70 at the newly renovated Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort, according to Web sites that track them.

Baer said, “We did not participate in those last year. We didn’t have to.”

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The bank that financed the new W Scottsdale Hotel and Residences has begun foreclosure proceedings, the latest in a string of recent legal and financial woes for the high-profile project.

HSH Nordbank,a German lender, filed a notice of trustee’s sale, the legal precursor to a forced sale of the 224-roomproperty near Scottsdale Fashion Square. A public auction is scheduled for April 15 unless the matter is resolved before then or the auction is postponed.

The bank loaned the W’s developer, Triyar Hospitality Scottsdale LLC, $73 million, according to Maricopa County documents. The documents do not say how much Triyar owes or how far behind it is in payments.

Triyar Chief Executive Officer Michael Mahoney declined to comment.

The trendy W, which debuted in September more than a year behind schedule, remains open. It is managed by hotel giant Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which owns and manages the Phoenician Resort and also manages several other resorts in Arizona.

Arizona’s first W, at 7277 E. Camelback Road, was highly anticipated by hip travelers and fans of Scottsdale nightlife. It features a second-story infinity pool with a popular bar and mountain views, an outpost of Los Angeles sushi hotspot Sushi Roku and a lobby bar called the Living Room.

The timing of the opening probably couldn’t have been worse, with the recession and a spike in new hotel rooms sharply pushing down occupancy and room rates. The metropolitan Phoenix hotel market has seen among the biggest declines in the country in key industry measures for several months running, according to Smith Travel Research.

The first public hint of financial problems came in November, when Scottsdale-based Hunt Construction Group, the general contractor on the hotel, filed a $20 million lien against Triyar for nonpayment.

Triyar responded with a lawsuit against Hunt for breach of contract, blaming it for excessive cost overruns and delays and saying its work was poor.

The original budget for the hotel portion was $57 million, according to the contract with Hunt. Hunt said it did $21.7 million in extra work at Triyar’s insistence. It started foreclosure proceedings of its own.

Several subcontractors also have filed liens against the hotel, and a couple followed up with lawsuits.

They all likely will now have to get in line behind HSH Nordbank. Construction lenders typically have super priority in such cases, real estate attorneys say.

“Contractors can be left holding the bag,” said Ron Messerly, a partner in the Phoenix law firm of Snell & Wilmer.

Hunt officials did not respond to calls requesting comment.

How the foreclosure unfolds will depend in part on Triyar’s moves. It is not unusual for developers to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy when faced with the prospect of a trustee’s sale.

“What you want to do is slow down the foreclosure process,” Messerly said.

The contractors, for their part, will likely try to dispute the lender’s priority status or sue the lender to recover what their owed, among other moves, he said.

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Phoenix offers indulgent relaxation

It is an early morning, cold and dark, as we drive to our prearranged pick up spot. We meet the vans as the sun’s earliest rays peek over the mountains. Thirty minutes later, we arrive and see a group of young men scurrying around a huge basket. Flames are shooting upward while a balloon lies on the ground like a wilted flower. Its stunning red, orange, yellow and blue panels begin to lift. We climb into the basket and with the slightest of nudges, we are aloft.

Hot air ballooning in Phoenix is sheer delight. Our basket holds nearly a dozen of us – sleepily rubbing our eyes as we drift higher and higher. The sudden blasts of flames embrace us and take us upward just as the sun’s rays warm us with light. The sunrise is spectacular.

The desert flows beneath us like a quilt marked with jack rabbits, deer, cacti, cows and grassy inclines. For 90 minutes we dip and soar; our amiable captain, Patrick Stevens, points out interesting landmarks and discusses the physics of our flight. His crew scurries in a truck to meet us some 45 minutes later; we see them waiting expectantly for our landing – which again, is little more than a gentle bump.

We climb out to see an enormous feast: fresh fruit, champagne, warm chocolate-filled croissants, cheeses, coffee. Tables are laden and elegantly swathed in damask tablecloths. The sun beams overhead and beckons the tall, stately saguaro cacti to cast their shadows.

Phoenix in winter is lovely. The days are perfect – sunny but comfortable; the nights are brisk. The city sprawls over the mountains and valleys; a magnificent row of matching palm trees welcome us to the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa. Our casita looks upon the lazy river which winds through the resort; golfers tee off while the smack of tennis balls can be heard from our patio. The Westin is a bustling, upscale place. We wander downstairs to Deseo and watch with enchantment as the bartender makes cocktails by a process he calls “muddling.” Beautiful hand blown glasses are filled with our choice of fresh fruit and mint. I choose mango and raspberries. He adds rum and ice and a stick of sugar cane. Delightful! The restaurant is filled with the lively and passionate art of Nelson Garcia-Miranda. The food is artsy and modern. Do not miss the chocolate cigar dessert. Impressive.

There are many great places to stay in this historic city. If you are looking for a romantic weekend, we recommend the Hermosa Inn. Situated on six acres, with the Camelback Mountains as backdrop, the Inn originally opened in 1936, with a complete restoration in 1994. Cowboy artist Lon Megargee crafted an art studio which, over the years, became an expansive ranch and inn. No two rooms are alike, with each more charming than the rest. Luxurious Southwestern architecture includes adobe bricks, vaulted ceilings, beehive fireplaces and hand-painted Mexican tile. Lon’s, the Hermosa’s award-winning restaurant, is a favorite with Phoenix residents. We had a cocktail on a private patio in front of a blazing fire – the deep night sky shone with diamond-like stars. We decided then and there we would come back to the Hermosa one day. Delightful meals feature vegetables and spices grown in the resort’s garden. Every bite we had was outstanding.

Probably nothing can beat the elegance and history of Phoenix’s Biltmore Hotel. Every U.S. president since Hoover has stayed here; the Reagans honeymooned under the hundreds of orange trees as did Gable and Lombard. (Gable lost his gold wedding ring on the golf course until an employee found it.) Irving Berlin wrote “White Christmas” here in 1939 and Marilyn Monroe said the Catalina pool was her favorite in all the world. Don’t miss the breathtaking gold leaf ceiling in the lobby, second only to the Taj Mahal’s, or the Aztec Room – an astonishingly beautiful ballroom where celebrities have danced, sung and enjoyed themselves. John and Cindy McCain were married here. The Hollywood celebrities, the gorgeous black and white photographs from yesteryear, the art deco design inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright – the Biltmore is a treasure.

Choosing where to play golf in Phoenix, with more than 200 courses, is almost as hard as choosing where to stay. No wonder the National Golf Federation describes Phoenix as “The Golf Capital of the World.” Consistently rated among the area’s top courses are the Westin Kierland, the Phoenician, Troon North, Eagle Mountain and Grayhawk. These courses are excellent, challenging and well maintained.
Many of the courses are public or offer daily fees. The world’s best golfers have played here and many have designed courses here: look for names like Robert Trent Jones Jr., Homer Flint, Tom Weiskopf, Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Nash. Nearly all have partnered with area hotels for golf packages. The metro area has more courses listed in USA Today’s Top 100 than any other golf destination.

Phoenix offers another once-in-a-lifetime experience – Bob Bondurant’s School of High Performance Driving. If you are a thrill seeker or desire to race with the pros, Bondurant’s will put you behind the wheel of classics like the 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe and Corvette ZO6, Cadillac CTS and CTS-V or the Pontiac Grand Prix GXP. The school features a 60-acre racing facility and the racing courses range from four hours to four days. A one-day intro course is $1,375; the four-day anti-kidnapping course is $5,925. They do offer last-minute specials, so be sure to sign up for e-mail alerts.

Phoenix offers many delights – more we recommend: Taliesin West – the home of master architect Frank Lloyd Wright, now a school of architecture; The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa featuring Rawhide, a replica of an 1880’s town; Downtown Scottsdale – newly completed upscale restoration of Scottsdale’s ancient Indian canal system booming with shops, restaurants, hip nightclubs and trendy stores. Also worth a visit: the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum and the Phoenix Zoo.

Where to stay: So many great choices! The Westin Kierland has a country club feel with first-class amenities, dining and recreation and a  fabulous shopping center, the Kierland Commons, within walking distance. The Biltmore is a must for those who love history and beautiful art deco while the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass  is situated on  Native American land and owned by the Pima tribe. Wild horses are often seen in the distance.  The Hermosa Inn, quiet with lush tropical patios, is an elegant ranch-house boutique hotel. The Phoenician, in nearby Scottsdale,  is a world-class destination resort with an art collection worth millions.

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Traveling In Our Fabulous World – Plenty of Bright Spots in Phoenix

After leaving West Hollywood, a place we told you about in two recent columns, we drove to Phoenix, where the weather was HOT. In the daytime it was 115, but at night it cooled down — to around 110!

We checked into the Arizona Sunburst Inn, 6245 N. 12th Place (800-974-1474, www.azsunburst.com), which is convenient to all of the major gay bars and businesses. The inn was sold about a year and a half ago, and Tim and James have remodeled and really changed the decor and ambiance. They have done a wonderful job, and they are great hosts, making you feel like you belong.

The room furniture is very masculine. All rooms face the swimming pool, and they also have a Jacuzzi. Breakfast is ready in the morning whenever you want it. The inn has Wi-Fi for guests and a public computer for those who did not bring a laptop with them. They offer clothing-optional sunbathing and spa. This is the only place to stay when visiting Phoenix!

There are dozens and dozens of restaurants in Phoenix, but one of our favorites is Marcellino Ristorante, 1301 E. Northern Ave. (602-216-0004, www.marcellinoristorante.com), which has to be one of the finest Italian restaurants we have had the pleasure of dining in. If you want true Italian cooking in an exciting atmosphere with servers who are the best, then dine there. The owners, Sima and Marcellino Verzino, are as good as they get. Marcellino is the chef, and his beyond-fabulous wife, Sima, is the hostess who really is the mostest! Call for reservations.

You can’t dine at the same restaurant every day, so try Ticoz at 5114 N. Seventh St. (602-200-0160, www.ticozofarizona.com,).To say that it is wonderful is an understatement. Chef Holly creates the finest entrees and desserts. Ticoz has a great ambiance, wonderful service and the food presentation is as good as it gets. It has a great Saturday and Sunday brunch special, and the restaurant is always packed. They make some of the finest drinks in the city. Be SURE to save room for dessert. Trust us on this one.

The owners also have another restaurant not too far away — Switch, 2603 N. Central Ave. (www.switchofarizona.com). They serve wonderful food there as well. It has a completely different look about it, which is good. Way too many restaurants all look alike.

There are a lot of gay bars in Phoenix for whatever you are into. Favorite bars include Charlie’s (the cowboy bar), Amsterdam (downtown), Oz, Wild Card, and we particularly enjoyed the Kobalt at Park Central, which has a piano bar sometimes.

Besides the large bars, Phoenix also has a lot of neighborhood bars. It also has a couple of bath houses, the Flex and the Chute.

The best place to find any bar or business in Phoenix is in the Arizona Pride Guide (www.arizonaprideguide.com). This informative guide is free and covers the entire state. Go to the Web site to order one.

There are a lot of wonderful museums, galleries and shopping in the Phoenix area. The Antique Marketplace, 4025 N. 16th St., sells a wide range of antiques. Next door is the Root Seller Gallery & Apothecary, which sells a large variety of artwork, books, cards, herbs, music and more.

There are literally hundreds of arts and cultural destinations throughout greater Phoenix. The Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Avenue, (www.phxart.org) has an outstanding collection of more than 17,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. Its popular exhibitions feature artists such as Rembrandt, Norman Rockwell, Annie Leibovitz and Monet. The internationally acclaimed Heard Museum downtown ( 2301 N. Central Ave., www.heard.org) is one of the best places to experience the myriad cultures and art of Native Americans of the Southwest.

Phoenix is surrounded by many suburb cities, and our favorite is Tempe. It is the home of Arizona State University and is one of the most progressive cities in the nation. Check out its Web site at vibranttempe.com and click on “LGBT in Tempe.” The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation has its international headquarters at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, and tours are conducted daily. The foundation was established in 1940 as the repository of the life work of Wright.

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Spa Week coming to Arizona  Sept. 15-21

If you love spa treatments and haven’t taken advantage of Spa Week, you’re in for a real treat. Massages and facials can easily cost more than $100 per service, but during Spa Week, participating spas lower their rates to $50 per treatment so that you can sample their services.

Spa Week Arizona Spa Deals

When: Sept. 15-21

How to get $50 treatments: Review the spa list of spas and treatments 1) Select a spa 2)  Call the spa directly to make a reservation.

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Amara Resort and Spa

310 N. Highway 89A

Sedona, AZ 86336

Toll-Free: 866-455-6610

Phone: 928-282-4828

Fax: 928-282-4825

This luxurious creekside property is in the heart of uptown Sedona nestled on the banks of Oak Creek. Our spacious guest rooms and suites offer fresh coffee service, remote controlled television with DVD player and refrigerator. Lose yourself in the breathtaking view from your own private balcony. Visit Gallery on Oak Creek, our 4-Diamond restaurant. The Amara Resort is an exceptional meeting site. Attention to detail distinguishes us as the premier meeting site and our conference services manager provides assistance for all types of group events.

http://www.amararesort.com/

The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa

34631 N. Tom Darlington Drive

Carefree, AZ 85377

Toll-Free: 800-553-1717

Phone: 480-488-9009

Fax: 480-488-4118

One of the world’s most celebrated hideaways, The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa is nestled in the high Sonoran Desert foothills north of Scottsdale. Two championship golf courses and 160 luxurious casitas are sculpted into the spectacular natural terrain. This Five-Diamond resort also offers 8 tennis courts, a festival marketplace of 42 unique boutiques and art galleries, six distinctively different restaurants and a 33,000 sq ft Golden Door Spa.

http://www.theboulders.com

Camelback Inn, A JW Marriott Resort & Spa

5402 E. Lincoln Drive

Scottsdale, AZ 85253

Toll-Free: 800-24-CAMEL

Phone: 480-948-1700

Fax: 480-951-8469

Inspired by the cactus-studded Sonoran Desert, Camelback Inn, A JW Marriott Resort & Spa redefines the resort experience. For more than 65 years, guests have enjoyed the southwestern ambience and tradition that is unique to Scottsdale. Panoramic views of crimson-hued Camelback and Mummy mountains, fiery Arizona sunsets, and the picturesque, desert landscaping can be enjoyed from anywhere on the 125 acres of resort grounds. The legendary Camelback Inn features 453 guest casitas with private patios, two 18-hole championship golf courses, 40,000 square feet of meeting space, three swimming pools, six tennis courts, seven restaurants/lounges and The Spa at Camelback Inn, a 32,000-square-foot world class spa.

http://www.camelbackinn.com/

Casino Arizona Resort & Spa

9700 E. Indian Bend Road

Loop 101 & Indian Bend Road

Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Phone: 480-850-7777

Opening fall 2009: Arizona’s premier entertainment and resort destination, Casino Arizona Resort & Spa will be home to distinctive amenities including a rejuvenating spa, eight world-class restaurants, 10 entertainment lounges and more than 100,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. Guests can relax in one of the 497 deluxe rooms, and luxury suites while enjoying the exceptional guest services including concierge, themed pool and cabana areas, and limousine service. Guests also take pleasure in the resort’s unmatched entertainment including gaming and championship golf. The gaming venue includes 998 slot machines, more than 50 blackjack tables, 50 poker tables, fast action keno and OTB.

http://www.casinoarizona.com/resort.asp

Chaparral Suites Resort Scottsdale

5001 N. Scottsdale Road

Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Toll-Free: 800-528-1456

Phone: 480-949-1414

Fax: 480-947-2675

In the heart of Scottsdale, within walking distance to great shopping, restaurants, entertainment, golf, Chaparral Suites Resort offers 311 two-room suites. Each suite has private bedroom, spacious living room and includes two vanities, 2 remote control TV’s, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, iron/board, hair dryer, safe, voice messaging, complimentary in-room high-speed Internet, in-room movies. Play tennis, swim in two oversized pools, enjoy a whirlpool or workout in our fitness center. Signature amenities include complimentary full cooked-to-order breakfast, evening reception, individual airport transportation 6am-10pm, USA Today delivered to your room. Restaurant, Concierge Desk, car rental desk, gift shop, business center, laundry services.

http://www.chaparralsuites.com/

CopperWynd Resort and Club

13225 N. Eagle Ridge Drive

Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

Toll-Free: 877-707-7760

Phone: 480-333-1900

Fax: 480-333-1901

Located in Northeast Scottsdale. This AAA Four Diamond, Condé Nast Gold award winning luxurious mountaintop resort offers 40 spacious guestrooms and villas. Each of the 40 oversized guestrooms features imported handmade furniture, granite counters, custom linens, a gas fireplace and a private terrace overlooking serene desert vistas. The Spa at CopperWynd offers a wide array of treatments from massages to facials to body treatments. Also on property are nine lighted tennis courts, a state-of-the-art fitness facility. Alchemy, a AAA Four Diamond restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers extraordinary views.

http://www.copperwynd.com/

Enchantment Resort and Mii amo Spa

525 Boynton Canyon Road

Sedona, AZ 86336

Toll-Free: 800-826-4180

Phone: 928-282-2900

Fax: 1-928-282-9249

Enchantment Resort is a 220-room luxury property located near Sedona in a secluded red rock wilderness area rich in scenic beauty and Native American culture. A high level of guest service exists in pampering amenities, 3 restaurants, Camp Coyote children’s program, Mii amo – a full service spa experience, and a host of activities including tennis, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, croquet, pitch & putt golf, bocce ball, star gazing and spiritual exploration. Professional staff handling catering and conference services combined with flexible meeting space and team-building activities round out this favored leisure destination with executive impact.

http://enchantmentresort.com/

FireSky Resort & Spa

4925 N. Scottsdale Road

Scottsdale, AZ 85251-7610

Phone: 480-945-7666

Fax: 480-946-4056

FireSky Resort and Spa, formerly known as Caleo Resort & Spa, is an oasis of elements nestled in the heart of Scottsdale near Fashion Square, museums, golf courses and other favorite places that make Scottsdale such a favored destination. FireSky plays on the four elements thought to represent all that exist: fire, water, earth and air. Upon arrival, guests find three towers in front with fire and water representing the juxtaposition of the beautiful Sonoran desert setting and the expansive tropical grounds. From the hotel lobby living room, with its stunning stone fireplace and airy cathedral ceilings, step out onto the patio and lush garden courtyard. The grounds of the hotel stretch toward a sandy beach pool and a Mediterranean-inspired lagoon, as well as a torch-lit heated outdoor pool and hot tub. Pamper yourself in our full-service Jurlique spa with any number of treatments. Taggia, our Coastal Italian restaurant, celebrates the freshest ingredients from land and sea.

http://www.fireskyresort.com/

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

10600 E. Crescent Moon Drive

Scottsdale, AZ 85262

Toll-Free: 888-207-9696

Phone: 480-515-5700

Fax: 480-515-5599

Located adjacent to the renowned Weiskopf & Morrish-designed courses of Troon North and set on 40 acres of vibrant blooms, the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North features 210 guestrooms, including 22 suites, arranged in one- and two-story territorial-style buildings and offers breathtaking views of Pinnacle Peak and the Valley below. Generously sized standard guestrooms feature full walk-in closets, air conditioning and variable-speed ceiling fans, television and VCR housed in an armoire, two-line telephones and gas-burning fireplaces. Large bathrooms include a deep soaking tub, a glass-enclosed shower and WC in a separate room. Patio doors open to a private eight-foot deep terrace, offering magnificent desert views. Suites are fitted with telescopes, private plunge pools and outdoor garden showers.

http://www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale/

Hotel Indigo Scottsdale

4415 N. Civic Center Plaza

Scottsdale, AZ 85251-3512

Toll-Free: 866-644-0372

Phone: 480-941-9400

Fax: 480-675-5240

Hotel Indigo, Intercontinental Hotels Group newest boutique brand, offers affordable luxury in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale’s shopping, dining, nightlife and art’s district. Hotel Indigo in.spires you with a refreshing experience. There is everything you’d expect in.cluding gourmet casual dining and free high-speed internet access. Yet Hotel Indigo is in.triguing with cool colors, hardwood flooring, plush bedding and spa-in.spired showers. Hotel Indigo – where you can count on all of the conveniences and confidences of a big brand, yet all the uniqueness of a boutique hotel.

http://www.scottsdalehiphotel.com/

Hotel Valley Ho

6850 E. Main Street

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Toll-Free: 866-882-4484

Phone: 480-248-2000

Fax: 480-248-2002

Hotel Valley Ho is located in Scottsdale’s historic district on the corner of 69th Street & Main. Hotel Valley Ho represents one of the nation’s best-preserved examples of mid-century architecture. This urban resort includes 194 rooms, spa, fitness center, movement studio, versatile meeting and event space, and two restaurants to include Cafe ZuZu and the famed Trader Vic’s. A great resort pool with large scale cabanas, poolside bar & grill and amazing entertainment round out this luxury hotel’s unique offerings. Hotel Valley Ho is a Preferred Hotel Group member as well as a member of Historic Hotels of America.

http://www.hotelvalleyho.com/content/index.html?

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch

7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road

Scottsdale, AZ 85258-2099

Toll-Free: 800-233-1234

Phone: 480-444-1234

Fax: 480-483-5550

The beauty of the majestic McDowell Mountains, palm trees, cacti, wildflowers, Frank Lloyd Wright inspired architecture, and the spirit of native peoples combine to create the comfortable Southwestern elegance of the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch. Enjoy the many recreational amenities this desert oasis has to offer including a 2½ acre “water playground”, three-story waterslide, sand beach, 27 holes of championship golf at the award-winning Gainey Ranch Golf Club, four tennis courts, miles of jogging and bicycle trails, Spa Avania, the Native American Learning Center, Native Heritage Seed Garden, Native American Sculpture Garden, Camp Hyatt Kachina for children ages 3-5 and 6-12, and four distinctly different restaurants.

http://www.scottsdale.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp?src=scottsdalecvb

Inn at Eagle Mountain

Barbara Bruce, Regional Sales Manager

9800 N. Summer Hill Boulevard

Fountain Hills, AZ 85268-6338

Toll-Free: 800-992-8083

Phone: 480-816-3000

Fax: 480-816-3090

Each mini-suite and two room suite of our unique resort, located on the 18th Green of the Golf Club at Eagle Mountain, features custom Southwest décor, a romantic “kiva-style” gas fireplace with cozy sitting area, computer desk with high-speed wireless Internet access, HBO, VCR, refrigerator and coffee maker. Relax and unwind in your private over-sized whirlpool spa tub, and enjoy the views of the top-rated golf club, pristine desert, mountains and the city lights below from your private patio. The Inn at Eagle Mountain features a restaurant and three meeting rooms that can accommodate groups up to 50 people, along with an adjoining pavilion for larger groups. In addition, the restaurant features a Wine Tasting Series and special event menus.

http://www.innateaglemountain.com/

More locals booking Phoenix resorts

Phoenix resorts that have always reached out to local residents as summer guests are finding a more attentive market now that gasoline prices have topped $4 a gallon.

“We have seen an increase in Valley residents booking short vacations and extended weekends,” Stephanie Dowling of the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa said. “We change a lot of our programs and amenities for a different demographic, families and local people.”

It’s a trend being repeated throughout the Valley.

From the Arizona Biltmore to the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, reduced rates and increased programming are geared toward attracting local visitors.

Ed Placidi of P&G Communications, which works with the Biltmore, said the resort is offering Arizonans who spend two nights a special Phoenix Zoo package.

“By offering something special to our fellow Arizonans only, we are celebrating our historic resort’s special connection to the state and its residents as well as the leading role the Arizona Biltmore played in launching the state’s travel and hospitality industry,” said Andrew Stegen, general manager of the Biltmore.

AAA Arizona points out that a trip to San Diego – a common summer destination for Phoenix residents – will cost at least $31 more than it did a year ago, just for the gasoline.

To make up for the added cost of gasoline, AAA recommends that travelers stay closer to home.

“Travelers looking to escape the daily grind do not have to go very far. As a result of record high gas prices, several resorts across the state are offering discounted rates, daily food and beverage vouchers as well as discounts on other amenities such as spa services and golf.”

More than pools

If there is one thing a visitor can count on at a local resort, it is that the grounds and the swimming pool – or pools – will be maintained immaculately.

But in 110 degree heat, swimming is not the only thing people may want to do. Some resorts tout other activities, some promote their proximity to shopping, others focus on fine dining.

Here is a list of summer promotions at several of the resorts in Phoenix and northeast Phoenix:

Arizona Biltmore

2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix

800-950-0086

• Rates starting at $169 a night.

• Dining credit of $50 a day.

• Increased activities, including wine tastings, marshmallow roasts and dive-in movies. Kids Korral summer activities include supervised sports, games, arts and crafts. Biltmore Junior Summer Camp offers tennis lessons.

• Starry Safari Package for Arizona residents. Besides its normal amenities, the Biltmore will give away complimentary tickets to Friday night activities at the Phoenix Zoo to state residents who spend two nights at the storied resort.

Westin Kierland

6902 E. Greenway Parkway, Phoenix

480-624-1356

• Summer Escape Package starts at $199 a night.

• Guests receive a $50 “fun” credit.

• Parties themed to big movie releases.

• Golf specials including second round for half off.

• Every evening at sunset, families are encouraged to gather around for bagpipe music.

• Kids cooking program, numerous other activities for children and teens.

J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort

5350 E. Marriott Drive, Phoenix

480-293-5000

• Rates start at $229 for family fun sleepover package; numerous other packages available at discounted rates for summer.

• Kids activities for additional fee.

• Dive-in movies offered weekly.

• Golf and cooking class packages offered twice during summer.

Pointe Hilton Resorts

Squaw Peak

7677 N. 16th St., Phoenix

602-997-2626 and

Tapatio Cliffs

11111 N. Seventh St., Phoenix

602-866-7500

• Rates start at $99 a night.

• Renovations recently completed at both resorts.

• Summer Splash Savings Pass provides discounts to hotel guests.

• Pool movies.

Arizona Grand Resort

8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway, Phoenix

(Baseline Road and Interstate 10)

602-438-9000

Rates start at $229 a night.

Summer Splash Staycation includes $50 dining credit, kids perks and golf and spa discounts.

Other packages promote golf, a girls weekend and romance.

Phoenician Resort

6000 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix

480-941-8200

Rates start at $259 a night.

Love Your Family package offers resort credits, as well as children’s activities and adult relaxation.

Kids receive gifts, free soft drinks and free dining with a paying adult, while parents get a Parents Night Out meal.
Full Article

 Arizona Resorts/ Arizona Travel Deals / Arizona Golf / Spas in AZ

Locals staying home ease Arizona’s tourism losses

The Arizona Grand Resort‘s sprawling water park attracts throngs of local residents.

Every year for the past few years, Ashley Cornils and her fiance have headed out of town over the Fourth of July, cooling off in San Diego, Colorado or Seattle.
They wanted to go back to San Diego again this year, to their favorite Marriott near Seaport Village, but instead will venture up Interstate 17 to Prescott or Flagstaff.
“When we were talking about this weekend this time around, we were figuring it was going to cost $1,000 for a three-day trip,” said Cornils, 32, a Scottsdale banker. “It’s expensive to drive out to California.”

Staying closer to home is the major item on many vacationers’ itineraries this summer. Record gas prices, higher airfares, the limp economy and sour stock market have sliced into travel budgets, disappointing some travelers — but delivering a welcome lift to the local tourism industry.

Scottsdale is the new San Diego for some, and travelers who used to make the White Mountains a pit stop on the way to Colorado or Utah are plunking down there and staying.
The increase in local visitors, fueled in part by heavy marketing efforts, helps hotels, restaurants and attractions offset the loss of business from penny-pinching travelers in California and elsewhere who are themselves staying close to home.

In metro Phoenix, the extra local business provides a lift in the always-challenging summer season, one made even more difficult this year by the weak economy.
“The economic downturn,” said Richard Behr, managing director of the Arizona Grand Resort, “in a strange way has been a little bit of a windfall for us.”

The 640-room resort always attracts throngs of local residents drawn to its sprawling water park. This year, the number of Arizona license plates in the parking lot has surged.
In June, nearly half the resort’s guests were from Arizona, a 72% increase from a year earlier, Behr said.

“More people, I think, are choosing not to go to SeaWorld and Disneyland because of gas and because of airfares,” he said.

The Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort in Phoenix, another family favorite for its water park, has also seen a surge in local guests snatching up two-room suites that start at $99 a night.

Most years, about half the Pointe’s summer guests are local. This year, the figure is up to about 70%, General Manager Teri Agosta said.
Even better for the resort: They are frequenting its restaurants and spa.

“If they don’t travel as far, they’re not spending that dollar on the airline, so they might spend half of it (the savings) in the resort,” Agosta said.

At the trendy Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, the percentage of local business has topped 70% already, up from the mid-60s the past two summers.
At the same time, business from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas, usually big feeder markets given summer rates that start at $99 a night, is down.

“They don’t want to drive here anymore,” said Jesse Thompson, Valley Ho director of sales and marketing.

At the other end of the spectrum, some metro Phoenix resorts, luxurious as they may be, are seeing a lift from vacationers trading down from pricier, far-flung destinations.

Northern Californians Bruce and Rhonda Prothro are stayed with their two children at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Phoenix because airfare to Hawaii was too expensive. They used frequent-flier miles to get here and timeshare points for the room. They rented a small car to save on gas.
Bruce has been taking advantage of bargain-basement golf — three rounds for the price of one in peak season — and the family has been treating itself to nice dinners.

“It allows you to do more because you can stretch your buck,” Bruce Prothro said.

Overall, the Westin Kierland has seen many more Phoenix residents than out-of-towners hanging around its pools and roasting s’mores at the fire pit. Business-wise, it basically becomes a wash, Westin spokeswoman Stephanie Dowling said, because the resort is seeing fewer guests from San Diego, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.

However, the boost in local business isn’t enough to offset the broader impact of the weak economy and other trouble spots the industry has been struggling with this year.

Overall hotel and resort occupancy in greater Phoenix was down nearly 12% from a year earlier in June, compared with a nationwide decline of about 4%, according to preliminary statistics from Smith Travel Research.
“I’m not going to say we’re seeing growth (from last year),” Arizona Grand’s Behr said. “I would say we’re fairly flat.”

Northern Arizona is also seeing an influx of locals who are looking to beat the heat but avoid high travel costs.

“We’re getting the people who normally go to Colorado or Utah,” said Beverly Stepp, executive director of the Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber of Commerce. “Our visitor counts have gone up, and people are staying longer.”

Full Article

Arizona Resorts/ Arizona Travel Deals / Arizona Golf / Spas in AZ

Scottsdale AZ Day Spas / Phoenix AZ Day Spas / Arizona Spas

It’s a dry heat: Arizona in summer

Visiting Arizona in the off-season makes more sense than you might think — once you get past the 37 C t

Sure, it’s too hot to hike in the desert at noon. But it’s a good chance to take a spa or shopping vacation without the crowds, and stay in a luxury resort at dramatically reduced room rates.

When it’s hot, you can still go for spa treatments, try sunrise or sunset golfing, and make reservations for fine dining. You can take an air-conditioned rental car to an air-conditioned shopping area. You can take a Hummer tour of the desert at night — with night vision goggles. And of course, nightlife happens when the sun goes down.

If you stay in a resort like the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, you can spend the heat of the day poolside, enjoying Evian spritzes and chilled towels in the shade of a cabana.
“June is possibly the best month to visit,” says Kim Cole, director of public relations at the Four Seasons. “Rates drop so significantly.”

A luxury, one-bedroom casita with private plunge pool that rents for $1,800 a night in high season drops to $900 in the summer (June 1 to Sept. 6). If that’s a bit jaw-dropping, how about a standard casita, $595 in high season, dropping to $225 in summer.

Families on a tight budget might want to go a little more basic. The Comfort Inn Scottsdale, for example, offers a family fun package that starts at $79 per night and includes in-room pizza, complimentary breakfasts and shuttle service to nearby attractions such as theatres, shopping, bowling and the CrackerJax family fun park.

The all-pervasive air conditioning in Scottsdale means you can enjoy any indoor activity in comfort. Shopping centres, stores in shaded outdoor shopping areas, luxury spas, restaurants, the Su Vino Winery, museums (check out the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, the Phoenix Art Museum or the Pueblo Grande Museum & Archaeological Park) — just get to them in your air-conditioned car.

Take an early morning walk through the Desert Botanical Garden at night, when the Garden offers after-dark Flashlight Tours.

You can even rock climb — indoor, at AZ on the Rocks.
As for those daytime hikes? No reason you can’t still fit them in.
“You just have to be willing to get up at the crack of dawn,” says Laura McMurchie, vice-president of communications at the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau. “You can do jeep tours, (hot air) balloon tours, golfing, all of it. You just have to be willing to adjust your schedule a bit.”

If you go

Where to Stay: For summer packages at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North (including desert romance, unlimited golf, summer spa and shopping packages)

Special Offer from Starwood Hotels & Resorts:
$239 & up — Family Package at Arizona Resorts w/$100 Credit*
Arizona
Travel dates: Through Dec. 30
We found a resort package from Starwood that’s perfect for family vacations to Arizona. Book the Family Fun Package for stays through Dec. 30, and receive a $100 daily resort credit, FREE meals for kids under 5, half off meals for kids 6-12 and a ton of other incentives! The rates vary throughout the travel period, but all of the valuable extras are what makes this a great deal.

The Phoenician: $279-$499 per night (Best rates available July & Aug.)

Special Offer from Starwood Hotels & Resorts:
$239 & up — Family Package at Arizona Resorts w/$100 Credit*
Arizona
Travel dates: Through Dec. 30
We found a resort package from Starwood that’s perfect for family vacations to Arizona. Book the Family Fun Package for stays through Dec. 30, and receive a $100 daily resort credit, FREE meals for kids under 5, half off meals for kids 6-12 and a ton of other incentives! The rates vary throughout the travel period, but all of the valuable extras are what makes this a great deal.

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa: $254-$349 per night (Best rates available July & Aug.)

Special Offer from Starwood Hotels & Resorts:
$239 & up — Family Package at Arizona Resorts w/$100 Credit*
Arizona
Travel dates: Through Dec. 30
We found a resort package from Starwood that’s perfect for family vacations to Arizona. Book the Family Fun Package for stays through Dec. 30, and receive a $100 daily resort credit, FREE meals for kids under 5, half off meals for kids 6-12 and a ton of other incentives! The rates vary throughout the travel period, but all of the valuable extras are what makes this a great deal.

Sheraton Wild Horse Pass $269-$499 per night (Best rates available July & Aug.)
Special Offer from Starwood Hotels & Resorts:
$239 & up — Family Package at Arizona Resorts w/$100 Credit*
Arizona
Travel dates: Through Dec. 30
We found a resort package from Starwood that’s perfect for family vacations to Arizona. Book the Family Fun Package for stays through Dec. 30, and receive a $100 daily resort credit, FREE meals for kids under 5, half off meals for kids 6-12 and a ton of other incentives! The rates vary throughout the travel period, but all of the valuable extras are what makes this a great deal.

The Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa: $239-$349 per night (Best rates available July & Aug.)
A Traveler’s Dozen: 12 Sizzling Summer Deals
Everything the Frugal Traveler Needs — Steals and Deals on Hotels, Spas, Meals & More
Location! Location! Location! It just makes sense that some of this year’s hottest summer specials are in destinations where prices drop dramatically when the temperatures climb. So, if you’re searching for some red hot deals at first-class resorts, check out this list of summer sizzlers where you can vacation like a rock star on a school teacher’s salary.

PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE
The Valley of the Sun is the perfect summer destination if you want a five-star experience for a fraction of the usual price. The Phoenix/Scottsdale area is known for some of the top resorts in the country, and the summer months bring some sensational specials.

OK, sure it’s hot here in the summer, it’s the desert, but remember, it’s a “dry” heat and 100 degrees in Arizona with very little humidity can feel better than 80 degrees in Florida where there’s so much moisture in the air, you’re soaking wet as soon as you walk out the door.
Traditionally a winter hotspot, the Phoenix/Scottsdale area goes all out to attract summer visitors, offering everything from dining deals to resort prices that, in some cases, are slashed by more than 75 percent.

Some other award-wining resorts to check out that are also offering summer savings include:
•Royal Palms Hotel
•The Phoenician
•Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Gainey Ranch
•JW Marriot Desert Ridge
•The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
•The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
•Camelback Inn