Best HistoricBiltmore District · Since 1929 · Frank Lloyd Wright–Influenced · 39 Acres · 8 Pools · Birthplace of the Tequila Sunrise
The Jewel of the Desert — a Frank Lloyd Wright–influenced Art Deco landmark that has operated continuously since 1929, hosted every US president, welcomed Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Fred Astaire, and remains the defining historic and architecturally beautiful resort in Arizona, now fully renovated as an LXR property with 8 pools, two golf courses, and the Wright Bar where the Tequila Sunrise was invented.
1929Frank Lloyd WrightArt Deco8 PoolsTequila Sunrise Birthplace
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Best New OpeningCamelback Corridor · Opened 2023 · Sam Fox · Five Restaurants · Most Exciting New Hotel in Phoenix
A polished Arcadia luxury hotel built around restaurants, wellness, and rooftop Camelback Mountain views. It suits travelers who value dining and a social club atmosphere more than a sprawling destination-resort campus.
Sam FoxOpened 2023Five RestaurantsThéaCamelback Mountain Views
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Best BoutiqueCamelback Corridor · 1929 Spanish Colonial Estate · T. Cook's Restaurant · Historic Hotels of America
The premier romantic resort in Phoenix — a 1929 Spanish Colonial estate among citrus groves at the base of Camelback Mountain, with walled gardens, stone walkways, antique water fountains, and the intimate character of a property that was built as a private home and has never lost that feeling.
1929Spanish ColonialRomanticHistoricT. Cook's
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Best SpaNorth Scottsdale · 210 Casitas · Desert Resort
A full-scale luxury resort in the high Sonoran Desert at the base of Pinnacle Peak — Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North is the premier luxury resort in the Scottsdale area, with 210 casita-style rooms, a world-class spa, three pools, and the Talavera restaurant for upscale Southwestern cuisine. The North Scottsdale desert setting provides immediate access to hiking and Troon North's championship golf courses. Best for guests who want maximum resort immersion and don't mind being 35 minutes from downtown Phoenix.
North ScottsdaleLuxury ResortDesertGolf
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Best OverallCamelback Mountain · Nine Pools
A landmark 645-room resort at the base of Camelback Mountain in central Scottsdale — The Phoenician is the closest major luxury resort to the Biltmore/Arcadia corridor, with nine pools, a spa, multiple restaurants, and the Camelback setting that gives every room a mountain backdrop. The grounds are beautifully maintained with a cactus garden and extensive native planting. A Marriott Luxury Collection property; strong for families and groups wanting resort scale with access to both Phoenix and Scottsdale dining.
CamelbackLuxury ResortFamilyGolf
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Best LuxuryNorth Scottsdale · Family Resort
A 750-room resort in North Scottsdale that operates as a complete self-contained destination — five pools (including a lazy river and waterslide complex), the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course (home of the Waste Management Phoenix Open), an extensive spa, and multiple dining options. The scale and family amenities make it the strongest choice for families and large groups; the on-site everything approach means guests rarely need to leave the property.
North ScottsdaleFamily ResortGolfPools
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Best for FamiliesGainey Ranch · Ten-Pool Complex
A fully renovated Gainey Ranch resort with a large pool complex, waterslide, spa, multiple restaurants, and access to golf. Formerly the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale, it reopened under the Grand Hyatt name after a major 2024 transformation.
Gainey RanchFamily ResortPoolsDining
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Best Design HotelParadise Valley · Mid-Century Modern · Design Resort
A mid-century modern resort at the base of Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley — Mountain Shadows is the leading design-forward resort in the Scottsdale area, with clean lines, a short-game golf course (the Camelback Golf Club's 18-hole par-56 layout), and a pool scene that leans social and stylish rather than family-resort. The Hearth '61 restaurant is one of the stronger hotel dining rooms in the area. Well-positioned between Old Town and the upscale dining of Paradise Valley.
Paradise ValleyDesignMid-CenturyGolf
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Best for CouplesParadise Valley · Since 1936 · 453 Casitas
A Scottsdale landmark since 1936 — the Camelback Inn occupies 125 acres of Sonoran Desert beneath Mummy Mountain in Paradise Valley, with 453 casita-style rooms including wood-burning fireplaces, three pools, two championship golf courses, and the Forbes Five-Star Spa at Camelback Inn. The setting and the casita format give it a more authentically desert feel than many newer Scottsdale properties. A strong choice for guests who want the classic Arizona resort experience with Marriott Bonvoy points benefits.
Paradise ValleyClassic ResortSpaGolf
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Best LocationParadise Valley · Andalusian Design · Camelback Views
A Spanish-Moorish resort set at the base of Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley — the Montelucia's architecture and landscaping draw on Andalusian design, with seven pools, an award-winning Joya Spa, and the Prado restaurant for upscale Mediterranean dining. The Camelback Mountain views from the pool terrace are among the best of any Scottsdale resort. A quieter and more intimate alternative to the larger north Scottsdale convention resorts.
Paradise ValleySpaMediterraneanMountain Views
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Best ValueCarefree · 1,300 Acres · Desert Wilderness
A 1,300-acre resort in far north Scottsdale (Carefree) set among 12-million-year-old boulder formations — the Boulders is the furthest-flung of the Scottsdale area resorts, with Southwestern adobe casitas, two Jay Morrish-designed championship golf courses, a 33,000-square-foot spa, four pools, and on-site activities including rock climbing and cooking classes. Best for guests who want dramatic desert scenery and seclusion over proximity to Old Town.
CarefreeDesertGolfWilderness
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Best DowntownOld Town · Social Scene · Giada Restaurants
The leading social and scene-driven hotel in Old Town Scottsdale — the W occupies a prime position steps from the bars, galleries, and restaurants of the main entertainment district. The WET pool deck is one of the liveliest day-party venues in the city; the rooms are bold and design-forward. Giada De Laurentiis operates two on-site restaurants. ideal for guests who want nightlife access and Old Town energy rather than a resort experience.
Old TownNightlifePool SceneDesign
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