Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun - American Southwest - page 415

415 AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Pets accepted ($25 per night, $150 maximum). Amenities: Exercise room; Jacuzzi;

small outdoor pool. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer, kitchen, MP3 docking station, Wi-Fi.
NORTH PHOENIX
Some of the Valley's best scenery is in north Phoenix, where several small mountains have
been protected as parks and preserves; the two Pointe Hilton resorts claim great locations
close to these parks. So, if you're looking for quick access to desert trails, the resorts here
are good choices. However, the Valley's best shopping and dining, as well as most major
attractions, are all at least a 30-minute drive away.

Very Expensive
JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa This is the largest resort in the
state and it stays crowded with conference and convention groups. Because it is miles
from any other resorts, high-end shopping areas, or concentrations of good restaurants,
Desert Ridge is primarily a place to stay put and spend your days sitting in the sun drink-
ing margaritas by the pool. To this end, there are 4 acres of water features and pools
(including a tubing “river”). At the resort's grand entrance, desert landscaping and rows
of palm trees give the resort a sense of place, and the lobby's roll-up walls let plenty of
balmy desert air in during the cooler months. Guest rooms have balconies and hints of
Mediterranean styling. Be sure to ask for a room with a view to the south; these rooms
look out to several of Phoenix's mountain preserves.
5350 E. Marriott Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054. & 800/835-6206 or 480/293-5000. Fax [phone]. www.
jwdesertridgeresort.com. 950 units. Jan-Apr $449-$529 double; May to mid-June $259-$339 double;
mid-June to early Sept $199-$269 double; early Sept to late Sept $229-$389 double; Oct-Dec $409-
$529 double. Children 17 and under stay free in parent's room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $25;
self-parking $10. Amenities: 5 restaurants; 2 snack bars/cafes; 5 lounges; babysitting; bikes; children's
programs; concierge; 2 18-hole golf courses; health club; 3 Jacuzzis; 5 pools; room service; sauna; full-
service spa; 8 tennis courts. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer, Internet, minibar.

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Expensive
Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort Kids At the foot of the Phoenix Moun-
tains, this lushly landscaped resort makes a big splash with its 4-acre Hole-in-the-Wall
River Ranch aquatic playground, which features a tubing “river,” water slide, waterfall,
sports pool, and lagoon pool. An 18-hole putting course and shopping arcade also help
make it a great family-vacation spot. The resort is done in the Spanish villa style, and
most of the accommodations are large suites. For a family vacation, this place is hard to
beat. However, I prefer the nearby Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort for its dramatic
hillside setting and location adjacent to the hiking trails of the North Mountain Recre-
ation Area.
7677 N. 16th St., Phoenix, AZ 85020. & 800/876-4683 or 602/997-2626. Fax [phone]. www.pointe
hilton.com. 563 units. Jan to mid-May $169-$399 double; mid-May to mid-Sept $109-$209 double; mid-
Sept to Dec $139-$299 double, year-round $1,500 grande or palacio suite. Children 17 and under stay
free in parent's room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Pets accepted ($75 fee). Amenities: 3 restaurants; 2 snack bars;
5 lounges; babysitting; children's programs; concierge; 18-hole golf course (4 miles away by shuttle);
health club; 6 Jacuzzis; 8 pools; room service; saunas; small full-service spa; 3 tennis courts. In room: A/C,
TV, hair dryer, Internet, minibar.
Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort Value If you love to lounge by the pool,
then this resort is a great choice. The Falls, a 3 1 / 2 -acre water playground, includes two
pools, a 138-foot water slide, 40-foot cascades, a whirlpool tucked into an artificial
grotto, and rental cabanas. If you're a hiker, you can head out on the trails of the adjacent