Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun - American Southwest - page 417

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Maricopa and Pima tribes, who go out of their way to share their culture with resort
guests. Guest rooms have great beds, small patios, and large bathrooms. The menu in
Kai, the main dining room, focuses on indigenous Southwestern flavors.
5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler, AZ 85226. & 888/218-8989 or 602/225-0100. Fax 602/225-
0300. www.wildhorsepassresort.com. 500 units. Early Jan to late May $329-$495 double, $650-$1,400
suite; late May to mid-Sept $189-$289 double, $600-$950 suite; mid-Sept to early Jan $289-$495 dou-
ble, $650-$1,400 suite. Children 17 and under stay free in parent's room. AE, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking
$18. Pets accepted. Amenities: 6 restaurants; 4 lounges; concierge; 2 18-hole golf courses; health club; 5
Jacuzzis; 4 outdoor pools; room service; full-service spa; 2 tennis courts. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer,
Internet, minibar.
Expensive
The Buttes, A Marriott Resort Just 3 miles from Sky Harbor Airport, this
resort makes the most of its craggy hilltop location, and although some people complain
that the nearby freeway ruins the view, the rocky setting is quintessentially Southwestern.
The only other resorts in the area with as much desert character are the far more expen-
sive Boulders and Four Seasons. From the cactus garden and waterfall inside the lobby to
the circular restaurant and free-form swimming pools, this resort is calculated to take
your breath away. Guest rooms are stylishly elegant. The city-view rooms are a bit larger
than the hillside-view rooms, but second-floor hillside-view rooms have patios. Unfortu-
nately, most bathrooms have only three-quarter-size tubs. The Top of the Rock restaurant
has great views.
2000 Westcourt Way, Tempe, AZ 85282. & 888/867-7492 or 602/225-9000. Fax [phone]. www.
marriott.com/phxtm. 353 units. Jan to mid-Apr $179-$329 double, from $475 suite; mid-Apr to mid-May
$149-$289 double, from $475 suite; mid-May to early Sept $99-$199 double, from $375 suite; early Sept
to Dec $149-$279 double, from $475 suite. Children 18 and under stay free in parent's room. AE, DC,
DISC, MC, V. Parking $10. Amenities: 3 restaurants; 3 lounges; babysitting; concierge; exercise room; 4
Jacuzzis; 2 pools; room service; full-service spa; 2 tennis courts. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer, minibar,
Wi-Fi.
Moderate
Clarendon Hotel & Suites Finds If you're looking for a stylish yet casual place
in downtown Phoenix, the Clarendon is a great choice. Having had an extreme make-
over, it's now a hip hangout for young, style-conscious travelers and attracts a surprising
number of celebrities. Guest rooms are done in a sort of budget contemporary that will
appeal to young and artistic travelers. In the hotel's central courtyard, there's a 50-person
hot tub and a gorgeous pool with gold- and platinum-coated tiles, dozens of fountains
that spray water into the pool, and underwater speakers. Definitely a see-and-be-seen
pool scene. The restaurant and cocktail bar are designed to appeal to young nightclubbers
and fashionistas, and there's a rooftop lounge for sunset cocktails.
401 W. Clarendon Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85013. & 602/252-7363. Fax [phone]. www.goclarendon.
com. 105 units. Oct-May $109-$399 double; June-Sept $89-$199 double. Children 17 and under stay
free in parent's room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Pets accepted ($50 fee). Amenities: Restaurant; lounge; con-
cierge; exercise room & access to nearby health club; Jacuzzi; room service. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair
dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi.

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Inexpensive
Grace Inn Value Located just off I-17 about 15 minutes south of Sky Harbor Air-
port, this older high-rise hotel is slowly undergoing a renovation, and while the new
rooms are definitely worth requesting, the older rooms are a great value for the Phoenix
area. The location is convenient to South Mountain Park and Rawhide, which makes the