Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun - American Southwest - page 418

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Grace Inn a good bet for a budget family vacation. The hotel is also popular with fans of
the Los Angeles Angels, who have their spring-training facility at the nearby Tempe
Diablo Stadium. Be sure to check the hotel's website for hot deals.
10831 S. 51st St., Phoenix, AZ 85044. & 800/843-6010 or 480/893-3000. Fax [phone]. www.grace
inn.com. 160 units. $59-$259 double; $99-$299 suite. Children 17 and under stay free in parent's room.
AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; lounge; access to nearby health club; Jacuzzi; outdoor pool;
room service; small spa; 2 tennis courts. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair dryer, Internet.
TEMPE, MESA & THE EAST VALLEY
Tempe, which lies just a few miles east of the airport, is home to Arizona State University
and consequently supports a lively nightlife scene. Along Tempe's Mill Avenue, you'll
find one of the only neighborhoods in the Valley where locals actually get out of their
cars and walk the streets. Tempe is also convenient to Papago Park, which is home to the
Phoenix Zoo, the Desert Botanical Garden, a municipal golf course, and hiking and
mountain-biking trails.
Expensive
Tempe Mission Palms Hotel With a great location on Tempe's lively Mill Ave-
nue and guest rooms decorated in a wild combination of bold colors and modern geo-
metric patterns, this is the perfect choice for a fun-filled weekend in Tempe. Sure, this is
a business hotel (ergonomic desk chairs), but with a rooftop pool, tennis court, and Mill
Avenue's nightlife right out the front door, it's also a great choice for active travelers.
Come in the spring and you won't want to leave the courtyard, which is scented by the
flowers of citrus trees.
60 E. Fifth St., Tempe, AZ 85281. & 800/547-8705 or 480/894-1400. Fax [phone]. www.mission
palms.com. 303 units. Jan-Apr $199-$299 double, $399 suite; May-June $139-$179 double, $279 suite;
July-Aug $99-$169 double, $269 suite; Sept-Dec $159-$229 double, $339 suite. Rates do not include
$11 daily hospitality fee. Children 17 and under stay free in parent's room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Pets
accepted ($100 deposit, $25 fee). Amenities: 2 restaurants; 2 lounges; bikes; concierge; exercise room &
access to nearby health club; 2 Jacuzzis; outdoor pool; room service; tennis court. In room: A/C, TV, hair
dryer, Wi-Fi.

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Moderate
Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort Built in 1912, the San Marcos is the
oldest golf resort in Arizona and has a classic mission-revival styling. I love the timeless
feel of this resort's palm-shaded courtyards, and I'm sure you will, too. Guest rooms are
simply furnished, nothing special, but they have been kept up-to-date. You'll want to
spend your time splashing around in the pool when you aren't playing tennis or golf.
Downtown Chandler, where the San Marcos is located, has been undergoing a renais-
sance in recent years. There are now art galleries and some decent restaurants on the plaza
just outside the resort's front door. Although the San Marcos is out of the tourist main-
stream, the rates make it a real bargain.
One San Marcos Place, Chandler, AZ 85225. & 800/528-8071 or 480/812-0900. Fax [phone]. www.
sanmarcosresort.com. 295 units. $100-$190 double; $136-$240 suite (lower rates in summer). Children
17 and under stay free in parent's room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Pets accepted ($50 fee). Amenities: 2 res-
taurants; 2 lounges; concierge; exercise room; 18-hole golf course; Jacuzzi; outdoor pool; room service; 2
tennis courts. In room: A/C, TV, CD player, hair dryer, Internet.
Gold Canyon Golf Resort Value Golfers willing to stay way out on the eastern
outskirts of the Valley of the Sun (a 30- to 45-min. drive from the airport) will be thrilled
by the economical room rates and great golf at this resort. At the foot of the Superstition