Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun - American Southwest - page 419

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Mountains, Gold Canyon is a favorite of golfers for its exceedingly scenic holes. The
spacious guest rooms are housed in blindingly white pueblo-inspired buildings; some
have fireplaces, while others have whirlpools. The deluxe golf-course rooms are definitely
worth the higher rates. If you're here primarily to play golf and don't have a fortune to
spend, this is the place to stay.
6100 S. Kings Ranch Rd., Gold Canyon, AZ 85218. & 800/827-5281 or 480/982-9090. Fax [phone].
www.gcgr.com. 85 units. $135-$260 double. Children 15 and under stay free in parent's room. AE, DC,
DISC, MC, V. Pets accepted ($75 fee). Amenities: 2 restaurants; lounge; bikes; seasonal children's pro-
grams; concierge; exercise room; 2 18-hole golf courses; Jacuzzi; pool; small full-service spa. In room: A/C,
TV, hair dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi.
Inexpensive
Apache Boulevard in Tempe becomes Main Street in Mesa, and along this stretch of road
there are numerous old motels charging some of the lowest rates in the Valley. However,
these motels are very hit-or-miss. If you're used to staying at nonchain motels, you might
want to cruise this strip and check out a few places. Otherwise, try the chain motels in
the area (which tend to charge $20-$40 more per night than nonchain motels).
Best Western Dobson Ranch Inn & Resort This aging budget resort may not be
very luxurious, but it has just about everything a sun-starved winter visitor could ask
for—green lawns, flower gardens, palm trees, and a big pool surrounded by lounge
chairs. The location, right off US 60 at the junction with US 101, also makes this resort
relatively convenient for exploring the Valley. Guest rooms were redone in 2009 and are
looking quite modern, although they are more functional than fancy, but the grounds
more than make up for the unremarkable rooms.
1666 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa, AZ 85202. & 800/528-1356 or 480/831-7000. Fax [phone]. www.dobson
ranchinn.com. 213 units. $70-$150 double. Rates include full breakfast. Children 12 and under stay free
in parent's room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; lounge; exercise room; 2 Jacuzzis; large
outdoor pool; room service. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair dryer, Internet.
Fiesta Resort Conference Center Value Reasonable rates, green lawns, palm-
and eucalyptus-shaded grounds, and a location close to the airport, ASU, and Tempe's
Mill Avenue make this older, casual resort one of the best deals in the Valley. Okay, so it
doesn't have the desert character of the Buttes resort across the freeway, and it isn't as
stylish as the resorts in Scottsdale, but you can't argue with the rates. The large guest
rooms have all been recently redone with pillow-top mattresses. You may not feel like
you're in the desert when you stay here (due to the lawns and shade trees), but you'll
certainly get a lot more for your money than at other area hotels in this price range.
2100 S. Priest Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282. & 800/528-6481 or 480/967-1441. Fax [phone]. www.fiestainn
resort.com. 270 units. Jan-Apr $140-$221 double; May-Dec $120-$150 double. Children 17 and under
stay free in parent's room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Amenities: 2 restaurants; lounge; free airport transfer;
concierge; exercise room; Jacuzzi; pool; room service. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair dryer, Wi-Fi.
WEST VALLEY
The Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa Located 20 minutes west of downtown
Phoenix, this property opened its doors to the public in 1929 and remains one of the
nation's premier golf resorts. It's a classic, with old-school gentility, but when the money
all headed to Scottsdale, this place became an elegant oasis surrounded by tract houses.
Like the Arizona Biltmore and the Camelback Inn, the Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa is
an old-money sort of place, and the traditional-style golf courses are the main attractions.
Most of the guest rooms are in adobe-style buildings, surrounded by green lawns and

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