Hilton HHonors - Best resort in Arizona?

Looking to book a GLONP2 in Arizona in April. Hoping that as of Feb 1, something will be available.

If so, which would you recommend?

The four I'm aware of:

- Sedona
- Conquistador
- Tapitio Cliffs
- Squaw Creek

Originally (when I was considering Marriotts for this), I was thinking Tucson more than Phoenix. Then I noticed Tapitio as an all-suites property, which would be of interest to us. Finally, I read some great reviews for Sedona - and although it's the opposite direction from what we were originally thinking, I'd consider it if it's a worthwhile property.

Basically, we're just looking for a place with some good pools, a golf course nearby, spa, etc. Will do some day trips to the desert and such... Definitely needs to be a place that treats Golds well - not just Diamonds. An exec lounge would be ideal. Will have two kids, so a place with more space would be nice, but that's not our only consideration.

I'm assuming Biltmore would require more points...hard to tell from the site how many more points, but I suppose I'd consider it if is not an excessive premium.

I know there is a 230+ post thread about Phoenix Hiltons, but it seems to be delving into the various Hampton Inns around town - this is more of a statewide comparison of the resorts.

I have stayed at all four of these properties.

I think you need to decide where you want to go before deciding on the specific lodging. PHX, TUS, and Sedona are very different places. It's unclear if you've been to all three places yet or are still seeking input on that primary decision.

PHX as you may know is now a major, spread-out city, with all the pros and cons that go along with that.

TUS is a much smaller, quiet city, not as much going on at surface, slower pace, etc., but much less upscale. El Conquistador is way north at the far end of town. You'll have to drive all the way back into town (and the highway is way out of the way to get to) to get back into town to go eat, etc. But El Conquistador is a nice Hilton, I would definitely stay there again but only if I were planning to be in TUS at that north end anyway.

Sedona is a destination to itself, small tourist town. Sedona is a spectacular natural sight that everyone should see in his/her lifetime. Having seen it, personally, I don't really see any reason to go back. The town itself is (IMHO) kinda crappy, VERY trafficky, a one-street main drag with kitschy shops. The food choices were limited and the food not good at all. The resort was nice and in my opinion quite similar to El Conquistador.

As a Diamond I have never had an upgrade at any of these four places.

If you give some more specific input on what you're looking for, timing, how much driving you're willing to do, how much you care about dining options and other "town" amenities like restaurants, shopping, movie theaters, etc., I or others I'm sure can provide additional feedback.

SEA2BA

Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon up the way in April can have snow (I have seen the interstate closed between Sedona turnoff and Flagstaff in April due to heavy snow) so keep that in mind. It is not hot at that time of year although can be pleasant--not pool weather.

Conquistador and Tucson are my favorites. I have been upgraded to casitas but some prefer rooms overlooking pool (too noisy for me). Tucson can also get cool in April but also can be warm--luck of the draw. If it is an El Nino year then expect rain and desert flower blooms. We found some ok eats fairly close by along North Oracle so it is not an epicurean wasteland.

Phoenix more likely to be warmest in April, perhaps hot for some. Definitely pool weather possibility. Tapatio cliffs is nice, perhaps a little sprawling -- got nice upgraded suite as Diamond last time there.

Seemed a bit away from the action like all these places--but that is part of the charm.

I have only stayed at Tapatio,but have been to all the other locations.Sedona is nice,but not warm enough in my opinion.

I was very pleased with Tapatio,it is away from all the touristy areas,but is certainly accessible to everything the metro Phoenix area has to offer.

I stayed there without kids,but mine would have preferred the Phoenix area to the others in terms of recreation opportunities.

OK - great input on Sedona, thanks. I hadn't considered the possibility it might actually be cool. This is our first significant trip to Arizona (I've done short weekends in Scottsdale for golf only), and I'm definitely not looking for a snowstorm!

I love the idea of Tapatio's all-suites, but I'm seeing some reports here that it's a bit run-down and just doesn't present itself well as a top-tier resort. Did you get that sense there? Is Squaw Creek or El Conquistador particularly nicer of a property?

The only things we have planned are visiting a couple of friends who live near Phoenix and a couple who live in Tucson. Whichever city we pick for our hotel...we'll probably do 1 daytrip to the other one.

And one last thing...I'm not 100% how to explain this, but I hate going to a resort-type hotel in the slightly off-peak season and getting the feeling that the place is half shut down. I know most tourists are gone by April, and obviously I need some rooms available to get my awards, but I really hope I don't end up picking a place that closes a bunch of pools, restaurants, bars, etc. Marriotts are notorious for doing this. So "sprawling" is OK, but "sprawling and 3/4ths of the property is a ghost town" sounds kind of depressing. I hope that makes sense...maybe this is never an issue in Phoenix except in August...I don't know.

May be more points or $$$ than you want to spend, but if you are looking for the "nicest" resort in Arizona under the Hilton banner. That is it.

I have stayed at three (Squaw Peak and Sedona with family, Conquistador with just the missus) of the four properties you are considering (and lounged several times by the pool at Tapatio) from February through April with my family (wife, myself, two teens) but my family enjoyed Squaw Peak the most. Squaw Peak is an all suite property like Tapatio, and each property allows guests from the other hotel to use their pool facilities. The properties are maybe three miles apart. Have not been to the Biltmore although my guess is it would be regarded as the top of the heap by a mile. Don’t know how they treat golds or families.

I have been treated well as a Gold with upgrades to the casitas three of the four times I stayed at Squaw Peak and other golds travelling with us were upgraded as well. The sense of privacy and amount of room one gets at a casita is wonderful. You get your own private parking spot, kitchen, dining room, living room, upstairs-downstairs and a HUGE deck upstairs and a pool to share with maybe 8 other casitas. Very nice. For what it is worth, there is nothing wrong with the suites as they are basic ES style and a little worn, but if you get a casita, the stay is much better.

My wife and I were upgraded to a casita at the Conquistador but the casitas were just basic ES style suites away from the action so we moved to a regular room with a balcony and view of the mountains which was very relaxing. Would be a bit tight with kids but it is better than trekking uphill from the casitas. Tapatio is built into the side of a hill so there is a lot of trekking up and down hills and parking is a real bear there. .

At Sedona, my family was upgraded to a corner suite with fireplace and view of the red rocks. The pool area was nowhere as nice as the other three but the outside fire pit at night was a nice touch. Conquistaor had one as well. The ride downtown was bit of a pain but we found a couple decent restaurants fairly close. The other proerties are a ride as well. None of these are in the action, but SP is an easy ride to, well, the real Squaw (actually Piestawa) Peak where you can climb the mountain with the kids. Bring plenty of water and start early. You can hike Camelback as well and get to Scottsdale or downtown in 15 minutes.

For pools, the SP river ranch has it all over the others with the lazy river and basketball pool and other various pools located throughout the complex. The river ranch closes early but the other pools stay open if you are quiet. The Tapatio pools are nice, but a bit boring according to my kids. We felt very safe in letting the kids roam at all these properties.

We used the health clubs at SP and Sedona and the kids loved them. My daughter rows crew so she loved the erg machine at SP. My son was happy pumping away and access is free for golds with a smile. The missus used the spa services while we all sweated profusely. All granted gold breakfast certs without issue and you can use them for a certain amount (say $9) at the restaurants. Try the Heuvos Lantana at SP. Conquistador had the cold and hot buffet, pay for hot, same for Sedona. Standard large hotel buffet.

As for surroundings, Sedona is among the most beautiful places in the WORLD. Have loved it every time I have been – great for hiking and sight seeing. Both Sedona and Tapatio have golf courses. Played at a par 3 in Sedona for about $10 with rented clubs with a bunch of kids and adults in two foursomes. It was perfect for us to play through the red rocks and then get back to the Hilton and happy hour in the room. None of these properties has an exec lounge, so you are on your own, so get over to Safeway and load up and have your own happy hour on your casita deck at SP.

Obviously, I could go on. Save yourself some points. Both SP and Tapatio are category five hotels so you can get a GLON2 for 150,000 instead of the GLONP2 for 175,000. fwiw, you need to think hard about getting to the Grand Canyon if you go to Sedona and if you decide to do PHX, get a GLON and keep the room and drive up to Sedona and stay one night then you can return at your leisure to a waiting room. My wife thought I was crazy to do this, but in the end, it beat packing and unpacking and al that entails,

No need to worry about hotels shutting down some facilities as April in Arizona is still considered high-season, and is, IMHO, the ideal month to visit. You can't go wrong with either Tucson or Phoenix, but DO NOT miss Sedona, even if only for a day trip from Phoenix. It is breathtaking. However, if it snows there, as happened to us one April day a few years back, you may be scratching your head and saying "What red rocks?" Fortunately, it cleared up the next day, so let the weather forecast be your guide as to which day you choose for your Sedona trip. Enjoy!

When in April are you planning to come? The Scottsdale Culinary Festival is in early April this year:
http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/
I've gone probably 7 or 8 times in the 12 years I've been here, and it is a very good experience. Not sure if the kids would enjoy it but there are many people who bring kids. Many restaurants set up booths, you pay a few bucks for a sample. Kind of like Chicago's Taste (but a bit more refined).

I've been to the two Phoenix properties and the Tucson property you are looking at, for various events/dinners, but haven't been in rooms at any. The Point Hilton Squaw Peak is the closest to activities; an easy drive to the Biltmore area (shopping/restaurants), and maybe 5-10 min from the AZ51 Freeway. Personally, I think the Point South Mountain is a better property, but alas, no longer part of the Hilton family (and changed its name recently).

Let me know if you need ideas for things to do once here.

Just stayed over Memorial weekend (Friday - Tuesday). Suites were excellent as I can remember from my 1st stay at the property from April 2006. Here are some highlighted points.

Checked in early. I had a newer clerk processing me in. (Her badge didnt indicate she was in training). Didn't initially give me Diamond Welcome letter including the breakfast coupons immediately. Another clerk watching her noticed that I was Diamond and fished out the Welcome package. (no big deal). Then the "in-training" clerk mentioned that they have a "Resort Fee" for that includes access to the workout center as she slid a "Resort Fee benefit page into my key book. I informed her that I thought Diamonds always get access to the workout facility. She responded that they didn't but she would ask another clerk (the other clerk had left). She walked down and asked the "trainer clerk" whom agreed with her that I do not enjoy automatic access to the workout facility. (I thought maybe my benefits had changed - I travel and usually stay at HGIs).

Went down to the Adult pool (along with the sun, its the reason I come from Ohio) and noticed that the Right side jacuzzi isn't working. We ask the Bartender how to turn it on and he informs us that its an "Overflow pool". It was a functioning Jacuzzi in 2006.

Now here's where I get steamed.:mad: Grab coupons for the breakfast buffet Saturday morning and notice that I am a little shy of them. (Didnt review the contents of my envelope prior to leaving reception area). Sat down for breakfast and told the server we'd be having the buffet. Very nice. At the end the server presented me with a bill. (It seems that the buffet is priced at $19 and our coupons are only for the continental breakfast and worth only $13). I started to protest, but decided to defer to a manager (Every Hilton I have stayed at gives Diamonds the full buffet - within the last year I stayed at Virginia Beach, Longboat Key, Clearwater, SF). And when I was down there in April 2006 the coupons covered all.

So I trotted up to the Front Desk afterwards and met the Front Desk Director whom gave me additional coupons and after reviewing the $120 I spent at the adult pool on drinks/lunch decided to remove the charges. I also discussed with him that the 2 other Diamond couples that flew in would also need additional coupons. He corrected the problem. I then asked about the gym policy and he said absolutely that we receive access.

As I write this and am reflecting on my stay, I am wondering if their not pushing the Resort Fee to collect some extra money. All 3 of us Diamond couples received the same "Resort Fee" discussion about the workout center. We all ended up paying for an expensive breakfast the first day. There is a "Full American Breakfast" in the upper LH corner of the menu that provides 2 eggs, sausage or bacon, hash browns, toast, coffee and juice for the coupon.

Went to Sedona for one day and the termperature is markedly different (almost a 20 degree drop. We wore shorts and were cold. Currently heavy construction getting into Sedona on the streets. It's a good 6+ hour trip with the construction).

Pros
Beautiful site
Adult pool that is sans kids
Adult pool has really nice chaise lounges (huge cushions)
Drinks at "Different Point of View"
Close to Mountain Preserve to walk (its across the street)

Cons
Only Hilton to not give me FULL Buffet
Pushing "Resort Fee" for workout
Newspaper never showed up on my door in morning (thinking that its b/c I didnt get it with "Resort Fee"). They new me at the concierge station after the 2nd day.
20 minutes from Scottsdale
2nd Jacuzzi not working at Adult pool
Parking is tight around the place

Overall - I love Arizona and the nice lounges at the adult pool, however I may try SP next year, b/c I got the impression that they were trying to "nickle and dime me".

Scottsdale Picks - http://kazbar.net/ on Sunday nights. Great wine and very interesting dancing.

Hope this helps someone.