I worked at the front desk at La Paloma for a year. It is a tough choice between La Paloma and Ventana Canyon.

Ventana Canyon now has 2 seperate hotels on site. There is the orignial Loews, and now there is an all suite Wyndham. The Wyndham charges close to $20 extra per day for their resort fee. La Paloma is $11, and I am not sure about Loews.

The biggest disadvantage about La Paloma is that they are near a main road. Depending on where your room is, you may or may not notice it. At Ventana Canyon, you don't have this problem.

Though, a big plus for La Paloma is that they have finally finished their renovations, and they have the fantastic heavenly beds.

La Paloma, from what I have heard, will now only upgrade at the time of check-in. It used to be that plats. would get blocked into a suite a few days before arrival.

When you check-in, make sure you ask for the upgrade. Here are the different types of suites:

Master Suite - the size of 2 regular rooms. There is a seperate LR (with .5 ba) with a sofa-sleeper and BR (w/ full bath, including jacuzzi tub) with a king bed.

Grand Suite (aka Executive Parlor Suite) - the size of 3 regular rooms. The living room is very large with a fireplace and a queeen sized murphey bed. The bedroom can either be a room with a king bed or 2 doubles.

Resort Suite - Same size as the grand suite, though has some extra perks. No murphy bed, and the BR is only available with a king. Depending on which floor you are on, you will either have your own private hot tub on your patio, or a sauna in your bathroom. The bathtubs in these are big enough for 6. They also have really cool remote contols that control the lights & the stereo (including the speakers mounted in the walls and ceilings...).

La Paloma Suite (aka Jr Presidential) - Take the resort suite, add a dining area and a baby grand piano.

San Xavier Suite - The biggest suite, though still not renovated. Of course, not that many people stay in it, so it is not in dire need of renovation. It has a huge balcony overlooking the city.

While I was there, plats were usually upgraded no higher than the resort suite. Though if the only suite remaining was the La Paloma or San Xavier and a platinum member was arriving, they would often get it. That only happened about 1/2 a dozen times or so over the course of my year there.

Of course, along with their new 'no upgrade until check-in' policy, it is quite possible that they won't upgrade past a master suite now...

Let us know what you decide and how the stay turns out.