Originally Posted by
mileshound
...Phoenix looks like it has more bars (hard rock, hooters, sports bars) vs. Old Town which has more clubs. We are older and more relaxed so downtown may be better. We are not the clubbing type, plus I'd be in bed by the time they start rocking.
This is a misapprehension.
Old Town Scottsdale does have some hip clubs on the southeast quarter of the Scottsdale Road / Camelback Road intersection, but it has about seven times as many bars, restaurants, tapas places, sushi-yas, etc. in the Zona Turistika between Camelback and Indian School.
Downtown Phoenix is not comparable to this Old Town section of Scottsdale, it is more on par with the Scottsdale Road / Shea Blvd area of Scottsdale when it comes to sports bars, dance halls, etc. That is to say, Old Town has a much larger number of venues to eat, drink, stroll, look at art, etc. than anywhere else in the valley.
And if you want to use IHG points, the Doubletree on Scottsdale Road between Chaparral and McDonald is within easy walking / stumbling distance of Old Town.