Poolside's take on Scottsdale
Read the cards, not the badges, in Scottsdale. Sheraton Desert Oasis Villas, Scottsdale, Best Western Plus Sundial, Parkview Scottsdale Resort top the Aura table from both camps, and the room name separates them better than the brand does. The market's instinct is the bedroom tub (9 of 17), and ours matches it. The soak as part of the room beats the soak behind a bathroom door. The median stay lists from $145, and in Scottsdale the smart spend sits near that line. The top of the ladder buys polish, not better water.
And the honest skip: Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale North/Perimeter Center. It posts the lowest Aura on this page, 65 (Mellow), with lists from $83 against a $145 page median, no guest score on file yet, a bathroom tub. The tub is real and the room name on its card is bookable; the value case is what is missing. Take it when the top of this page is sold out, not before.
Every stay in Scottsdale, called
Sheraton Desert Oasis Villas, Scottsdale (Aura 89, Serene). An easy yes: guests score it 9/10 across 1,711 reviews; lists from $145; the tub sits in the bedroom, soak-as-centerpiece format.
Book with confidence: Best Western Plus Sundial. Aura 87 (Serene), and the record is the tub sits in the bedroom, soak-as-centerpiece format; book the King Suite with Spa Bath; guests score it 8.8/10 across 927 reviews.
Quietly excellent: Parkview Scottsdale Resort (Aura 82, Serene). book the Deluxe King Whirlpool Room; guests score it 8/10 across 2,005 reviews; lists from $89, comfortably under the $145 page median.
A fair deal: The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale. Aura 78 (Warm), and the record is book the Presidential Suite with Fireplace and Spa Bath; no guest score on file yet, so the room record carries this one; lists from $922, near the top of the local ladder.
BOHO Scottsdale Oasis Getaway (Aura 78, Warm). A sound pick: lists from $550, near the top of the local ladder; the tub sits in the bathroom, a closed-door deep soak; no guest score on file yet, so the room record carries this one.
The Rocks Luxury Residence Club: A fair deal. Aura 78 (Warm): lists from $1,885, near the top of the local ladder; the tub sits in the bedroom, soak-as-centerpiece format; no guest score on file yet, so the room record carries this one.
Orange Tree Resort (Aura 78, Warm). A fair deal: book the Suite One Bedroom with Kitchenette and Spa Tub; no guest score on file yet, so the room record carries this one; lists from $799, near the top of the local ladder.
Kimpton Miralina Resort And Villas by IHG (Aura 76, Warm). Better than its billing: the tub sits in the bathroom, a closed-door deep soak; book the Suite with Jetted bathtub in master bathroom; no guest score on file yet, so the room record carries this one.
A sound pick: The Westin Kierland Villas, Scottsdale. Aura 76 (Warm), and the record is the tub sits in the bedroom, soak-as-centerpiece format; book the Premium Villa with One Bedroom and Jetted Tub; no guest score on file yet, so the room record carries this one.
Book it clear-eyed: Hilton Vacation Club Scottsdale Villa Mirage (Aura 73, Mellow). book the One Bedroom King Suite with Jetted Bathtub; no guest score on file yet, so the room record carries this one; lists from $113, comfortably under the $145 page median.
Serviceable, not special: Scottsdale Camelback Resort. Aura 73 (Mellow), and the record is book the Deluxe Two Bedroom Villa with Terrace and Jetted Bathtub Madeira; no guest score on file yet, so the room record carries this one; lists from $148.
Know the trade-offs before you book: The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (Aura 72, Mellow). lists from $246, near the top of the local ladder; the tub sits in the bedroom, soak-as-centerpiece format; book the Presidential Suite with One Bedroom and Spa Tub.
Holiday Inn & Suites Scottsdale North – Airpark by IHG (Aura 69, Mellow). Fine when the price behaves: the tub sits in the bathroom, a closed-door deep soak; book the Standard Room with King Bed and Jetted Tub; no guest score on file yet, so the room record carries this one.
Holiday Inn Express Scottsdale North, an IHG Hotel (Aura 69, Mellow). Book it clear-eyed: book the 1 Bedroom Suite with Extra Floor Space and Whirlpool; no guest score on file yet, so the room record carries this one; lists from $92, comfortably under the $145 page median.
Best Western Plus Scottsdale Thunderbird Suites: Serviceable, not special. Aura 69 (Mellow): the tub sits in the bathroom, a closed-door deep soak; book the Double Beds Suite with Spa Bath; no guest score on file yet, so the room record carries this one.
Scottsdale Parkview Hotel (Aura 66, Mellow). Book it clear-eyed: book the Deluxe Room with Jetted Tub; no guest score on file yet, so the room record carries this one; lists from $52, comfortably under the $145 page median.
Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale North/Perimeter Center (Aura 65, Mellow). Fine when the price behaves: lists from $83, comfortably under the $145 page median; the tub sits in the bathroom, a closed-door deep soak; book the Suite with King Bed and Spa Tub.
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