5 Best Hotels in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe

While staying here, it's easy to imagine that you're relaxing at an oceanside resort instead of in the desert; shaded by towering palms and with manicured gardens and paths, the property has water everywhere—a large pool area has a beach, three-story waterslide, waterfalls, and a lagoon. The two-story lobby opens to outdoor conversation areas where fires burn in stone fireplaces on cool nights. Large rooms have balconies or patios. Three golf courses at nearby Gainey Ranch Golf Club will suit any duffer's fancy. Spa Avania soothes the soul, while kids get their kicks at Camp Hyatt.

Original artwork by Arizona artists is displayed throughout the public spaces of the Westin Kierland, and the spacious rooms have balconies or patios with views of the mountains or the resort's water park and tubing river. Kierland Commons, within walking distance, is a planned village of upscale specialty boutiques and restaurants. A leisure center specifically accommodates nonbusiness travelers. Kids can enjoy programs organized by age group.

Home of the Tournament Players Club Stadium golf course and the Phoenix Open, this resort covers 450 breathtakingly landscaped acres of desert. Well & Being, one of the top spa spots in the country, has a dramatic rooftop pool, and kids love the fishing pond. Rooms are done in a chic blend of contemporary styles, as are the Fairmont Gold hotel-within-a-hotel boutique rooms. Service is what you'd expect at a resort of this caliber: excellent and unobtrusive. It is also home to the acclaimed Bourbon Steak restaurant.

This hotel has a great location along the Scottsdale Road corridor, with trendy restaurants and shopping opportunities within easy walking distance, making it a comfortable, affordable, and family-friendly option. The three-story glass entryway is bright and welcoming. Rooms are utilitarian but moderately updated, clean, and include free parking and Wi-Fi.

Directly adjacent to the Gainey Village development, with boutique shopping, upscale dining, and a spa, this hotel is a rare find for both amenities and price. Floor plans vary from studios to two-bedroom suites that sleep eight, all with fully equipped kitchens and flat-panel wide-screen TVs.