City: Scottsdale, AZ

Category: Accommodations

Telephone: (480) 585-4848, (866) 540-4495

Address: 7575 E. Princess Dr.

Insider Pick:

Description: The Princess was built to resemble a Mexican colonial estate, with lots of arched openings, balconies, railings, and red-tiled roofs. Its terra-cotta color complements the beautiful view of the McDowell Mountains. The Princess is on 450 acres that are now in the heart of north Scottsdale and has about 649 guestrooms, suites, casitas, and villas. Some rooms are like luxury apartments that provide guests with more than 2,000 square feet of space. The resort also has a massive and opulent hotel ballroom, making it a popular place for lavish business conferences. La Hacienda, the resort’s much-heralded gourmet Mexican restaurant, and Bourbon Steak, which is led by award-winning chef Michael Mira, are both culinary destinations.Golf is the big draw here. Guests gravitate to the Princess first for the annual Waste Management Phoenix Open, which is hosted for a week every winter at the nearby Tournament Players Club course. The resort is also equipped to host major pro tennis tournaments on its 7 courts, including a stadium court. Other opportunities for recreation include 5 swimming pools, sand/water volleyball, and a fitness trail. Besides La Hacienda and Bourbon Steak, the resort has The Grill steakhouse, the LV Bistro, and a tapas bar. Shopping is also taken care of, with boutiques carrying sports clothing and other fashions, Southwestern gifts, and Indian jewelry. You can work off calories in the state-of-the-art fitness center, take a dip in the rooftop pool, and then indulge in a massage or a session of aromatherapy. On the grounds of the Princess are several distinct gardens. Enjoy 2 cactus gardens, a plaza with 300 decorated pots, and a fragrance garden with jasmine, orchid trees, and citrus trees. All rooms have terraces, wet bars, refrigerators, and oversize bathrooms. The 119 casitas are grouped near the tennis courts, while the 72 villas are on the opposite end. Families can take advantage of the Kids Club, which offers supervised activities for kids 5 to 12 daily.