Hotels & Motels in Phoenix, AZ
One thing is almost certain with any stay in Phoenix—the presence of sunshine. The Greater Phoenix area is one of the largest cities in the USA and arguably its sunniest metropolis. With its perpetual sunshine comes warm temperatures, scenic desert mountains and urban sophistication—in other words, cacti and chic, coupled together.
Dubbed the "Gateway to the Grand Canyon", and indeed to the Southwest USA, many visitors fly in and out of the city for such wider Arizona destinations. But there are plenty of reasons to visit Phoenix itself. For those in luxury vacation mode, the city boasts championship golf courses and award-winning resorts. For sports enthusiasts, there are professional NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL teams, while families can head to the Phoenix Zoo, culture hounds are able to visit the Phoenix Art Museum and avid gardeners can check out the acclaimed Desert Botanical Gardens.
After busy days on the trot, or just by the pool, visitors have a wealth of lodging options: world-class resorts offering the utmost in amenities and services; national chain properties featuring comfortable guest rooms, conference facilities and suites; or independent hotels and motels—some historic and prestigious, others friendly and low-key mom and pop properties.
Following is an overview of staying in Phoenix, starting with some of the city’s signature properties.
SIGNATURE PROPERTIES
The Arizona Biltmore is the city’s most well known hotel. Called the “Jewel of the Desert”, the historic hotel has been a local landmark since 1929 and has hosted several US presidents as its guests. The hotel is a peaceful oasis on nearly 40 acres (16 ha) of lush gardens with glistening swimming pools, and Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced architecture.
The Royal Palms Resort is a member of the Historic Hotels of America National Trust for Historic Preservation and regularly finds itself as one of the area’s top-ranked hotels. Situated with Camelback Mountain as a backdrop, the resort hotel is resplendent in old-world charm while offering the very latest in luxury amenities and privacy.
The Hotel San Carlos is another historic hotel, and stands out from the crowd for its boutique-style accommodation with history at every turn and affordable rates in the heart of downtown Phoenix.
DOWNTOWN PHOENIX
Downtown Phoenix is situated along Van Buren and Washington Streets and staying in the area gives visitors easy access to the business district and the Phoenix Convention Center, as well as theaters, the Phoenix Symphony Hall and the Science Center. Chase Field (home to the Arizona Diamondbacks) and US Airways Arena (home to the Phoenix Suns), are also situated right downtown, meaning guests can choose a property central to a big game, along with some of the city’s hottest restaurants and entertainment venues.
AIRPORT / VAN BUREN STREET
Sky Harbor International Airport is situated in the southeast corner of Phoenix towards Tempe and is serviced by several freeways. Dozens of hotels are located near the airport on East Van Buren Street (as well as just a few minutes away in Tempe) for those wanting convenient stays for air travel. Most are chain brand names and range from budget, basic motels to mid-range hotels with standard amenities such as complimentary breakfasts, swimming pools, business services, wireless Internet access and airport transportation.
This area is also convenient to the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Gardens in Papago Park.
STAYING IN THE SUBURBS
In addition to Phoenix’s numerous hotels and motels, there is an abundance of accommodation in area suburbs, namely Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale and Mesa.





