Testing the Fourth of July Fireworks at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

The Greater Phoenix area is a popular March vacation destination for families on spring break who are looking to get away from the cold winter weather.  With perfect temperatures and plenty of activities (including spring training for the Cactus League), Phoenix is a great destination.

On a recent media trip to Phoenix, I had the opportunity to stay at two hotels and tour two others.  The first hotel we stayed at was the gorgeous Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, located in North Scottsdale.  The AAA Five-Diamond Fairmont offers five separate pools (including an adult-only pool at the spa), four restaurants and bars, and an award-winning spa.

I had a king deluxe room which offered beautiful views in a quiet setting.  The room was much larger than king rooms at other hotels I’ve stayed at, with a huge walk-in closet and large bathroom.  But honestly, there was no reason to spend much time in the room, given the beautiful surroundings.

The Snakebite Flight at La Hacienda

On our first night, we stopped in at the on-site Bourbon Steak for cocktails and appetizers (try the french fries cooked in duck fat), before heading to La Hacienda for our evening dinner.  Once we arrived, their resident “Tequila Goddess” guided us through a snakebite flight of tequila, complete with rattlesnake head right on the plate.  The complementing food was absolutely delicious, especially the ceviche, which I could have eaten all night.

Service at the hotel was excellent.  I had no issues with check-in or check-out, and room service was delivered quickly.  I do wish that high-speed internet access was included, but you can sign up for the (free) President’s Club for complimentary access.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
7575 East Princess Drive
Scottsdale, Arizonav85255
(866) 540-4495

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: As part of my greater Phoenix media trip, my stay at the Fairmont, as well as food/drinks at Bourbon Steak and La Hacienda was complimentary.

Highest Hotel in Hong Kong

Atop the tallest building in Hong Kong, the world’s highest hotel opens its doors today under The Ritz-Carlton flag.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong now occupies the top 17 floors of the International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon, Hong Kong. The hotel boasts other “highest” records, including the highest rooftop bar (Ozone) and the highest spa. Guests can enjoy a view from the top at the bar or from the floor-to-ceiling windows in The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge on the 116th floor. There are 312 rooms in The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong and each of them provides a view of the Victoria Harbour.

In addition to the lofty views, guests of the luxury hotel can also experience The Chocolate Library, a chocolate-themed lounge offering everything from chocolate breakfast to chocolate afternoon tea, and an indoor infinity swimming pool covered by a ceiling with 144 LED screens on it. You can see the world’s highest hotel by hopping on a plane to Hong Kong or watching the video posted on The Ritz-Carlton Facebook page.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is the brand’s 75th luxury property and its 16th hotel in Asia. In February The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto opened as the only property in Canada for the brand and in January the company made headlines with the opening of it’s second property in Dubai, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre.

Photo Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

View across the river to River Street at Westin Savannah

Savannah’s Historic District and River Street are popular destinations for tourists in the South East United States. Visitors will find charming shops, inviting squares, and restaurants serving local blue crab in every form imaginable. There are also a number of hotels to choose from among the old buildings and narrow streets.

I recently visited Savannah to enjoy the legendary St. Patrick’s Day celebration and stayed at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa. My girlfriends and I found the location convenient, the staff hospitable, and the accommodations exactly what we’d hoped for when we selected the well-known brand. Even Risk Management was polite when they knocked on our door in the wee hours of the morning to ask us to keep our laughter down out of respect for our neighbors. (Oops!)

The Westin Savannah is located across the bridge from the famed River Street. While this may seem like a deterrent for visitors looking to spend most of their trip along the tourist-friendly strip, we actually found our location more convenient than a hotel directly in the Historic District might have been. We had free parking in a large lot and free ferry access all day and night to River Street. The ferry ride itself was not only convenient, but a soothing and beautiful experience. If we were ever too impatient to wait for a ferry (the lines were very long on the morning of the St. Patrick’s Day parade), the hotel staff helped us arrange for a quick taxi ride across the bridge.

The river-side room was very spacious with two Heavenly Beds® and a Heavenly® Bath with Dual Shower Heads that I felt too guilty to use (thanks to the environmental reminder note hanging in the shower). The view of the harbor itself was breathtaking, even if the tugboat horns at 3 am were annoying to my roommates. We also enjoyed a view of the newly renovated pool area which looked inviting. The pool area is surrounded by intimate seating areas, some of which are centered around gas fireplaces that can be used by guests in the evenings.

After spending two nights at The Westin Savannah for our girlfriend getaway, the four of us agreed that this was a great hotel for any trip to Savannah. We’d all highly recommend it to the rest of our friends and future St. Patrick’s Day revelers! Check out their website for current specials or ask the hotel representative about discounts when you call to make your reservation. We saved over $100 on regular rates during a holiday weekend thanks to a helpful customer service representative who told us about their “Pay Rates Equal to Your Birth Year!” special.

Photo by Britt Reints

The Arizona Grand Water Park Area

Phoenix, Arizona, with its kid-friendly activities, warm weather, scenic beauty, and wonderful resorts, is truly a great family-friendly destination.  Of course, not all hotels are kid-friendly or convenient for families with young ones.  I recently had the opportunity to tour the Arizona Grand Hotel, a hotel that offers the only onsite resort water park in the greater Phoenix area.

The Arizona Grand Hotel offers private villas (available for private full-time purchase – not a time share), villa rooms, and resort suites.  The suites, the most standard of the rooms, offer either a king or two queen beds, living room with work desk and pull-out sofa bed, and private patio/balcony.  Villas are also available, and offer one or two bedrooms, as well as a full kitchen.

The Arizona Grand has several on-site restaurants, including Rustler’s Rooste, a full family-friendly restaurant with loads of wild-west character (and amazing views of the valley), and the Lobby Grill, a casual restaurant with great views of the golf course).

The best part of the Arizona Grand, in my opinion, is the Oasis Water Park.  This private water park is one of the nation’s largest resort water parks, and offers an 8-foot slide, a 25 person hot tub, river tubing, a wave pool, and more.

The Arizona Grand Hotel
8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway
Phoenix, Arizona 85044
(602) 438-9000

Photo credit: The Arizona Grand Hotel

Disclosure: I received a tour and complimentary dinner at the Arizona Grand during my sponsored trip to the Greater Phoenix area.