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Last week, I had a short stay at The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort for a conference I was attending. I had not stayed at this resort since 2009 and am happy to report that it is as lovely as it was then. It’s a large property with beautiful views, lots of desert landscaping, and everything you could want for a business or leisure stay.
Anthony’s Take: While I was at the Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort for around 18 hours, I got to get a good refresher of what the property offers. I wish I had more time to actually use the spa or pools, but a quick glance had to suffice for this trip. The public areas and rooms are well maintained and it’s a relaxing desert oasis for all visitors.
Booking
I was booked in 1 King Bed, Superior Guest Room on a convention rate of $419 per night plus tax. It includes a $50 (plus tax) nightly Resort Fee. This was substantially less than the rates on Marriott.com, which were over double the cost. The hotel can be booked with Marriott Bonvoy® points (50,000-95,000 points per night) with rates varying since Marriott eliminated its award buckets.
Transportation to/from the Hotel
I took an Uber Comfort from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) to the hotel. It cost around $65 to drive the 11.1 miles and took around 18 minutes. When I left, I took an Uber Comfort back. It cost $55 for the same trip.
Location
This hotel is not located near anything and is quite a large property. If you’re looking to explore outside of the resort, you’ll need to rent a car or take Uber to get around. It’s not far from Scottsdale and plenty of restaurants and shopping, but they are not within walking distance by any means.
Check-in
I was delayed and arrived at the hotel around 11:00 PM. The agent struggled to find my room for a moment and informed me that a room with a king-sized bed in the class I had booked was not available. Her computer then froze and she had to reset it. When it came back, she found me a room and it was ready. The agent was friendly, but did not tell me anything about the Resort Fee. I was asked about an amenity choice and could pick between 1,000 points or breakfast. I chose the points since I would not have time for breakfast. There were plenty of suites and casitas showing as bookable on Marriott.com, but the agent said they were sold out. I did not feel like arguing for the benefit and said nothing further. Since I was going to be in the room just to sleep, I let it go. I wish there was more transparency and that I did not have to even ask about upgrades. I did not need a late checkout and was given my keys a moment later.
Resort Fee
A daily Resort Fee is assessed for all guests of the hotel. It includes:
- Daily in-room Wi-Fi
- Outdoor morning yoga class
- Daily tennis court and racquet usage for one hour
- Daily pickleball court and racquet usage for one hour
- Cruising bikes on a first-come, first served basis
- Craft beer tasting
I am not a fan of destination fees as they are nothing more than cash grabs and was a bit annoyed after I left that there even was one since I was not informed. I would not have taken advantage of any of these items and feel that this is one of the more egregious fees as the inclusions are weak.
The grounds are gorgeous and the entrance to the hotel is flanked by fountains.
Directly across from the lobby is the entrance to The Phoenician’s cactus garden. I took a quick peek and had to go, but would spend some time wandering here if I had more.
The cactus garden is a great place for a quiet walk.
The lobby is large and open with lots of natural light. The concierge is to the right of the entrance.
This statue fills the center of the entrance.
There is a ton of seating and a bar found directly behind it.
Elevators are near reception. I didn’t need them for my stay as my room was on the lobby level.
The hallways felt fresh and were clean during my stay.
1 King Bed, Superior Guest Room (3019)
There are 577 rooms and 68 suites at the hotel.
The room was the base-level offering, but it was quite spacious (most average 600 square feet). It opened with a closet on the left. It held luggage racks, robes, an iron and ironing board, slippers, and a safe.
The bathroom was near the closet. It held a large vanity, jacuzzi tub, glassed-in shower, and toilet. The bathroom was spacious and well appointed.
Toiletries were all BYREDO brand. A large bottle of body lotion was on the counter next to the sink.
A bar of soap was also found here.
The tub was huge and had another bar of soap on the ledge above it.
The glassed-in shower was adequately sized. The water temperature and pressure were also fine.
Large bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were in the shower.
Another bar of soap was found here.
The toilet had its own room, which is always my preference.
There was a shelf near the bathroom where luggage could be housed.
A small table with a mirror was also found here.
The bedroom was large with plenty of space. It included a king-sized bed, bench, two nightstands, desk, a couch, TV, vanity, and more.
The couch filled the space near the balcony.
A small table that served as a desk was across from the bed.
The TV and a vanity were next to it.
Bottled water, glasses, and an ice bucket were found on top.
The vanity housed the mini bar. It was packed with beverages for sale.
A drawer held some snacks for sale.
The Keurig, K-Cups, and condiments were also in the cabinet.
My room had a patio. It was spacious with a couch, two tables, and chairs.
The only complaint was the lack of view. Some landscaping is needed here to brighten this up.
Public Areas & Amenities
The Phoenician offers nine restaurants, a conference center, a fitness center, several pools, a cactus garden, a business center with FedEx, a spa, a market, a golf course, tennis and pickleball courts, a kids club, and the bar in the lobby shown above. I did not have the opportunity to try any of the restaurants as my meals were catered for the convention.
The spa is housed in its own building near the pool.
The pool complex is large and was pretty empty when I took a stroll around.
There are plenty of chairs and cabanas. I only saw about 10 guests total using the pools.
As mentioned, the grounds are meticulously manicured and there are lots of flowers and cacti around.
The conference center has plenty of ballrooms and over 160,000 square feet of space to accommodate all kinds of functions.
The Phoenician offers both tennis and pickleball courts.
There is a kids club called Funician’s.
The massive fitness center is known as The Phoenician Athletic Club and it also has its own separate building.
There is everything you could want to work out in The Phoenician Athletic Club.
Overall Impression: The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort worked well for me with my conference taking place there. I had fond memories of the property from my last visit in 2009 and was happy that not much had changed (while it was updated and well maintained). The service, amenities, and room were all top notch. I’d like to return and spend more than a day here.
Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: When I’m staying at a Marriott hotel, I want to maximize my points earned. My card of choice is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. With it, I earn six Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. It also includes up to $300 statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month ) for dining in restaurants worldwide. Plus, a free night award that I can redeem at any Marriott hotel with a redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points. Rates & fees. Terms apply.
(Athletic Club, Tennis Court, Cactus Garden, and Kids Club Image Credits: Marriott.)
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