When one thinks of Scottsdale, immediate images are of desert, resorts, golf courses, hills, rock formations and cacti not to mention Taliesin West, architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s former home and studio plus downtown’s Old Town Scottsdale with its 1920s buildings and 19th-century olive trees.

We, on the other hand, can only think of the AAA Five Diamond Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, the perfect setting to enjoy al fresco living in the blooming Sonoran Desert. As in the Native American tradition, here you’ll live in harmony with nature–vast open spaces, lushly landscaped grounds, regal Saguaro cacti and a burning orange sun sinking behind the majestic mountains will inspire and energize you. From the rich purple hues of the desert sunset to the green agave plants and coral pinks and butter yellow of blooming cactus flowers, the natural setting is of the most unique and stunning in the world.

This is the ultimate desert oasis with something for everyone: four top-ranked Arizona restaurants, inspiring indoor and outdoor meeting facilities, innovative spa and fitness programs at Well & Being Spa, six sparkling pools, including the all-new Sunset Beach, two 18-hole championship golf courses—one of which, the newly-renovated Stadium Course is home to the Annual PGA Tour Waste Management Phoenix Open—and annual events that turn into family traditions like Christmas at the Princess, this highly acclaimed Scottsdale resort is truly an experience like no other.

Life is sophisticated, warm and inviting here. Whether you gather at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess to meet, play or simply relax, this breathtaking resort offers you world-class hospitality in the Valley of the Sun. Never have we met such an extraordinary group of people working hard to please each and every guest. Credit must go to the eagle-eye charming manager, Jack Miller, for inspiring all the staff to the highest levels. It is Jack’s dog, Bixby and his pal, Gibbs, by the way, who greet guests in the hotel’s lobby, and what a better symbol of welcome than these friendly, trained service canines who lie contentedly on the highly polished marble floors and gently say hello to all. They are tireless in their commitment to hospitality which can equally be said about all of the staff here.

We found thoughtfully appointed accommodations on our recent visit. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess offers 750 richly appointed guest rooms, including two Presidential Suites, 69 Fairmont Gold Rooms and 119 Casitas. All accommodations throughout the hotel have well-defined living and work areas, terraces, wet bars, refreshment centers and oversized luxury bathrooms. Enjoy these five star accommodations in Scottsdale with a soothing showcase of the subtle undertones, custom art pieces, louvered sliding doors, earthy accents and patterns of the Southwest.

We stayed one of the new 102 signature guest rooms at Sunset Beach, each designed with modern Southwest decor, each embracing the latest trends in upscale residential design to provide an inviting indoor-outdoor experience best for maximizing enjoyment of Arizona’s beautiful climate. In conjunction with the room expansion, Sunset Beach—the resort’s sixth and largest sparkling pool surrounded by 830 tons of fluffy, cool white sand proves their commitment to continual improvement and evolution to maintain the iconic resort’s status as the vibrant, premiere entity in Scottsdale.

When booking, we highly recommend upgrading to the Fairmont Gold Lounge, which serves a bountiful breakfast each morning, complimentary hors d’oeuvres in the afternoon and desserts at night. A large screen TV, newspapers and comfy chairs and sofas make this an oasis to be savored.

Variety is the spice of life at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Each of the unique fine dining establishments offers distinctive flavor in both cuisine and décor. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has unveiled a new spirit partner across North America, the highly regarded Tequila Los Azulejos. A leader among ultra-premium tequilas, this award-winning brand will be featured at select bars and restaurants at more than 20 Fairmont hotels throughout the United States and Mexico by end of 2016, with additional expansion across Canada, Bermuda and Barbados in progress for 2017. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is Tequila Los Azulejos’ first and exclusive major hotel partnership. Tequila Los Azulejos shares Fairmont’s commitment to outstanding integrity, quality and craftsmanship.

All of Los Azulejos’ famed tequilas start with 100 percent Blue-Weber agaves sown in the low-lands of Jalisco, near the town of Tequila, and grown to full maturity over 10 years, as compared to the 3 to 5 year life span of lower quality tequilas. Only the best agaves are hand-selected and cooked in traditional brick ovens, perfectly toasting and caramelizing the sugars of the plants, which are then crushed and pressed to extract the sweet agave nectar and placed in stainless steel holding tanks for 48 hours for fermentation. The product is then double-distilled, discarding the first and last 40 percent of the run, as compared to 20 percent for most brands, thus preserving only the “heart” of the run, for the purest alcohols.

La Hacienda by Richard Sandoval is Scottsdale’s top rated Mexican restaurant experience and features a modern, lighter, ingredient-driven approach to Mexican cuisine. Do not miss the Tequila Los Azulejos here. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet the charming Tequila Goddess here and she will guide you through a tasting. They’ve got 340 different ones here, but we liked the Snake Bite Flight best, a sample of sotol, mescal and tequila on a plate with a decorative rattlesnake head and tail.

Acclaimed chef Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak represents the height of Scottsdale dining through contemporary American fare, with a focus on all natural, organic and hormone-free cuts of beef, poached and finished over the wood-burning grill. Let them make you a special bourbon drink in a frosted silver cup to go along with a supremely cooked sirloin. Or ask for the unique tableside absinthe presentation.

Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar is celebrity Chef Richard Sandoval’s latest concept. We ate divine sushi and Pan Latin dishes accompanied by sexy rum drinks and watched the sun majestically go down over the TPC Stadium Course. With over 151 rums, Toro boasts the Valley’s largest rum selection available for tastings, along with a collection of Latin wines and innovative cocktails prepared with the finest spirits by the Rum Princesa.

Ironwood American Kitchen is The Fairmont Scottsdale’s main dining room serving breakfast and lunch featuring wood-fired specialties, served in a warm and casual atmosphere. The Plaza Bar is an indoor/outdoor living room lounge, welcoming guests to unwind with mixology-driven, signature craft cocktails on tap in the Princess Plaza with its firepit patios. And do not miss eating poolside at the Princess Pool, Sunset Beach, Sonoran Splash and Sonoran Landing. All have full-service bars serving your favorite poolside cocktails and entrees. Whether you want to watch the game, relax in your own luxurious cabana rental, send the kids (or yourself) down one of Sonoran Splash’s slides, or do a few laps, these pools have everything that you need for your perfect day in the sun.

Finally, we tried dining in our room and were impressed with the resort’s high standards of cuisine and wines. If you find that you would rather “stay in,” this is a most pleasant alternative. They’ll eve set up a candle lit dinner on your private balcony or drop off your movie snacks.

Rising from the resort’s beautiful Hacienda Plaza is Well & Being Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, which also pays tribute to the Arizona landscape. Inspired by a hidden oasis deep in the Grand Canyon called Havasupai, the design of this alluring spa of serene Sedona sandstone and relaxing waterfalls is drawn from nature’s primary elements–air, water, earth, wood and fire. These essential elements, combined with innovative treatments designed to inspire and rejuvenate, will help you along a self-directed path as you “Find Your Energy”. The spa is an innovative fusion of spa and wellness, and we languished in their waterfall grotto for quite some time before diving into the rooftop pool. Well & Being (formerly Willow Stream Spa) offers a uniquely rewarding and deeply personalized palette of experiences that infuse life with a greater sense of vitality. From the exhilaration of Aerial Hammock Yoga to the tranquility of a customized aromatherapy massage and the motivating kick-start of a new, evidence-based approach to nutrition and exercise, you’ll always go home feeling energized, enlightened and empowered…..ready to Live It Well.

You can be deliriously happy and never leave the embrace of this resort. There are good shops, fishing, rafts for rental, basketball and an animal discovery program for the little ones. But just outside the gates awaits a treasure of fascinating things to do. Let the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess be your gateway to everything Scottsdale has to offer. Minutes away from shopping centers and just a short drive from Sedona, the Grand Canyon and the bustling cultural center home to the Phoenix Open, Spring Training baseball, five Major League sports teams, Arabian horse shows and more. From art walks and culinary festivals to hot air ballooning and jeep tours, spend your next vacation in style at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.

As part of their commitment to providing guests with the highest value during their stay, vacation packages offer the best rates and special offers. Whether it’s the opportunity to play golf like a pro (or at least feel like one), a family vacation to Christmas at the Princess, a romantic weekend escape or a spa-cation you’re looking for, these packages include a variety of extras from spa treatments to resort credits to help you experience all the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has to offer.

The AAA Five-Diamond Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has come to reflect the dynamic environment that surrounds it. With its dramatic Spanish Colonial architecture, open plazas graced by fountains, and locally inspired art and décor, the resort offers a blend of comfort and style that captures the charm and grace of the Southwest. Let the journey begin.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 East Princess Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States, 85255, (480) 585-4848 Fax: (480) 585-0091
http://www.scottsdaleprincess.com