Arizona is a destination for golf lovers, spa seekers, adventurers and more. There’s something about the scorching desert landscape that melts away inhibitions. And when visitors need a shaded reprieve to escape the sun, there are resorts aplenty that make it easy unwind and retreat.
Scottsdale is a part of the Greater Phoenix Area that sits at the foot of Camelback Mountain. It boasts stays that offer luxurious resort experiences with amenities that cater to all kinds of visitors. On a recent girls trip to Arizona, we found the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Resort & Spa to be the perfect place for a long weekend.
Exclusive perks when booking with us
This property participates in the Marriott Luminous program, which means booking through a Luminous travel advisor gets you added perks here for no additional cost. Feel free to reach out if you are looking to book here with added perks.
Perks of booking through us here include:
- $100 property credit
- Complimentary daily breakfast
- Free room upgrade (subject to availability)
- Early check-in / late check-out (subject to availability)
Arrival
Even before arriving at the property, the well manicured surroundings and beautifully landscaped neighborhood gave us a taste of what we had in store.
After turning into the resort and valet parking next to a line of golf carts, we made our way into the lobby. There’s a beautiful waiting room and a small check-in area across from it. Luckily, we were able to check in early after a morning flight and got our room right away.
As part of the check-in process, the front desk gave us information on certain happenings at the resort, but it would have been helpful to learn more about the range of amenities included in our resort fee. They did provide printed cards that laid out the information quite clearly though.
The Property
Due to the sprawling nature of the property, you will need to drive from the lobby to your cozy casita. Ours was conveniently nestled between the main pool and the spa – two of our key destinations on the property. Even while being the furthest point away from the lobby (and restaurants), it wasn’t more than a 5 minute walk from our room.
The main pool is quite large, with plenty of space for lounging, and a bar within arms reach. They also hosted a complimentary happy hour here each night. The only other pool on the property is attached to the spa, so you’ll need to book a treatment to get access.
Definitely set aside some time to wander the grounds – they’re perfectly manicured and especially peaceful around sunrise and sunset. If you fancy a longer wander, try the hiking trails behind the property or a bike ride through the surrounding neighborhoods.
Resort Amenities
Speaking of bikes, they were one of the many amenities that we planned to take advantage of at the resort. The valet set us up with helmets and bikes one morning, and we really enjoyed biking around the hills. It is all residential and there is some pretty unique architecture to enjoy. Upon returning to the hotel, cold towels were waiting for us, which was a nice touch given the heat.
For other complimentary activities like tennis or pickleball, reservations through the concierge are recommended. We were also intrigued by the driving range and club rentals, but ultimately didn’t get to check those out.
The Rooms
One of the charms of this resort is the casita-style rooms that provide a quiet hideaway feel. Some rooms are located in two story buildings and are more condo-like, but many are single floor buildings of just a couple rooms nestled together.
We booked the Standard Casita with two queen beds. There was also a kitchenette, 2 sink bathroom, and patio. Our room seemed older than the photos on their booking site, so maybe some rooms will feel slightly more dated than others. It is a sizable space though, and we definitely enjoyed the huge bathroom counter.
From our patio, we could sit and directly face Camelback Mountain, which is easily seen from almost every part of the resort. We took advantage of early sunrises to soak in the view.
The Spa
A spa day was on our itinerary for this trip, so we made sure to book an early afternoon massage and take full advantage of the facilities. Something we didn’t know until we got there was that we had unlimited in and out privileges the entire day of our treatment. This could have been handy for getting an early morning swim or jacuzzi dip before breakfast.
Their spa facilities are comprised of an indoor lounge/bar with its own food menu, a lap pool surrounded by loungers, indoor jacuzzi in the changing room, and a treatment lounge with more indoor/outdoor seating.
We absolutely loved our treatment here and the masseuses were top notch. There was an entire hallway of treatment rooms, so it definitely felt like the type of place that could accommodate larger groups.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a relaxing resort to spend a slow getaway on, this one is really a great option. We still drove out for meals and some activities, but we could have spent time just lounging around.
For the sportier traveler who enjoys golf or tennis, the amenities could be extra appealing, since the on-site offerings make it even easier to enjoy the property.
While we purposely skipped the food this trip in favor of trying various restaurants around town, there are a couple of restaurants to eat at across the main building and pool/spa area.
Overall we loved our stay at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, and it checks so many boxes for a relaxing desert getaway!
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