JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ve stayed at a lot of resorts in Arizona, and the JW Marriott Starr Pass honestly surprised me – in the best way possible. When you’re driving up Starr Pass Boulevard (which winds through some pretty dramatic desert landscape, by the way), you start to get this sense that you’re heading somewhere special. The resort sits tucked into the Tucson Mountains, and I mean really tucked in – you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but you’re actually only about 15 minutes from downtown Tucson.

What struck me first was how they’ve managed to make this massive property feel intimate. The lobby has these floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the desert perfectly, and there’s this subtle scent of sage that just makes you want to slow down immediately. The rooms are spacious – I had a casita-style suite that felt more like a high-end desert retreat than a typical hotel room. The bathroom alone was bigger than some hotel rooms I’ve stayed in, with a soaking tub that actually overlooks the golf course (though you’ll want to close the blinds unless you’re feeling adventurous). One thing that really matters when you’re in the Sonoran Desert – the blackout curtains are serious business here. You can sleep in until noon if you want, which honestly felt pretty luxurious after dealing with those brutal Arizona sunrises elsewhere.

The golf situation is legitimately impressive, even if you’re not a serious golfer. They’ve got three courses designed by different architects, and the Rattler course in particular has these views of the Santa Catalina Mountains that’ll make you forget you’re trying to keep your ball out of the desert wash. Speaking of desert washes – you know what I appreciated? The staff actually gives you useful advice about hiking nearby. There are trails right from the property that connect to Tucson Mountain Park, and the concierge pointed me toward some lesser-known spots that weren’t crawling with tourists. The spa uses locally-sourced ingredients (there’s this prickly pear treatment that sounds gimmicky but actually left my skin feeling amazing), and the pool area manages to feel both relaxing and energetic without being chaotic. Fair warning though – if you’re here during spring training season or peak snowbird months, it gets busy. But honestly, even at capacity, the property is spread out enough that you can find quiet corners. The restaurants are solid too, especially if you can snag a table at Salerno for dinner – their take on Southwest cuisine actually respects the local ingredients instead of just throwing green chiles on everything and calling it authentic.