Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what honestly surprised me about the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass? It doesn’t feel like your typical chain hotel at all – and I mean that in the best way possible. When you’re driving down Wild Horse Pass Boulevard (which, fair warning, can be a bit confusing if you’re not familiar with this part of Chandler), the resort sort of emerges from the desert landscape like this sprawling adobe village. The whole place has this authentic Southwestern vibe that actually works, not the cheesy tourist trap version you sometimes get.

The location is pretty genius when you think about it. You’re technically still in the Phoenix metro area, but it feels worlds away from the hustle of downtown or Scottsdale. I stayed here during spring training season – which, if you’re planning a visit, book way ahead because baseball fans absolutely love this place – and even when it was busy, there were these pockets of quiet you could find. The pool area gets packed during the day, sure, but early morning or late afternoon? It’s perfect. And honestly, the views of the South Mountains from some of the rooms are worth requesting specifically. The front desk staff actually knows which rooms have the best sightlines, so just ask.

What really sets this place apart is how they’ve embraced the Gila River Indian Community partnership. The cultural elements aren’t just decorative – there’s real storytelling happening in the architecture and art throughout the property. The Aji Spa (which, okay, is pricier than I’d normally go for) incorporates traditional healing practices that you won’t find at your average hotel spa. Even if you don’t book treatments, walking through gives you this sense of place that’s pretty special. The restaurants lean heavily into local ingredients too – the fry bread at Kai is legitimately some of the best I’ve had, and I’ve been around Arizona long enough to be picky about it. Parking is free and abundant, which might seem like a small thing until you’ve dealt with Phoenix-area hotels that charge $25 a night for the privilege. Check-in was smooth both times I’ve stayed, though I’d avoid arriving right around 4 PM when the tour buses sometimes roll in. The rooms themselves are spacious – like, actually spacious, not “spacious for a hotel room.” Good blackout curtains too, which matters more than you’d think when you’re dealing with that intense Arizona sun. The 9.0 rating makes sense when you add it all up. It’s not perfect – the WiFi can be spotty in some areas, and the golf course crowds mean the main restaurant gets slammed certain times of day – but there’s something about this place that keeps drawing people back. Maybe it’s how quiet it gets at night, or how the staff remembers your coffee order, or just that it feels like a real escape without being completely isolated from civilization.