The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Honestly, I wasn’t prepared for how different The Canyon Suites feels from the main Phoenician resort – and I mean that in the best possible way. You’re technically staying at one of Scottsdale’s most famous properties, but the Canyon Suites section has this quieter, more intimate vibe that’s honestly refreshing. When you pull up to the separate entrance (which, thank god, because the main Phoenician lobby can be a zoo during peak season), you immediately notice it’s scaled down in a good way.

The suites themselves are actually suites – not those fake “suites” where they just put a couch in the corner of a regular room. I’m talking separate living areas with those floor-to-ceiling windows that frame Camelback Mountain perfectly. You know what surprised me most? The kitchenettes are actually functional. I mean, you’re probably not cooking a five-course meal, but you can definitely handle breakfast or store those overpriced Whole Foods snacks you bought on Camelback Road. The bathrooms have that heavy marble feel without being cold – and the soaking tubs are deep enough that you’ll actually want to use them after hiking Piestewa Peak (which is literally right there, by the way).

What really sets this place apart is how they’ve managed to give you access to everything at the main resort – the spa, all the restaurants, that ridiculous pool complex – without making you feel like you’re staying in the middle of a convention. The service here doesn’t have that overly rehearsed luxury hotel feel either. The staff actually remembers your name and seems to know the area beyond just the resort bubble. They’ll tell you about the good happy hour spots in Old Town or which hiking trails to hit before it gets stupidly hot. And speaking of heat – the casitas stay surprisingly cool even in summer, something about the way they’re positioned and the desert landscaping that actually serves a purpose beyond looking pretty. The only minor thing is that room service takes a bit longer since they’re coming from the main resort, but honestly, with places like FnB and Citizen Public House just a few minutes away on Camelback, you’re better off exploring anyway.