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Taking the Twins:
Resort Roundup—The Phoenician
When my sister suggested the Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona as the next destination for our annual Memorial Day family weekend getaway, I was hesitant. After all, with five kids ranging in age from four to thirteen, wouldn’t the five-star resort part of the Luxury Collection be a bit too stuffy, too prim and proper for our rowdy band of marauders? But when we drove onto the 250-acre lushly landscaped property nestled at the base of Camelback Mountain, a red sandstone peek towering nearly 2,700 feet behind the resort, my skepticism quickly turned to elation.
Although we could have stayed in the Phoenician’s main building—two low-slung tiered structures, reminiscent of an ancient temple—where each room, a generous 600 square feet in size, offers a private balcony (many with an awesome southern view of the resort and the surrounding valley), we chose to stay on the opposite end of the property in the resort’s casitas facing the ever-changing colors of Camelback Mountain. Although a bit smaller in size, our ground-floor room opened up to the resort’s expansive lawn punctuated by a large stone fountain and just steps from Necklace Lake, a peaceful body of water with winding stream, private grottoes, waterfalls, and of course, fish and ducks. It was a perfect fit for a family with young children.
It didn’t take us long to unpack and head up to the Phoenician’s crowning jewels—a series of nine swimming pools surrounded by dozens of wooden chaises softened by thick terry cushions (no plastic lounge chairs here). The pools, separated on three different levels, seemed to flawlessly melt into one another through a series of bridges and walkways. We quickly passed on the Mother-of-Pearl, or “serenity” pool, located on the first level. Separated from the other pools, this large oval shape beauty punctuated by more than a dozen bright yellow canvas cabanas is clearly for couples only. (A posted sign reads, “No loud noises.” We assumed that was a subtle way of saying “No kids.”) No matter, though, we found paradise just up a set of grand marble staircases where another pool offered plenty of interest for our kids. The shallow water meandered past the Oasis café and bar (you can swim up and order a drink), disappearing under bridges forming intimate grottoes where the kids enjoyed listening to their voices echo and placed their wet hand prints on the walls. On the top level are more pools including two kiddie pools, and a large sport-themed pool complete with volleyball and basketball nets.
Nearly every chaise was occupied that weekend (the bartender told us that it was more crowded than Easter week) but we never felt cramped for space with other guests, something that we’ve sadly dealt with in the past at other Scottsdale resorts. But then again, how could you notice when your own poolside attendant sees to your every need by offering you plush towels and pitchers of ice water?
The kids were happy, too, wandering from pool to waterslide (a 160-foot jumble of fun) to the expansive upper lawn where they dabbled in croquet, bocce and even golf on a well-manicured putting green. Although the resort is sprawling, it still feels intimate (I never had to look far to find my young boys). For those who want their children to have a bit more structure, however, you can enroll them in the Funicians KidsClub for either half or full day.
And so the days peacefully past. In the morning, we sat on our patio nuzzled in the hotel’s terry robes, enjoying the newspaper while waiting for our room-service breakfast as our kids raced off to feed the fish in Necklace Lake, and in the evening as we watched the sun color the surrounding landscape, we enjoyed cocktails as they played games on the lawn. With three restaurants on the premises, there was no need to leave the resort for dinner that weekend either.
The first evening, we strolled up to the main building and The Terrace Dining Room to enjoy a bit of al fresco fare on the restaurant’s expansive outdoor patio. By sundown, the hot desert temperatures had given way to a warm sensuous breeze and we enjoyed the view of the valley while listening to the soft tunes of a piano player. Fortunately, the lovely setting and a well-priced children’s menu more than made up for the high prices and small portions. My veal tortelloni was forgettable but my husband’s grilled salmon nestled on top of three spinach cannelloni and brother-in-law’s brick-roasted chicken with basil mash potatoes were excellent. There was an added bonus, however—a free movie (Little Mermaid one evening, Lilo and Stitch the next) playing down in the resort’s ballroom for all little guests to enjoy, complete with complimentary movie-size candy and soda. While the adults lingered over their wine the kids went in mass to check it out. Now, how could we complain?
The resort gets rave reviews, too, for scheduling plenty of family-friendly activities during the holiday weekend. On Saturday, there were games on the lawn for the kids (with great prizes for the winning competitors, I might add), face painting, and jewelry making. That evening, there was an outdoor western-themed barbecue accompanied by a DJ and strolling magician (although the $25 per child price tag was a bit steep). The evening culminated for the kids with a ride down the waterslide all decked out with colorful strobe lights, fog machine, and heart-thumping techno music (a bit too scary for two out of three of my boys but my older nieces loved it). If the adults had chosen, we could have joined in on a casino party and live auction back in The Terrace Dining Room.
Even after four days and three nights of lounging by the pool, eating and drinking to our fill, we found it hard to leave. But when a resort embraces guests of all ages, anticipates and caters to your every need—as the Phoenician does so elegantly—why would you want to?
The Phoenician
6000 East Camelback Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone: 800-888-8234
www.thephoenician.com
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