The Fairmont Princess Resort in Scottsdale Arizona has a reputation that precedes itself.  With a name like "Fairmont", most people know what type of quality to expect.

 
If you watch the golf channel, more than likely you've seen parts of this resort and its famous TPC golf course on tv.  And if you're like my dad (who is a huge fan of golf), you'd know the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is home to the annual PGA Tour Phoenix Open.

 

During the Phoenix Open you'd be hard pressed to find a room here...or in other hotels around Scottsdale for that matter.  This event attracts more than 100,000 people per year.  So you could say it draws a crowd.  And it's a really fun time for Scottsdale. 

The weather is perfect..the sun is always shining...and there are tons of people here to enjoy the game of golf and have a little R and R.  It's definitely busy, but it's so much fun.  So if you plan on staying at the Fairmont Scottsdale in late February, you'll want to book waaay in advance.

While reviews range from "nice" to "amazing", I think it ultimately comes down to personal taste and prior experiences at other resorts.  Would I consider it in my top 3 of our best resorts?  Probably not...but that doesn't mean you won't love it.  The Fairmont Scottsdale offers notable luxury and great amenities so it deserves to be in Scottsdale's Top 10. 

 

Plus it has some of the better rates of the Scottsdale resorts, so you get more bang for your buck here.

 

Keep reading and see if it suits your personal taste...

The Princess is located in North Scottsdale, a short ten-minute drive from Old Town and close to major freeways.  So it makes a good hub if you plan to explore areas like Cave Creek, Carefree...or if you're planning a day trip to Sedona or Flagstaff.

 

There are three things that make this resort stand out from the others:

 
#1    Golf.  For reasons stated above.  And because I hear the TPC is one of our best golf courses in Scottsdale.
 
#2    The Willow Stream Spa.  While reviews for the resort itself range from "nice" to "amazing"; reviews for the Willow Stream Spa are always "5-star", "10 out of 10", "nothing like it", "the best spa experience ever"!  I have never met anyone who has been a guest at this spa and has rated it anything other than superior or beyond expectation.
 
#3    Family Friendly.  This perhaps is the biggest perk of this hotel.  If you're planning a family vacation in Scottsdale, but still want to have a relaxing luxurious holiday, this should be your destination.  This resort has more activities for kids than any other resort in Scottsdale.  In fact, there are so many neat activities, it makes me wish I was a kid again. 
 
Your kids will be in for a treat when they feast their eyes on the Sonoran Splash water park.  It's an amazing pool area that's over 6,000 square feet and includes two irresistible water slides.  There is a sandbox for kids to play in and private cabanas for the family to lounge around in.  Of course there is poolside service, so you can have all the french fries and soda you could ever want.
 
You'll also want to check out the National Geographic Explorers Camp.  It rocks!  Kids can participate in treasure hunts where they work in teams using GPS devices to locate hidden flags around the resort.  They can go on photo and video safaris where they're given fun "assignments".  There are also Arts & Crafts, slide races at Sonoran Splash, water sports, fishing at the lagoon and more.
 
With all of these awesome activities, you've got to hand it to the Fairmont Scottsdale for putting so much effort into making your children's experience just as wonderful as yours.

 

The accommodations at the Fairmont Princess Resort in Scottsdale Arizona offer a nice range of choices.  You can choose between spacious guestrooms, private casitas, a presidential suite and Casa Dora, which is a 3,700 square foot private residence.

Rooms include lovely things like large soaking tubs, huge walk-in showers and designated living and work areas.  There has been talk that the guestrooms located in the main building of the resort are somewhat outdated.  I can confirm that the Fairmont Scottsdale has actually updated these rooms and there are plans to begin updating the casitas within the next year. 

Don't let this discourage you from this property, however.  The accommodations are very nice and the Fairmont Scottsdale offers some of the best deals of our Scottsdale Resorts.  So if you're more budget-minded but still want to enjoy resort amenities, this just might be the right place for you.

If money is no object, and you're looking for the best-of-the-best, then I recommend booking one of the Fairmont Gold Suites.

Gold suites feel more like a residence than a hotel room.  They include things like a built-in bar, custom-made furnishings and they range in size from 600 to 1500 square feet. 

Fairmont Gold guests enjoy a more exclusive experience.  There is a private reception area, so Gold guests don't have to wait in any check-in lines. 

You'll be able to enjoy the Gold Lounge, and private concierge service.  So if you need assistance with booking events, making dinner reservations or are in need of a private limousine service, they take care of it all.  It's very nice when you don't want to spend your vacation worrying over the small details.

 

I hear the restaurants at the Princess are fabulous, with Bourbon Steak being the most well-known out of the three of them.