From fast, fashionable Phoenix to desert-bound Tucson, few landscapes can capture the imagination like Arizona. Whether you’re looking for a desert metropolis or sandy seclusion, America’s sixth-largest state is the ideal destination for a romantic getaway.
The historic Hacienda del Sol was completed in 1928 (Photo: Booking.com)
Arizona is home to one of the United States’ most romantic landscapes, but there’s more to this sprawling state than the Grand Canyon. A haven for lovers of the outdoors, the state offers everything from hidden hot springs to horseback riding. The state’s show-stopping cities are equally romantic, whether it’s Phoenix’ pulsing nightlife or Scottsdale’s most intimate restaurants. From sleeping under the stars in the Red Rock State Park to the gilded elegance of the state’s oldest hotels, here are ten of the most romantic getaways in Arizona.
Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort
Once an exclusive girls’ finishing school, this historic ranch resort became popular with the holidaying Hollywood elite in the 1950s. Leading men Clark Gable, John Wayne and Spencer Tracey have all slumbered in the Spanish-inspired buildings and signed the guestbook to prove it. The hotel still boasts the same old-world elegance, with modern touches like an infinity pool overlooking the desert, in-room spa treatments and luxury linen. Every detail aims to please, making it the perfect romantic escape after more than a year of isolation. Rooms from $180 per night.
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FOUND: RE Phoenix
City slickers won’t be able to resist Found: RE Phoenix, which is conveniently located at the intersection between several historic neighbourhoods on Roosevelt Row in the heart of Arizona’s colourful capital. The hotel is every bit as stylish as the state’s capital city, with loft-style guest rooms featuring floating bed frames, Jerdon bathrobes and sparkling city views. You can tumble straight out of bed downstairs to the MATCH Market & Bar for red velvet waffles or smoked salmon toast – Phoenix’s new culinary dining destination – too. Rooms from $185 per night.
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Under Canvas Grand Canyon
At Under Canvas you can sleep under the stars (Photo: Booking.com)
Get off-the-grid at this chic glamping resort, just 25 minutes from one of the seven natural wonders of the world. There are a range of romantic safari-style tents to choose from, each featuring en-suite bathrooms, lounging decks and wooden stoves to curl up in front of under the stars. Inside it’s all plush pillows, cowhide rugs and Casper mattresses, so you can wake up to the scent of juniper and the sound of rustling cheatgrass, without a sleeping bag in sight. Rooms from $200 per night.
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Little America Hotel
Who says romance needs to be expensive? Set in 500-acres of private evergreen forest, Little America Hotel is perfectly positioned to explore the high country mountains of Flagstaff. Come Christmas, the hotel is usually covered in a thick blanket of snow and festooned with hundreds of twinkling lights for some added magic too. Rooms are comfortable and contemporary, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the thicket. There’s a heated seasonal outdoor pool and onsite restaurant and bar serving all-American fare breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the end of a long walk strolling, you can sink deep into the year-round outdoor hot tub surrounded by ponderosa pines too. Prices from $105 per night.
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White Stallion Ranch
White Stallion Ranch will whisk you back to the Wild West (Photo: Booking.com)
Nowhere says rustic romance quite as well as White Stallion. Sitting on 3,000 acres below the Tuscon Mountains, it’s an immersion into the romance of bygone Wild West Arizona. Each of the hotel’s 43 hotel rooms features Western touches, like Equipale chairs and cosy Pendleton wool blankets, with patios for outdoor lounges. Up the romance ante even more by upgrading to a suite with jetted tubs, gas hearths and outdoor fireplaces to keep you toasty while you gaze at the stars. Rooms from $150 per night.
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Hotel Congress
For gilded elegance and old-school romance, there’s the Hotel Congress. Located opposite Tucson’s railway station, this iconic landmark opened in 1919 to provide upmarket accommodation for a new wave of holidaymakers. Each of the hotel’s 40 rooms features vintage radios, 1930s-style phones connected to a switchboard and iron-framed beds. The onsite nightclub hosts a whole roster of live music concerts and events to keep you entertained too. Hotel Congress is also a stone’s throw from Tuscon’s best museums, festivals and cultural events. Rooms from $110 per night.
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Andaz Scottsdale
Andaz Scottsdale sits on 23-acres of manicured gardens overlooking Camelback (Photo: Booking.com)
Described by the New York Times as ‘the desert version of Miami’s South Beach’, Scottsdale is one of the state’s most stylish cities. While there are a plethora of high-end luxury hotels to choose from, there’s a handful of wallet-friendly 5* hotels too. Andaz Scottsdale trumps them all. Located a stone’s throw from downtown Scottsdale, this value-chic hotel boasts a sprawling spa serving up romantic treatments for two, a huge outdoor pool and one of the city’s most romantic restaurants featuring a menu inspired by the flavours of the Sonoran Desert. If that isn’t enough to get you reciting sonnets, then the free tequila-mango snow cones served poolside should loosen you up a little. Rooms from $160 per night.
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Casa Sedona Inn
Spread across an acre of pristine gardens, Casa Sedona Inn evokes country romance in spades. You can even book a ‘Romance Package’ which includes champagne, roses, chocolate truffles, flutes, and loose rose petals for added romance. For an extra special stay, opt for the Moondance Suite which features a two-person jetted spa and a viewing terrace overlooking the Mogollon Rim. The on-site restaurant serves up a seasonal menu outside on the Juniper Garden Patio beneath a canopy of juniper with red rock views too. Rooms from $240 per night.
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Enchantment Resort
The aptly-named Enchantment resort is set against the dramatic Red Rock (Photo: Booking.com)
This remote resort is nestled into one of Arizona’s most spectacular canyons in Sedona Red Rock country. The 70-acre estate boasts one of the best-looking backdrops in the country too, so unsurprisingly it’s a popular wedding destination. Light-filled guest rooms bring the terracotta outdoors inside with leather-covered benches and stony countertops. Each boasts walk-in rainfall showers, double sinks and a deep bathtub to sink into with a glass of wine. When you’ve tired of the views, you can hop into the Mii Amo adult-only destination spa, three swimming pools and tennis courts. Rooms from $600 per night.
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The Saguaro Scottsdale
Just steps from Oldtown Scottsdale, The Saguaro is bold, beautiful and budget-friendly. It’s the ideal backdrop for a romantic getaway in Arizona that isn’t all about the great outdoors. The decor is playful, with two palm-fringed pools, cabanas, the Nueva Latin spa serving up special desert treatments and poolside DJs. Over in the bar there are over 100 whiskeys to work your way through too. Scottsdale’s trendiest restaurants, bars and cafes are at your fingertips but for lazy days there’s the hotel’s ever-popular La Senora Cantina serving up fine Mexican fare throughout the day. You’ll get a complimentary margarita on arrival too. Rooms from $149 per night.
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