The View by name, the view by nature – this simple yet comfortable hotel has an incredible position overlooking the iconic buttes and messas of Monument Valley. It sits within the Navajo Tribal Park, adjacent to the visitors’ centre and restaurant, and has been carefully designed to blend with the exquisite landscape. Each room has a balcony with vistas unlike anywhere else – waking up early for the sunrise is a must. Each of the 95 rooms have a private eastern facing balcony with views unlike anywhere else in world. StarView Rooms are located on the top floor and have unforgettable views of the stars and the entirety of Monument Valley.
Right on the shores of Lake Powell, the aptly-named Lake Powell Resort offers a fantastic setting for swimming, kayaking, boating or fishing. You’ll never run short of things to do on Lake Powell, with fantastic waters for swimming, kayaking, boating or fishing, sandy beaches and land-based activities including golf, horseriding and guided jeep tours. Try a romantic dinner cruise. There’s also a swimming pool and fitness centre on site. The resort has a number of dining options to suit all requirements, from gourmet dinners at the Rainbow Room and pub meals with a view in the Driftwood lounge, to family-friendly Wahweap Grille. There is also a Starbucks and full room service menu. There are 350 rooms each equipped with television, refrigerator, coffeemaker and clock.
Zion National Park’s only inpark hotel, this charming lodge is right at the heart of the Zion Canyon and just a short walk or drive (or a shuttle ride in the summer) from the trail heads of the most popular Zion hikes. Surrounded by amazing 2,000 foot canyon walls, the Lodge is a perfect starting point for outdoors exploring, with the Narrows, Angels Landing, and Emerald Pools trails just nearby. You can go hiking, horseback riding or partake in cycling tours. In the summer, park rangers offer daily talks on the local environment, and there’s also a gift shop featuring beautiful Native American handicrafts. The Red Rock Grill offers splendid views of the astonishing surroundings alongside quality cuisine and an elegant atmosphere. For casual outdoor dining try the Castle Dome Café, serving American favourites in a lovely setting. There are 121 rooms and cabins available, all with air-conditioning, telephone and radio alarm clock. The lovely and historic cabins have gas log fireplaces and private porches, while the motel-style rooms also have private porch or balcony.
The Grand Canyon Village’s premier lodging, the elegant El Tovar is a wonderful turn-of-the-twentieth-century lodge built in the style of part-Swiss chalet and part-Norwegian villa. You can't get a better Grand Canyon setting than this – the hotel has the prime position right on the South Rim. Feel part of the canyon's history at this former Santa Fe Railway hotel and follow in the footsteps of those who pioneered tourism in the area and people of note such as Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein and Bill Clinton. The hotel's dining room is a cosy space that resembles a log cabin. You can get hearty meals here which are the perfect fuel after a day of hiking down into the canyon or along the rim. Like in all the hotels within the boundaries of the national park, the rooms at El Tovar are simple and rather traditional in style, however, no two rooms are the same.
Overlooking the Colorado River, this charming resort is a peaceful retreat close to Moab. An ideal choice for holidays that are focused on enjoying the outdoors as well rejuvenating the body and soul at the onsite spa. Activities on offer here include photography tours, off road adventures and hikes and of course horse riding.
This resort-style hotel offers a relaxed ambience, great facilities and setting just a few minutes from the entrance of the national park and the Grand Canyon Village. The Inn has an outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and bowling centre and flightseeing trips over the Grand Canyon from the nearby airport can be pre-booked or arranged locally. There is a lively sports bar and a restaurant and café. Try the Coronado Room for fine dining and an excellent wine list or sample a breakfast or lunch of Southwestern regional specialities at the Canyon Café, or ask the kitchen for your own takeaway picnic box. The Saguaro Lounge is a buzzing sports bar serving pizza, nachos and other favourites alongside fun family games like bowling and billiards. The Fireside Lounge is a civilised oasis where you can sip an evening cocktail in style. Evoking the style of the grand hotels of the old West, the 250 rooms are elegant yet inviting. Each offers television with in-room movies, telephone, Wi-Fi, tea and coffee maker and radio alarm clock. Minibars and extra beds are available on request.
The luxurious and extraordinary Amangari is a sleek, boutique sandstone hideaway in breathtaking, untamed Utah terrain. You’ll feel a million miles away from the outside, yet you’re just a 20 minute drive from the Glen Canyon Dam and four and half hours from the bright lights of Vegas. Luckily, Amangari has everything you need to embrace your setting; there’s a lavish desert-view spa, yoga pavilion and remarkable outdoor pool which is built around a natural rock formation. You'll want to soak in – or by – the water for hours just taking in the incredible landscapes around you. There are also plenty of adrenalin-filled adventures available on site. Imagine starting your day in complete awe as you take to the skies in a hot air balloon; the red rock landscapes of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument take on a completely different guise from above. There are also helicopter flights, rock climbing, palaeontology tours, kayaking and desert horse riding. The view and setting are not the only things you'll want to write home about – the food is definitely worth a mention too. The resort's chef conjures up some incredible South West-inspired cuisine using ingredients sourced from as nearby as possible and there are dishes created right in front of your eyes on hot stones and in a wood-fired oven. And you don't have to miss out on those views either as the dining room has wonderful floor-to-ceiling windows that seem to invite the inside in.
This fantastic resort combines the beauty of the Sonaran Desert with an abundance of activities and luxurious amenities. The hotel’s unique Native American and Environmental Learning Center showcases some of the most recognised indigenous artisans and offers guests gives you the chance to learn about Hopi culture. Five restaurants serve a choice of cuisines ranging from Japanese to south western while a choice of bars includes the Center Stage Bar which features live music every night.
In the high mountain town of Flagstaff within 500 acres of ponderosa pines, Little America Hotel sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks. The scenery here is outstanding, and it’s one of America’s snowiest areas. It’s great as an affordable base from which to enjoy the highlights of the Colorado Plateau, including the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley both within an 80-mile radius, and is just seven miles from the Arizona Snowball.
For a luxurious yet adventurous experience spend some time at this authentic American dude ranch which has been operating since 1868. Nestled among some of the region’s most stunning scenic landscapes, this all-inclusive working ranch is set on 640 acres of the Rincon and Catalina Mountain foothills. The dining room, overlooking the Rincon mountain range, is the location of three lavish daily meals that change throughout the week. Several speciality food events are held each week, like the Old Homestead Breakfast Ride, Mexican Fiesta Night, and Cottonwood Grove Barbeque with live entertainment. There’s also a bar for relaxing after a day riding, two swimming pools, a tennis court and fitness centre. Included activities abound, such as horseriding, guided hiking, mountain biking, fishing and nature walks. The ranch is created from adobe walls and Santa Fe-style architecture, with each of the 74 rooms warmly decorated with traditional artisanal southwestern textiles and furnishings. Lodging choices include cosy Redington Rooms and spacious Coronado Casitas with patios and fireplaces.
Located at the foot of Camelback Mountain, The Phoenician is a magnificent desert playground. The resort’s highlight is the 27- hole golf course, one of the finest in the region – and in Scottsdale that’s a quite the accolade! There are also tennis courts, a large pool complex, a tranquil spa and a selection of signature activities. These include art tours, smart phone photography classes and a guided hike up Camelback Mountain (subject to change).
The View, Monument Valley
Lake Powell Resort, Lake Powell
Zion Lodge, Zion National Park
El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon
Sorrel River Ranch & Spa, Moab
Best Western Premier Grand Canyon Squire Inn, Tusayan
Amangiri
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch
Little America Hotel Flagstaff
Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson
The Phoenician
