Canyon Suites Resort Scottsdale Introduction

Scottsdale has no shortage of luxury resorts available, and many of them start to look similar when trying to select a property. Most will be attached to (or nearby) a world-class golf course, many will be massive with sprawling acres of desert landscape, and much of the design is similar with distinct southwest decor inspiring many of the guest rooms. We decided to stay at The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale for the first two nights of our trip and wanted to try something else before heading to Las Vegas. We settled on the Canyon Suites Resort after a considerable amount of research for a few reasons:

• As a member of Starwood (it’s a Luxury Collection property), our status benefits would guarantee some additional perks
• The entire property has recently been renovated, including guest rooms and pool area
• The hotel is actually a smaller, more exclusive area of The Phoenician Resort (kind of a hotel within a hotel) and seemed more tranquil than some of the other resorts

For booking, we decided to go through American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts (a benefit of our American Express Platinum Card) since paid rates were running about $400CAD per night. While not cheap, this was still a decent value considering the package came with daily breakfast, room upgrade, and a $100USD food and beverage credit for our one-night stay. SPG point redemptions are also available, though given this is a category 7 property where free-nights range from 30,000-35,000 points/night, paying cash seemed like a better value for this stay. If, however, you were planning a trip outside of the summer season (when rates are low), using points could represent very decent value as paid rates tend to exceed $1,000 per night regularly. Remember that all Starwood point redemptions offer the 5th night free, which could make for even better value!

Canyon Suites Resort Arrival

We drove from Sedona and arrived to the property mid-afternoon (made great time in our Audi A4 rental from Silvercar). The hotel is located in the southern section of Scottsdale, which is a little less beautiful than the Northern area where The Four Seasons is located. Don’t get me wrong, there was nothing unpleasant about the property and surrounding areas, but it just didn’t feel as natural. It felt almost like they came in with a bulldozer and levelled the area only to rebuild with more aesthetically pleasing vegetation and grass. The entrance at the road made a good first impression, with nice signage and water features. There was a small security checkpoint at the entrance before making your way up to the main building.

Near the end of the driveway you could stay right to find the larger Phoenician Resort, or head left to enter the smaller Canyon Suites Resort.

We were greeted at the door by a friendly staff member who welcomed us to the property and directed us inside for check-in. While the lobby was on the small side, it was beautiful, with a nice water feature as the centrepiece.

Check-in was really fast, and we were happy to hear we had been upgraded to a One-Bedroom Canyon Suite. It should be noted that despite the name (Canyon ‘Suites’), the entry level rooms aren’t actually suites, but just really spacious rooms. Every other room is a suite though, with defined seating area and separate bedroom(s).

Canyon Suites Resort One-Bedroom Suite

Our suite, 8220, was located on the first floor heading left from the lobby (there are only two floors at the resort – not sure how they picked the room numbers). The hallways were recently refurbished with new carpets and fresh finishes, though I found the neutral colours a bit boring and definitely not as nice as the lobby. My first impression of the room was that it was large, measuring in at 1,200 square feet. The door opened into a large foyer, with a closet area and powder room to the left.

Just inside the foyer was the large living room with comfortable seating for 6. Seating was arrange around a coffee table with wall mounted television, just adjacent to the sliding doors to the outdoor patio. Also in the main seating area was a dedicated workspace with comfortable chair, and a minibar with fridge, Nespresso coffee maker and a selection of snacks.

The minibar area was well stocked with fridge, snacks, and a Nespresso coffee maker.

Shortly after our arrival a small welcome amenity arrived, consisting of bottled water and some treats. They were placed neatly on the coffee table next to a small selection of magazines.

Around the corner from the living room was a large dining room table. I really appreciate having a dedicated space to eat, and find it quite rare for hotel rooms to have, even in suites. My guess is they would rather you eat comfortably in one of the hotel restaurants, which makes sense from a revenue perspective.

The bedroom was separated from the dining room by sliding doors. The space was quite large, with a comfortable king bed opposite a television, with a small seating area in the corner and doors to the ensuite next to the closets.

There were tables on each side of the bed, and the lighting was good (including integrated reading lights). Linens and pillows were soft and high-quality.

The master bathroom was very nice, and featured a large soaking tub, dual sink vanity, separate water closet and walk-in rainforest shower. Amenities were ample (including bath salts), though I was a bit disappointed by the house brand toiletries. While most people will consider it an amenity, I’m not actually a fan of televisions in the bathroom. I like my ensuites to be spa-like, and nothing about TV is relaxing, in my opinion.

One of my favourite features of the room was the large patio, which stretched the length of the room and was accessible through sliding doors from the living room or dining area. Seating was great, with a small table on the right side and a large circular lounger on the left.

My only complaint was the view, which was of a construction area (the hotel was building a large new common area for resort guests). Even once complete, I don’t think the views will be too spectacular. Unlike The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, I found the property to be a bit sterile and artificial (grass is nice, but a bit out of place in the desert).

Canyon Suites Resort Common Areas

Every inch of the resort was beautiful and spotlessly clean. The lobby lounge was a great place to relax indoors when the heat got too intense and featured a good amount of seating with views of the outdoor water feature and desert landscape.

Outside the lounge was more seating beside the beautiful water feature.

We spent most of our time at the pool (it happened to be the eclipse day while we were there, though the clouds prevented a really good view), and I have to say it’s one of my favourite outdoor pool areas ever. Service was phenomenal, and there was never an issue finding seating. There were also cabanas for rent, and I loved the contrast between the bright yellow and desert backdrop – stunning!

Canyon Suites Resort Breakfast

Daily breakfast was included with our American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts booking, and though it was only a continetal spread, everything was delicious and presented very well. There was a selection of breads and pastires, a lot of fresh fruit, and a few different hot and cold items, such as steal cut oatmeal and smoked salmon. Unfortunately there were no eggs or breakfast meats available, which is fairly common for included breakfasts at luxury hotels.

Brad and I were heading to Las Vegas after check-out, so we decided to get going shortly after the eclipse ended. The front desk agent asked us how our stay was, offered some bottled water, and wished us a safe drive. We were happy to see two leather luggage tags in the car as a parting gift, which I thought was a really nice touch by the hotel.

Canyon Suites Resort Scottsdale Bottom Line

We had a really nice stay overall – from the great service to the enormous suite, everything was seamless for our short visit. I really appreciated how exclusive the property felt, as I generally find resorts to lack personal touches often present at city hotels. I think the idea of having a ‘hotel within a hotel’ is a great idea for those looking for more of a true ‘luxury resort’ experience.

This property recently underwent a massive renovation, and is probably the freshest resort in Scottsdale. However, unlike some of the older properties in the area, I found the decor to be a bit sterile in comparison, with much of the ‘Southwest’ style missing from guest rooms and common areas. It really could have been any luxury hotel in any city once in the room, which I found a bit disappointing. The grounds, however, were immaculately landscaped with the pool area being a highlight of the property.

For anyone considering a stay, I would strongly encourage you to check your options before booking. As a member of Starwood, points redemptions are possible, but as a category 7 hotel a free night will run you anywhere from 30,000-35,000 points per night. Paid rates vary wildly based on the season, and can be anywhere from $350-$1,000+ per night. If you find yourself staying during peak season, a points redemption will probably represent good value (especially if you can take advantage of 5th night free). If however, like us, you stay in the summer while rates are low, consider booking direct with the hotel or through American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts for some added benefit.

It’s a good thing Brad and I both love the summer heat in Arizona, as the peak-season prices are too high in my opinion (and I have a tough time redeeming so many points for a hotel stay). However, I would definitely consider a return visit if we find ourselves back in the summer, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a more exclusive resort experience in Scottsdale!

Where’s your favourite place to stay in Scottsdale? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below!