A Luxury Desert Oasis at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale

When it comes to luxurious weekend getaways it’s hard to top a visit to Scottsdale, Arizona. Red rock mountains meet azure blue skies, and the Old West meets high style. Minutes from desert adventure and home to some of the best spas in the world, it’s here that I found a luxury desert oasis at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale.

Upon arrival at the resort I was immediately taken by the expansive indoor-outdoor lobby with majestic McDowell Mountains on full display. Warmly greeted with a welcome drink, I spent my first moments at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale taking in the beautiful desert landscape.

I was going to like it here.

Rooms at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale range from spacious standard rooms to grand 1200 square foot casitas with views of the resort’s lagoon and golf course. I had a palm suite with a supremely comfortable king bed a generous sitting and a terrace with views of the serene water garden. While my room was great the real draw of the resort was outside.

For a resort in the middle of the Sonoran Desert I was pleasantly surprised with how green the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale was. Palm trees towered over gardens of cacti and desert flowers and a surprising amount of bird life called the resort home. The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale was truly an oasis in the middle of the Arizona desert.

Scottsdale is well known for it’s world class luxury resorts featuring over the top pools that are the perfect antidote to the blazing Arizona sun.  Featuring a 2.5 acre aquatic playground with 10 pools and a 30′ high speed water slide The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale has elevated lounging by the pool into an art form.

While I was tempted to check out some of the amazing restaurants in Scottsdale I couldn’t pass up a chance to dine at SWB. I had a front row seat to the culinary magic of Chef Juan and his team during the nightly “Wine Me, Dine Me” dinner at SWB, a four course meal complete with tequila and wine pairings at the Hyatt’s upscale southwestern bistro. Chef Juan marries southwestern flavors with classic French technique and the result is nothing short of exquisite. Each course was more delicious than the last; pan seared scallops with honeydew tomatillo salsa, butter lettuce salad with candy cane beets and strawberry viniagrette, Mexican sea bass with a salad of cucumber and pichuberry ( a Peruvian superfood now being grown outside of Phoenix) and a grand finale of double chocolate mousse cake with hazelnut and pomegranate gelee. My tastebuds were definitely happy.

Scottsdale is a mecca for luxurious destination spas but I can’t imagine any of them topping the Hyatt’s Spa Avania. After a day full of adventures including standup paddleboarding at Saguaro Lake and exploring Mesa’s growing agritourism scene I was well in need of some relaxation and pampering and as soon as I entered the spa any care I had instantly melted away. I enjoyed the sacred nature facial which started off with my choice of music and signature aromatherapy scent to enhance my treatment. After an hour of bliss at the hands of my masterful esthetician I spent the rest of the afternoon at the spa’s private French mineral pool soaking in the shadow of towering palm trees.

This is the good life.

After two days of being thoroughly pampered I was treated the watercolor sky as evening turned into night. Vegas can keep it’s neon lights, I’ll take a Scottsdale sunset any day.

I was graciously hosted at the Hyatt  Regency Scottsdale Resort by Visit Phoenix but as always all opinions remain my own.