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Five days at the Arizona Biltmore – A Waldorf Astoria Resort hotel

by Feb 11, 2019United States

The Arizona Biltmore is a luxury resort hotel located in Phoenix, Arizona. It was built in 1929 and is most famous for the architectural influence of Frank Lloyd Wright in its design. 

Only one thing could get me to agree to plan an extended visit to Phoenix in July (no, really) – an all-inclusive special offer to stay at the Arizona Biltmore. Sure, the outside temps can get to be well above 100, but it is, as they say, a dry heat. Besides, Therese and I were either going to be indoors, by the pool, in the spa, or enjoying the hotel’s history and architecture. This was a total getaway, no running around to visit things, just hanging out.

Was I worried? Well, maybe just a bit.

The Arizona Biltmore is a Waldorf Astoria Resort hotel steeped in celebrity history. Its doors opened in 1929 and, to this day, it retains the interesting combination of art deco and Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced architecture. While the hotel certainly makes a lot of noise about its famous architect roots, the buildings were actually designed by Albert Chase McArthur, a student of Wright’s. Turns out Frank Lloyd Wright served as a consultant but only for a very short while. Nevertheless, prepare to be wowed by architecture, the luxurious grounds, the Frank Lloyd Wright style, and the Hollywood glamour that flavors many of the halls, lounge areas, and rooms.

Arizona Biltmore Lobby

Marilyn Monroe stayed here, and some very famous photos were taken by one of the pools. Clark Gable also frequented the Biltmore, as did Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and many others. Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, honeymooned here, too. We can’t began to relate the complete and fascinating history since it is robust, so be sure to take one of the Arizona Biltmore hotel history tours if you stay here. We did both the free History Tour that is 1.5 hours long and the Happy Hour History Tour which costs $25 and lasts just 45 minutes but includes libations and a little fun too.

Therese posing with Marilyn Monroe at the Arizona Biltmore

On the tours and elsewhere in the hotel you will hear that the tequila sunrise was invented at the Arizona Biltmore. Mixed drink historians might debate that, however. Around the same time, Agua Caliente hotel resort in Tijuana, Mexico (an escape destination for the rich and famous of Hollywood during prohibition) was making a very similar drink — albeit with water, not club soda or soda water. Perhaps the link is the Hollywood elite, who loved the tequila drink so much at one place (either the Biltmore or Agua Caliente) they asked a bartender at the other to make one. Either way, the original tequila sunrise is not what many will recognize since it is made with tequila, lime, grenadine, crème de cassis and soda water. Today’s ubiquitous tequila sunrise is made with orange juice as a main ingredient replacing the soda water. This modern version, made popular by the Rolling Stones and the Eagles, was first created at the Trident in Sausalito, Calif. – or so they say at the Trident. Enough about drinking….

Michael sampling a Tequila Sunrise at the Arizona Biltmore

The Biltmore staff is also very proud of the fact that every president (with the exception of Presidents Obama and  Trump) has stayed in its Grande Dame Signature Presidential Suite (it goes for roughly $1,000 a night, depending on the season, in case you are wondering).

Charlotte Sophie Biltmore

While the Arizona Biltmore is no longer the only fancy resort in Phoenix, its historic Frank Lloyd Wright and Hollywood roots, combined with two golf courses, an extensive spa, six tennis courts, eight swimming pools, well-known restaurants, and sprawling grounds with lawn games provide a draw that keeps the hotel attracting guests and conventions throughout the year.

HITT Tip: Look for those online deals and packages! The Biltmore is certainly on the pricey side if you try to book a room in-season (i.e. in the winter, give or take), but if you manage to secure one of its off-season all-inclusive packages, the deals are truly amazing. Our summer deal included vouchers for three meals a day (valid anywhere, including the snack shop or bar), waived resort fees, and a significantly reduced room rate. (There are also other specials throughout the year.)

Checking in

We arrived mid-July and were whisked a short 16.9 miles by Uber from the nearby Phoenix International Airport to the Arizona Biltmore nestled beneath the shadow of Camelback Mountain. A testament to the hotel staff training, we checked in amid a systemwide Internet outage, meaning reservations were being done the old-fashioned way – with paper. Despite all that, we soon found ourselves luxuriating in a 400-square-foot historic Cottage Room complete with lovely private patio – it also boasts a fire pit, but trust me, at 100+ degrees Fahrenheit, that was not going to see ANY use. And it really was a bit toasty to be lounging on the patio.

Arizona Biltmore Cottage Exterior

HITT Tip: Beware conferences! The Arizona Biltmore has an expansive conference center next door, meaning if you are seeking a relatively quiet escape to a spa hotel, and a conference is booked during your stay, your stay might be less relaxing than you hoped. If you are there at the same time as a conference, you can expect all the common areas – bars, lobby, pool, restaurants and even the normally peaceful outdoor areas to be filled with conference attendees. With laptops. Working. Planning. Doing conference things.

Enjoying the grounds

Despite the heat, we found the expansive green spaces to be wonderful for strolls in the early evening – sometimes a beverage in hand. Many of the walkways have roofs, not only to protect from the sun but also from those Arizona thunderstorms.

Although the croquet mallets were broken (huge disappointment) thus forcing a cancelation of the planned croquet match in the cooler early morning hours, we did secure several putters and pitted our somewhat mediocre putting skills against the resort’s mini-golf course that winds through the grounds.  Even in the heat, we noted couples and families were loving the games. There is also lawn chess and cornhole bean bag toss.

Enjoying a bit of putt putt in the rough at the Arizona Biltmore

While we visited all eight swimming pools – yes, we said eight – we only tried a couple for a little water walking and refreshment. The Paradise Pool, which is really three pools combined into one massive fun-zone, is the most crowded. There is a swim-up bar and a 92-foot waterslide, oh and of course cabanas (extra fee), and outdoor movies on some evenings. The Catalina Pool was reportedly Marilyn Monroe’s favorite (albeit remodeled extensively since) and was recommended to us as the quietest, which it is. The Ocatilla Pool is also more secluded, but has very warm water.

Arizona Biltmore Pool Movie Night

Food and libations

The food at the Biltmore is simply amazing. We ate breakfast and dinner (other than one night) at Frank & Alberts. We’d give the service six stars if we could, and the breakfast buffet … oh my, how good that was! Which is why you notice we did not say we ate lunch. We used our lunch vouchers for a happy hour beverage and appetizers each day, then ate a later dinner.

Biltmore Breakfast Eggs Fruit

We did eat one night at Wright’s at the Biltmore, and while it promised to be THE dining experience of our trip, it came up far short, both in terms of service and also food quality – something we did not expect from a AAA Four Diamond award-winning restaurant. Maybe it was an off night….

Fitness and spa

While I curled up with an incredible book I was reading, Therese did take advantage of the complete fitness center and was most impressed with the offerings (and quiet!). We never did make it to the spa to partake in any treatments, which we hear are amazing.

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11 Comments

  1. yarasam

    What a fun way to spend a hotel summer day in Arizona! The Biltmore looks fantastic, I love the decor, ambiance and ton of activities to do around. Thanks for sharing your experience.

  2. Karie

    The Arizona Biltmore looks like a lovely place to spend some quality time away from the hot weather. Interesting to know that celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable etc and Presidents have stayed here. And also that the tequila sunrise was invented at this hotel. There are plenty of fun activities to keep one busy and the cottage room with the private patio looks so inviting! Thanks for sharing!

  3. Yukti

    Arizona Biltmore looks like a luxury place to stay and also it is great that many celebrities stayed here. I would love to take a dip in Marilyn Monroe’s favorite pool. Also good to know that food is amazing here.

  4. The Travel Bunny

    The hotel looks great, and yes, I was thinking it’s on the pricey side. That’s why I really like your HITT tips. The one about conferences is really useful, I never thought about checking nearby events in the time I’d like to stay somewhere, to avoid busy / noisy neighbors.

  5. marvi ocampo

    Woow.. This sounds like a fun and luxurious stay! The landscape looks amazing and definitely well-kept. And that breakfast looks filling! No wonder you no longer had lunch 😉

  6. Darah

    What a great hotel! It’s funny that they tout being a hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright even though he was a short term consultant and it was actually designed by Albert Chase McArthur.

  7. TravelBlissNow

    That looks like a great place to relax, and enjoy the pools and activities on site. As you say, we all get too caught up on our “vacation” going places and seeing things, rather than actually taking a break. And that breakfast….looks worth the trip alone!

  8. HI Travel Tales

    Would you believe we were too busy relaxing to fit in the spa? 😉 Just means we have to go back.

  9. HI Travel Tales

    Yes, we stepped up and took one for the team … full luxury suffering. 😉 Your family would love it! And during the summer when there are the best deals is ideal. There were quite a few families enjoying the games and of course, the pools, when we were there.

  10. HI Travel Tales

    You AND your little one would love this. Summer pricing is the absolute best … in fact insanely good. And the mini golf, chess, and pools are such fun!!!

  11. Daniels Beitss

    Wow! The Arizona Biltmore looks like a great place to stay and by the looks of it, you defo had a great time checking out the accommodation. Would love to check out this stay (I might even have a quick look at the prices online right now). My little one would love a go on that mini golf course. Great write up and I think I need a cocktail now. 🙂

Rating the Arizona Biltmore

96%

Our Rating Our hotel ratings will tell you what we think of an individual property and are not a comparison to other hotels in the area. They are valid at the time of our visit. The rating below is specific to package deals at the Arizona Biltmore. We paid for our visit to the Biltmore with a summer package deal. Our ratings are a percent, with 100% being perfect and 0% some place not even a rat would stay. We rate cleanliness (dust on the windows, dirt under the beds, unclean bathroom fixtures, etc.), comfort (quiet, comfort of the bed, room amenities like robes or coffee machines, etc.), hotel amenities (free parking, breakfast included, free Wi-Fi, free bikes, fitness gear, workout room, pool, etc. -- and we are not fans of hotels who say they include all kinds of “free” amenities, but then charge a facilities fee!), location (ease of getting around by foot, bike, and car), and value (did we feel we got a good return for the amount paid).

Cleanliness
100%
Comfort
100%
Amenities
90%
Location
90%
Value (Relative to Summer Package Pricing)
100%

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About The Author

Michael Hodgson

Adventurer, curious traveler, photojournalist, and lover of gin. Winner of multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals from NATJA for travel writing & photography excellence -- earning medals every year since 2018. Gold medal winner 2021 to 2024 in the IFWTWA Travel Photography Awards, Best in Show award winner in the 2023 and 2024 photography awards, and winner of the Excellence in Journalism award in 2022. Winner of a Juror's Award and Best in Show in the 2023 California State Fair photography competition. Still searching for the perfect gin and tonic.