The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort

After a three-year, $20 million makeover, The Phoenician—Scottsdale’s grande dame resort—has reemerged triumphant. The 647-room complex’s aesthetic now fuses France of the late 1930’s with a dash of Southwestern flair. Grandmotherly furnishings have been banished from the main lobby; the rooms and suites have been “un-done” in muted earth tones; and guests staying in the secluded, 60-room Canyon Suites have access to an S550 Mercedes Benz and driver. With the hotel’s 2-to-1 staff-to-guest ratio, you can easily forget that you’re sharing three golf courses, nine pools, 12 tennis courts, and six restaurants with 1,800 other guests. Chef Bradford Thompson, formerly of Manhattan’s Daniel, maintains the award-winning status of Mary Elaine’s (French with a modern twist), while the Jamaican-themed poolside menu works well for lunch.