The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale

We had the Phoenician on our list for a while, after staying at the Biltmore last time, and overall it was average at best. There were definitely highlights, but given the high price, this place should do better. Highlights: the game room was great, the front desk super helpful, and the food was really good. The Iberia Pluma in particular was delicious. The pool was warmed (good since the temps dropped) and overall it felt more spread out and spacious than the Biltmore. Lowlights: the rooms were a bit run down. There was a shelf that was falling off and the paint job on the interior doors was flaking and cracking. Parking next to our Casita was too small and almost always full. The golf course was completely booked while we were there, which was disappointing - maybe they should reserve some spots for guests. The biggest challenge was the day-to-day room cleaning. The person would show up too early (9am) and when we would ask them to come by later, they just wouldn’t show up. And of the few times they did, they left empty coffee cups, didn’t refill the shower soap (despite us asking), and it took me specifically asking for more tissues when our box got soaked by the sink drainage (I had empty the box inside the holder and turned the holder on its side to indicate that it was empty - and nope, they didn’t bother filling it). Again, there were bright spots, but given the price range for this place, I was pretty disappointed with things you’d find at hotels at a much lower price point.

Amazing hotel, service and property. Due to service provided by Bonvoy as a Titanium Elite Member I caution any considering a stay at a Marriott property.

Went for a company sales meeting. The property is huge! And isolated. I’m not sure I ever figured out where I was. Everyone I interacted with (minus one guy at the front desk) was helpful and cheerful. The food was good, typical food I would expect for being part of a large group, but they did it well! It’s an older property, but has a charm about it, where it’s dated feel sort of works. The property backs up to the hill and has walking paths with gorgeous plants with information about what they are. There are several pools, so it never felt crowded. Only one had a bar attendant, but I’m not sure they were expecting we would have much time to spend there so it might not have made sense to staff it up for our little bit of time off. Wasn’t a big deal. The rooms were fine and the bathrooms were huge with a big separate bathtub. Overall, I enjoyed my stay and I would recommend for a large event or even a family event or wedding. They handled it very well. I don’t know that I would go back on my own, only because there are so many other great spots in the area but if you wanted to get somewhere and post up. This could be your spot.

I had high expectations for The Phoenician given its reputation, but our recent visit fell short of what should be a five-star experience. Our spa day started nicely with morning classes, but lunch service at the rooftop restaurant significantly disrupted the rest of the day. Food took over 80 minutes to arrive — delivered just minutes before scheduled spa appointments. One guest had to leave without eating, and the chicken kabob served to me was visibly undercooked. This left us rushing into spa services (about $450 per person) stressed and hungry, unable to enjoy the amenities that are a core part of the experience. Our steakhouse dinner was also disappointing from a service standpoint. The interaction felt rushed and overly transactional, as though we were being pushed through rather than welcomed and valued as guests. The tone and overall environment did not reflect the level of hospitality expected at a luxury property. What stood out most was the lack of coordination in addressing concerns — issues felt segmented by department rather than handled as one integrated guest experience. Having stayed at comparable local properties such as The Sanctuary and Andaz, both delivered noticeably superior service and overall experience. Based on this visit, those would be better options for guests seeking true luxury hospitality in the area. The Phoenician property itself is beautiful, and the spa services were good once underway, but service execution and guest experience management did not align with five-star expectations.

Facilities worn down and tired and dated. Staff was nice but nothing special as far as curating an experience. F and B was just ok. Golf was spectacular. Pool was very tired, water slide very old, facilities in need of serious facelift and upgrade. Location is great but would be so much nicer if upgraded.