• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7

Fairmont Princess Restaurants & Rooms

Of course, there are many other dining options, for when you're not at the spa.  The Bourbon Steak, right off the main lobby, is a contemporary American steakhouse, which has set out to help you make the best burgers in Arizona with their build-your-own burger.  My son, the burger lover, would have quite literally eaten this place up.

My daughter on the other hand preferred the atmosphere and cuisine of the LV Bistro.  The LV Bistro leans towards fresh organic and local produce, all natural meats and fresh smoothies made on the spot.

There’s also nothing stopping you from grabbing a meal at the nearby Kierland Commons, an upscale Main Street lifestyle center that blends upscale shopping, dining and entertainment.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a AAA Five-Diamond hotel so the rooms are luxurious and beautiful, and a treat for the senses.  Calming décor surrounds you with earthy colors and textures, like dark wood, marble, and tiles.  Fine linens cover wonderfully cozy beds. (You might actually wish they were less comfortable, so you wouldn’t want to spend all day in them.) 

This resort actually finds many ways to make getting up easier, such as Nespresso in-room coffee machines with a selection of rich coffee, decaf and organic teas, and an inspired innovation of the reminder wake up call (a second wake up call 15 minutes after the first, like a concierge snooze alarm). 

Our room had a nice size table that could be used as a workstation or for room service, a flat screen TV, an overstuffed mini bar, a balcony with a view of the East pool and the McDowell Mountains.  The bathroom was a haven: a large tile shower, a deep bathtub, a WC, double sinks and all the amenities including shampoos and lotions, a scale, and a 7- year-old sized bathrobe.  Suites like the on we stayed in come with a king-size bed or two double beds. 

The pair of beds was fine for my teeny daughter and me and probably for happy siblings under age 10, but if you're traveling with a larger group or teens you might want to get one of the one-bedroom suites.  With a fold-down Murphy bed in the living room, a kitchenette with a fridge and microwave and an extra bathroom, it would be more comfortable, especially for an extended stay. 

Another choice are the Fairmont Gold Rooms, which reminded me of a pied a terre or a studio. These luxurious, self-enclosed rooms give you the feeling of staying at a guesthouse on an estate rather than at a hotel.

Details, Details

All in all, my daughter and I both had wonderful individual experiences as well as mother-daughter bonding time at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.  There are plenty of sightseeing opportunities in Scottsdale, such as hot air balloon rides, the Scottsdale Museum of the West and more, but for Daelyn and me the hotel offered ample excitement; especially the National Geographic Explorer’s Club.  Unique and innovative, it made for an exciting and memorable weekend that may be the highlight of your summer.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (480/585-4848, 866/540-4495), is located at 7575 East Princess Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona 85255, close by the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.  Summer time is the best value here, although Arizona can get quite hot, as it's a very popular resort and conference center that is heavily booked in the winter season.

For more information about the National Geographic Explorer’s club at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, parents can email the staff at SCP.NGExplorersCamp@fairmont.com