Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa Review

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale sits on what used to be Gainey Ranch, which is surrounded by beautiful mountains and a desert valley. But before it became the hotel it is today, Gainey Ranch was an active Arabian horse ranch that spanned 640 acres. In 1980, Daniel C. Gainey sold most of the land to Markland Properties, keeping 80 acres for the Gainey family. Six years later, the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale opened its doors. As part of the Hyatt brand, Hyatt Regencies caters to business travelers and wedding parties, while also offering an upscale resort experience for leisure travelers. The Scottsdale hotel is designed with a mix of modern and southwest elements, some of which were designed by architect Vernon Swaback who is a former student of Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Lobby

Through the entrance doors I was met with large stone pillars and a staircase directly in front of me, further leading down to an open common area. The lobby is less of a room and more of a long wide hallway that wraps around the second floor of the resort. I was initially confused as to where exactly the “front” desk was at first, as there were no signs directing me to the check-in area. I wound up carrying my suitcase down the stairs to what was the bar and restaurant area, and then carried my suitcase back up the stairs when I finally noticed a desk off to the right and finally found check-in.

The front desk attendant was helpful with a welcoming smile. She offered me a delicious welcome margarita and after checking in, made my way to the elevators (this time there were signs) to find my room.

Other Public Spaces

On the first floor is the main common area. The bar features typical bar seating with a mix of smaller tables and couches filling up the lounge area around the stage. This area connects to the back outdoor patio that is filled with native plants including a nearly 9-foot cactus. It also overlooks the Sonoran mountains in the distance. Talented local musicians also perform at center stage.

With a family and adults-only pool, the pool area was a guest favorite. Several guests I spoke to were locals who chose the Hyatt Regency as their staycation specifically for these amenities. Each area has several connected pools with hot and cold tubs. The family area includes fountains, and a 30-foot waterslide. The adults section also features cabanas that come with complimentary water and snacks, even couches and a TV. 

From private treatment rooms to outdoor mineral pools, the Avania spa is a large space with many ways to relax. Indoors you’ll also find a sauna, steam room, and a full-service salon. I arrived early for my appointment and the staff was able to accommodate me right away. They provide you with a plush robe and sandals to change into, and cucumber water to sip on during the wait. The masseuse was thorough and firm throughout my Swedish massage, helping me work out a kink in my neck from the flight. Afterwards, I spent some time in the steam room, which was enhanced by a eucalyptus spray and finished off my time at the spa with a rinse in an 11-point shower.

For the dedicated gym-goers, the fitness center is connected to the spa and offers the standard treadmills, ellipticals, the usual weight machines, free weights, mats, and resistance bands to cover all types of workouts. Guests also have access to complimentary morning classes that vary from yoga to more intense boot-camp style classes. There is also a tennis court on the property.

Rooms

There are 493 rooms, 31 of which are suites. The rooms are quite spacious with the average room being around 400 square feet and suites provide even more space at up to 1,200 square feet. For those who would like a bit more privacy or perhaps are coming with a large group, we suggest booking a “casita." This full residence features multiple bedrooms, a living room, full chef’s kitchen, as well as a stocked grill, and multiple patios. Otherwise, most standard rooms offer a courtyard view or a mountain view, while ground-floor rooms have a patio with a fire pit. 

I stayed in a King Room on the ground floor, so one that came with a fire pit. Because I visited in August, I opted not to light it. However, it was a nice place to sit and have a coffee in the morning. One thing to note is that all the fire pits are very close to each other and therefore don't provide much privacy. The room itself was spacious with a simple yet chic design and comes equipped with a standard safe, mini fridge, and coffee maker with K-cups from Starbucks. The room also had a 65” flat screen tv and a iHome docking station along with wireless port chargers. 

There was no overhead lighting, but several lamps around the room as well as a privacy veil on the very large windows to allow natural light in. There were several outlets around the room, including at the small desk where I was able to take meetings. The AC was very powerful but not too loud, which I was grateful for since I was visiting Arizona in August.  There was also a large glass door that led out to a courtyard where every room had their own fire pit and chairs. The direct view was of the courtyard, but I was still able to see the mountains through the palm trees. 

Bathroom

The bathroom is equally as spacious with a large terrazzo countertop and deep gold sink. The large mirror is lit on both sides and an additional beauty light — it also has a digital clock — can be turned on separately into the mirror. The toilet is slightly separated by a small partition wall and the rainfall shower was immaculate and large. The bathroom is stocked with toiletries from Pharmacopia, however upon my arrival the body wash was empty and not refilled during my stay. While the water pressure was great, it did take about ten minutes for the water to warm up for every shower. Towels were fluffy and plentiful, but a robe is only available upon request. 

Food & Drink

With multiple restaurants, the food options are plentiful at Hyatt Regency — I never ran out of options to try. SWB is a casual family-friendly bistro, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, has excellent service and reasonable resort prices. It has an eclectic menu that features incredible items like pork belly bao and a coconut cake. Alto ristorante is an Italian restaurant perfect for date night. They recently developed a new dessert menu; it features a deconstructed tiramisu that was my absolute favorite, but you can’t go wrong no matter what you order. There is also Noh which serves some of the best sushi in the area. If you’re by the pool you’ll be impressed by H2Oasis’ menu that will please both kids and adults. There is also Canyon Market that sells Starbucks coffee as well as quick carry-out food options and snacks. Room service is provided from a limited SWB menu but arrives to your room lightning fast. 

The beverage program is where I think Hyatt Regency Scottsdale truly shines and is "the most comprehensive cocktail program in all of Hyatt,” according to Hyatt's former Beverage Director, Jonathan Egged. The resort has a seasonal cocktail menu inspired by their private barrel collection. This allows the resort to create unique cocktails including barrel cocktails, house infusions like their cucumber jalapeno tequila, and their wintertime chai-vanilla whiskey. It also allows the resort to hand pick the best barrels from famous distilleries like Buffalo Trace and Whistle Pig. While Hyatt has had its own in house wine and spirits for a while, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale is the first singular resort to create its own beer “Gainey Lager'' that they partnered with a local brewery to create. They are currently working with the only black-owned brewery in Scottsdale to create their second exclusive beer.

While the cocktail list is impressive and a great place to start, the bartenders were also exceedingly friendly and eager to whip up a new drink on the spot based on what I was craving. The resort has three bars, the Center Stage Bar where there is live music every night; Cantina Due, where guests can enjoy the patio and mountain view; or The Grotto at the adult pool, that serves the signature Watermelon-Sugar cocktail, yes inspired by the Harry Styles song. 

Fees & Other Info

Wi-Fi is free and easy to log in. It was fast and reliable and I was able to have meetings on Zoom without any issues. 

There is a $45 resort fee.

While the resort is pet-friendly, there is a $150 pet fee for the first six nights and an additional $150 fee for days seven through 30. The resort has a 50-pound weight limit but can allow heavier dogs upon special request.