Our family vacay goal for May: poolside family fun in the sun on Memorial Day weekend. We live in Idaho and enjoy four seasons of recreational activities; however, pool-friendly weather isn’t common in late spring. We just couldn’t wait to be warm and play in the pool. The destination: Scottsdale, AZ. It’s not hard to find a pool in the Scottsdale area, but we were craving something a little special to uplift our spirits during the continuing pandemic. Where could we go that would offer great food, a fun and family-friendly environment, COVID-19 safety protocols, and an upscale experience? We found our desert oasis at the Fairmont Princess Scottsdale.
This resort is legit, and I would say it’s the best resort in Scottsdale for a family getaway. We saw and met other out-of-area travelers, but what stood out to us was the locals love it too. We met a local couple on their babymoon, saw a famous former NFL star with his friends and family, and the resort is known by many as a host to one of the most attended golf tournaments in the world. I honestly can’t say enough good things about this resort. The Fairmont Princess has truly mastered the perfect combination of luxury and pure family fun. The grounds are beautiful, the rooms are clean and well-appointed, and with just enough dining options and onsite shops to frequent, we felt no need to leave the resort during our stay.
7 Things You Must Do at The Princess (#attheprincess):
- Rent a cabana at the Princess Pool (and make sure to get a virgin daiquiri for kids in a real coconut)
- Dinner and tequila tasting at La Hacienda (so good we ate here twice!)
- Watch a movie and fireworks under the stars in the Sunset Pool
- Have cocktails and appetizers at the Plaza Bar (they have a great kid’s menu here too)
- Breakfast at the Ironwood Kitchen with live music and security provided by Harris Hawks (like real birds of prey)
- Take time to hit up the shops and get some new gear for your vacay
- Enjoy the fantastic seasonal family activities
The Pools and Cabanas
Side note: I might be providing too much information here. But if you’re going to Arizona with kids, you’ll likely be spending most of your time at the pool so having these details might be useful.
Rent a cabana. Sometimes a cabana isn’t worth it; however, here I highly recommend it. The sun is intense and having a dedicated shady spot all to yourselves is such a nice treat. We rented a cabana for two days. The first day at the Princess Pool, which is the resort’s main pool. This was our favorite cabana and pool because it was quieter and less crowded. The cabanas there have been recently updated. However, the only thing I didn’t like was that you can easily see into the cabana next to you – luckily, we had great neighbors.
The second day we rented a cabana at the Sunset Pool – the resort’s newest addition, which has a sandy beach entering the pool. The cabanas are located at the back of the pool – so if you want to watch your kids playing, the location isn’t ideal. However, there isn’t much available shade, so having a dedicated spot was useful.
There was also nightly music, fireworks, and movies at the Sunset Pool. I recommend watching a movie in a pool – it was so much fun! We also reserved the cabana at night (which was much cheaper than during the day). Besides using the cabana to store our stuff, we didn’t spend much time there because we wanted to be in the pool watching the movie and fireworks.
There is an adult-only pool, which we didn’t visit. However, we did briefly visit the Sonoran Splash Pool. It was very busy because that’s where the waterslides are. There are also cabanas there, which are right on the edge of the pool, which is great for watching kids. However, because how crowded it was, we were glad we selected cabanas at the other pools.
Dining at the Princess
Finding restaurants that are upscale and kid-approved can be hard. However, we loved everything at the Princess (seriously, everything). The food, drinks, and service were wonderful. La Hacienda was so good we ate there twice. Do the table side guacamole, and if you like tequila, then for sure do a tasting flight.
Rooms at the Princess
It’s no surprise that the rooms here are impeccably clean with modern decor and plenty of space. We reserved a standard room, which was around $800/night. It had had a small seating area, large bathroom, walk-in closet, and balcony. It was spacious enough for us to not feel cramped and the patio could accommodate the three of us for some room service breakfast.
Family Activities
The Princess has so many great activities all year round for families. When we were there, they had a space theme (Outta This World Summer #AtThePrincess!). From the moment you checked in, there were space-related activities and décor throughout the resort. We loved the carnival-like area with a maze, small rides, and laser tag. This fall they have a pumpkin fest, hay maze, and other fun fall activities for the family (link provided below).
Below are some final tips and links to ensure you have a great vacay at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess:
- Black and White Limo – we used this service for our transportation to and from the resort. We wanted to eliminate extra time at the airport and get to our vacay as quickly as possible. They were a great company!
- Pool Floaties (#ad) to take with you for the movie night. Pack them in your luggage, and the pool attendants will inflate them for you!
- Because the dining options are so great, make sure you book early to get a reservation. I booked some reservations as soon as we booked our stay, and I’m so glad I did!
- If you plan to visit the spa, then book in advance as well. It’s very popular.
- Utilize the Trailblazer Kids Club. Send the little ones there to enjoy some time at the spa, golf, or read by the pool.
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