I recently was headed to Phoenix again for business, but wanted something a bit different than my usual Hilton Garden Inn. Enter: Destination Hotels (I’m kind of super in love with them) & the Tempe Mission Palms (conveniently located five minutes from where I needed to be).
As I pulled up to the valet station, circling around a Spanish-style fountain, I was immediately smitten with the hotel. The lobby was open & airy, with huge glass doors looking out in the courtyard. Check-in was easy; it was only at check-out that I realized why: I was charged a resort fee* of $14.95 per night but I wasn’t told about it at check-in – no wonder things moved so quickly! I don’t mind resort fees, especially when they include everything listed below (the valet parking alone is worth it!), I just want hotels to be upfront about it.
Soon enough I was on my way to my room. I crossed the beautiful interior courtyard & went up to the 3rd floor. My room was located convenient to the elevator, without being susceptible to the noise which usually comes with that. My deluxe room was tastefully decorated in Arizona reds, browns, tans, & a pop of turquoise. I was immediately drawn to the floor to ceiling french doors, which opened up into the courtyard. I opened them up & felt the warm Phoenix breeze rush into my room, a palm tree rusting in with the mid-March sunshine.
The small vestibule area separating the bedroom from the bathroom held a closet (actually more of an armore) & a set up with a mini-fridge, the previously mentioned coffee maker & a few mini-bar snacks. The bathroom was bright, with fluffy towels & some of the best water pressure I’ve had at a hotel in quite some time.
I was just settling down to work when there was a knock on the door. In came room service with perhaps the best welcome amenity I’ve ever gotten at a hotel: a make your own margarita bar set & a platter of chips & salsa! Soon enough, I was shaking up my mix & tequila (after Googling a recipe first) in the mini-Tempe Mission Palms themed shaker & sipping my afternoon beverage while working on my time sheet (party in room 3060!).
I decided to take advantage of the last hour of daylight & head to the pool – I figured I could answer email on my iPad in the sun just as easily as I could on a laptop in my room. The pool area was busy, but not overly crowded. I found a lounge chair & pulled it out so my pasty white legs could see their first UV rays in months. I enjoyed the warm late afternoon sun, as adults lounged in the pool & planes on final approach into PHX flew overhead.
Because of my schedule, I didn’t dine at any of the restaurants, but did sit downstairs in the courtyard & sip a glass of wine while working on Saturday afternoon. The courtyard has a wood burning fireplace & lots of comfy chairs to relax in.
When I find myself in Arizona next for work, if I’m going to be in the Tempe area, I’d definitely check out the Tempe Mission Palms again!
* The resort fee includes airport transportation; wi-fi; valet parking (I assumed I was paying for it when I used the service); in-room coffee service (just a regular coffee maker); and use of the fitness center (a standard hotel gym).
Know if you go…
– Because of my schedule, I didn’t take advantage of it, but their location is dynamite – merely steps away from Mill Street’s shops, restaurants & bars. Yet the property is located on a side street, which makes it pretty quiet.
– Even on the busy weekend I was there, the valet was incredibly efficient. If I called as I was leaving my room, my car would be there when I got down. After my not so great experience with a valet last year on a March work trip, this was refreshing.
– I mentioned the planes on final approach into Sky Harbor overhead. Thank goodness my body was on east coast time, because my glass on the nightstand started shaking at 5am from 757s roading overhead. The sound proofing just wasn’t great – & I wasn’t even on the top floor.
– The hotel was packed the weekend I was there – spring breakers, Spring Training-ers, a large Red Hat Society gathering & an company’s conference – yet, I always felt like a valued guest. The valet called me (& others) by name, the waitstaff at the bar were prompt & friendly, even the other guests seemed to be in a good mood!
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