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8 getaways · 9 hotels with a private tub · At a glance · FAQ
For a romantic getaway in Arizona, couples head to Sedona for its red rocks and sunsets, to the resort spas of Scottsdale and to Tucson for desert parks and stargazing. This guide covers 8 places across the state, among them Flagstaff, Prescott and Payson. For each one you get what to do, when to go and hotels where the room has its own jacuzzi or hot tub.
| Getaway | Best for | Best time | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sedona | Red rocks, sunsets | Fall | About 2 hours from Phoenix |
| 2. Scottsdale | Resort spas, art galleries | Thursday nights | |
| 3. Tucson | Stargazing, desert parks | Year round | About 2 hours from Phoenix |
| 4. Flagstaff | Dark skies, Grand Canyon | Winter | About 2.5 hours from Phoenix |
| 5. Prescott | Whiskey Row, Christmas City | December | About 2 hours from Phoenix |
| 6. Payson and the Mogollon Rim | Pine forest, Rim lakes | August | About 90 minutes from Phoenix |
| 7. Show Low and the White Mountains | Lakes, trails, snow | Summer or winter | |
| 8. Lake Havasu City | London Bridge, beaches | Summer |
Sedona is red rock country at the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon, between Phoenix and Flagstaff, and Visit Sedona calls it the perfect romantic getaway. Its red rock formations make it one of Arizona's top visitor destinations, and Airport Mesa is one of the best places in town to watch the sunset. Creekside Inn Sedona, a creekside retreat a mile from the Art District, has the Amber Suite with Spa tub, and Alma de Sedona Inn Bed & Breakfast, a hilltop inn, has the Romantic Reflections Suite with Two Person Jetted Tub.
Secluded creekside retreat with private spa tubs, free breakfast and massage service, 1 mile from Sedona’s Art District. Full details about Creekside Inn Sedona
Hilltop Sedona inn with private hot tubs, serene gardens, and mountain views, 3 miles from Tlaquepaque Arts Village. Full details about Alma de Sedona Inn Bed & Breakfast
Scottsdale, in the Phoenix metro, is known for its world class resorts, and its tourism office promises unbeatable romantic ambiance. The area has more than 50 luxury resort and day spas and more than 100 art galleries, many of them in the Scottsdale Arts District in Old Town. Best Western Plus Sundial has a Standard Room with 1 King Bed and Jetted Tub.
Scottsdale Best Western hotel with Jacuzzi suites, outdoor pool and free breakfast, minutes from Sky Harbor Airport. Full details about Best Western Plus Sundial
Tucson is the desert city of southern Arizona, and Saguaro National Park sits on both its east and west sides, with more than 91,000 acres to explore. It is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, and native ingredients were a driving force behind the title. Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa, a Sonoran Desert resort near Tohono Chul Park, has the Stargazer Spa Suite, with a private outdoor hot tub and a semi-private patio.
Sonoran Desert resort with private hot tubs, pool, restaurant and spa, set near Tohono Chul Park and Highway 77. Full details about Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa
Flagstaff is a mountain city under the San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona, on historic Route 66, and on October 24, 2001 it became the world's first International Dark Sky City. Its downtown dining scene includes several James Beard award winners and nominees. Hampton Inn & Suites Flagstaff, a lodge style hotel near downtown, has King Whirlpool rooms.
Lodge-style hotel with private whirlpool tubs, indoor pool, fitness center, and free breakfast, near downtown Flagstaff and Walnut Canyon. Full details about Hampton Inn & Suites Flagstaff
Prescott is a mile high city in the ponderosa pines of Prescott National Forest. Founded after the discovery of gold in 1863, it was the first permanent capital of the Arizona Territory, and turn of the century saloons still line Whiskey Row. Forest Villas Hotel, a family owned hotel, has a Deluxe King Room with Spa tub.
Family-owned hotel with Jacuzzi suites, pool and free breakfast, near Prescott Gateway Mall. Full details about Forest Villas Hotel
Payson, the hub of Rim Country at 5,000 feet, sits below the Mogollon Rim, a 200 mile escarpment at the edge of the Colorado Plateau, in the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the world. Majestic Mountain Inn, on Highway 260, has a King Room with Spa Bath.
Scenic retreat with Jacuzzi in room, lodge meeting space, and all-day coffee on Highway 260. Full details about Majestic Mountain Inn
Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside are pine country towns in the White Mountains, where many Arizonans keep second homes for the mild summers and snowy winters. The area has 65 lakes and streams for fishing, boating and kayaking. Best Western Paint Pony Lodge in Show Low has a King Suite with Jetted Tub and Fireplace.
Family-friendly hotel with in-room whirlpool tubs, fireplaces, and breakfast, 3 miles from both Show Low Regional Airport. Full details about Best Western Paint Pony Lodge
Lake Havasu City is on the Colorado River in western Arizona, at the California line. In 1968 Robert McCulloch, the founder of Lake Havasu City, bought the London Bridge and had it rebuilt here, and the lake has 60 miles of waterways and 400 miles of shoreline, much of it white sand beaches with palm trees. London Bridge Resort, near London Bridge Beach, has a 1 Bedroom Deluxe Suite with Jacuzzi.
Marina view resort with private Jacuzzi, a 9-hole golf course, and a nightclub, near London Bridge Beach. Full details about London Bridge Resort
Sedona. Visit Sedona calls it the perfect romantic getaway, with red rock views, the sunset from Airport Mesa and Arizona wine along Oak Creek. For a city trip, Scottsdale has more than 50 luxury resort and day spas, and Tucson has stargazing on Mount Lemmon and at Kitt Peak.
Fall for Sedona, when the trees of Oak Creek Canyon turn yellow, orange and red. In summer, head up to the White Mountains, known for their mild summers and snowy winters. Flagstaff is the winter choice, with skiing at Arizona Snowbowl and the Pluto Festival each February.
Sedona, for a couples spa treatment and an inn with a tub for two: Alma de Sedona Inn Bed & Breakfast has the Romantic Reflections Suite with Two Person Jetted Tub. Scottsdale is the resort choice, with more than 50 luxury resort and day spas.
Payson is a 90 minute drive up the Beeline Highway. Sedona and Prescott are about two hours from Phoenix, Tucson is two hours south on Interstate 10, and Flagstaff is 2.5 hours north on Interstate 17.
Flagstaff, which became the world's first International Dark Sky City in 2001 and is home to Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered. Near Tucson, SkyNights at the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter include a light dinner, the sunset and telescope time, and Kitt Peak National Observatory runs a Nightly Observing Program year round.
Airport Mesa is one of the best sunset viewpoints in Sedona. At Red Rock Crossing, a short walk leads to the creek and the classic view of Cathedral Rock reflected in Oak Creek, and a sunset jeep tour heads into the red rock backcountry.
Flagstaff, for skiing at Arizona Snowbowl and the Pluto Festival in February. Prescott, known as Arizona's Christmas City, lights its courthouse and sets off fireworks after the Christmas Parade in early December, and the White Mountains are known for their snowy winters.
Where the facts on this page come from. Hotel details come from our own listings, checked as described in How we verify.
