Veronica Samuels

The best Scottsdale resorts are not all built for the same traveler. Some are grand luxury playgrounds with pools, spa, golf, cabanas, and dining that can carry an entire weekend. Some are family-friendly desert kingdoms with waterslides, lazy rivers, and kids’ programming. Others are quiet high-desert retreats, boutique-style pool escapes, romantic spa resorts, or practical villa-style stays where a kitchen and washer/dryer feel like small miracles.

Tempe is one of those places that tricks you into thinking you have unlimited time. It looks compact on a map, it has a cute lake loop, it has a whole “just wander” vibe, and then suddenly it is 9:12 pm and your group is debating dinner like it is a courtroom drama. So let’s start your trip with one decision that makes everything easier: which airport you fly into.

If you’re flying into Mesa, Arizona, the “closest airport” question has two right answers, and your sanity depends on which one you pick. 🙃 Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) is the closest major airport with the most nonstop routes, while Phoenix–Mesa Gateway (AZA) is the closest airport that’s actually in Mesa (smaller, easier, but fewer flights). Best season: Mesa is at its easiest in October–April; in summer, plan early mornings and shorter outdoor blocks.