Hotel Review: Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Waldorf Astoria is Hilton’s luxury brand named after the Waldorf Astoria New York in New York City. Comparable to Marriott’s Ritz-Carlton brand, Waldorf Astoria properties embody luxury and opulence. There are only a handful of these luxurious getaway hotels and resorts, and the Waldorf Astoria Arizona Biltmore Hotel is one of them. Featured as one of the best hotels in the world, it’s been on my list for a long time. Though I am not usually a resort enthusiast, the trip’s goal was to unwind and relax, and I recently stayed there over the weekend. I was impressed with the ground crew’s attentiveness and kindness and how well the property was kept even though it features over 200,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor spaces. On the other hand, I was disappointed with the front desk and the quality of my room. The hotel recently underwent a significant renovation, but more work seems to be needed to truly live up to the Waldorf Astoria brand. Even with room for improvement, the Arizona Biltmore remains an excellent staycation spot in Phoenix, AZ. Here’s my review of Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort:
Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, is located at 2400 E Missouri Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85016.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
American Express Hilton Honors Aspire
The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire card is currently offering a signup bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $4,000 in 3 months. Be aware that since this is an American Express (AMEX) card, you’re only allowed to receive the signup bonus once per lifetime. With a valuation of 0.6 cents per point, the signup bonus is worth about $900. In addition, until 12/31/2021, cardmembers will get a monthly statement credit of $20 when they spend more than $20 at restaurants each month. The annual fee is $450, but cardmembers get a weekend night certificate (redeemable on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at non-premium hotels), $250 incidental credit towards your airline of choice, $250 Hilton resort credit at select Hilton resorts, and Hilton Diamond status, the highest in Hilton’s member ecosystem.
The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire card is one of my favorite cards for its benefits and perks. Photo by AMEX.
The Aspire Card earns 14X per dollar spent on Hilton hotels and resorts when booked directly through Hilton and 7X on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly with select companies, and U.S. restaurants. All other purchases will earn 3X per dollar spent. As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, you’ll get a 100% points bonus and 10 extra points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. Therefore, the Aspire card earns a total of 24X per dollar spent on Hilton properties when booked directly with Hilton, yielding a grand return of 14.4%. With Hilton’s frequent points promotions, you can rake in a serious amount of Hilton Honors points in no time. Even if you don’t stay at Hilton properties too often, this card is definitely worth the annual fee due to its amazing perks and benefits, and I strongly believe it’s the best hotel credit card available on the market right now.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Hilton Aspire Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSLgWl?XLINK=MYCP
American Express Hilton Honors Business
Alternatively, I could’ve used my American Express Hilton Honors Business card to book my stay. The AMEX Hilton Honors Business card is currently offering a signup bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $3,000 in 3 months, which is also worth about $780. Like other AMEX cards, the card is subject to the once-per-lifetime signup bonus rule. The annual fee is $95, and unlike the Aspire, it doesn’t come with airline or resort credits. However, it can be a great workhorse card as it offers generous everyday and business multipliers. It earns 12X Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on hotel and resort purchases booked directly with Hilton and 6X at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, U.S. wireless telephone services, U.S. purchases for shipping, and flights booked directly with airlines or with AMEX Travel. All other purchases earn 3X points per dollar spent. Because cardmembers receive automatic Honors Gold status, you’ll get an 80% points bonus and 8 extra points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. In addition, you’d receive 10 complimentary Priority Pass visits and have an opportunity to earn a free weekend night certificate after spending $15,000 in a calendar year. As a result, the Surpass earns a total of 20X per dollar spent on Hilton properties when booked directly with Hilton, yielding a return of 12%.
The American Express Hilton Honors Business card can cover a wide range of daily expenses and still comes with a great multiplier for Hilton stays. Photo by AMEX.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Hilton Honors Business card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/EDWARS067p?xl=cp15
Lobby & Check-In Review
Many people misconstrue that the Arizona Biltmore Hotel was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. In reality, the architect behind the hotel was Albert Chase McArthur, who was trained at the Prairie School in Chicago and later worked with Wright in the early 1900s. Therefore, it’s no wonder McArthur’s architectural accomplishments have significant influences from Wright. Though many people praise McArthur’s craftsmanship at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Wright expressed that “it had turned out as badly as he expected.”
The Arizona Biltmore Hotel was designed by Albert Chase McArthur, who was trained under Frank Lloyd Wright at the Prairie School in Chicago.
I love Wright’s work (make sure to visit Taliesin West while you stay here), but I have to disagree with him here. The exterior of the hotel was decorated with stylized bricks, and the lawn and trees were precisely trimmed with care.
At night, the exterior of the hotel was beautifully illuminated.
Quick tip—if you have a car and plan on driving more than once a day, I highly recommend using the valet parking service. The on-site parking lot is located on the far West side of the property and depending on where your room is, it could take more than 20 minutes on foot to get to your car.
It was easy to get lost in the 39-acre resort, but I always found something new every time I wandered off.
As soon as I entered the hotel inside, Wright’s architectural and design influences became more dramatically apparent.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s influence is apparent everywhere you look in the hotel.
From light fixtures and wall patterns, they were textbook examples of Wright’s design approach. Because the hotel is enormous, there were many seats to lounge around in the lobby, and thanks to four check-in desks, I was checked in immediately upon arrival.
Even wall tiles and carpets show design Frank Lloyd Wright’s design elements.
However, my check-in experience was not as pleasant as I had hoped for. Because I hold Diamond status with Hilton, I asked a front desk agent if upgrading to a better room was possible. I also asked him where I could get breakfast using my breakfast credit. We were at the end of check-in time, around 4 PM, and the check-in agent seemed visibly annoyed that I was asking many questions. After all, my upgrade request was denied, and we were placed in the Valley Wing. I liked the location since it was close to the main attractions but still remained quiet.
Bedroom Review
Our room was on the Valley Wing’s third floor, overlooking the Paradise Garden. The room’s centerpiece was a king bed, which occupied most of the space.
My king bedroom was located at the Valley Wing, adjacent to the Paradise Garden.
The bed was terrific; the bedding was incredibly soft, and the mattress was plush and heavenly.
The mattress was really comfortable and plush.
The headboard was equipped with reading lights at each end, with nightstands for both bedsides. However, the room for personal devices or belongings felt limited because the bedside lamps were oversized.
The oversized night lamp took most of the room on the nightstand.
The minibar and mini-fridge were located by the entrance, and I was disappointed to find out that the in-room coffee machine was a Keurig machine. For a room that could easily cost $800 a night, I expected a better quality machine.
I wish the hotel had a premium coffee machine that represents the Waldorf Astoria branding.
Across from the bed, a smart TV was wall-mounted, and we found a complimentary bottle of wine and macarons from the hotel, along with a hand-written letter from the hotel manager. Both items were delicious, and I always appreciate it when a hotel appreciates elite members and treats them with recognition and kind gestures.
The macarons were delicious, and I will never say no to free wine. Thank you Arizona Biltmore!
Next to the media console, a decently sized table and chairs were positioned, and we ended up using the space for enjoying wine at night.
The work desk had a noticeable heat stain, which I didn’t expect from a Waldorf Astoria property.
Then, glass double doors led to the balcony which had two outdoor chairs and a tiny end table.
The balcony chairs and table were little disappointing.
The balcony overlooked the Paradise Garden, and the view was gorgeous.
The Paradise Garden was peaceful even though it was pretty close to the Saguaro Pool.
I highly recommend exploring the Garden because you can see beautifully placed Biltmore Sprites, also known as the Sprites of Midway Gardens.
The Midway Gardens were demolished in 1929, but the sprites were relocated to the Arizona Biltmore Hotel.
The open area of the Garden was great for lounging around and absorbing all the sunlight that Arizona offers.
Enjoy family activities or soak up the sun at the Paradise Garden.
However, the balcony was connected with the room next door. 3-foot tall dividers somewhat separated all balconies, but my room didn’t even have it.
The lack of physical barrier between neighboring rooms concerned me.
I felt a little uneasy during the day and at night and triple-checked to ensure my balcony door was locked and curtains were drawn. There were some other minor disappointments with the room. The door for the mini-fridge didn’t close all the way, and the work desk had a noticeable heat stain.
The cabinet door for the mini fridge remained open and couldn’t be shut al the way.
The wine opener was rusty and sticky, and some glasses were not clean.
The wine opener was rusty and sticky, and we had to ask for a replacement.
Those are minor details, but given the resort's cost, I was let down by the in-room experience. Moreover, the hotel recently underwent a 15-month-long, 70 million dollar renovation, and witnessing realistic conditions of my room certainly added to the disappointment.
Bathroom Review
The bathroom featured a double vanity sink, and thanks to the back-lit mirror, the room remained bright during use.
The double vanity was nice for us, but the bathroom felt small compared to other luxury properties.
The walk-in shower with a standard showerhead had a gorgeous wall panel. I wish the shower had a rainfall showerhead and a light fixture since the lighting felt a bit subdued.
The 3D wall paneling was a nice touch, but the shower experience was nothing special.
The hotel used its own line of toiletry. The quality was acceptable, but I liked that the toiletries came in large 1.5 oz sizes.
With 1.5 oz bottles, it lasted longer than typical mini toiletries.
The main design mistake I noticed was that the bathroom entry door would not fully swing open when the shower door was open. Perhaps, the hotel should’ve installed a sliding door like the one at the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta. In addition, I wasn’t impressed with the material choices in the bathroom. Not everything needs to be covered in marble (although gorgeous), but I wish the resort selected more upscale materials that reflect the Waldorf Astoria brand.
Pool Review
To accommodate the massive footprint of the resort, the hotel offers seven pools. The two main pools were the Saguaro Pool and the Paradise Pool. The Saguaro Pool was located right at the center of the resort and was the only adults-only pool.
The Saguaro Pool was the most popular destination for adults.
It was undoubtedly the fanciest pool at the resort, and for that reason, it got incredibly crowded, very fast. Though I do not support this method, if you want to secure a sunbed, you may need to put down your belongings soon after breakfast.
If you have a group, renting a cabana is not a bad idea.
The pool also offered daybed and cabana rentals, costing $150 and $300, respectively. Since the pool was for grown-ups, you could grab cocktails and bites by the poolside, but be prepared to shell out if you want a meal.
Grab your favorite drinks and bites at the on-site mini bar.
The Paradise Pool was the biggest pool the resort offered and had a triple water slide that kids could enjoy.
The Paradise Pool is perfect for both kids and adults.
There was a dedicated swimming area for little ones as well so everyone could enjoy swimming and cool off. The pool also offered cabana rentals that were more family-oriented.
The shallow pool at the Paradise Pool was booming with parents during the day.
A typical cabana would run you $300, and a cabana suite would cost you $500. However, there were many free sunbeds available, so grabbing complimentary sunbeds shouldn’t be a problem. If you are a non-guest, don’t worry! Even non-guests could enjoy the Paradise Pool by purchasing day passes - $55 for adults and $40 for kids.
If swimming is not your type of activity, explore beautiful gardens at the resort.
In addition to those two pools, I tried the Ocatilla Pool and the Terrace Court Pool. The Ocatilla Pool was conveniently located close to the gym, making it a great spot to cool off after an intense workout. If you stay at the Ocatilla Club, this would probably be the pool you’d frequent.
After working out, go for a short splash at the Ocatilla Pool.
The Terrace Court Pool was secluded on the Terrace Court, located on the far north side of the resort. It was one of the smallest pools, and I would even compare it to typical hotel pools you’d see at Courtyard properties. However, the main appeal was that it was always empty because no one would visit the Terrace Court Pool. Other glamorous pools could get quite crowded even at night, so if you want a private pool experience, I’d try the Terrace Court Pool.
Due to its small size, the Terrace Court Pool felt private and intimate.
However, my favorite pool was the Catalina Pool. Nestled in Catalina pool villas, it was pretty quiet and had a private pool feel to it. Since it was next to pool villas, most people were in their late 40s and early 50s, which made the atmosphere more relaxed than the ones from the Saguaro Pool and the Paradise Pool. The pool had a shallow area for little ones, so it is also family-friendly.
The Catalina Pool was my favorite among the seven pools at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel.
With seven pools sprawling across the resort, the Arizona Biltmore was an excellent destination for pool lovers. From an energetic adults-only pool to family-oriented pools, the hotel provided a truly luxurious pool experience for every type of guest.
The Biltmore Sprites were scattered all over the resort.
Breakfast Review
Thanks to my Hilton Diamond status, I was entitled to free breakfast at Frank & Albert’s. The naming came from Frank Lloyd Wright and Albert Chase McArthur, and the restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Make sure to grab a reservation to avoid large crowds during peak hours.
The outdoor seating was all taken when we arrived at the restaurant, so we opted for indoor seating. After browsing the menu, we ordered The Frank Classic Benedict and Corn Flakes Crusted Bread Pudding French Toast.
The eggs benedict was delicious, but it was pretty typical.
The eggs from the benedict were perfectly cooked, but the dish didn’t really stand out. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the french toast; the inside was buttery soft, and moist while the outer cornflake layer was crispy, adding a nice textural difference.
The bread pudding french toast was my favorite - soft and crunch at the same time!
The house coffee was La Colombe, and it was well-balanced. The only downside was that the service was pretty slow. Frank & Albert’s was really the only breakfast spot that offered a dine-in experience, so it naturally attracted many guests in the morning. If you plan on visiting the restaurant for breakfast, I highly recommend making a reservation.
Visit various vendors and shop swimwear and vacation clothes.
If you have a small stomach in the morning and just need a cup of joe, head to the Café.
The Cafe had convenient, pre-packaged food options - perfect for poolside snacking or outdoor picnics.
It was located on the right side of the Event Lawn, and it sold coffee, tea, snacks, and to-go sandwiches. You could also grab some alcohol, ranging from beer to champagne. If you are a chocolate enthusiast, stop by the Café because it carries local and international craft chocolates.
You can shop for numerous artisanal chocolates at the Cafe.
Bar Review
There were two bars at the Arizona Biltmore: the Spire Bar and the Wright Bar. On our first night, we visited the Spire Bar. The Spire Bar was an outdoor bar located pretty close to the lobby and had a great view of Piestewa Peak.
At the Spire Bar, there were various outdoor seating options available.
Conveniently position next to the event lawn, the bar was open from 4 PM to 11 PM, and this was where parties and social nights happened. At the center of the lawn, you could see the 30-foot spire, where the name of the bar originated from, serving as a tribute artwork to honor Frank Lloyd Wright.
Expect to see an event at the main lawn on weekends.
The center of the bar was covered and decked out with TVs, and the hotel would host Sunday Football nights in the fall and winter.
Even though the bar was shaded, the bar remained quite empty during the day.
The Spire Bar then expanded outward, embellished with beautifully illuminated lighting and fountains.
At night, the Spire bar was booming with guests socializing and enjoying premium coktails.
Select outdoor seating options included propane fire pits, and if you are at the Spire Bar during peak hours, it may be difficult to secure a spot with the fire pit.
Almost all tables by fire pits were taken during peak hours.
We were there towards the end of the night, so we were able to secure a fire pit table. The cocktail menu seemed inventive, and we ordered Rosé Sangria and Sake It To Me.
Be careful not to place your drinks too close to the fire!
The Sangria was very disappointing; it was severely watered down, and when it was brought up to the waiter, he kindly offered another drink on the house. I ordered Oaxacan Mole Old Fashioned, which was well-balanced and delicious. My mistake was putting my drink too close to the fire pit. I noticed that my glass got pretty warm and the drink became diluted faster than I wanted. Luckily, there are small end tables where you can place cocktails and protect them from the heat.
The Oaxacan Mole Old Fashioned was much more pleasant than the Sangria.
The Wright Bar emanated a different vibe; it felt more sophisticated and upscale. Similar to the Spire Bar, it offered both indoor and outdoor seating options. The indoor seats ranged from bar seats to comfortable lounge chairs. The bar sat between the lobby and the Spire Bar, so it wasn’t easy to miss.
The Wright Bar is where the original Tequila Sunrise was invented in the 1930s.
For cocktail snobs and bartenders, the Wright Bar is historically significant because Tequila Sunrise was invented right here by Gene Sulit in the 1930s. When we grabbed pre-dinner cocktails at the Wright Bar, we ordered Tequila Sunrise without hesitation. We also ordered Añejo in Fashion, and both drinks were strong and crafted perfectly.
Experience the real Tequila Sunrise at Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort.
If you are looking for a more casual environment with fun drinks, I recommend the Spire Bar, but my vote goes to the Wright Bar for having a more intimate environment with serious cocktails.
Gym Review
The Gym was located at the northeast corner of the resort, along with the spa, Tierra Luna Spa.
Tierra Luna Spa is a premium wellness spa that is located adjacent to the gym.
The gym was smaller than I expected for the size of the resort. Various cardio machines were available by the entrance, such as Peloton bikes, Life Fitness ellipticals, and treadmills from Assault Fitness.
Control your own stride and use a manual treadmill by Assault Fitness.
The free weight section of the gym had dumbbells up to 80 lbs, and it also had a Smith machine and other all-in-one equipment for those looking for more weights.
With dumbbells weighing up to 80 lbs, the gym should satisfy most people’s weightlifting needs.
For holistic and bodyweight-focused exercises, the gym offered the TRX system and the Synrgy360 system by Life Fitness.
With multiple TRX systems , you can do group exercise with your friends.
When you stay at the Arizona Biltmore, don’t limit yourself to indoor exercises. The hotel had six cushioned tennis courts and two 18-hole Championship golf courses. Additionally, I highly recommend visiting the concierge desk and browsing a variety of fitness classes. You could also take a short 3-mile drive from the resort to visit the Piestewa Peak Summit Trail and experience desert hiking.
Summary
The Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, was a beautiful and luxurious property. Designed by Albert Chase McArthur with significant influences from Frank Lloyd Wright, the Arizona Biltmore was an architectural and design masterpiece. The resort offered seven pools that will satisfy any age range and had the Wright Bar where Tequila Sunrise was invented. The Spire Bar had great outdoor seating options and a gorgeous Piestewa Peak backdrop. My room was on the top floor of the Valley Wing, and I enjoyed the view from my balcony and its proximity to amenities. However, the security of the room was a huge concern during my stay since the balcony was connected with an adjacent room without any barriers. The furniture in the room was worn and didn’t use refined materials, which didn’t seem to align with the Waldorf Astoria brand’s identity. While my room was below my expectation, the hotel provided amazing outdoor amenities such as Championship golf courses, desert trails, pools, and bike rentals, making the Arizona Biltmore an attractive property for everyone. If you want to experience the high-end Waldorf Astoria brand in Arizona in a resort setting, look no further and stay at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel.
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