We have close family in Tucson, and we have just visited the Arizona Inn for perhaps the eighth time. We have stayed in every level of accommodation it offers, including one of their private homes, and we are always impressed by the consistency of this understated, elegant and intimate property. This is a place that makes you feel welcome and warm, even in the deep chill of a Tucson December.

The property itself is lovely. Beautifully maintained. The pool is one of the prettiest in the country, as are the gardens and tennis courts. Not a blade of grass out of place, and the roses are as big as melons. The property offers absolute privacy. Rarely do you see other guests, even when the hotel is full. The villa-like rooms are spaced for quiet and relaxation..

The rooms themselves are enormous. Our room on our most recent trip, number 246, had a huge bathroom, two large rooms, two flat screen tv's, two private patios, a wet bar and plenty of closet space. These rooms are beautifully decorated...and not in a Ritz London way. This is the desert, and this is Tucson. But the rooms are furnished as though you were visiting the home of a very affluent relative in the 1940s. Comfortable and classic...not worn at all...easy feeling.

And then there are the other amenities. From the moment you arrive, you feel well cared for. Simple, old-fashioned service is the priority here. We stepped out of the rental car into the capable hands of the valets, who gave us bottles of ice water to take into reception while they parked our car in a convenient, free lot across the street. We were whisked to our nearby suite, where we found ice already in the ice bucket, wireless Internet up and running, Starbucks coffee in the coffee maker, a working gas fireplace, and really good books on the shelves. Housekeeping provided a friendly turn-down service each night, with clean towels, chocolates and bottled water. The place was spic and span, and the bed was incredibly comfortable, with an eiderdown comforter, down pillows, and those crisp hotel sheets we all love. Above all, it was quiet.

Hotel management makes a stab at guessing which paper you'd like, depending on where you are from; we had The New York Times on our doorstep each morning, but we also saw the local, Atlanta and LA papers, as well as the Journal. We took advantage of the small but complete fitness center, the pool area and the library, where we enjoyed complimentary afternoon tea in front of the warm fire burning in the wood-burning fireplace. We took our breakfast in the pool area, where we had Tucson-style eggs, salsa and chorizo sausage with refried beans in front of yet another crackling fire...a most welcome warmth considering the downright cold morning. A light dinner in the bar was lovely, with live piano music and delicious food and wines. I have read other Trip Advisor reviews that complain about the food...we are New Yorkers who are a bit spoiled about what we eat, and we find that the Arizona Inn food is perfectly good. There was also fresh coffee available in the library when we checked out at 5:30 am this morning. How thoughtful.

The Inn, as locals call it, is a real jewel in Tucson, and we would never dream of staying anywhere else. It is also well located, near the University, the Medical Center and plenty of shopping. But what is its secret? Well, I believe it is privately run...I think it is still in the same family that founded it back in the 30s or 40s. If so, they have got it absolutely right. I am worried that it will be one day be sold to some generic hotel chain by a new generation of hotel-owner descendants who would rather be software gurus than hoteliers. There are too few places like this one in America today. It's worth a special trip...even if you cannot think of another reason to visit this town, make the trip, if just to stay at the Arizona Inn. A place this special just can't last forever...

Not cheap, but worth it.. Set in 14 acres of lovely grounds the Arizona Inn staff will park your car and carry your bags - real old style service.
Super pool and changing rooms and we had a lovely room with its own patio.
One unhappy note which the hotel claims is due to the Arizona licensing laws is that residents cannot pay corkage and bring their own wine into the restaurant.
The dinner was a little pretentious with lots of "cheffy" items, but the flavours did not match either the presentation or the price. Happily the breakfast was excellent

This is the classiest hotel in Tucson. The cabana style rooms, and old-fashion style decor, the history, makes this a hotel a classy stay. The restaurant is wonderful, the outside settings including pool area is gorgeous, and the fact is there is a reason the prices don't change much at this hotel. The staff is great, and makes quick changes if something is wrong. This hotel is perfectly placed in Tucson and you would have no idea it was even there unless someone told you about it.

Have you been to The Pink Palace of The Pacific...AKA...The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Hawaii? If you have, be prepared to have flashbacks from this desert gem. This is a place one really does not want to leave the grounds. And, alot of folks didn't.

The Arizona Inn occupies several blocks in an older residental area of Tucson. Check-in was easy. We asked the bellman if we could see the room before we brought all our things in. He said sure. We walked thru the pretty courtyard and immediatly, The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Hawaii came to our minds. The same pretty, pink stucco building with the same color blue trim. In Hawaii, there is the ocean...here, there is the desert. The grounds were really beautiful and lovingly maintained. Cacti gardens everywhere. Croquet and ping pong were set up in one area of the courtyard. Our room was private and very nice size. The furnishings, carpet, drapes/bedspread were older but in clean condition. Bathroom was very nice size with white tile all around and a small working window. How nice is that! Brought all are items in and off we went to have a cocktail on the outside terrace of The Audoban Bar. Parking is free across the street in a lot. They say it has security there though we never saw anyone in the lot.

Cocktails were very good though a bit high. Service was wonderful our entire stay. In The Audoban bar, they have nightly music(piano) from about 6:30Pm till about 10PM. You can have drinks and they have a full lunch and dinner menu. The food was not that good at any of the restaurants...I cannot recommend the food. They serve afternoon tea which was nice since they had put up their large Christmas tree in the room. Small gift shop.

The pool is old style and is actually a "swimming" pool. Heated water. Most of the lounges were on grass, somthing we are not that crazy about. They brought out cold lemon ice water right away. You can have breakfast/lunch/drinks out on the small terrace...there is also an inside dining room there. The Main Dinng Room is very pretty but again, I cannot recommend any of their food. Tucson has alot of good restaurants and many are nearby.

The morning we were checking out, we heard a lot of noise and we we're surprised, as the entire time up to then, it was very peaceful. New people had checked in a room backed up to ours. They had all the windows open and we're SO loud. It amazes me how some people have no consideration for anyone else and only think about themselves. We are in a hotel folks and most folks came to relax. No matter how nice a place is, people like that, are there.

We had a very nice time at The Arizona Inn and are glad we stayed.