First of all, the positive - the grounds are beautiful and clean. There are lush landscaping, cool amenities, and nice surroundings. The rooms, however, leave a lot to be desired - they are very old and bland...not at all what we expected for upwards of $300 per night. The room service was Terrible - we ordered twice and each time our order had several things wrong with it. The food was good but it is grossly over-priced (think - $5 for small Glass of orange juice).

Overall, this hotel is average because the beautiful grounds balance out the not so great rooms and service. We expected much much more based on all of the reviews and the #1 ranking. Oh well.

The Arizona Inn offers quiet and seclusion close to the University of Arizona campus in Tucson. It is located on quiet secondary streets in a quiet residential neighborhood. It has an excellent heating and cooling system and an excellent restaurant. Two computers are available in the lobby for free internet access for guests. The only negative in my huge suite was a very small bath with no counter space. I had to use the wet bar in the adjacent room to lay out my toilet articles. Still, I would definitely make this my top choice in Tucson.

The Arizona Inn is simply a dream. The grounds are gorgous...beautifully manicured and are always blooming with incredible flowers. The pool area is a throwback to the 40's...surrounded by green lawn and adobe structures. The rooms are usually adjoined by a patio with patio table and chairs and additional lawn chairs. Our double rooms have always had a fireplace and are filled with pretty antiques. The extra expense of the patio is so worth the money. It is a delight to have a cup of coffee in the morning in the outside restaurant area and listen to the quiet, hear birds chirping and gaze at the blue sky.

Our daughter attends the University of Arizona only a few blocks away and we are so lucky to have an excuse to keep going back to the Arizona Inn...we have been 5 times in 2 years and hope to keep going as often as we can.

My husband and I (we're a young 51 and 60), just spent five days at the Arizona Inn and really enjoyed the ambiance and graciousness of this resort. We were looking to get away someplace in the continental U.S., and previously stayed in Scottsdale and thought we'd try Tucson. Tucson is a sprawling city, with The Arizona Inn located near the U of Arizona. Not much around the U but a bunch of fast food places, but there are a few gems, including Beyond Bread for sandwiches, and Mexican food nearby at Rosa's. Our best find of the whole trip was the cafe at the Tucson Museum. Even if you don't want to go to the museum (which is small, but good), do go to the incredible cafe. The food is amazing, and the desserts are like nothing you have ever seen. Also loved the Desert Museum and Sabino Canyon for hikes. Don't miss the San Xavier Mission and the Pima Air Museum as well. Breakfast at The Arizona Inn by the pool is THE best. The staff is lovely, and you can order their own granola with fruit and yogurt for a healthy alternative to the big buffet. Also, a nearby air base gives you your own blue angels type show while you are sitting by the pool while reading your daily delivered NY Times. Also don't miss the wonderful afternoon tea and scones in the library.

We drove up into the more affluent hills north of the hotel, and visited The Westin, which is nice, but it felt like going into Wal Mart after staying at The Arizona Inn. So I'd say that if you like local charm and amazing comfort, choose The Arizona Inn.