Phoenix boasts nearly ideal weather year-round weather, and a number of superbly designed championship courses have made the city one of the world's top golf destinations. But you need not be a golfer to enjoy visiting this mild-mannered metropolis. The Phoenix area hosts such cultural attractions as the Heard Museum of Native American history, the Phoenix Museum of Art, and performances at the Orpheum and Dodge theaters. The city also is a wonderful base from which to enjoy outdoor endeavors such as rock climbing, hot-air ballooning, desert jeep tours and more. You will also find family-friendly attractions, first-rate shopping, and dining and entertainment to suit every taste.

More than three dozen luxurious resorts are scattered throughout the Phoenix area, many of which provide spectacular spas that offer special treatments native to Arizona. Perhaps the most famous of Phoenix's fine hotels and resorts is the Arizona Biltmore, known as the "jewel of the desert." Its lushly landscaped grounds occupy 39 acres, and since its opening in 1929 it has been a favorite of movie stars, other celebrities, and several United States Presidents.

Another well-regarded hotel in the Biltmore area of Phoenix is the Embassy Suites Phoenix-Biltmore. It is convenient to both Sky Harbor Airport and downtown Phoenix. The Sheraton Crescent, just off Interstate 17, is close to such Phoenix attractions as the Metro Center, Arizona's second-largest mall, and the Phoenix Art Museum, Desert Sky Pavilion, and the IMAX Theater. Travelers staying at Doubletree by Hilton Phoenix delight in being close to premier shopping venues, as well as Arizona State University and Sun Devil Stadium.

Summer is off-season, when you can get surprising bargain bookings. Note, however, that you are likely to get a better rate on June, July, or August reservation if you book in May rather than December.