Soak up the sunshine while soaking in some Native American culture, too.
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch is a surprise oasis amidst the desert landscape of southern Arizona. Lush landscaping, luxury amenities, and a warm welcome only add to the appeal. And the complimentary sangria for the adults and Capri Suns for the kids at check-in pretty much sealed the deal for my family.
Before we arrived, I thought that we might leave the resort to shop or visit other local attractions. We didn’t need (or want) to do that at all. In fact, in our two full days here, we didn’t have nearly enough time to enjoy all the amenities. After much discussion, my husband and I decided a full four to five days would have been the perfect amount of time for both relaxation and exploration.
It’s worth noting that Hyatt Regency Scottdale is one of KidTripster’s picks for Top 10 Stays in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area.
KidTripster Tip: Pick up a copy of Hyatt Highlights early in your visit. It’s a great way to orient yourself and learn what’s going on during your stay.
Activities at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale
Swimming
The 2-1/2-acre water playground is wonderful way to spend an entire day — or your entire stay, if my kids had their way. It offers in-pool basketball and volleyball, a 3-story waterslide, and a sandy beach. It also allows floats – a flamingo for my 8-year-old daughter and a giant gummy bear for my 10-year-old son. Floats are available at H20asis; cost varies depending on size. Or if you’re really thinking ahead, you can bring your own. The pool staff is happy to inflate and deflate floats upon request.
We enjoyed a family cabana at the pool, outfitted with two lounge chairs, sofa, ceiling fan, TV, safe, and internet access. It was a convenient place to keep our things, take a break from the sun, charge our cell phones, and lock up our valuables while we swam. The poolside service was a dream. My husband and I ordered a few adult beverages, and the kids enjoyed quesadillas, chips, guacamole, and salsa (when we could coax them out of the pool, that is).
KidTripster Tip: As lovely as the cabanas are, they aren’t immediately next to the pool, making it tricky to keep an eye on younger kids while they swim. This is especially true if the pool is busy, and people are in the two rows of lounge chairs in front of you. If you want to lounge poolside and keep a constant eye on your kids, think twice about the cabana.
KidTripster Tip: Save money by bringing your own reusable water bottles. Refilling stations are available throughout the property.
Adult-only pools also are available with plenty of comfortable chairs, making it easy to lounge, chat with friends or simply read a book. Swim up to the Grotto Bar for some more of that Sangria or a quick snack.
KidTripster Tip: Calling all mermaids! Sometimes during spring break and summer, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale offers mermaid classes, plus other special activities like watermelon eating contents and bubble soccer. Watch the website or call for details.
Camp Hyatt
Need a break from the kids? Enter Camp Hyatt. The program focuses on exposing young visitors to the geography and culture of Arizona. My kids were reluctant at first, but quickly warmed up to the idea. They enjoyed crafts, fed the ducks, walked to the playground, and climbed the rock wall. Other days may include making Native American headbands, listening to cowboy storytellers or learning about reptiles. My daughter insisted that she wanted to stay for “eight hours next time.” This was a surprising win for us and a big vote of confidence for Camp Hyatt. Even after we got home, she said “I want to go to Camp Hyatt, again. The crafts were so fun.”
Camp Hyatt also offers an indoor play area and game consoles. Children are accompanied by a counselor at all times, and exterior doors can only be opened by a push button. Camp Hyatt is open to children ages 3-12 and offers half-day or full-day sessions. Cost: $12.50/hour/child; meals are additional. Reservations are highly recommended.
KidTripster Tip: Closed toe shoes are necessary for climbing the rock wall. Be sure to pack a pair. Our kids wore Keens on the entire trip, good for both water and adventure.
Fun Zone is perfect place for kids to burn off some energy outside. It includes giant Jenga, giant chess, giant Connect Four, shuffleboard, and classic playground equipment. The rock wall is next to Fun Zone. If your kids aren’t enrolled in Camp Hyatt, there’s an additional charge. Cost: 2 Climbs $5; Unlimited $15.
Biking, golf & tennis
Complimentary bike rentals are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Stop by H2Oasis to make a reservation. A variety of bike sizes and types are available from child trailers to adult bikes. A map with path suggestions is provided.
Golfing, anyone? Gainey Ranch Golf Club is one of the top rated golf courses in the country and offers three distinct nine-hole courses. It’s available exclusively to club members and guests of Hyatt Regency Scottsdale. During your stay, your first round of golf is full price, while subsequent rounds are 50% off. When playing with a paid adult, children (under 15) are free; the course has junior tee placement. Rates start at $50 but vary greatly by date.
The resort also offers tennis. Court time is complimentary but reservations are required. While rental equipment is available, it’s kind of pricey, so I’d recommend bringing your own racquet and can of balls. Rental cost: Racquet $10; Can of balls $5; Hopper of balls $15. Private lesson cost: $85/hour, includes equipment.
Spa
If you can manage to find a few hours to yourself (Camp Hyatt, anyone?), head to Spa Avania, offering massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, fitness classes, couples packages, and more.
Gondola
When the evening calls for a quiet, mellow activity, try a gondola ride. Four authentic Italian gondolas are steered through the resort’s 7-acre lake by classically-trained gondoliers. Yes, the gondoliers sing, too! If you dine at Alto, a complimentary pass is included with the purchase of an entrée. Otherwise cost: Youth (3 & under) Free; Youth (4-12) $5; Adult $10.
Cultural & learning opportunities
In addition to the many activities, the resort also offers a variety of cultural learning opportunities. Every Friday night at Fountain Court, Hyatt presents Experiential Offerings! including Birds of Prey Take Flight at 4:00 p.m. followed by Native American dancing. Joe from Liberty Wildlife, a wildlife rehabilitation center, has a entertaining and humorous way of presenting facts; some of the jokes go unnoticed by kids, but more than one adult had a good chuckle. My son loved the show and took tons of pictures, while my daughter began to fade about halfway through the presentation.
KidTripster Tip: You can order food from any table outside that has a black menu on it. This is really helpful if you’d like to watch the bird demonstration or Native American dancing, but your kids are hungry.
The Native American dancing was beautiful, lively, and educational. Four local tribal members presented songs, stories, and dances celebrating their heritage and history. You’ll find yourself immersed in their message. I left feeling refreshed and inspired. Also on the property, you’ll find the Native American Learning Center, a small display of Native American information, photographs, and artifacts. It’s well worth a few minutes of your time to stop; be sure to bring the kids for a quick history lesson.
KidTripster Tip: The desert can get chilly at night. Be sure to bring light layers with you to the Birds of Prey and Native American dancing shows. The Hyatt also has baskets with blankets scattered throughout the resort. Feel free to grab one and make yourself comfortable.
Lodging at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale
The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale is a large property with a variety of rooms, suitable for every size family. We stayed in a preferred view queen room with an extended balcony and Regency Club access. Our room was spacious, clean, and well-appointed for our family of four. The extended balcony gave us room to spread out and enjoy the views, while the large television made family quiet time at the end of the day comfortable and relaxing. Standard room rates start at $147/night.
Regency Club access provides members with a light breakfast (think cereal – Fruit Loops, if you’re my kids, fresh fruit, and eggs), snacks during the day, plus hors d’oeuvres, cocktail service, and desserts at night. In addition, bottled sodas and juices are available throughout the day. Regency Club also offers games, a well-stocked bookshelf, magazines, computer, and printer. In my opinion, it’s worth the upgrade. Regency Club access starts at $100/night.
KidTripster Tip: Try the chocolate mousse dessert cups at night in the Regency Club. Stop in often to see if they’re available, as desserts vary each evening.
Dining at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale
We did the majority of our dining at the Regency Club, scattered with a few light snacks poolside, and one dinner at SWB, a southwest bistro. Our entire family enjoyed fresh guacamole and chips made tableside, delicious burgers, and finished our meal with chocolate mousse (love that mousse!). Our son announced that his meal was “heaven on a plate.”
For families, we would heartily recommend meals at SWB. The service was friendly and top-notch. Kids are provided with activity placemats, crayons, and spill-proof kid cups for drinking. Seating is available indoors or outdoors. Sitting outside was comfortable and allowed the kids to zip around the lawn while my husband and I finished our meal. However, beware of the birds! They are brave little creatures and will swoop down for a bite of your food when you’re not looking. The staff is great about shooing them away and will happily replace your meal if it becomes a casualty.
For a quieter meal, we recommend eating earlier in the day. The Hyatt really comes to life at night with live music and lots of adults mingling. It can be a bit loud for littles ones. On the flip side, if that’s your jam, stay up and enjoy!
Other on-site restaurants include Alto, Noh, and H2Oasis. Canyon Market is open 24 hours a day and offers easy, grab-and-go food options, including sandwiches, salads, and homemade ice cream.
KidTripster Tip: To avoid expensive late-night snack requests from the kids, grab a cookie or two from the Regency Club during the day when it’s open. Nightly turn-down service also provides small chocolates.
Getting to the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale
The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale is located 18 miles from Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. The hotel staff is happy to arrange pickup in a private car or the Super Shuttle; shuttle fee starts at $22/person.
Or you can rent a car and drive. Valet or self-service parking is available, ranging from $8/hour to $33/day.
KidTripster Tip: If you’re flying into the area and don’t plan on leaving the resort, take a cab, shuttle or ride share to the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale; don’t rent a car. You’ll save yourself the daily rental fee plus parking costs. If you do end up needing to leave, on-site car rentals are available through Hertz.
Megan Moore Inchauste lives in West Michigan with her husband, four children, and dog. She’s currently homeschooling her youngest children to allow for more travel and learning around the world.
This writer received a complimentary stay for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions expressed are solely her own.
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