Fairmont Scottsdale Princess: A Luxury Icon with Irresistible Charm

Spreading over 60-plus acres within Arizona‘s Sonoran Desert, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess pulls off a rare feat: It manages to feel both immense and intimate at the same time. This iconic Scottsdale resort does everything on a grand scale, yet it maintains the air of a peaceful retreat through and through. Winding walkways lead past rippling lagoons, towering palm trees sway in the breeze and guests relax in tucked-away courtyards and patios, all combining for a sense of serenity that belies the property’s size.

For decades, the Princess has set the bar for luxury resorts in this region, and while it’s always stood out for its best-in-class hospitality and top-tier amenities, it just keeps getting better with time. Whether you’re a new visitor or a longtime fan, you’ll quickly understand why this isn’t just a place to stay — it’s an escape into pure indulgence.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Review and Highlights

Privado Villas

With 750 rooms and suites across a head-spinning array of categories, the Princess offers accommodations tailored for every travel style and group size. But if I had to pick a favorite, I’d opt for the Privado Villas, a cozy enclave with an extra layer of exclusivity and personalized service. It’s often described as a hotel within a hotel, and that’s exactly how it feels — guests have separate valet parking and bell staff, check in at a private lobby lounge and are escorted to their accommodations without crossing through the other areas of the resort. There’s a dedicated concierge team as well as complimentary car service within a defined radius, and Privado guests enjoy access to the resort’s spa whether or not they’ve booked a treatment.

The Privado grounds are laced with cobbled paths and impeccably manicured, with native flora and cacti adding a distinctly Southwestern touch. Communal fire pits dot the lawns, inviting you to settle in and unwind under the Arizona sky.

Airy studios and one-bedroom suites, each with a private balcony or terrace, are housed in a cluster of tile-roofed villas, decorated in sleek, tailored fashion with textural top notes and hints of desert color. You can connect rooms or book an entire villa for maximum space. Although the studios are open-plan, they’re configured for privacy — the bedroom and the living area, which includes a queen sleeper sofa, are separated by a divider wall that integrates a glassed-in fireplace, TVs and a well-outfitted minibar. In addition to a full Nespresso coffee setup and an ample supply of mugs and glassware, the cabinetry holds two mini-fridges, one with an assortment of beverages and one empty with space to store bottled water, snacks or milk and formula for parents traveling with babies and toddlers.

Bathrooms are huge and well stocked with the resort’s bespoke rose-scented Le Labo toiletries. Some have rain showers only and some include soaking tubs. There are two separate standalone vanities, a roomy walk-in closet with a chest of drawers and — my favorite — a full-size standing steamer, which makes quick work of smoothing out suitcase wrinkles.

One of the best perks is a pool area exclusively for Privado guests, surrounded by plenty of comfortable chaises and shaded double loungers. Kids are welcome, and it can get busy but never feels overrun. The pool is nestled amid a cluster of villas, so if you’d rather minimize routine noise from swimmers, request a room that’s a little farther away.

The lobby lounge is comfortable and inviting, and there’s a full array of complimentary beverages any time of day or night: soft drinks and sparkling water; specialty coffees; wine and Champagne. The staff puts out refreshments through the day — morning brings delicious muffins and breakfast pastries, followed by a trail mix bar in the afternoon and charcuterie as evening draws near. It’s lovely to sit on the rear terrace overlooking the golf course with a nibble and sip in hand and watch the resident family of bunnies play on the greens.

Other Accommodations

Beyond Privado, you’re spoiled for choice. The multistory buildings that form the axis of the property house an assemblage of standard rooms, suites and specialty suites, most of which can be connected. All of them work for families, but the standouts include one-bedroom Cholla Suites, which are steps from the action at the heart of the resort, and one-bedroom Sunset Beach Suites next to the Sunset Beach pool and its sandy play area (more on that below). Both categories include sleeper sofas, and Sunset Beach suites can be combined into a three-bedroom unit that’s perfect for large or multigenerational groups.

The resort’s all-suite Fairmont Gold section has a slightly more adult-centric air and is especially well suited for golfing groups, couples’ getaways or business travel, though all ages certainly can and do stay there. Although it feels less secluded than Privado, Fairmont Gold also has its own lobby and lounge with concierge service, continental breakfast, daytime snacks and evening hors d’oeuvres along with an honor bar. Guests receive complimentary spa access as well.

Onsite Activities

When downtime beckons, jump in at one of the five pools across the property (not counting Privado), each with its own character and appeal. The crowd-pleasing Princess Pool is the most centrally located with views over the onsite lagoon and easy access to nearby dining. Kids who meet the 42-inch height requirement can barrel down the the water slides at the Sonoran Splash pool, while the Sunset Beach pool is a dream for all ages — not only does it have a broad swath of actual sand dotted with palm trees, there’s a splash pad that will keep little ones engrossed and happy.

The remaining pools are for over-18s only. I enjoyed a balmy afternoon at the large Sonoran Landing pool next door to Sonoran Splash, which feels laid-back yet lively. It’s a great spot to read, relax or sunbathe, perhaps with a cocktail from the adjacent bar, while your crew is occupied elsewhere. At sunset, head for the rooftop pool at the resort’s Well & Being Spa — watching the golden light wash over the McDowell Mountains from this perch is a treat not to miss.

Scottsdale’s reliably sunny weather makes it a magnet for golfers, and the Princess is flanked by a pair of celebrated courses, the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course and the TPC Scottsdale Champions Course. Of the two, the Stadium Course is the bigger star and a bucket-list experience for lots of golf fans as it hosts the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open each winter. Its deep bunkers and superfast greens present a challenge even for ace players. By contrast, the Champions Course is a little more low-key and forgiving for those who just want a fun day out on the links. The golfing staff can arrange equipment rentals and private lessons for both adults and kids.

Off-property, the public Grayhawk Golf Club is a 10-minute drive away and has two acclaimed courses, Talon and Raptor, for which the concierge can help with reservations.

Spa Times Two

For many guests, the onsite Well & Being Spa is the draw for a Princess escape, and I absolutely get it. Open to adults only, it is 44,000 square feet of pure pampered bliss. The complex is beautifully done in soothing earthy neutrals and includes a steam room, a dry sauna, a hot whirlpool and cold plunge pool, a wonderfully relaxing inhalation room scented with eucalyptus and a hydrotherapy shower. I particularly liked the covered outdoor waterfall grotto lined with an intricate tile mural, facing a rock wall with its own waterfall meant as a nod to Arizona’s Havasu Falls.

The spa offers a comprehensive range of massages, skin care, mind and body therapies, and salon services as well as a menu of light fare if you’re peckish. But for the ultimate in decadence, book a session at the Sisley-Paris Spa, which is its own luxe enclave within Well & Being. A sassy parlor drenched in bold color and pattern sets the tone for a delightful experience, enhanced by a soundtrack of vintage French ballads along with complimentary Champagne and dainty sweets. Sisley-Paris is famed for its fine botanical beauty products, and they’re well integrated into each treatment; aestheticians will hand-select just the right blend of creams, serums and so forth for your skin type. I had a fabulous 90-minute facial using the company’s Black Rose skin care collection that left me feeling both radiant and utterly relaxed.

If you want to maintain your workout schedule, the fitness facilities are top-notch and there’s a full slate of daily classes as well as personal training available. The standout is aerial yoga, in which you move through a series of poses supported by a cloth hammock that hangs from the ceiling (if you can’t participate, at least try to watch for a few moments — it’s captivating!).

Family Celebrations and Kids’ Amenities

True to form, the Princess goes all out for seasonal events. The calendar is chockablock throughout the year with galas for Easter, the Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and many occasions in between. Nothing, however, beats the annual Christmas at the Princess festivities for sheer splendor: millions of twinkling lights, an outdoor ice rink, Santa meet-and-greets, fire tables and igloos, a Ferris wheel and fireworks displays … it’s impossible to sum up in words. Coming up on its 16th season, it has become a tradition both for local families and farther-flung guests who return again and again.

All year round, the Trailblazers Kids’ Club offers half-day sessions for ages 5 to 12, with programming built around themes that vary from week to week. In the afternoons families can hang out at the Trailblazers Recreation Center and enjoy diversions such as arcade games, pool table, Ping-Pong and board games. Trailblazers also rents poles, tackle boxes and other equipment for catch-and-release fishing in the central lagoon.

As you traipse through the grounds, be sure to stop and say hi to Cecil the desert tortoise, who has his own outdoor enclosure and can often be spotted basking in the sun or munching on a mouthful of leafy greens.

Shopping

Some of Scottsdale’s best retail venues are right on the resort grounds. I loved browsing Same River Twice, a well-curated boutique with a mix of decorative accents, one-of-a-kind clothing and handmade jewelry that all feel appropriate to the area. Shop Anna J for women’s fashion that ranges from the boho ease of Free People to the casual elegance of Tory Burch, and Estado for premium athleisure. There’s also a standalone Lilly Pulitzer boutique filled with the brand’s signature punchy, preppy attire.

For men, Maverick stocks contemporary labels like Peter Millar and Tom Ford, and Reflections offers resort wear, swimwear and pool accessories for both kids and adults. Provisions is the place to pick up Princess logo apparel as well as Southwestern gifts and grab-and-go bites, and it houses a coffee and gelato bar as well. Pop into the Well & Being Lifestyle Boutique for bath and beauty finds plus loungewear and wellness products.

Dining

The Princess is home to five main restaurants, each with a distinctive menu and vibe. Bright and breezy, Ironwood American Kitchen serves breakfast and lunch favorites in addition to an excellent weekend brunch. Its outdoor terrace overlooks the Princess Pool, so if you have kids old enough to swim on their own, it’s a great place to linger over dessert or a cup of coffee while they splash. The open-air Plaza Bar offers snacks, small plates and craft cocktails from late afternoon through late night, and its cushy sofas and fire pits are an ideal place to loiter and people-watch.

Dinner-only restaurants include La Hacienda, an elegant adobe-style spot for elevated Mexican food (think pomegranate guacamole and grilled shrimp with guajillo chile salsa); Bourbon Steak, an outpost of the upscale steakhouse established by chef and restaurateur Michael Mina; and Toro from chef Richard Sandoval, whose “Latin without borders” tagline encompasses a menu that includes grilled octopus with miso pasilla sauce, pork shank with yucca mash and esquites mac and cheese. Whatever you order at Toro, save room for the signature dessert, La Bomba: a wafer-thin chocolate bowl piled high with ice creams and sorbets, cubes of buttermilk cake and chantilly cream, fresh fruit, cacao nibs and pistachios. You’ll goggle when it arrives, but that’s nothing compared to the moment your server smashes it with great fanfare on your (plastic sheet-protected) table, handing around spoons to scoop up the glorious mess.

All of the restaurants are beautifully designed, but Toro is a true knockout. Fresh from a 2024 renovation, it’s dark and sultry, cloaked in textural woods and wovens and lush with tropical plants. Time your reservation right and you might catch a performance from a local fire dancer — not your average evening out!

Local Sightseeing

You really don’t have to set foot outside the resort to enjoy a full vacation with all the variety you need. But if you want to get off-property and explore, start with Old Town Scottsdale, less than half an hour’s drive away and lined with historic buildings, galleries, boutiques and Southwestern eateries. Nearby is the trailhead for Camelback Mountain, or you can wander through the desert landscapes of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Art and architecture lovers will want to visit the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and architectural masterpiece. And for kids, the OdySea Aquarium and Butterfly Wonderland provide immersive encounters with all sorts of marine life and thousands of colorful butterflies.

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Photos by Lisa Frederick except where noted.

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.