Staycation at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort With Kids. Living in the Greater Phoenix area means that there are many different family-friendly resorts that are perfect for a Summer Staycation. This year might be a little different than others, but local resorts are making some accommodations to still allow families the chance to sneak away for a few days and enjoy the Arizona summer sun!
One of our favorite staycation spots and the one we visit most frequently is the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. The Princess is located in North Scottsdale and the beautiful resort grounds, lush lagoon, and variety of pools make it a great spot for families, girl’s weekends, or a romantic getaway- in fact, I have done all three there!
The theme this summer is by far my absolute favorite! Summer at the Princess: Let’s Roll features a throwback to the 80s and 90s with retro nostalgia throughout the resort and really fun activities. Retro Recess is the fun that is offered Wednesday-Sunday nights. This year the resort offers roller skating (rentals included), Ghost Blasters laser tag, neon mini golf, and a super awesome vintage arcade. All of these activities are FREE with your stay (seriously- free arcade games, skating, golf). I could easily spend the same amount visiting a local arcade/mini-golf center for my family of four as a one night stay!
On the weekends, they have dive-in movies, glow parties by the pool, and fireworks on Saturday nights! My best tip is go on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Sunday night- or do a Sat-Monday stay and enjoy the weekend activities, but go to Retro Recess on a weeknight, as it will be a lot less busy! Attached are pictures of the brochure for the summer fun!
Our last few visits to the Princess have been extra special, as we have celebrated birthdays! We used the concierge service at the Princess to coordinate decorating and storing birthday supplies. They can help with EVERYTHING, including birthdays/celebrations, and other local attractions/coordinating. Our kids now stop by and say “Hi” every visit! You can email SCP.concierge@fairmont.com to connect with the team!
This summer, the special offers include:
Arizona Residents Offer 30% Off
Enjoy our best rates of the season with this unbeatable offer for our local community! A well-deserved staycation is within reach, and there’s no better place than the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess for couples and families to get away.
Game, Glow and Roll Summer Package
$100 RESORT CREDIT PER NIGHT
This summer, take a journey back in time to the ’80s and ’90s. Book now to enjoy $100 resort credit per night and a $10 nightly donation to Thunderbird Charities
Four for the Fourth Package
Make this Fourth of July holiday truly unforgettable! 4 nights, 4 bands, a $400 resort credit and 4 times the fun!
You can find a link to all current offers here.
The resort offers six different pools, each with unique offerings.
The Sonoran Splash pool offers a zero-depth entry for the little ones to splash around in and has two 200-foot twisting water slides. There is a large sand area with toys off to the side of the pool for the kids to play in (this area may be limited this summer). The pool is known for night-time DJ dance parties for the kids and pool-side games and concerts.
The Sonoran Landing Adult-Only pool is located adjacent to the family pool and is a great place for couples or friends who are enjoying a child-free staycation.
The Sunset Beach pool is located across the resort and features 9,000 square feet of soft white sand, a gorgeous fire pit in the center of the pool, a splash pad for kids, as well as beach chairs, lounge chairs, and even covered couches. This pool features a walk-up bar area to hang out in. Typically mermaid adventures and dive-in movies happen at this pool, and it makes a great viewing spot for fireworks!
The Princess Pool was recently renovated and is centrally located in the resort and offers a beautiful view of the lagoon and golf course. There are two large hot tubs and is definitely a gorgeous location that makes you feel like you are really in a vacation paradise.
The Well & Being Rooftop Pool is an adult-only pool located on top of the Well & Being spa and is only available to those having a spa treatment or who have access to a spa day pass (complimentary if staying in a Gold room but an extra fee if staying in a regular room). If you have a chance, the spa is absolutely luxurious and well worth taking a break from kiddos and relaxing. I haven’t ever had a spa treatment there, but I get a day pass just to enjoy the rooftop pool and additional amenities such as the whirlpool, sauna, steam room, and aromatherapy room.
The five pools listed above all offer poolside dining and beverage service!
The Casita pool is located in the Casita area of the hotel and is smaller, but has a hot tub available for use. I have yet to visit this pool, but as of right now, it has not been reopened for visitors staying at the resort!
Besides just the pools there are quite a few other places to explore! There is a desert tortoise enclosure, a fishing lagoon (you can rent supplies there), and a small playground (off to the side of the Sonoran Splash Pool). There is a family reaction center that offers a Kids Camp and then a place to hang out as a family in the afternoon. There are also various dining opportunities. You can eat poolside or in one of four restaurants.
The American Ironwood Kitchen is casual family-friendly food with an amazing breakfast buffet on the weekends- obviously dependent on reopening plans. The other three are a bit more upscale, but still kid-friendly- La Hacienda (Mexican), Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar (Pan-Latin), and Bourbon Steak (steakhouse).
It is always smart to make a reservation ahead of time for one of these spots because they fill fast! Room-service is always an option as well. For the summer, these locations are planning on allowing social distancing dine-in as well as take-out. There are several off-site dining options that are all about 5 minutes away, including a Whole Foods, where we go to stock up on some snacks and essentials.
As far as rooms, there are a few things to note- the standard rooms and Sunset Beach rooms only have a shower and do not have a bathtub- they also do not have a fridge or microwave, but I believe you can request a fridge to be brought to your room (I did when I was still pumping breast milk). The main difference between the Sunset Beach rooms and the standard rooms is that the Sunset Beach rooms will be near the Sunset Beach pool- and there is also a row of rooms that face the Sunset Beach!
The Fairmont Gold suites and Casita suites are larger and more equipped for families (couches, oversize bathtubs, and separate showers). The added benefit is the separate parking lot for both of these areas (although parking is an additional fee for all rooms except the Gold suites). The Gold suites offer a small fridge, but I believe you would still need to request one in the Casitas.
The Fairmont Gold rooms are a bit of an extra cost, but they include access to the Gold Lounge which has continental breakfast, drinks/coffee all day, and evening appetizers following by a light dessert. It’s always a fun experience, but the Gold rooms are off on one side of the resort and a bit of a walk!
If this isn’t the year that your family wants to do a summer staycation, definitely keep it in mind for the future, as the Princess plans to continue their tradition of making summer extra fun for families once it is safe to be in larger groups again. In the previous years, the Princess offered quite a few expanded programming for kids during the summer, with last year being the really fun Superhero Summer and the year before being the Best Summer Ever.
From mermaid encounters to foam parties, meet and greets with some of the best superheroes, poolside dance parties, games, and dive-in movies, there was stuff for kids to do all day. We have made it a tradition to go to the Freedom Fest that happens over the 4th of July! Last year there were three nights of concerts, fireworks, an air show, and paratroopers all celebrating this American holiday! A staycation at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess with kids is definitely one to repeat every year!
Learn more about Princess events, like the Pumpkin Nights, or Christmas at the Princess.
Looking for other activity ideas in Scottsdale? Check out this awesome list with indoor and outdoor ideas!
