The Westin Kierland Villas

Westin Kierland Villas is aimed at the well-heeled leisure or business traveler. Dwarfed by its sister hotel down the street (Westin Kierland Resort), the Westin Kierland Villas has an informal, quietly elegant character. The lobby features dark wood columns, earthy beige and brown southwestern tones, and framed works of art highlighting the region. Businessmen will appreciate the many tables in the lobby and outdoors for informal meetings. In the open courtyard there are countless cabanas and additional seats for those to enjoy the sunny atmosphere and stainless steel BBQ grills (not those standalone coal grills at most resorts) for day or night cookouts. Grounds around the buildings and facilities are well planned and landscaped with paved paths, cacti gardens, and sandy fire pits along with billiards, giant chess, and foosball areas. The atmosphere is family-friendly and relaxed.

These villas are in a mixed residential-business area that is located in a high-end district known as Kierland. The Kierland Golf Course hugs the hotel property around the northern corners, while streets and neighborhoods surround the rest of the hotel. This is a convenient location for both business and leisure travelers, as there is plenty of shopping and dining at the nearby Kierland Commons, including The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Changs, and Morton’s, The Steakhouse. The resort is about a 20- to 30-minute drive from downtown Scottsdale. For dining down in that area, a few notable venues are The Mission, Culinary Dropout, Cowboy Ciao, and Olive & Ivy. The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is approximately 30 minutes from the villas, depending on traffic.

Villas at the Westin are quiet, roomy, and clean. The decor is contemporary and tasteful with clean lines, wood furniture, and stone tiled bathrooms. This may be a good option for families as units are well-equipped with full kitchens, washer/dryers, comfortable eating areas, flat-screen TVs, and furnished outdoor balconies/patios. Kitchens have stoves, microwaves, refrigerators, dishwashers, coffeemakers, and toasters. Bathrooms are clean and spacious. There are large vanity mirrors, towels, toiletries, and robes. Showers have dual showerheads, while the separate tubs are large and have jets. The one-bedroom villas have 543 square feet of space and comfortably sleep groups of four, while the one-bedroom premium villas are larger, at 871 square feet of space. Wi-Fi is free.

This Westin outpost has a number of facilities that are shared with the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa. But those that are exclusive to the villa guests include the fitness center, separate adult and children’s swimming pools and waterslide, private cabanas, bicycle rentals, and gas BBQ grills. The fitness center is well-equipped with weights, benches, and cardio machines with individual TV screens. For activities outdoors, concierge services offers running maps of the area surrounding the property and hosts group runs. There are also bike rentals available on-site. Outdoor activities include the separate adults-only pool and children’s pool with waterslide. Both pool areas are generous with sun loungers and umbrellas that can help beat the desert heat. Cabanas are the nicer option, but those are available via reservations and the space can fill up rather quickly and early. The kids' club staff offers supervised activities out by the water and also indoors with arts and crafts. The McDowell Market & Grill is the only restaurant/dining option on the property and it is limited. This space has more of a marketplace/cafe setup than a casual restaurant, but it does have a nicer outdoor area with bigger tables, more seating, and a bar to the side. The gas grills are the more fun alternative for those hoping to have cookouts. Wi-Fi is free.

Facilities that aren’t exclusive to villa guests are the spa services at Agave, The Arizona Spa, which is located in the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, and the golf course. The spa has a full treatment menu, 20 treatment rooms, a full-service hair salon, sauna, and whirlpool. The gym at this resort also offers workout classes. For golf, there are three nine-hole courses to create 18-hole combinations and a Pro Shop. There is also a water park on-site with tubing, a 110-foot-long waterslide, and a Flowboarding area that simulates waves. One thing to note: While the water park is advertised as a family-friendly spot, many parents have complained of rowdy adults and large groups drinking around the area.