We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center

We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center is a sprawling resort on the Yavapai Indian Reservation that attracts a mix of conference goers, golfers, and gamblers. It's primarily surrounded by desert full of sagebrush and tall cactuses, though the two grassy golf courses add a touch of lushness to the otherwise arid space. The hotel itself blends well into its surroundings. It has a tan and rust-red exterior and ample use of local stone siding, and a decor scheme that continues throughout the property, from the large patios with rust-red tiling to the bright lobby with its mix of light-wood and stone decor and rust-red carpets and accent cushions.

This hotel is located on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Indian Reservation, about a half-hour drive east of Scottsdale, in a quiet area surrounded primarily by desert. It's a 15-minute drive to the hiking trails at McDowell Mountain Park and Fountain Hills (where the world's tallest fountain is located), while Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin takes around 20 minutes to reach by car. Saguaro Lake and Scottsdale attractions such as Old Town, Fashion Square, and the Scottsdale Waterfront all take around a half-hour to reach by car. Sky Harbor International Airport  takes around a half-hour to get to, without traffic. It's around 40 minutes by car to downtown Phoenix.

Rooms and suites in this hotel follow a consistent decor scheme, with medium-brown wood furniture, patterned beige carpets, and accent hues of rust and sandy red, perhaps a nod to the Southwest surroundings. Rooms start at 360 square feet (33 square meters) and each comes with either two queen-size beds or a king-size bed. Cribs are available on request. Rooms with pool views tend to cost more, but otherwise the units are more or less identical. Junior Suites add balconies and measure 725 square feet/67 square meters. Executive Suites upgrade to separate living areas with sofa beds and tables for six. Amenities found across categories include free Wi-Fi, coffee- and tea-making facilities, refrigerated minibars, irons and ironing boards, laptop-size safes, and 37-inch flat-screen TVs with premium channels. Bathrooms feature granite counters and tiled siding plus shower/tub combos, magnifying mirrors, toiletries, hairdryers, and bathrobes. Suites add whirlpool tubs.

This resort's main draw for many travelers is its amenities, notably the golf club with two 18-hole golf courses and the Fort McDowell Casino, offering all sorts of table and machine games along with food service, 24 hours a day. The hotel offers wedding and event-planning services, too, and there's a huge conference center here that can accommodate up to 2,000 people with full catering and audiovisual services. Wi-Fi and parking are included and there's a 24-hour business center for printing. Note that the hotel tacks on a resort fee, but it's built in to some online rates.

Wellness facilities include the Amethyst Spa, which offers massages, facials, and salon services (think waxing and mani/pedis). There's also a fitness center with modern cardio and weight-training equipment plus a rack of free weights. Though it's on the small side, it's open 24 hours a day. Alternatively, the hotel features a sprawling outdoor pool that's large enough to swim laps. The deck has lots of poolside lounge seating, much of it shaded, plus an adjacent whirlpool hot tub for cooler nights.

We-Ko-Pa also offers all sorts of dining options, along with 24-hour room service. The main restaurant, Ahnala Mesquite Room, offers sandwiches, tacos, and salads. Allergens are clearly marked on the menu. Red Rock Cafe is the all-you-can-eat buffet, but it's not open for breakfast. There's also a casual spot in the golf clubhouse, We-Ko-Pa grille, plus a number of smaller eateries scattered across the casino, from Silver Platter (a burger joint) to Noodles Sushiya, which, as the name suggests, serves noodles and sushi.