Doubletree by Hilton Tucson - Reid Park

Enjoying the abundant Arizona sun is easy at this upper-middle-range hotel, which offers a pretty pool and lovely grounds. A large courtyard with lush lawns and palm trees surrounds the big, free-form pool and adjacent Jacuzzi. It’s a pleasant space and surprisingly tranquil, considering the hotel’s central location. A fitness center overlooks the pool area and offers courtyard views, but not much workout equipment.At the far back of the property are three tennis courts with nighttime lighting, and across the street in Reid Park are two 18-hole golf courses and a running path.The hotel does have its charms inside too, such as the big lobby. Here, contemporary couches and chairs are arranged into various seating clusters, complete with area rugs, lamps, and coffee tables that create a homey feel. The lobby also houses a business center with private computer stalls, a shop that sells clothes, jewelry, and other wares, and a lounge with upholstered armchairs, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a bar with a flat-screen TV above it.Restaurants include the Javelina Cantina and the Cactus Rose Steakhouse, which offer indoor and outdoors seating and dinner menus that offer meat, fish, and poultry. Both eateries tend to receive average reviews from guests.The Doubletree’s rooms are clean and spacious, with contemporary decor that is a bit generic. Some rooms in the hotel's high-rise tower will feature excellent views of the city and distant mountains.

The Doubletree Hotel Tucson at Reid Park is located in central Tucson, about one mile from the Reid Park Zoo. Guests can walk the neighborhood, especially the pathways in adjacent Reid Park, and the large El Con shopping mall is less than a mile away. Free shuttle service is offered within a three-mile radius. Free self-parking is also available, although some guests have complained about feeling unsafe in the lot because of high foot traffic here created by people not staying at the hotel.Tucson is the second-biggest city in Arizona and perhaps its most culturally rich. Though officially founded in 1776, Tucson was first settled in the late 1600s by Spanish missionaries (most notably at the beautiful Mission San Xavier del Bac, the region's most iconic structure), and 4000 years earlier by Hohokam Indians. It is said to be one of the longest continuously-inhabited cities in the USA, known since its inception as the "Old Pueblo."Sitting at 2,400 feet in a broad valley between five different mountain ranges, Tucson enjoys on average 350 sunny days per year and an arid climate that produces one of the most diverse desert environments in the world. The Sonoran Desert features the stately saguaro cactus, which is celebrated at Saguaro National Park on the city's outskirts, and many other varieties of cacti and unique wildlife including a few notable desert dwellers, such as rattlesnakes, Gila Monsters, and Giant Desert Hairy Scorpions. There was even a 2009 sighting of a rare jaguar. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has wildlife and flora on display, and is the best place to learn more.With all that sunshine, Tucson is an outdoor lover's paradise. Scores of golf courses dot the city. Hiking possibilities are limitless and year-round in the Santa Catalina and Santa Rita Mountains nearby, with Sabino Canyon Recreation Area being a local favorite. Mountain bikers come to Tucson by the thousands for the miles of single-track trails in the desert. Bird-watchers can explore some of the richest avian populations in North America in nearby secluded canyons. And there's even a ski area among fir and pine trees atop Mt. Lemmon, which has an elevation of more than 9,000 feet.Tucson's Hispanic community is woven into the fabric of everyday life in the city, and is reflected in the Mexican restaurants, the Spanish place names, and the arts and culture that play a large part in forming Tucson's identity. The arts abound in Tucson in dozens of galleries, such as the Etherton Gallery or DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun (celebrating the work of Tucson artist Ted DeGrazia). The University of Arizona houses the Creative Center for Photography, the nation's largest repository of photographs by notable artists such as Ansel Adams and W. Eugene Smith.As a desert city, Tucson gets hot in the summertime with temps ranging in the 100s from May to mid-September. Winter is the busy season, when many visitors succumb to the temptations of 75-degree days and pleasant evenings around a fireplace. Summers can be enjoyable too, by sticking close to a pool or indulging in shopping -- just remember to pack extra water and avoid exertion in the midday sun. Locals might suggest taking a siesta -- "nap" in Spanish -- during midday hours.It's important to realize that freeways are nonexistent in Tucson, save for I-10. Driving times can vary depending on time of day, as rush hour creates a twice-daily snarl on surface streets.- 20-minute drive from Tucson International Airport

• 5-minute drive to Reid Park Zoo
• 10-minute drive to the The Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona
• 15-minute drive to Pima Air and Space Museum
• 20-minute drive to the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun
• 25-minute drive to La Encantada shopping area
• 25-minute drive to Mission San Xavier del Bac
• 30-minute drive to Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
• 35-minute drive to Old Tucson Studios
• 35-minute drive to Saguaro National Park East
• 35-minute drive to the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum
• 90-minute drive to Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley
• 2-hour drive to Phoenix

The 287 units at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Tucson at Reid Park are divided between the nine-floor tower and a collection of two-story buildings that line the property. Tower rooms feature good views of distant mountains and the city from the upper floors. Non-tower rooms have exterior entries.Decor is contemporary, but somewhat generic. Blond wood headboards attached to the walls match the plain-looking nightstands, desks, and dressers. A soft color palette of green and tan hues is used throughout. Luxe touches include 42-inch flat-screen TVs with premium channels, Wolfgang Puck coffeemakers, coffee, and tea, upholstered armchairs with matching ottomans, and Crabtree & Evelyn bath products. Views will vary depending on the location of the unit.- 42-inch flat-screen TVs with premium channels

• Fee for in-room Wi-Fi
• Mini-fridges and Wolfgang Puck coffeemakers, coffee, and tea
• No in-room safes, guests can use safety deposit boxes at front desk
• Recycle bins in each room
• Crabtree & Evelyn bath products
• Units facing north will have good views of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
• Some suites have patios.
• Pet-friendly units are available (fees and restrictions apply).
• Casitas are stand-alone units that include separate living rooms, kitchenettes, dining tables, and private patios.

• Big courtyard with lush lawns, palm trees, a heated pool, and a Jacuzzi
• Three outdoor tennis courts with nighttime lighting
• 24-hour fitness center offers pool and courtyard views, but just two treadmills and a few other machines
• Free self-parking, but some people feel unsafe in the hotel lot because of foot traffic created by non-guests
• Golf courses available across the street at Reid Park
• Shop with jewelry, clothes, accessories, and other wares
• Various event spaces with largest meeting room encompassing more than 9,700 square feet
• Business center in lobby has private computer stalls
• No spa, just two treatment rooms for massages
• View Full List of Amenities

• The Cactus Rose Steakhouse serves American food with a Southwestern twist that mostly gets just average reviews from guests. Indoor and outdoor seating available; open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch.
• The Javelina Cantina is a casual dining restaurant and bar serving Mexican and American fare for lunch and dinner daily. Guests tend to give the cuisine so-so reviews. Outdoor and indoor seating available.
• Room service from early morning until night