Hilton Tucson East

The Hilton Tucson East features modernized guest rooms and interior spaces with contemporary furniture and decor. Coupled with the low price point for rooms, the updated hotel offers better value than many higher-priced competitors.The impressive lobby features a soaring, seven-story atrium with windows that face to the north, framing a huge vista of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The red glow at sunset upon the mountains provides nightly displays of desert beauty.A mezzanine overhangs the first floor and offers a space to sit and relax or have a drink from the adjacent Vistas Bar & Grill. More windows in the restaurant open to the east, revealing views of the Rincon Mountains. A modern fitness center is situated near the restaurant entrance, with several treadmills and elliptical machines below big windows offering more good views.Outside is a lovely courtyard with pretty plants and simple white patio furniture that create a welcoming feel. The pool and large sun deck are also inviting, with an expansive ramada roof providing shade for swimmers wanting to avoid a sunburn.

The Hilton Tucson East is located on Broadway Boulevard, a major thoroughfare. Shopping and dining options abound within one mile, including the Park Place Mall and over 60 restaurants such as El Charro Mexican Restaurant. Self-parking is free. No shuttle service is offered.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.- 30-minute drive to Tucson International Airport

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

The Hilton’s 232 rooms are spacious and have an understated, contemporary feel, with flat-screen TVs, cherry wood furniture, and muted tones of green, pink, and gold throughout. Views can vary, but the best ones are from rooms facing north toward the mountains.Bathrooms come with glass-door showers and granite countertops. They are on the small side, with barely enough room for two people to squeeze around the sink area.- 32-inch flat-screen TVs with premium channels

• Free Wi-Fi
• Cuisinart coffeemakers with free coffee and tea
• Hilton Serenity beds with down comforters and triple-sheeted bed linens
• No safes in rooms, they are only available at front desk
• Rooms facing north will have good views of the Santa Catalina Mountains
• Standard rooms are the King (with walk-in shower) and Double Queen (with shower/tub combo)
• Executive Level rooms (seventh floor) have the best views and come with secure floor access, free hot breakfast, evening reception with drinks and appetizers, a concierge lounge, and robes.
• The King Executive Floor Terrace Suite is a one-bedroom suite with a separate living room, private balcony, sleeper sofa, microwave, and mini-fridge.

• Heated pool and adjacent Jacuzzi offer mountain views
• Large courtyard with landscaping, seating, and shaded areas
• 24-hour fitness center has modern equipment and windows with pretty views
• View Full List of Amenities

• Vistas Bar & Grille serves up American food, ranging from steaks to salads, in a large dining room and terrace with understated furnishings. Located on the second floor, the restaurant offers views of the Santa Catalina Mountains from some tables. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Room service is available.