After a few days at the Venetian in Las Vegas at a conference, I took a one-night staycation at a Scottsdale resort.
The Scottsdale Plaza was listed as “hip” and ranked four stars on a travel website, but that was a “mild” overstatement.
Suites can be sweet or a bit sour.
I realize that the Palazzo at the Venetian is a luxury resort, and I’m hardly a hotel snob. However, the former had a vast choice of restaurants and shops and fluffy pool towels.
By contrast, the Scottsdale resort delivered breakfast in a cardboard carry-out container and the poolside linens were more like threadbare washcloths.
What did I learn from this experience?
- If a price is too good to be true, it likely is.
- Before you book, check at least 50 reviews and pay attention to both the good and bad ones.
- Photos can be deceiving.
- Be sure you ask in advance if the bathroom has any amenities. BYOSC (bring your own shower cap) seems to be the policy at some hotels these days.
- If a hotel is disappointing, attempt to make the best of the situation and focus on the experience rather than the amenities.
On the bright side, the pools were not super-crowded, and I could afford another vacation or staycation because the price was so reasonable.
