Valley heidi heidi HO!!!
Tuesday, February 17th, 2009
LOVE WAS IN THE AIR THIS VALENTINE DAY WEEKEND IN PHOENIX. AND IT WAS ALSO ALL STAR WEEKEND SO THAT HELPED. I FLEW OUT OF BURBANK’S BOB HOPE AIRPRT LATE AFTERNOON AND ARRIVED IN THE PHOENIX AIRPOT AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER. I’VE NEVER BEEN TO PHOENIX SO I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW HUGE AND CROWDED THIS AIRPORT WAS. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CROWED IT WASN’T TOO CONGESTED. I FOUND MY WAY EASILY TO MY DRIVER AN WAS WISKED AWAY TO MY WEEKEND RETREAT LOCATION. THE VALLEY HO. LOCATED IN THE RITZY PART OF PHOENIX “SCOTTSDALE”, HERE’S SOME HISTORY I PULLED OFF THE SITE.
media+history
Originally built in 1956, Hotel Valley Ho with its inviting pool courtyard became a hotspot for celebrities of the era. Hotel Valley Ho was all the rage in those golden days and a legend in its own time. It was the meeting place of Scottsdale’s society, a year-round resort to Hollywood stars, and an oasis for well-heeled visitors from around the country. The legendary hotel has been thrilling guests since opening in 1956 with regular sightings of Hollywood’s greats.
The revered resort, located within the new urban grid of downtown Scottsdale, is still one of the nation’s best-preserved examples of mid-century modern architecture. Built with Frank Lloyd inspired elements, its “southwestern” architecture (bridging modern and western detailing) made the property an instant icon of the area.
In June 2004, Westroc Hotels & Resorts embarked on an $80-million rehabilitation and expansion of Hotel Valley Ho’s 14-acre site after acquiring the property in 2002. Reopened in December 2005, the 194 room urban resort + spa blends the old with the new: classic mid-century modern architecture and modern conveniences like complimentary wireless Internet access throughout, flat screen televisions, a state-of-the-art exercise facility, the VH (Vitality + Health) Spa, Cafe Zuzu, and the legendary Trader Vic’s.
THE DRIVE TO THE HOTEL WAS A QUICK15MIN., AND THE DRIVER WAS NICE ENOUGH TO GIVE ME A LITTLE OF THE HISTORY OF THE HOTEL. THE ‘VALLEY HO’ WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL HANG OUTS OF THE”RAT PACK” IN THE 50′S, SO AS WE APPROACHED THE TO TURN THE CORNER THE HOTEL LAID ON, I FELT THE NOSTALGIA OF PAST LIFE FALL OVER ME. WE PULLED UP TO THE ENTRANCE AND AS SOON AS I STEPPED OUT OF THE TOWN CAR I WAS PROMPTLY GREETED BY THE BELL MAN. SINCE MY BF HAD ALREADY CHECKED US IN, I ALREADY KNEW THE HOTEL ROOM NUMBER AND HE KINDLY ESCORTED ME TO MY ROOM.
THE ATMOSPHERE WAS DIMLY LIT. THE FURNISHINGS WERE MID-CENTURY MODERN. AND WHO EVER PICKED THE COLOR PALETTE HAS IMPECIBLE TASTE. IT MADE ME RETHINK MY WHOLE LIVING ROOM DESIGN AND DECOR. I WAS REALLY HONESTLY INSPIRED. THE VALLEY HO, BROUGHT AN OLD SCHOOL FEEL WITH THAT OF A MODERN FLAIR. THE GYM WAS BRAND SPANKING NEW AND INCLUDED TV’S ON EACH CARDIO MACHINE. THEY EVEN OFFERED FRESHLY SANITIZED HEAD PHONES FOR YOUR CONVIENCE. THE ROOMS WERE COZY AND WELL LIT, WITH ALL NEWLY REMODELED BATHROOMS, SOME WITH EVEN THE TUB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM, STRANGE BUT COOL. I GUESS YOU CAN WATCH TV AND BATHE AT THE SAME TIME. THE BEDS HAD FLUFFY WHITE PILLOWS AND FRESH SCENTED LINENS, TOPPED WITH A DOWN COMFPRTER.
MY ONLY QUALM WAS, BEING A WOMAN, MY ROOM DIDN’T HAVE A FULL LENGTH MIRROR ANYWHERE, SO GETTING DRESSED WAS A BIT OF A HASSLE. OTHER THEN THAT, ROOM SERVICE WAS PROMPT. THE SPA WAS COOL, IT COULD’VE USED A JACUZZI. AND THE CAFE INSIDE THE HOTEL “CAFE ZUZU” HAD PROBABLY SOME OF THE BEST HOTEL FOOD I’VE EVER EATEN! ALL IN ALL IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND I’D GO BACK FOR MORE! HERE’S THE LINK FOR THE HOTEL GO AND CHECK IT OUT IF YOU EVER HAVE TO GO TO SCOTTSDALE FOR ANYTHING. I HEARD THAT EVEN DURING THE YEAR THE PRICES ARE REASONABLE.
www.hotelvalleyho.com
Here was our room.
I give this place 4 stars!!!
by Miss Roq
