Hotel Solaya, part of JdV by Hyatt

Hotel Solaya is right in the middle of Old Town, within walking distance of the bars, restaurants, and shops. That’s why we picked it after a few days in Sedona. We stayed April 1-3, and the property was well kept. Construction was happening, but it was minimal and didn’t affect the areas we used. The room itself felt clean and updated, though the hallways didn’t look like they’d been changed much. You can reach them from the surrounding streets, and the hallways don’t require a hotel key card. The pool was clean, had a hot tub attached, and plenty of seating. We used it several times and never saw more than five people there, though this was a Wednesday and Thursday, so weekends could be busier. There’s a pool bar, and the bartender will bring drinks to your chair. Check-in was frustrating. The reception is in a separate building, and with signage still being worked on, it wasn’t clear where to go. We waited over ten minutes while the front desk person finished a phone call, before someone finally helped us. We’d booked a balcony room, but were told none were available and offered a ground-floor room. We didn’t want to be on the ground floor and had specifically chosen a balcony, so we said we’d wait for our room. It became clear there weren’t any balcony rooms. We ended up on the third floor with a sliding door but nowhere to stand or sit outside. The website now seems to say “room with a view” to avoid confusion. After the wait and room issue, they offered us free parking. Hyatt did a nice job updating the hotel. It feels modern and retro at the same time. I’d recommend it if you’re visiting Scottsdale and want to stay in Old Town.

We left a lot of clothing in the closet, including items that meant a lot to us. After we realized, I called the resort. The operator checked and said nothing had been found after about five minutes. I called again and reached the front office manager, who said he’d look and get back to me. I had to prompt him about whether he needed details of what was in the room, and he said, “oh yeah that might be good.” He never called back. When I asked for someone at the managerial level who could actually help, they gave me the assistant general manager’s details, Mr. Bryce Miller. Bryce followed up, found everything no one else had found or seemed willing to look for, and brought the items to his office himself. He explained how to have them mailed, gave me a close estimate of the cost, which I was happy to pay, and everything arrived within three days of our conversation. He’s an exception in an industry where service has sadly declined a lot over the years. I hope his manager and others recognize someone who truly understands hospitality. More people like Bryce would make the whole industry amazing. He’s a rockstar. The resort does need to improve some things. It seems to be working hard to find its place in a very competitive market, and needs to fix issues quickly.

A lovely stay at a very nice, modern hotel. Tierra and Xavier at the front desk were both really sweet.

I’ve stayed at this property many times over the past 30 years, and it’s great to see Hyatt and the new owners take it over from Sonder and the previous ownership, who didn’t manage to bring out its potential. Hyatt has upgraded the rooms, is remodeling for a new restaurant, and is improving the beautiful pool area. I hope they also change the outside from the white paint Sonder slapped on. The staff I met were awesome, and everyone was greeting guests. My room needed a couple of touch-ups, but it’s good to see the money being put into the place. This isn’t the W or Hotel Valley. The property’s biggest strength is its strategic location in Old Town Scottsdale. The only other really central option is the new ACMARRIOT. There was still construction this week, and the restaurant wasn’t open yet. It may take time to appreciate how far the hotel has come and what it could be under new ownership and leadership. Great location, great pool, and a great opportunity. Give them a chance, whether you’re here for business like me or just having drinks by the pool.