Loews Ventana Canyon Resort

The views are beautiful, the room is spacious, and Bill’s Grill serves excellent food. But the hospitality fell short. Our room had not been cleaned properly when we arrived. The mini fridge smelled strongly of seafood, which I suspect was left by the previous guests, and room service had to clean it after I reported it. The phone I used to call the front desk was caked with makeup. During our Tucson stay, I bought two bottles of liquor as gifts and asked whether they could be shipped home. I was told yes, but when I went to arrange it at the front desk, they said they wouldn't ship them. If you're looking for a three-star experience with beautiful views, this resort is a good choice. Compared with other Lowe’s resorts we've visited in Miami Beach and Arlington, this one fell below expectations. For five-star service, look elsewhere.

Dinner at the bar was superb, and breakfast at Canyon Cafe was just as good. The people at check-in were friendly and extremely helpful, too. We’ve been returning to the Loews Ventana for years, and this relaxing weekend was especially pleasing. The renovated rooms look beautiful, and the bed and bedding were perfect. The hotel pillows were the most comfortable we've ever had, and the new smart TVs are a welcome touch. It made for a memorable escape.

This resort, dating from 1982, seems to be aging gracefully. The regular room we moved to was great, the prices were reasonable, and I thought the restaurant was pretty good. It could be a nice family vacation spot. The rooms are large and pleasantly decorated, but the suites were poorly done. Some seem wedged into leftover spaces rather than purposefully planned. Our first suite was in what I can only call the building's armpit, where two wings meet. You can see the age in the stonework patches and worn bathroom tiles.

The property is beautiful, and the spacious room had a really comfortable bed. Everywhere we walked was worth a photo. We had a drink and a bite in the bar. There seemed to be a big convention, so food and breakfast took a little longer, but sitting on the small patio outside our room was nice, so we didn't mind.