Hilton El Conquistador

I just got back last night from Tucson where I stayed, with my husband and two girls, at the Hilton El Conquistador. Lately, this has been our hotel of choice when we visit Tucson. Here's why:

• The View: The hotel backs up to the Santa Catalina Mountains. Of course, there are some great views. To the south, I love watching the sun set over the mountains or the moon rise. To the north, there's a wonderful view of Oro Valley and, at night, its city lights. I also like that the Santa Catalinas offers a little seclusion at the hotel; Tucson is on the other side of the range.
• Location: If you're coming from Phoenix, you can't beat the El Conquistador. Exit at Tangerine Road (exit 240), well before you get into Tucson, and drive diagonally 13 miles towards the base of the mountains. Turn south at Oracle for approximately three miles and make a left at El Conquistador Way. But, what really makes the location great is the dining. If you continue south on Oracle a few miles past El Conquistador Way, you'll have your pick of excellent restaurants including some of Tucson's best, like El Charro's newest location.
• Swimming Pool: Are there better resort swimming pools? Yes. Phoenix Magazine recently highlighted Tucson's best resort pools, and El Conquistador's wasn't one of them. But, the pool has a lot going for it. For one, there are actually three pools: the main pool with a volleyball net and a basketball hoop, a shallow pool for babies and toddlers, and the water slide pool. I like the pools here because they are kid- and adult-friendly. (There's a good poolside bar that serves cocktails and grilled food.)
• Funds for Fun: This was the deciding factor for us. Sure, the pools played a big role in our decision-making process--we needed something for the girls to do--but with this summer special, the rates become unbelievable. Our junior suite was $168 (we were upgraded on eStandby...rates start at $150), and we got a $100 credit for each night of our stay to use anyway we wanted at the resort. Since we were staying two nights, we got two $100 coupons. You can use these for golf, dining, drinks by the pool, gift shop purchases, and even massages. This is a great, great deal!!

The El Conquistador does have some drawbacks. It's an older hotel, and it shows in places. For one, the carpet in our room was worn. Second, the hotel's layout in certain areas has issues (more on that later). Even so, it has some nice touches. The beds were great, there was a flat screen TV, and the air conditioning blew cold air (a little too cold according to my daughters).

One last thing: the staff here is great. I've never had bad service at the El Conquistador from anyone. They're always friendly and willing to go out of their way to help.