Hilton El Conquistador
Golf & Tennis Resort

Towering palms and mountain views await swimmers at this Tucson resort's pool area

But the "El Con" - as it’s referred to locally - has a casual, friendly atmosphere.

This Tucson resort’s biggest claim to fame is that it’s the largest golf resort in southern Arizona with 45 holes of championship golf.

However, judging from the number of families that were in evidence during our stays, the Hilton El Conquistador could be known as the family resort.

With its casual atmosphere, variety of outdoor activities and large pool area, there’s enough to keep every member of the family happy even if they don’t play golf.

The Hilton El Conquistador Resort sits at the base of Pusch Ridge

El Con is also a favorite “summer getaway” with the locals when the resort’s rates drop as the temperatures rise.

Not far from the resort, there is plenty of shopping and dining areas as well as the lovely botanical garden/tea room/desert preserve of Tohono Chul Park.

Nearby Catalina State Park makes a great scenic spot for picnics, desert hiking and birding. Trails here cross through cactus-studded desert, follow a a creek and lead up into the the Santa Catalinas.

The copper murals over the reception desk at Hilton El Conquistador Resort

It’s not a fancy 5-star place. The ambience is casual and everyone will feel right at home.

Interiors have a modern Southwestern style.

The lobby is the most interesting room with a wall of windows looking out to the pools and mountains.

The highlight of the room is the beautiful copper murals depicting the desert and mountains with native plants, animals and cowboys on horseback.

Hilton El Conquistador has an expansive, circular layout.

The lobby, restaurants and conference center are located in the front, the pool in the center courtyard and the main hotel guest rooms curve around the back in four block-like buildings.

Guests can also stay in the casitas near the front of the resort.

The 500-acre El Conquistador’s best feature is its gorgeous views of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

You can see these masive, craggy peaks towering over the property from just about every vantage point.

Not all guest rooms have mountain views, so be sure to ask for one when you book your room.

The courtyard garden at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort

The grounds are beautifully landscaped with large swathes of well-manicured lawn interspersed with beds of shady trees, shrubs, tall palms and colorful flowers.

Hilton El Conquistador’s center courtyard is very large with a lovely garden area.

The many water features include a pond filled with koi fish, fountains, a manmade stream and a waterfall.

These spots make for a cool, relaxing spot to sit and enjoy the views on a warm day.

The room had a contemporary Southwestern style with dark wood furniture and deep-toned fabrics of brown, wine red and moss green.

Guest rooms have a contemporary Southwestern style at the Hilton El Conquistador

Our room had a small sitting area with a couch and two small coffee tables.

An armoire concealed the television and minibar.

There was also a king bed, a writing desk with two chairs and lots of mirrors.

The bathroom had a combination shower/tub and one sink, both of a pumpkin-colored granite.

Outside the bathroom was an anteroom with a good-sized, well-lit vanity, a stool and a coffee machine.

In the closet, we found extra pillows and blankets as well as two white terrycloth spa robes.

All rooms at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort have a large furnished balcony or patio with mountain, city or pool views.

The colorful guest room bathroom at Hilton El Conquistador Resort

We have only two complaints about the Hilton El Conquistador.

First, we were not able to get a quiet night’s sleep.

A family arrived well after midnight in the room directly above us and stomped around for a few hours.

It sounded like they were herding cattle up there! The rooms definitely need better soundproofing.

We also found ourselves awoken throughout the night by the sound of sliding glass doors opening and closing.

The only place we’ve ever encountered such noisy sliders before was at another Hilton property – the Hilton Sedona Resort.

The slick rock waterslide at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort

This spacious pool area was designed to resemble an oasis like the one found at Sabino Canyon on Tucson's northeast side.

El Con's pool area is an inviting spot with its huge faux boulders, tall palm trees and a 10-foot waterfall that drops into a cool plunge pool.

A 143-foot water slide resembles the slick rock walls found in many of Arizona’s desert canyons.

The fun children’s pool, Shallow Springs, has the shape of a fish with interactive water features in its tail.

There’s also a hot tub and plenty of patio space with many lounge chairs.

If you're staying in the casitas, you'll have access to the lap pool and two hot tubs.

If tennis is your game, the Hilton El Conquistador has 31 lighted tennis courts and two pro shops to choose from.

The El Con is ranked as one of the top tennis resorts in the country.

The tennis courts at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort

They offer private and semi-private lessons and clinics for players of all abilities.

If you’re looking for a partner, you can arrange to be matched up with another player of similar skills.

There are also equipment rentals if you didn’t bring your own.

The Hilton El Conquistador has a great variety of other activities besides golf and tennis including:

• racquetball
• basketball
• volleyball
• small putting green
• on-site fitness center with Cybex circuit equipment, Stairmasters, free weights, dry sauna and a variety of aerobics, yoga, Pilates and other fitness classes.

There are miles of paths for hiking or jogging on site as well as in the adjacent Coronado National Forest.

Guests can also rent mountain bikes for use on-site or in Catalina State Park a few miles north of the resort.

The Hilton El Conquistador’s Equestrian Center offers guided horseback rides on the resort’s own trails and into the nearby desert.

The Elements Spa waiting room looks out to the fitness center

Elements is the Hilton El Conquistador’s spa and wellness center.

They offer custom spa services in a tranquil environment.

Therapies range from massages and Reiki to body wraps and polishes.

The two 18-hole Cañada and Conquistador Courses were designed by Jeff Hardin and Greg Nash. Both are located at the nearby El Conquistador Country Club.

Luxury homes surround the the Canada and El Conquistador golf courses

Cañada is considered to have the most interesting terrain with varied elevation changes and elevated tee boxes that have good views of the surrounding desert.

This 18-hole, par-71, 6,713-yard course is named for the nearby Cañada del Oro wash, a normally dry river bed.

The surrounding dry washes and rocky outcroppings come into play on several of the holes.

The Conquistador is also 18-holes, par-71 and 6,801-yards.

This course is considered to have greater playability due to its straightforward design and relatively flat holes. It has a lush, more park-like feel.

Both the Cañada and Conquistador Courses are about seven minutes from the Hilton El Conquistador.

A shuttle is available to transport guests from the resort to the courses.

The Pusch Ridge golf course at the Hilton El Conquistador

The challenging, 9-hole, par-35 Pusch Ridge Course is loved by some, hated by others.

It has a narrow, short track with a 2,788-yard layout designed by Greg Nash.

Dramatic elevation changes and sloping greens make for challenging play.

Pusch is directly adjacent to the resort and meanders around the property so some holes are sandwiched between the condos and villas.

However, its great views of dramatic Pusch Ridge in the Santa Catalina Mountains - for which it’s named - and its signature 5th hole, surrounded by a lake, make it a worthwhile play.

Golfers of all levels are welcome here.

The Sundance Café has a nice garden patio for outdoor dining

We ate breakfast at the The Sundance Café, which serves Southwestern dishes in a casual atmosphere.

The café also has an outdoor patio with views of the pool and gardens. They are open for breakfast and lunch.

On weekends, Sundance café serves a large breakfast buffet ($17.95/person) where guest can help themselves to scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, pastries and fruit.

Chefs are on hand to prepare made-to-order omelets, pancakes and waffles.

If you prefer, you can skip the buffet and order breakfast favorites like NY steak and eggs ($16.95) and huevos rancheros ($13.95) straight from the menu.

The buffet was quite good and the food was hot.

Dos Locos Restaurant serves Nuevo Latino cuisine in a brightly colored, festive room or out on the outdoor patio.

The colorful dining room at Dos Locos Restaurant

Dishes such as chicken adobo with soft corn grits and a fennel and peashoot ensalada ($18.50) and wild king salmon with orange and red chile glaze, garlic herb risotto and mango salsa ($23.50) - are typical of their chile-laced Mexican and Latin American fare.

Our dinner was quite good and beautifully presented. But be forewarned, the food is quite spicy.

Even the roasted corn chowder with leeks, ham and sautéed crawfish ($8.50) had a fiery bite.

The Last Territory Steakhouse serves dinner in a restaurant that resembles a western frontier town.

You'll get all the Western style favorites here including mesquite-grilled steaks, barbecued prickly pear chicken, fresh seafood and game specialties ($21.95 - $26.95) in a casual, family-style setting.

Country and western music bands perform nightly.

On Fridays and Saturdays, the Diamond Rough Theatrical Dance Revue kicks up their heels in a saloon-style cancan show. There’s even a resident cow in a barn outside.

The Last Territory Steakhouse

The Desert Springs Oasis Cantina is Hilton El Conquistador’s poolside café.

Here you can get salads, sandwiches, snacks, smoothies and drinks, including their signature prickly pear margarita.

Their food was very fresh and tasty but service was a bit slow.

La Vista Restaurant and Lounge is at the El Conquistador Golf and Country Club and is open to the public.

They serve lunch and happy hour Fridays in a casual, club atmosphere with great views of the golf courses and Santa Catalina Mountains.

The menu features dishes cooked in an apple- and mesquite-wood burning rotisserie oven.

You don't have to go far to see saguaro cactus near the Hilton El Conquistador Resort

We were tired after a long drive from Phoenix, but the reception staff was so kind, energetic and efficient that we were able to check in and head off to our room in no time at all.

We found all of the staff to be friendly and professional during our stay.

Our only complaint was that housekeeping was slow to pick up the remains of room service orders.

To reach the standard rooms, you must drive around behind the conference center through the service area to the back of the guest room buildings.

The pool area at the El Conquistador Resort

Trying to locate our room was confusing as the room numbering system is unique.

Our room number – 2304 – meant that our room was on the second floor (2) of the third building (3).

There is no direct access to Building 3 from the parking area.

The road and parking area ended at Building 2.

So to get to our room, we had to park near Building 2, find the elevators in Building 2 to get to the second floor and then walk all the way to Building 3.

This is a long haul if you have a lot of luggage. We recommend that you use the bell service unless you’re in the mood for a good workout.

Casitas

• The casitas are set away from the main building. So, you’ll have a bit of walk up a slight hill to the main hotel.
• If you’re staying in the casitas, you should know that the majority of the parking is in two lots at the ends of the casita complex. Parking spaces are limited.

Favorite Features:   Lovely setting, lots of outdoor activities, scenic mountain views, friendly staff and good summer rates.

What We Didn’t Like:   There needs to be more soundproofing between the floors/ceilings. Sliding glass doors are very noisy. Guest rooms have an unusual numbering system which can make them hard to find. Housekeeping slow to clean up room service trays.

Nearby Amenities and Attractions:   There are a good variety of restaurants, a natural foods market and shopping at Casas Adobes Plaza at the corner of Oracle and Ina Roads south of the resort.

Tohono Chul Park just west of Oracle and Ina roads, is a beautiful botanical gardens and desert preserve with a museum/art gallery and Southwestern gift shops. Try their excellent restaurant, the Tohono Chul Tea Room for delicious breakfasts, lunches or afternoon tea in a garden setting.

Try Catalina State Park, about a 5 minute drive north of El Con, for picnicking, hiking and bird watching.

Good for Kids: Yes. There are a good variety of activities and day camps for kids.

Pet Friendly: Yes. Small pets under 50 lbs. only for a $50 non-refundable fee.

Room Service:   Available 6:00am - 11:00 pm.

Check in/Check Out:   4:00pm / 12 Noon.

Location: North Tucson just south of Oro Valley. The resort is about 25 minutes from downtown Tucson and about a 1/2 hour drive (24 miles) from Tucson International Airport.

Address: 10000 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, AZ 85737

Management: Hilton Resorts

Style: Modern Southwestern

Room Types: 428 standard guest rooms, different-sized suites and casitas. Nine rooms are handicap accessible.

Reserve a room at the Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort

Cost:
In-season: $$$ - $$$$
Summer: $$
Go to Cost Key

Extra Fees: The Hilton El Conquistador has an optional $10 per room daily fee (in addition to your room rate) called the Resort Value Pack program.

This program includes:

• Fitness Center admittance ($10 per person, per day without resort program)
• Country Club Fitness Center admittance ($10 per day, per person without resort program)
• 10% off the Golf and Pro Shop merchandise
• 10% off all Tennis Pro Shop merchandise
• half off the Tennis Court fee
• rental of one demo racquet and receive a 2nd rental free
• $5 off overnight valet parking ($11 per night without resort program).

Views/Setting: Mountain, pool, city or desert views. Combination desert/garden setting.

Pools: Large water park with 4 pools and water slide

Restaurants: Five dining options:
The Sundance Café is casual and serves Southwestern and American style food; open for breakfast and lunch. Entrees start at $11.95.

Dos Locos is business casual, serving Nuevo Latino (that means spicy) cuisine of Mexican and Latin American specialties. Open for dinner only; entrées begin around $16.50.

The Last Territory Steakhouse features an old West theme and casual family style dining. The menu offers grilled steak, chicken, shrimp and game. Nightly live country and western music; saloon-style cancan show on Fridays and Saturdays.Entrees start around $18.

Desert Springs Oasis Cantina is poolside, serving salads, sandwiches, snacks, smoothies and drinks.

La Vista Restaurant and Lounge is in the El Conquistador Golf and Country Club. Open to the public, serving lunch and happy hour Fridays. Casual, club atmosphere with great views. Menu features rotisserie cooked foods.

Spa: Elements Wellness Center offers customized services from a short menu of treatments focusing on massages and body work. Prices range from $50 to $180.

Golf: Three signature courses totaling 45 holes of championship golf.

Cañada Course is 18-hole, par-71, 6,713 yards with varied elevation changes and good desert views. Conquistador has 18-holes, par-71 and 6,801 yards. It’s considered easier to play and has a park like feel.

Pusch Ridge Course is a challenging, nine-hole, par-35 with a narrow 2,788 yard layout and great views.

Note: Cañada and Conquistador Courses are about seven minutes from the Hilton El Conquistador. A shuttle is available to transport guests from the resort to the courses.

Activities: Tennis courts (daily fee for use), basketball, volleyball, putting green, racquetball, fitness center (daily fee for use), hiking, biking, horseback riding, children’s activities.

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