Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa Review

This is the only resort in Sedona that has both an on-site full service spa and a championship golf course.

The Hilton Sedona is small by most Arizona resort standards.

However, it has all of the typical resort amenities including a restaurant, pools, tennis courts and some rooms with red rock views.

Plus, it’s also close to the scenic and popular Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte loop hiking area.

Although the Hilton is not in the heart of Sedona, its roomy suites, easy freeway access and family friendly atmosphere make it a great Sedona vacation accommodation.

The famed red rocks of Sedona frame the Hilton resort

We think the Hilton Sedona Resort is also a good lodging for families or travelers who’ll be staying in Sedona for awhile.

All of the rooms have kitchenettes, so preparing some of your own meals is a snap.

Our only complaint is that the room walls and ceilings are poorly soundproofed.

The resort has elevators, so we recommend booking a room on the top floor.

If you want to be in the heart of Sedona, near all the shopping and art galleries, the Hilton Sedona resort may not be for you.

While the drive north to the center of Sedona is beautiful and scenic, it does take about 15 minutes to get there.

On the other hand, the Hilton is not too far from most Sedona attractions but out of the congestion of the center of town.

The access from Interstate 17 is easy, making it a great choice for those who’ve come from Phoenix.

From the Hilton, it’s only about a 10-minute drive (6½ miles) south to Interstate 17.

The Hilton Sedona Resort’s lobby has a Southwestern atmosphere

This area is quieter and more open than the main canyon area of Sedona.

However, if you’re looking for a secluded red rock getaway, the Sedona Hilton may not be for you.

The Hilton is right off Highway 179 - one of the main roads into Sedona.

The resort is set up on a hill above the road, so it seems quiet and tucked away.

Next door is the Tequa Festival Marketplace, a shopping center with boutiques and restaurants.

Directly behind the Hilton is a quiet, upscale residential community.

The 18-hole, championship Sedona Golf Resort is on the south side, where Hilton guests can hit the links.

In spite of its in-town locale, the Hilton Sedona Resort is a pleasant, Southwestern style property.

While it may not be in the heart of Sedona’s canyons, the resort does have views of the stunning red rock cliffs and buttes that have made Sedona famous.

Hilton Sedona has a casual, outdoorsy atmosphere inside and out. Walking through the lobby, we felt like we were in a mountain lodge.

Stacked brick columns, leather armchairs, wrought iron chandeliers and Western and Native American art work give the resort a definite Southwestern flair.

Every room a the Hilton Sedona Resort has a gas fireplace and a sitting area or living room

Rooms on the top floor have some good views of the nearby red rock formations.

We reserved a standard guest room ($179/night – midsummer rates).

We found it quite comfortable and larger than we expected for a standard room.

It had a simple Southwestern décor. Nothing fancy or elaborate. Everything was sparkling clean, from the room itself to the corridors.

Our room had a small sitting area with two armchairs, a table and a writing desk.

Larger suites have separate living rooms.

All rooms also have a kitchenette with a sink, microwave, mini-refrigerator, wet bar and plenty of drawers and cupboards.

The kitchenette would be great for those who plan to stay awhile and want to fix some of their own meals.

Our bathroom had a combination shower/tub and a long counter with plenty of space.

Other room amenities include:

• gas fireplace,
• private patio or balcony,
• Sony™ PlayStation,
• coffeemaker.

The Hilton Sedona Resort also has Jacuzzi suites which have a large Jacuzzi in the bedroom and a separate walk-in shower in the bathroom.

Each room at the Hilton Sedona Resort has a patio or balcony

Our only complaint about the room was the noise.

The Hilton Sedona Resort doesn't have much soundproofing in the walls and ceilings.

As a result, we just didn’t get a good night’s sleep.

Unfortunately, we had a family group arrive to their room above us well after midnight.

We could easily hear them moving around and unpacking.

Also, the sliding glass doors to the patios/balconies of the rooms were quite noisy, waking us several times in the middle of the night and early morning.

The Cascades Pool at the Hilton Sedona Resort

However, they are the classic resort amenities that most guests look for including:

• a full service spa and fitness center,
• tennis courts (next door at spa),
• championship golf.

Hilton Sedona Resort has three pools, one of which is at the spa. The other two - the Cascades and ShadowRock - are behind the hotel.

The Cascades Pool recently underwent a million-dollar renovation, resulting in a two-tiered design with waterfall and Jacuzzi.

It’s a nice pool, though not as impressive as those at other resorts.

The ShadowRock Pool is on the south side of the resort, just outside the restaurant.

This is a smaller, quieter pool for adults with its own Jacuzzi and a large patio that offers views of the mountains.

Looking for Sedona Info?

Sedona has a huge variety of activities and attractions.

Courthouse Butte, near the Hilton Sedona Resort, is a good hiking spot

To help guests decide what to see and do, the Hilton Sedona Resort has a "Sedona Information Channel".

This TV channel runs a continuous program about the many local shops, restaurants and art galleries.

At first, we were skeptical, thinking this would be like a stale infomercial.

However, we enjoyed the informative profiles of local business owners and artists.

We were amazed at the sheer number and diversity of art galleries in the Sedona area.

The program also explained the different districts of Sedona and what the often referred to "Y" is, as in "It’s right near the Y."

What exactly is the “Y?”

The lap pool at the Hilton Sedona Spa

The 20,000 square foot spa therapy center offers a variety of therapies reflective of Sedona’s role as a center for New Age healing.

Treatments include the familiar, such as facials and massages, to the unique.

For example, the Sedona Melody Session takes its inspiration from Sedona’s well known energy vortexes that are said to promote spiritual healing and balancing energy.

Depending on the energy of the moment, the spa therapist may integrate Polarity, Reiki, Trager and Cranial Sacral modalities into the session to balance and attune the energy in the client.

The spa center also has:

• a full-service salon,
• sauna and steam rooms,
• 25-meter heated lap pool,
• outdoor hot spa and wading pool,
• 2,500 square foot fitness center,
• aerobics, yoga and tai chi classes,
• three lighted tennis courts,
• a sand volleyball court.

Guests of the Hilton Sedona Resort who pay the optional daily resort fee of $10 per suite may use the Hilton Spa and its facilities for no extra charge.

The Sedona Golf Resort’s golf course is next door to the Hilton resort

If you're a Hilton guest, you can book preferred tee times at this award-winning, 18-hole championship course designed by Gary Panks.

This course is 6,646-yards and par-71.

The course offers challenging play with wide, undulating greens, spectacular scenery and views of nearby Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte.

The Sedona Golf Resort has a driving range, full-service clubhouse, a pro shop and restaurant.

The Grille at ShadowRock restaurant has covered patio dining

It too has a Southwestern lodge atmosphere with large picture windows that look out to the golf course and canyons to the south.

The Grille’s menu offers American style cuisine with a Southwestern twist.

Dinner entrees include:

• pistachio-crusted salmon with avocado salsa,
• smoked pork tenderloin with honey chipotle glaze and red-skinned mashed potatoes,
• penne pasta with butternut squash, goat cheese and sage.

We ate dinner at the Grille and thought the food was good and not too spicy.

The service was friendly but slow, even though there were very few diners in the restaurant.

The Hilton Sedona Resort’s other dining option is the Blue Water Café.

Located poolside, it offers sandwiches, smoothies and specialty cocktails.

The entrance to Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa

Overall Impression:   A casual, comfortable resort in an easily accessible location. Kitchenettes in rooms make it a good option for families and long term travelers.

Favorite Features:   Easy access to Interstate 17, some lovely red rock views, comfortable room.

What We Didn’t Like:   Rooms lack proper soundproofing between the floors/ceilings and walls. Can easily hear other guests in their rooms. Patio/balcony sliders are very noisy when opening/closing.

Service:   Even though the front desk was quite busy, we had quick and welcoming service. We never felt rushed or harried during our stay. All of the staff were friendly and helpful. We found the restaurant service to also be friendly but a bit slow.

Good for Kids:   Hilton has a seasonal Kids Kamp Program available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend (fee).

Pet Friendly:   The Hilton Sedona Resort allows pets in the first floor suites only. Cost is $50/stay.

Other Notes:    In general, Sedona is 12-15 degrees cooler than Phoenix or Tucson, even in summer. Be sure to pack a jacket or sweater.

Location:   Village of Oak Creek, about 9 miles south of Sedona and 90 minutes northof Phoenix.

Address:   90 Ridge Trail Drive, Sedona AZ 86351

Google Map Directions: Click on "+" and "-" signs on Map Controls in upper left hand corner to zoom in and out on the location.

Style:   Southwestern lodge.

Room Types:   219 deluxe guest rooms, one-bedroom suites, Jacuzzi suites or ADA Accessible Suites.

Cost:   $$-$$$
Go to Cost Key

Extra Fees:   The Hilton Sedona Resort has a $10 daily resort services fee per guest room or suite (plus applicable taxes).

• complimentary use of the Hilton Sedona Spa (treatments additional)
• two-for-one admission to Sedona SuperVue Theatre
• two-for-one coupon at Sedona Golf Resort’s Driving Range and Practice Facility
• 10% discount at the resort’s WH Smith gift shop
• 10% discount at Tequa Festival Marketplace Shops (located next door to resort)
• complimentary coupons redeemable at Prime Outlet Stores in Sedona

If you purchases a spa treatment, the Hilton waives the resort fee for that day.

Views/Setting:   Red rock canyon, forest and golf course views.

Pools:   Three. The Cascades is two-tiered with waterfall and jacuzzi; the ShadowRock is an adults only pool with its own jacuzzi; the Hilton Sedona Spa has its own lap pool and therapy spa.

Restaurants:   The Grille at ShadowRock serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dinner entrées start around $14.

Blue Water Café is a poolside bar and cantina serving light entrées, snacks and drinks (open seasonally).

Spa:   20,000 square foot spa therapy center with New Age healing focus. Treatments include facials, massages, body wraps and unique energy sessions. Prices range from $69-$189 for treatments.

Spa also features a full-service salon, sauna and steam rooms, a 25-meter heated lap pool, outdoor hot spa and wading pool, 2,500 square foot fitness center, tennis courts, sand volleyball court. Variety of aerobics and Eastern movement classes.

Use of the Hilton Spa is included in the optional Resort Services Program: $10 per room per day (plus tax) for overnight guests at the Hilton Sedona Resort.

Fee is $20 per person per day for non resort guests.

Guests must be at least 16 years old to attend the facility.

Golf:   Available next door at Sedona Golf Resort. Award-winning, 6,646-yard, par-71, 18-hole championship course designed by Gary Panks. Great red rock views.

Activities:   Swimming, tennis, volleyball, fitness center. Hiking, biking, horseback riding and shopping nearby.

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