Ultimate Guide to an Unforgettable Girls’ Weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona

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Do you want to have a luxurious girls weekend without breaking the bank? Well, look no further Scottsdale Arizona is the place for you!

There is nothing like getting together with your girls or as I call them sisters. I always look forward to girls’ trips because it allows us girls to spend some quality time together away from our responsibilities.  

The perfect girls’ trip has different elements that allow for relaxation, exploration, fine dining, and fun or as I call it turn up time. Scottsdale is the perfect location because it has something for everyone to do!

Scottsdale is a girls’ trip haven. The dry heat is mostly bearable and allows for your makeup to stay pretty matte throughout the day. Plus, Scottsdale has loads of places where you can take cute Instagram worthy pictures. Below I’ve highlighted reasons why Scottsdale is the perfect destination for a memorable girls weekend.  

Where to Stay in Scottsdale:

If you want to know where to stay in Scottsdale, I truly suggest staying at Hotel Valley Ho! It is conveniently located in the historic Old Town Scottsdale near many bars, restaurants, and shopping centers. On a girls trip I always try to find a location where retail and liquor stores are easily accessible. This location is great because it is located near a Walmart just in case someone has forgotten something. 

Hotel Valley Ho is such a cute hotel and provides so many areas to enjoy! The hotel has a mid-century modern aesthetic and has a classic feel. The hotel grounds include a spa, bar, restaurant, pool, as well many other amenities. The hotel staff was very attentive and even offered to take pictures for us! The hotel is the perfect place to stage a nice photoshoot with your gals! If you are looking for quick local transportation I suggest, asking the valet about scheduling a golf cart pickup. It is a fun way to get to see the city. As you can see I am all about enjoying the moment but capturing it as well! I highly recommend a stay at Hotel Valley Ho if you are looking for a convenient and luxurious stay. 

Top Five Must-Do Activities in Scottsdale:     

There is so much to do in Scottsdale! Before, going on the trip I created a list of what we wanted to do while in Scottsdale.  I was surprised at how long the list had gotten,  I found it pretty hard to narrow down what we wanted to do while creating our four-day itinerary. I chose our activities based on location, time, interest, and experience of course! As mentioned before in my opinion the best trips offer diverse experiences. Listed below are my top choices for activities if you have a limited time but want to maximize your experience!

Hot Air Balloon 

The Hot Air Balloon was by far my most favorite experience while on this trip! The views were AMAZING and the overall experience was quite educational. We decided to use Travel Zoo to book our experience because it offered a great deal and who doesn’t love a good deal? The Hot Air Balloon company that we flew with was Arizona Balloon Safaris. The crew was amazing, they were very hospitable and worked hard to make you feel comfortable. The company was safe and followed all CDC mandated Covid-19 precautions. 

If you are planning to do this experience one thing to make note of is that it happens at Sunrise. Which is amazing but be prepared to wake up EARLY! We had to be there no later than 5:45am meaning we had to wake up around 3:00am in order to get beautified in time. I highly suggest not being late, I know it’s hard especially for us women but you don’t want to miss it so be on time. Dress cute of course but dress very warm as well. I know you think the desert is always hot, well not that early in the morning. Learn from me as pictured in my all-white I loved my outfit but would have rather opted for something warmer and comfortable. Another tip is to wear flat shoes there, the terrain was very rocky and there was a lot of dirt. 

The experience was amazing. We started off by meeting up in a parking lot after they transferred us in huge vans to the area where we would be setting up the balloon. The balloon set up was quite interesting to watch, the pilot explains every aspect as well. They gave plenty of moments to take pictures inside of the balloon as well. After the set up was complete it was time to go up, that experience is exhilarating. When we landed we enjoyed a nice small breakfast and mimosas. The pilot planned a special moment for all attendees, which really made the trip special! I would definitely recommend this activity, it was a perfect way to enjoy the desert sunrise.

Desert Botanical Garden 

You cannot come to Scottsdale without checking out this gem. It is such a beautiful place, filled with different plant and animal species. I purchased my tickets online, ticket prices are between 12-25 dollars. When booking I was able to add the Butterfly Garden as an add-on free of charge. The garden follows  all CDC mandated Covid-19 precautions. 

The grounds are pretty huge and have a slightly rocky terrain so I suggest wearing walking shoes. Also, I would suggest bringing a water bottle to carry while you are touring. It gets really hot during the day and there is virtually no shade. 

While touring you might run into some small animals like lizards, birds, and rabbits. I truly enjoyed the butterfly garden, it was amazing to be able to interact with the butterflies. It was also so interesting to read about different cactus species, I never knew that there were so many different types. This place makes for a perfect pit stop during a girls weekend because it is both beautiful and educational!

Spa

After you are out all day long exploring what Scottsdale has to offer the perfect way to end the day is at the spa! Scottsdale offers tons of award-winning spas in the area. I chose to enjoy the Spa at Hotel Valley Ho called VH Spa for Vitality + Health. Not to say all spas are the same, but this spa was no different than your normal spa. The women’s locker room offered different amenities as well as a plush waiting. The massage I had was amazing, I felt like it was a really prescriptive massage, the masseuse really worked on my problem areas. Overall the spa experience was an 8/10, I had an amazing massage but felt the spa facilities were average. 

Hike Pinnacle Peak 

Hiking at Pinnacle Peak was an experience, to say the least. It was really easy to access the trail, most uber drivers know how to navigate to the entrance of the trail. We went at around 12 pm and the trail was pretty packed. I suggest going early in the morning to beat the crowd and heat. The trail is advanced in my opinion, but we were able to manage. I would say wear proper hiking shoe attire like hiking boots or sneakers. Bring LOTS of water, we each had a minimum of four bottles of water during the hike. The hike was pretty intense especially with the sun beaming on us 

Visit Old Town Scottsdale

Old Town Scottsdale was located just a walk away from where we were staying. When we had some downtime we decided to explore the area. It was nice to walk around the town and pop into some cute small business. Old town also has a plethora of restaurants and bars, we stopped at my all-time favorite sushi restaurant RA Sushi. I also suggest visiting the strip at night to enjoy the beautiful lights. 

Outfit Tip: If wanting to take some cute pictures around Old Town I suggest going with a Western vibe incorporating denim. It will make for a cute picture!

Sunset Desert Jeep Tour 

I will be honest we never made it to the Sunset Jeep Tour even though we pre-booked, but I still suggest going. It looked like such a fun activity and a way to enjoy the desert without doing too much walking. If you are looking for adventure I suggest trying this experience. 

Places to Eat:

Diego Pops 

Diego Pops is such a cute place, very instagramable! It is located in Old Town Scottsdale. When we went we sat inside because it had such cute wallpaper and décor. The vibe was very trendy, you can go casual or dressed up! We went during happy hour because who doesn’t love a deal! We got some great margaritas and small bites. The food was okay, I would not suggest going there super hungry. The Al Pastor tacos were my personal favorite on the menu.

The Canal 

The Canal is located within The Scott Hotel, it has an AMAZING AMBIANCE! The place is truly picture perfect, including the old-fashioned car located outside of the restaurant. I suggest making a reservation as they get very busy. We sat outside in what seemed to be a rustic garden, it was so beautiful. The drinks were tasty, I enjoyed the Helen & Maude and the Cocojito. I was disappointed in the Crispy Fish Tacos but I really enjoyed the Pollo Al Horno Skewers. The portions were pretty small as well. The service was amazing, the waitress made the experience even more enjoyable. In my opinion, this place is really great if you are looking for drinks and a vibe.

Taco Guild

Taco Guild might just have the best tacos I have ever tasted! Drinks, food, and service were impeccable! The mango frozen margaritas were stellar, they were personally my favorite drink of the entire trip. The table comes with complimentary salsas and chips. For an appetizer, we decided to get the Angel Wings and they were finger-licking good. I tried the Chipotle Cherry Steak, Street Style Carnitas, and Chicken Tinga Tacos. The steak tacos were our absolute favorite, it was so fresh and juicy. The food was amazing but the atmosphere was just as great. The restaurant is located inside of a repurposed church and has a rustic feel. I highly suggest visiting this place for lunch or dinner!

Nobu Scottsdale 

Nobu is known for its quality and is a celebrity hot spot. I did not enjoy the food too much but they had an exquisite Risieling. We loved it so much we got a whole bottle!


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