Arizona is known for its desert resorts, which we love, and the Westward Look in Tucson is a fantastic one. A Wyndham Grand resort, it’s got everything you need for a great desert vacation, and it’s surrounded by incredible desert nature and hiking. We’ve got the full scoop on why we like the Westward Look and what to expect / tips for having a great trip to Tucson.
If you’re unsure if you even want to include Tucson on your Arizona road trip plan, I’ll tell you now, the answer is yes. The city itself has some great neighborhoods and nightlife, Saguaro National Park is here, and the desert landscape is so special. Staying at the Westward Look just adds to the experience. If you have any questions about staying at this Wyndham Grand resort or planning your trip to Tucson, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!
Note: no aspect of this stay was sponsored or hosted, and nobody asked for my opinion. We had such a wonderful stay that I just had to share.
Why Choose the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort?
I think the better question is WHY NOT stay at the Wyndham Grand Westward Look Resort? The property itself is beautiful, from the rooms to the landscaping, they’ve got wonderful amenities, and there is ample staff for anything you need. We’ve only stayed at a few Wyndham properties (the Wyndham Royal Kona Resort comes to mind) but they’ve been really delightful each time. Something that makes the Wyndham Grand Westward Look extra special is that it’s actually a hacienda that was built in 1912 and then added onto over the years. You can feel the vintage Arizona vibes.
Staying at the Westward Look was like being at a desert oasis. It was quiet and there were flowers everywhere. Enjoying time on our private patio was a part of our morning and evening ritual. Throwing on a nice bathrobe and walking out for a dip in the pool was so easy. I loved every minute at the resort, which is as a whole very well maintained. This was a perfect addition to our week long Arizona road trip.
Book the Westward Look Resort here!
What Are the Accommodation Options at Westward Look?
At the Westward Look Resort you’ve got the options for rooms with a king bed, two doubles or a one bedroom suite. Each room has its own private balcony or patio, depending on the level you’re staying on. The property is quite large, so some rooms are bookable as a type that’s overlooking the pool or directly next to it or you can book one of the more secluded rooms.
The Casita Junior Suites are really wonderful with an additional sleeper sofa in them, perfect for a family due to being such large rooms. The Posada Guestrooms are a bit smaller, but still very large, and several of these are directly next to the pool. The grandest of the room options is the King Stargazer Suite (I haven’t gotten to stay in one yet) which is quite large and has its own hot tub. Any of the room types at Westward Look Resort are great, and they’re all beautifully decorated
Westward Look Resort Amenities
Being a luxury resort and spa in the desert, the Westward Look Resort has lots of amenities for guests. It’s a large property and you can easily check in and spend several days without leaving. For us, the main highlights were the private patios and bathrobes, as we took advantage of them whenever we were back at the hotel, but there are more things that make Westward Look Resort great. A nice bonus to staying here is the grand walking trail that goes all around the property and base of the hill. It’s beautiful and brings nature right to your doorstep.
During your walk you can visit the many gardens at the Westward Look too. There is the Butterfly Garden, Herb Garden, Hummingbird Garden and Chef’s Garden. These are all open for guests to explore and really add to the property as a whole. I love it here!
Pools at the Wyndham Grand Westward Look Resort
Since we’re in Tucson, Arizona you know you’re going to need to cool off at some point, even in the winter when it’s midday and sunny, but not hot. There are three pools and a hot tub at Westward Look Resort. The main pool area, the Oasis Pool, is beautiful with lots of pool deck lounge chairs, the hot tub, and wonderful landscaping all around. It’s located just below the restaurant and fire patio. There is also the Garden Pool which is great, and both of these have poolside service available.
The other pool is much more for fitness, as it’s a lap pool located next to the gym space. It’s not quite Olympic sized but it’s huge with lanes. It’s dimly lit so if you do want to swim laps early morning or after sunset you can. This pool is not in the main guest area, so you’ll need to look at the property map to find your way.
Fitness Center and Activities
The fitness center at the Westward Look Resort is right next to the large rectangle swimming pool. It’s well equipped with cardio equipment and both free weights and some specific exercise weight machines. It’s not the best hotel fitness center I’ve used, but it certainly does the trick for an early morning workout before a day of hiking.
If you’re into it, you’ll find tennis and pickleball courts on site as well. These are open year round and are great for early morning matches in the summer months and any time of day in winter.
Dining at the Palm at Westward Look
We enjoyed several meals here at Palm, the restaurant on property. It’s a great breakfast option, with both inside and open air seating, and for dinner and drinks it’s nice, as it looks out over the pool and at the sunset to the west. There is a firepit area in the outdoor space of Palm that’s perfect for relaxing before or after your meal. The food was quite good too, and not terribly overpriced. I would say that for the quality of the meals and the dining experiences, it’s a good value to eat on property.
Pool Bars and Service at Westward Look
At the main pool, below the firepit patio, there is pool service during the peak of the day, usually 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can do food or drinks from the pool bar, and there is plenty of shady space to enjoy. The Garden Pool also has pool side service, which, let’s face it, is kind of the best thing about being at a resort on vacation (IMO).
Where is Westward Look Resort located?
Something that I loved about staying at the Westward Look Resort is its location. It’s not directly in downtown Tucson, but is located north of the city in Oro Valley. This is a beautiful spot with lots of hiking all around, anything you could need for restaurants and services, and it’s nice and quiet. It’s not too far from downtown Tucson if you’re excited to check out Congress Street or some of the other night spots.
If Saguaro National Park is what brings you to Tucson, the Wyndham Grande Westward Look Resort is a little over 30 minutes from either of the Park’s units, either the Rincon or Tucson Mountain Districts. I think it’s an ideal homebase for getting to visit the National Park and other state parks nearby.
Book the Westward Look Resort here!
Parking Details at Wyndham Grand Westward Look
Despite being a higher end property, parking is actually free here at the Westward Look, which is more uncommon than not these days. Both self parking and valet are complimentary here, but I always prefer self parking so that I’m not on anyone else’s schedule, particularly at check out time.
Fun Things to do at/near the Westward Look Resort
Tucson is such a fun city and there’s so much to do to really immerse yourself in the Southwest. Whether you’re here just for a relaxing weekend getaway from Phoenix or you’ve traveled across the country, it’ll be tough to just check into the Westward Look Resort and stay put, knowing there is a whole beautiful world full of history and Southwest nature just beyond. Here are my top picks for wonderful things to do around Tucson.
- Saguaro National Park – Red Hills Visitor Center and Tucson Mountain District
- Picacho Peak State Park – beautiful hiking and nature trails
- Sabino Canyon Recreation Area – wildlife watching and hiking
- Hot Air Balloon ride over the desert
- Saguaro National Park – Rincon Unit loop and hiking
- Go to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (really cool)
- Do an E-bike tour of Saguaro National Park
- Visit San Xavier del Bac mission
- Have an Old West experience at Old Tucson
- Horseback riding at Catalina State Park
- Enjoy the Tucson Botanical Gardens
- BONUS: visit Casa Grande Ruins National Monument on your way back to Phoenix
The Westward Look Resort in Tucson, Arizona really is a great place to go for either relaxing or to have a home base for exploring the desert. Near the city of Tucson and Saguaro National Park, this beautiful vintage Arizona stay is family friendly AND peaceful all at the same time. If you have any questions about staying here or exploring Arizona, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!
