I was looking for a quick getaway recently and Sedona, Arizona had been on my list and highly recommended by friends. The Sedona red rocks provide stunning views from almost everywhere in town. Sedona has a wide array of activities including everything from spiritual pursuits to the hundreds of hiking and mountain biking trails. Yes, you can even go on a UFO tour.
Due to logistical and timing of flights, I spent just one night in Sedona. As Hyatt is my current primary hotel choice, I picked the Hyatt Residence Club Sedona, Piñon Pointe. These “Residence Clubs” differ as these are timeshare and vacation rental resorts. They also come with almost no status benefits like other Hyatt brand hotel or resorts. You can review the benefits page here. The Residence Club is part of the Hyatt brand explorer in which you earn a free night certificate (category 1-4) after 5 stays at different brands.
Booking
I booked via the Hyatt app and used 15,000 Hyatt points to reserve my room. I chose the Studio room as it was the only option available on points. However, I earned 25% back with the current Hyatt promotion (registration has closed) as a Hyatt member and Chase World of Hyatt Visa card holder. That made my booking just 11,250 points with no resort fees. The cash rate on this night would have been $215 including resort fees and taxes.
Getting There
Sedona is located just 121 miles and about two hours from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. I utilized my Hertz Five Star status and also redeemed one day's worth of Hertz points. This made my rental just $60 for two days. I utilized my Chase Sapphire Reserve card for payment due to the great car rental protections. Using the right credit card for a rental car is vital. You can read our latest article on which cards offer primary car rental insurance.
My roadside stop recommendation on your way there is Rock Springs Café. Founded in 1918 as a general store, it is said to have the best pies around. I might have tested this out and can put my vote of approval on that claim. The breakfast was delicious and the building has plenty of character. Even Wyatt Earp apparently came through here and visited so think about that on your stop.
Check In
The Residence Club did not allow online check in and upon arrival the room was not ready yet. They have some more stringent check in/out polices because of the vacation rentals. I was preliminarily checked in and given some materials and maps about the resort. I was a bit surprised Hyatt status is not even recognized regardless of benefits. The front desk offered to call me when the room was ready, and I was then referred to the welcoming center. That is terminology for the time share salespeople. They offered me $125 or 10,000 Hyatt points to attend their presentation, which I passed on. With just one night, my time was more valuable to me. On a side note, those 10,000 points are worth more than the cash so points would have been my choice.
Room
I was lucky enough to get a room with a view of the beautiful Sedona red rock buttes. The room was small, and I found it to have extra unnecessary furniture. The room included a kitchenette and large refrigerator which was nice. While fine for a brief stay, a longer stay might feel cramped because of limited space. I would elect for one of the 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom rooms if staying longer or with more than two people.
The bathroom in the studio room isn't fancy, but it does have double sinks. Some of the other larger suites have nice soaking tubs.
Overall, there was nothing amazing about the room except the view. There was a nice little patio which makes for a great spot to have a cup of coffee or drink and enjoy the views.
Resort and Sedona
The resort had many of their normal activities closed, including the kids’ club. Regarding COVID-19 operations, The Residence Club website listed current operations and detailed what to expect. The pool was open with water heated to a comfortable 85 degrees. Hot tubs were available by reservation only. I was hoping the fire pit area would have been open, but that was closed as well. The pool deck provided even more scenic views of Sedona.
Sedona had plenty to offer and wide selection of food and beverage options. Everything from wine tasting to breweries and pizza. Want breakfast? Check out the Coffee Pot Restaurant which is home to a menu with 101 omelets. For local activities, I stuck to getting outside and enjoying some sites and getting in some hiking. You can't beat the views some of these hikes will provide you. Check out some of the more popular ones here.
Final Thoughts
I was amazed by Sedona and disappointed I only had one night to enjoy it. It is high on my domestic travel list to return. As far as the resort, I found the room to be OK but nothing blew me away other than the view from the room. The views are everywhere you go in Sedona, however, and not necessarily unique to this property. I did know what I was booking as far as the room and size, but I guess I expected more. I think a nice tub in all rooms and less cluttering furniture would've been nice. The views are worth the trip alone though no matter where you are staying and I would like to explore other resorts.
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