Arrival/Check-In: Upon my arrival, a stunning view of the outdoor restaurant patio and pool greeted me. The warm mixture of dark wood and marble made for a comfortable environment. Check-in was simple and fast, and just as quickly I left the front desk and was escorted to my guest suite via golf cart. The resort is expansive; and although it is easily walkable, sandstone pathways were created for the concierge golf cart service. Anytime I wanted to leave the room, I placed a phone call and a cart was at my door within three minutes.

Guest Quarters: My guest suite featured large rooms and two separate balconies for viewing the valley and stargazing the Arizona sky. Starwood now uses the Heavenly Bed in all its 4- and 5-star hotels, and I couldn’t be happier with the way I slept on these mattresses and set tops. The WiFi selection included a basic free connection and two faster connections that required a credit card (free for Starwood Preferred Guest members). Dialing up on the basic connection worked fine for emails and Web browsing, and videos seemed to render in HD quickly. The desk space was adequate for handling work tasks, but I preferred to stay on the balcony and take in the wonderful Arizona weather and view of the mountains.

Services/Amenities: The Westin La Paloma finished a $35 million renovation in October 2013. Each of the 487 guestrooms and 25 guest suites received a floor-to-ceiling redesign. In addition, meeting spaces and ballrooms, resort pools and fitness centers have been rejuvenated. More than 60,000 square feet of event and conferencing space means business comes first, but this resort is all set for relaxation and play. A 27-hole Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, WestinWORKOUT center, five resort pools and six tennis courts await guests before, during or after their work day.

The WestinWORKOUT center at La Paloma is huge, with separate rooms for weights and cardio exercises. Private yoga sessions and two racquetball courts are available to guests. Through an exclusive partnership with New Balance, Starwood offers athletic shoes and clothing to their guests for $5 per day, a nice feature for guests like me who do not like traveling home with sweaty workout clothing. With state-of-the-art fitness equipment and spacious rooms, I did not feel like I was working out in a hotel gym.

Sun worshipers will really appreciate the beautiful stonework and comfy lounge chairs at any of La Paloma’s five gorgeous pools, including an Olympic lap pool with private swim instructors. The resort pools include swim-up and walk-up bars. The six tennis courts were buzzing with private instructors giving lessons and couples challenging themselves in individual matches.

All 27 holes of La Paloma Country Club’s Jack Nicklaus golf course received rejuvenation of bunkers and greens and are open for play. This $600,000 project dramatically changed the aesthetics of the course, creating the look and feel of a new facility while keeping the traditions of this championship layout. The bunkers on all three of the award-winning nine-hole courses now have the finest white sand on the market, imported from San Juan Capistrano, Calif. The bunkers beautifully complement the refreshed green surfaces covered in lush MiniVerde Bermuda grass sourced from neighboring Casa Grande, Ariz.

The Experience: My experience at La Paloma was superb. The weather in Tucson is beautiful almost year-round, and this resort encouraged me to be outside enjoying all of the amenities it offers. I can imagine bringing my family here for a short stay while seeing friends and visiting sites in the desert. The resort is just a 25-minute drive from the
airport, and there is an authentic feel to Tucson that cannot be duplicated in other big cities in Arizona.

GT CHECKLIST

[checklist]
[item check=yes]Doorman/valet[/item]
[item check=yes]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item]
[item check=yes]Separate tub and shower[/item]
[item check=yes]Large vanity[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality towels[/item]
[item check=yes]Powerful, unattached hair dryer[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality bed linens[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, flat-screen television[/item]
[item check=yes]Large desk with convenient outlets[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, complimentary laptop safe[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary in-room WiFi[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary bottled water[/item]
[item check=yes]Stocked minibar[/item]
[item check=yes]Ample lighting[/item]
[item check=yes]In-room coffeemaker[/item]
[item check=yes]Iron and ironing board[/item]
[item check=yes]On-site restaurant[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour room service[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center[/item]
[item check=yes]Turn-down service[/item]
[/checklist]

The Westin La Paloma

3800 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718
tel 520 742 6000
westinlapalomaresort.com