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Extend your stay in Arizona to visit Sedona. Kim and I were looking forward to getting away from daily triple-digit numbers in Scottsdale. Of course, we drove to Sedona on Wednesday morning to avoid the congestion on the weekend. Because of the discounted rate, I only used 880 Club Points.
I am on my fourth trip to Arizona this year. Although I booked at Scottsdale Links, I did not use Club Points. I signed up for a promotional package, scheduled my stay on Cyber Monday, and received an additional night. However, I was required to sit in on a 60-minute presentation. No, I did not upgrade. If you do not want to take advantage of a timeshare promotion, check out my post about where to stay in Arizona.
I tried two new restaurants. Hash Kitchen should come with a warning. The portions are massive. I ordered the Protein Pancakes and a side of bacon. Although the build-your-own Bloody Mary Bar was the star of this visit, the live DJ also made dining memorable.
DraftKings Sportsbook is the perfect place to watch any sporting event. We stopped by for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. If you want a refreshing summer drink, order the 19th Hole Spritz, especially if you like elderflower. I will order the Smash Burger again with regular fries instead of sweet potato fries.
Even though AZ/88 is my favorite restaurant, I enjoy the atmosphere at Culinary Dropout. The Phoenix location is new for me. Although the covered patio can accommodate a huge crowd, we dined inside. Try the Prosciutto Deviled Eggs, Soft Pretzel & Provolone Fondue, and BBQ Pork Belly Nachos. The staff was friendly and attentive.
When I checked the HGV Max portal, I found a one-bedroom and booked immediately. I changed my flight to depart on Saturday instead of Wednesday and did not incur a change fee. The drive from Scottsdale was less than two hours. Based on the reviews, I was not surprised the room was not ready even though we arrived after 4:00PM.
When I opened the door, I was disappointed. I did not receive an updated room. I politely asked for a room change. However, only a queen bed was available; I booked a king. We took the room which sleeps four with a sofa sleeper. Even though I said I would never reserve another first-floor room because of my hotel experience in Detroit, the location was perfect. I watched the sunrise steps from the room, and the best pool on the property was directly across from Building 35.
If you reserve a stay at a resort, check the weekly activity calendar. During our stay, there was plenty to do:
Of course, I looked for the Adults Only Pool. We lounged at three of the six pools, attended the Owner’s & Manager’s Coffee Date, and played Music Bingo. As an owner, I am always prepared to hear a pitch. I scheduled my presentation at 8:00AM and was out of the sales office by 8:30 with a boost to my Hilton Honors account. The salesperson was not pushy. However, this was my third presentation in two weeks. I have no intention to purchase another deed or buy into a trust. Besides, I still have 3,700 Club Points in my account.
Because we still had water, fruit, granola bars, and snacks from Scottsdale, we only needed a few items from Safeway. We picked up freshly prepared chicken and potato wedges, pasta salad, chicken apple walnut salad, sourdough bread, and dessert. By the way, we shopped for souvenirs at Safeway. Believe it or not, souvenirs are less expensive in grocery stores. I read about this tip in the AARP magazine. Although I did not find a Christmas ornament, I purchased a key chain and will attach an ornament hook to the ring.
You will experience elevation between 3,300 and 4,400. Do you want to participate in activities off-site? Because we were staying at the Summit, we were offered the Jeep Tour for $191 instead of $375 if I attended a presentation. There is also a 4-hour train tour for $425. You will need plenty of sunscreen. Do not leave Sedona without watching the sunset. Oh, do not forget monsoon season starts in June. It was alarming to hear thunder so close.
I spent the most money on this trip dining out. Yes, I picked up the tab at Hash Kitchen and Culinary Dropout. In addition, we picked up lunch at Red Lobster for the family while they worked from home. However, I saved money on accommodations.
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