Family Fun at Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Resort

There’s more to the beautiful Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort than the sports its name implies. We recently spent the weekend here while exploring the southern Arizona area and found a family-friendly resort. Located in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, we found a scenic and quiet area with plenty to offer guests with varied interests.

Location

We liked that the resort was far enough from the city to feel isolated from the hustle and bustle yet still close enough to enjoy many of the attractions. The resort was within 20-40 minutes’ drive to some Tucson’s best attractions like Biosphere 2, Saguaro National Park and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, and the downtown area. It was great to be near a busy, main highway, but not hear any of the traffic noise. Outside the main driveway was the Oro Valley community and a variety of stores and restaurants accessible on a short drive.

As we entered the resort through a private driveway, we were greeted with large cacti lining the roads. The mountain backdrop really gave it some amazing views. The Hilton Tucson El Conquistador’s lobby was a lovely preview of the resort’s setting. It was spacious and had plenty of comfortable seating areas with Southwest décor. We enjoyed the patio that overlooked the resort and mountains.

Rooms

After a long drive through the desert, we were really looking forward to just unpacking and relaxing.  We were lucky enough to be in a junior suite that looked out into the pool. It was clean and spacious with an open floor plan that included a living room combined with the bedroom. There were plenty of storage spaces and even a walk-in closet plus a safe to store valuables. The large bathroom included a nice bathtub to my kids’ delight.

The rooms were nicely decorated. I like décors that reflect a bit of the location that have some local touches. They did a wonderful job bringing some of the southwest inside, including the lovely pictures of desert plants surrounding the area. We could tell it was recently renovated with more modern touches. It was nice to have the mini bar (locked but items can be moved aside) for refrigerating things for the kids.

The resort has over 400 varied rooms and suites to choose from with desert, mountain or pool views through its balconies and patios. They’re always a bonus when traveling as a family.  My husband and I enjoy that extra time and space to relax without disturbing the sleeping kids. Of course, it also helped to have the great views we had.

For those requiring more space, they also had casita suites with a living room, a fireplace, a dining room, kitchenettes and attached suites. The casitas were set a bit off the main area of the resort, but they had their own pool. The casitas would have been great choice if we were traveling with our parents or friends.

Amenities

This is the place to go for avid golfers and tennis players with 45 holes of golf across three courses and 31 lit tennis courts.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to experience the golf course or tennis courts or even the spa due to lack of time.

There were a few dining options within the resort too. We didn’t get the chance to eat at Epazote Kitchen and Cocktails but their Southwestern dinner menu looks delicious. We did eat at Sundance Café for a breakfast buffet but missed their Sunday brunch. We loved the variety at the buffet with an omelet station, homemade granola, meats and plenty of pastries and fruits. My daughter, the picky eater, constantly filled her plate and declared everything delicious. If you prefer to stay in, room service was available with surprisingly reasonable prices and a varied menu.

Desert Springs Oasis

The hotel buildings surround the focal point of the resort. My kids could have stayed all weekend at the Desert Springs Oasis, and they would have been perfectly content. There aren’t many places in the country that had ideal weather for swimming in mid-January. There were several pools here much which made my kids jump for joy.

The Shallow Springs Kids Pool was a fish-shaped pool, with several water features and perfect for toddlers. My kids spent more time at the 143 ft Slide Rock waterslide that was inside a rock formation and opened into the pool. This was a popular place for school-aged kids and teens. Some parents, including my husband, also enjoyed the slide while we were there.

This was such a fun area to hang out with a pool bar, cantina, retail shop and covered cabanas to rent. Adults have an appropriately named Soothing Springs spa area with hot tubs and separated from the other pools.

I wished there were more staff roaming around the pool areas other than the attendant handing out towels or ones taking drink orders. There were also no lifeguards present when we were at the pool. This may be a different scenario when the pool is much more crowded during the summer.

The central pool was also a nice gathering place with plenty of poolside seats and umbrellas. My family really enjoyed the heated pool and made for a delightful swim especially at night.

There were also several fire pits that made this a popular area to gather around at night. It was a great way to enjoy the cooler desert evenings. The surrounding views of the mountain was a perfect backdrop to relax whether during the day or at night. My kids certainly took advantage of the Desert Springs Oasis, and it was their favorite part.

I really enjoyed walking around the well-maintained grounds and lush landscape. It was relaxing to hear the sounds of a mini-waterfall and see the small ponds. There were plenty of green spaces for kids to run around including an area to putt some golf balls.

Decorative rocks separated the pools and I loved all the palm trees surrounding the resort. It was a bit odd to be in the midst of palm trees, cacti, mountains and desert but they made it work and look good at the same time. It’s no wonder this was also a popular setting for weddings.

Most of the time, service at hotels makes or breaks our stay. Fortunately, all the staff we encountered at Hilton El Conquistador from the front desk to the pool, housekeeping and restaurant were all very friendly, helpful and accommodating. It was a pleasure to stay at a resort that went out of their way to make our stay comfortable and worry-free.

We were a bit disappointed that most of the kid-friendly activities happen during the summer. Looking at all the activities they have going on between June and August, it’s a great incentive for us to return even with the desert heat. Star gazing tours, poolside dive-in movies and mad science workshops among other things will surely entertain and keep the kids busy.

Our family really enjoyed our stay at Hilton Tucson El Conquistador. There was something for everyone and it made for a relaxing getaway.  The peaceful setting offered a great location and nice amenities from multiple pools to restaurants along with wonderful service. We are looking forward to returning soon.

Staying at Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Resort Basics & Tips

• Free continental breakfast or $12 off the buffet if you’re a Hilton Gold (or higher status) HHonors member.
• Ask for the mini-bar key when checking in to move the existing contents to make room for your items.
• Free self-parking and valet parking is also available for a fee.
• There is an extra $20 resort fee which includes in-room high speed Internet (for up to 2 devices), golf, tennis, spa discounts, access to tennis courts and driving range among other things.
• Don’t forget your swimsuits to enjoy all the pools or workout wear to take advantage of the nice fitness room.
• Check the hotel website for package deals and special offers.

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*Have you visited Hilton Tucson El Conquistador? Would you spend some time here?

Disclaimer: Our family was graciously hosted by the hotel. All opinions and photos (unless stated) of Hilton Tucson El Conquistador are my own based on our two-night stay.