I recently enjoyed a Spring stay at the lush, 39-acre resort in Phoenix that’s known as the Arizona Biltmore, which celebrates its connections with Frank Lloyd Wright, who served as consulting architect. The McArthur brothers developed this expansive gem in the middle of the desert in the late 1920s and, almost a century later, you have a true sense of retreat even though the city has grown up around the site.

To say that there are pools almost everywhere you turn would be only a slight exaggeration; there are six on site. My favourite was the Ocatilla, but why wouldn’t it be? Not only was it a mere dozen or so steps from my patio; it was one of the quieter pools and great for doing lengths. The Paradise Pool has a 92-foot waterslide and swim-up bar, or you could enjoy pampering from a private cabana. Think of Arizona’s dry heat, and you can appreciate Irving Berlin having penned White Christmas, among other songs, from the Catalina Pool.

Click here for information on this resort and my review, or follow the links under Travel Reviews, Plans on Exceptional EA’s home page.