A mother-daughter staycation in Scottsdale using Marriott points
Note: At press time, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa still had rooms available for 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for this Labor Day weekend.
My mom and I love spending quality time together and during this past year, due to the pandemic, we were unable to do so. After more than a year and a half, I finally visited my mom at her home in Scottsdale, Arizona, and we went to The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa for a short staycation.
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Booking
We booked our one-night stay at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, a Category 6 property, for 50,000 Marriott points on a standard date. We could have also used a Marriott free night certificate, such as the up to 85,000 point one awarded after your card renewal month on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
We requested a standard room with double beds and were able to check in early to allow for as much time as possible on the property.
Location
The Westin Resort & Spa is in Scottsdale next to the Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter, two of the best outdoor shopping centers in the area. Just a short walk from the hotel, you’ll find beautiful, palm tree-lined blocks of upscale designer shops, restaurants and bars. My mom and I have been going to the Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter for years to shop and eat but had never stayed at The Westin right next door.
Check-in
Like many hotels, it was clear that The Westin Kierland was a bit understaffed at check-in. There was only one employee at the front desk and about four to five parties waiting in line for several minutes. Once it was our turn, the check-in process was very quick and we were on our way to the room.
Dog-friendly
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is pet friendly with no pet fees, so I was excited to bring my 3-year-old Cavachon, Kip, along with us. At check-in, they asked me to fill out a short form agreeing to their pet policy and from there, they let us know that all guests with pets must stay on the ground floor.
Room
Staying on the ground floor ended up being a huge win because our patio opened up to the beautiful hotel grounds facing the golf course and the McDowell Mountains. We ended up exiting our room through our patio to head to one of the hotel’s restaurants. It was super convenient for both walking my dog and for exploring the resort.
Beyond the location, our room was well appointed with two double beds, a large bathroom with a shower and tub, and a great desk set up where I worked in the morning. I particularly liked the furniture; it reminded me of the West Elm neutral furniture I have at home.
Amenities
The resort is definitely known for its pools, the golf course and the spa. After seeing the entire resort, my biggest takeaway was that this is a fantastic resort for families. There is an adults-only pool, the main pool, a lazy river, a big slide and a FlowRider surf machine. The main pool and lazy river were packed with families celebrating the long weekend.
Since it was just my mom and me, we spent our time at the adults-only pool where we had great service for drinks and appetizers. Before heading back to our hotel room at the end of the day, we did squeeze in one trip through the lazy river for old time’s sake.
Dining
After our afternoon at the pool, we headed to the Dreamweavers Canyon Courtyard for an outdoor dinner. The menu was pretty limited, but we went to this restaurant for the beautiful view of the property, the golf course and the mountains. I had a bacon cheeseburger, sweet potato fries and an Arnold Palmer drink.
The next morning before check out, we had breakfast at Nellie Cashman’s Monday Club Cafe. My mom and I shared a yogurt parfait, oatmeal, hash browns and a side of bacon. It was the perfect meal to fill up on before heading back home.
Both of our meals were outside, so we were able to bring my pup, Kip, along with us, which was a huge bonus!
Bottom line
Overall, we really enjoyed our stay at The Westin Kierland and thought the property was absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend it to families who want to have some fun in the sun and enjoy golfing. My mom and I didn’t have time to enjoy the spa this trip, but we plan to go back during the holiday season!
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. |
Intro Offer
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.60,000 bonus pointsAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees