Photo courtesy John Hall It’s the perks that set resort living apart from a more conventional address.

Not cut out for cookie-cutter living? Private homes at resort properties
could be just what you’re looking for.

You always imagined it… the good life. You’re sitting on the veranda, sipping lemonade, watching the kids romp in the yard with Fido before a dip in the pool. And then it hits you (cue needle screeching across vinyl LP here): Someone has to mow the grass, maintain the pool and, yep, clean up after Fido.

What if you’re cut out for a more, shall we say, unconventional and carefree kind of life than the typical single-family residence affords? For some, the perfect cocktail of preferences and finances leads to private home residences on resort properties.

Take retired technology company owner Steve Sells, for instance. His penthouse accommodations in The Tower at Scottsdale’s Hotel Valley Ho offer a steep measure of privacy while granting his family access to amenities such as the acclaimed VH Spa, the OH pool, the business center and conference room and services including valet parking and concierge.

And when he is ready to leave town, he simply locks the door and leaves with no thought to property upkeep.

Such all-inclusiveness doesn’t come on the cheap, as penthouses at The Tower range from $700,000 to $1.6 million. But for Sells, it’s ideal. Here’s a glimpse into why.

Always on the Go
It’s fair to say that Steve and Ann Sells know how to pack light. Because they are part-time residents at their third- and fourth-floor penthouse loft in The Tower at Hotel Valley Ho, the Scottsdale property fits with their on-the-go, active lifestyle.

They own a home in Ketchum, Idaho, where they get their skiing fix at the world-famous Bald Mountain. Their Mexico residence opens up a world of warm-weather and water recreation activities. And their Scottsdale penthouse is their docking bay when hiking, biking or golfing strikes their fancy. “We have a very, very active lifestyle. Having multiple properties complements that,” says Sells, a husband and father of two kids, one in college and one in middle school.

When in Scottsdale, they enjoy sweeping views of Downtown Phoenix and Camelback Mountain from their loft, which takes a cue from Hotel Valley Ho’s mid-century origins both on the interior and exterior. As for The Tower itself, its 1950s plans lay dormant until Westroc Hotels & Resorts added the seven-story tower building as part of the massive restoration of Hotel Valley Ho. The Tower opened January 1, 2008.

Indoors, the Sells selected décor and furnishings partly to recapture Hotel Valley Ho’s 1960s atmosphere and celeb-studded guest lists. “Since the style of the hotel is more retro and the Rat Pack used to come down from Vegas, we decided to implement an old-school Las Vegas theme,” Steve says. Their use of lighting mimics the Strip while casino artwork and retro furniture cement the theme. “It’s bright and very open, yet very private. The views are fantastic and the rooms themselves are spacious and comfortable,” Steve says.

Photo courtesy Hotel Valley Ho Hotel Valley Ho’s OH Pool at night

On-Site Amenities
Any Valley residence could capture the luxurious yet whimsical furnishings and décor inside the Sells’ penthouse. It’s the amenities and resort perks that really set resort living apart from a more conventional address.

“I can walk down a flight of stairs and work out in a gym. We can do a spa without having to leave our home. We can take advantage of the dining on-site without ever getting in our car,” he says, referencing Hotel Valley Ho’s Café ZuZu and Trader Vic’s.

Other amenities include:
• Preferred pricing on hotel rooms for visitors,
• Housekeeping services,
• Privileged seating in all hotel restaurants,
• In-home wiring for cable, phone, and high-speed Internet,
• And around-the-clock room service.

“It feels like living in a private residence with all the amenities of a resort,” Steve says. “You can literally be part of the hotel and take part in all it has to offer, but at the same time you can just lock your door, stay home and enjoy your privacy.”

While Steve doesn’t recommend resort living for a family raising small children, his jet-setting lifestyle offers a measure of freedom that he and his wife did not enjoy during their early entrepreneurial days. “When you spend 10 to 12 hours a day building a business, you’re married to that. You’ve got a little cement on your shoes in regards to the company,” he says. “Now, we enjoy not having to be a slave to our personal residence. We can lock a door and not have to be back in the morning to water plants, mow the lawn, or take the trash out.”

Photo courtesy the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa “Casa Montana,” a private residence at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa, includes a master bedroom and pool with spa that faces Camelback’s iconic “praying monk” formation.

Stay and Play
So, you’re interested in private resort living accommodations, but it’s just not reality? Maybe you have small kids. Maybe your paycheck places you in a different income stratosphere. Or maybe you know that year-round resort living just isn’t for you.

Relax, the residential resort lifestyle might still be within splurging distance. In fact, you may be able to wrestle decent rates for a summer staycation at several Valley resorts that offer condo or private residence rentals.

Hotel Valley Ho, of course, is among them, offering guest room rentals in The Tower. June rates range from $129 to $413 a night and include access to all resort amenities.

Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley offers seven secluded private estate rentals, which can be booked on a nightly, weekly or monthly basis. Rates start at $950 nightly for a two-night minimum stay and include housekeeping, in-room dining, nightly candlelight turn-down service, valet parking, and access to the spa and business center. Hint: Three of the seven homes are owned by Sanctuary, and booking rates on these tend to be more negotiable.

If you can nudge – OK, thrust wide open – the needle on financial flexibility, the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa also offers two spacious, 2,800-square-foot private residences for nightly, weekly or monthly bookings. The Camelback Villa boasts a private gym, oversized dining room and an extensive lawn and patio areas suitable for up to 300 guests (wedding, anyone?). Meanwhile, the Andalusian Presidential Suite boasts a private pool and spa and generous outdoor seating and patio areas. Summer rates start at $2,900 per night.

Photo courtesy Hotel Valley Ho Kitchen seating area, Hotel Valley Ho

RESOURCES
Hotel Valley Ho
6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale
480-248-2000
hotelvalleyho.com

InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa
4949 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley
480-627-3200
icmontelucia.com

Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa
5700 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley
480-948-2100
sanctuaryoncamelback.com