Best Hotel for Flagstaff AZ Vacation
Balance of Luxury and Sense of Place at Little America Hotel
Jun 13, 2009
Tourists seeking to explore the Grand Canyon on a Southwestern US vacation often make Flagstaff their "home base." This northern Arizona town along historic Route 66 has a lot of charm, good eats, and history. A luxury traveler would be hard-pressed, though, to find lodging with the high-end accommodations and best amenities of a 5-star resort. In Flagstaff, the luxury is in the experience. Little America, a hotel close to the historic downtown area of Flagstaff AZ, offers lodging that is upscale relative to the other local options, with a distinct feel for Flagstaff's history and locale. While it's not a Ritz or Four Seasons, Little America is Flagstaff's most high-end hotel; luxuriousness balanced with ambiance and authenticity makes it notable. Luxury Travel recommends Little America for a best Flagstaff-area vacation.
Little America Hotel Overview
The hotel is set on the property's 500 acres of pinyon and ponderosa pines, with a bucolic 2-mile on-site loop trail. Though the hotel front is right on a busy road, once inside, the traffic noise disappears and the highway seems far away. A large, expansive gift shop and boutique along with a gas station and 24-hour deli (akin to a 7-11) make Little America almost a sustainable town unto itself. The business center is open every day from 7:00AM to 11:00PM.
Little America Hotel Accommodations
There are 240 rooms and 7 suites at the hotel, all of which are quite spacious. Plasma (flat screen) televisions are in each room and suite; be sure to request an rear-facing room, as they afford lovely views of the property's pine forest. The new bedding is comfortable. The interior decor (sofa, dressers, etc) look as though they are from the 1970's, however, there isn't a ding or scratch on them. This gives the room a feeling of newness despite the dated design. There are both an outdoor hot tub and seasonally open heated pool, a playground for kids, room service, internet access, concierge, and many other amenities associated with luxury vacations.
Little America Dining
The Western Gold Restaurant is very large; it's hard to imagine waiting for a table or booth. Breakfast buffet offers the standard fare, such as scrambles eggs, bacon/sausage/ham, and pancakes. However, there is also a menu at breakfast, and guests can order a la carte. Lunch (buffet option) and dinner are popular here as well; American comfort food at Western Gold Restaurant is done well. The tables, chairs, and booths are, as with the room's furniture, dated in style but completely polished and appear new. This adds to the comfortable ambiance of the hotel. Besides the restaurant, there is room service and seasonal poolside service. For adults, the Tiffany Tree Lounge is open until midnight, with a 5:00 to 7:00PM happy hour.
The best luxury travel experiences shouldn't sacrifice a sense of place for style and amenities. Little America finds the right balance between upscale comfort and Northern Arizona ambiance. It is highly recommended for Flagstaff and Grand Canyon vacations.
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