One of the great things about living in a big tourist area is that you get to visit some fantastic places on the spur of the moment. I woke up on a Thursday morning and decided I wanted an evening on the town and a day to relax by the pool. So, I booked a night at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, which is about 45 minutes from my house. We knew where the resort was, since we head to the Wild Horse Pass Casino and Shula’s Steakhouse every so often. However, we had never continued the two miles down the road to the resort grounds. So, I figured, why not give it a try? I have to admit, I’m very glad we did!
The Sheraton is a HUGE property- about 500 rooms and an extensive convention space. I believe there were two or three conferences occurring simultanously during our stay. The drive up to the resort is scenic Sonoran Desert, with an interpretive hiking trail and man made river crossing the road at several points. We pulled up into the self parking area and made our way up to the lobby. The bell staff, as well as the check in staff, were incredibly friendly. As a Starwood Platinum member, I had submitted a “Suite Night” request to a one bedroom suite. Upon check in, not only had my request been granted, but they double upgraded me to a deluxe suite! As my Platinum gift, I chose free continental breakfast since the resort does not have a club. It was a good choice- we were able to eat from an amazing buffet for only $3/person (a small upgrade from the continental offering.)
We made our way through the very long hallways to our suite. The hotel has two wings- Pima and Maricopa- and we were at the end of the Maricopa wing. The suite was enormous and had a nice view to the West toward the mountains. We also had three balconies, a fireplace, two TVs, and a living room/dining room area. The bathroom wasn’t quite as impressive as the rest of the room, but it was very spacious. The bedroom had the largest patio, which had a table and chair set. The decor was very Southwest and included some Native American art pieces on the tables and walls. Everything was immaculate and in its place.
The resort has several restaurants, including the highly rated and well received Kai, which focuses on local Native American cuisine. The menu is limited, but very high end and gourmet. So read= not something I’d like! There is also a poolside grill (Hanyo) and a less fancy restaurant Ko’Sin, which has a strong Southwestern decor, but is really well done. The breakfast buffet was delicious and had a lot of variety. The service at Hanyo and Ko’Sin was great and the servers were very prompt and personal.
Wild Horse Pass has a lot of attractions- Rawhide Western town, the nearby Firebird Speedway and Bondurant Driving School, a golf academy and course, an equestrian center, and a Native American themed spa. While we did not visit any of these attractions, we did have a chance to visit the Wild Horse Pass Casino, just 5 minutes down the road. The resort and casino have a shuttle to run guests in between the two, which is very convenient! We’re not exactly big gamblers, but we enjoy giving it a try everytime we head to Shula’s for a delicious steak dinner. We have been to many Shula’s across the country and the food at this one is as good as the original in Miami. While it’s a bit pricey, the martinis are perfectly shaken and they have amazing blackened tenderloin tips (and full steaks, of course!)
As I mentioned above, the Sheraton is a very large resort, so it may not be for everyone. It normally wouldn’t be something I’d enjoy. However, we were treated very well by the staff, stayed in a fantastic room, and enjoyed a wonderful evening at the casino without having to worry about driving. I imagine I will be staying at this resort again sometime in the near future!