A 48-hour Itinerary Filled with Retro-Chic Stays, Spa Days and Desert Icons

Crisp desert nights, freshly revamped rooms and retro-chic vibes make Scottsdale the season’s most stylish escape.

This itinerary proves why Scottsdale is secretly the best place to spend fall and winter, with Hotel Valley Ho as your retro-chic home base. After check-in, toast with a seasonal cocktail before heading to ZuZu for the surprise-filled Chef Roulette experience (and maybe a Grand Finale dessert). The next morning, slip into a robe at VH Spa for a stress-melting treatment, then wander into Old Town Scottsdale for lunch and boutique shopping under festive lights. It’s the perfect mix of cozy fall vibes and winter sparkle, paired with festive fun with the Ho Holidays roller rink experience. 

 

Day 1

3 p.m.
Check in at Hotel Valley Ho

Your getaway begins at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern icon with a fresh new look. Following the hotel’s biggest renovation yet, rooms in the original wings now feature terrazzo countertops, custom furniture and a color palette of soft pinks and sky blues inspired by Arizona’s famous cotton-candy sunsets. It’s retro-chic with modern comfort; plus lush, sprawling grounds that make you want to wander before unpacking your bag.

 

5 p.m.
Sip at LDV Winery Tasting Room

Ease into the evening with a glass at the LDV Winery Tasting Room, a little slice of vineyard life right in Old Town Scottsdale. This cozy spot pours estate-grown Rhone varietals, with tasting flights ranging from light to robust that rotate with the seasons. Whether you claim a table inside or relax on the patio, it’s the perfect pre-dinner pause. Feeling festive? Stop by during happy hour (Mon–Fri, 3–6 p.m.) for $7 glasses, or make it a Friday date night with two flights and a charcuterie board to share. However you sip, LDV’s wines bring a true taste of Arizona to your Scottsdale stay.

 

7 p.m.
Dinner + Drinks at ZuZu: Chef Roulette

When the desert sky turns shades of pink and gold, head to ZuZu, the hotel’s buzzing restaurant, for a one-of-a-kind dinner experience. Chef Roulette is a six-course surprise, starting with an amuse-bouche and unfolding into inventive dishes like wagyu carpaccio with dijonnaise and pumpernickel crumble or Scottish salmon with forbidden fried rice and Arizona citrus. Select courses are paired with bold cocktails, but we say lean into the bar’s playful side; order a Tropical Inferno, where Tito’s vodka, Aperol, banana shrub and pineapple collide under a flaming lime wheel.

Cap the night with ZuZu’s Grand Finale dessert, a sparkler-topped mini cake built for sharing, complete with a scoop of ice cream and rotating flavors each month. It’s the kind of sweet ending that guarantees an “OMG” moment.

 

Day 2

9 a.m.
Reboot at VH Spa

Morning calls for a little indulgence and VH Spa is just the place to find it. Slip into a robe and choose your bliss, whether that’s a seasonal treatment like the Spiced Chai Massage or a skin-refreshing Signature Facial. Prefer something more therapeutic? Go for a deep tissue or their unique Rock + Roll hot stone massage. Treatments of an hour or more also unlock access to the hotel’s sparkling pools and fitness center, so you can make a full morning of it. However you unwind, you’ll leave feeling like the desert hit reset on both body and mind.

 

11 a.m.
Brunch at FnB + Shopping in Old Town Scottsdale

From VH Spa, it’s a quick stroll into Old Town, where Scottsdale’s western roots meet cosmopolitan flair. Tucked inside historic Craftsman Court, FnB has long been a darling of the national dining scene, crowned “Best Chef of the Southwest” by the James Beard Awards for Chef Charleen Badman’s work with Arizona-grown ingredients. The menus change with the seasons, but expect richly flavored, globally accented plates built around local farms’ best produce. Beverage director Pavle Milic curates a wine list that celebrates Arizona’s burgeoning wine scene, making every meal here both rooted and adventurous.

After brunch, dive into Old Town’s eclectic shopping. One block might tempt you with artisan jewelry and local art, while the next brims with chic fashion, home goods and gift-worthy finds. It’s the kind of place where you’ll head out for “just one thing” and come back with a bag full of treasures.

 

2 p.m.
Soak Up Old Town’s Festive Energy

Old Town’s event calendar is as lively as its streets. Depending on the weekend, you might stumble into a farmers market stocked with local produce, a cultural festival, or a seasonal soirée. Year-round, art walks and live music keep the district buzzing, while holiday lights strung overhead add an extra dose of sparkle.

 

7 p.m.
Unwind in Your Room

End the night by retreating to your freshly revamped room, where terrazzo countertops, custom furniture and soft pink-and-blue hues inspired by Arizona’s skies create the perfect backdrop. Order room service, sink into plush bedding and watch the desert sky transform into a one-of-a-kind holiday show, with glowing sunsets giving way to twinkling lights.

 

Day 3

7 a.m.
Breakfast at The Eleanor

Begin your day with breakfast at The Eleanor, where the chandeliers sparkle as brightly as your cappuccino foam. This stylish spot serves up comfort with flair; think biscuits smothered in sausage gravy with over-easy eggs, short rib breakfast hash topped with parmesan or a wild mushroom omelette folded with caramelized onions and gruyere. Light eaters can opt for the egg white scramble with roasted chilis and tomatoes, while the chorizo y papas burrito guarantees a hearty start.

 

10 a.m.
Stroll the Desert Botanical Garden

With coffee cravings satisfied, it’s time for a walk among the desert blooms. The Desert Botanical Garden spans 140 acres, with 55 cultivated into winding trails showcasing more than 50,000 plant displays. Expect everything from towering saguaros to delicate desert wildflowers, plus rare and endangered species that make the collection world-renowned. As an accredited museum, the garden blends conservation with beauty, offering a chance to explore, learn and breathe in the quiet magic of the Sonoran Desert.

 

12 p.m.
Explore Taliesin West

Next, head into the foothills of the McDowell Mountains for a tour of Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and desert laboratory. Built in 1937 and refined over the years by Wright and his apprentices, the property feels deeply personal, almost hand-carved from the desert itself. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark, it’s a striking example of desert modernism. Guided tours reveal Wright’s philosophy of harmony with nature while giving you a peek into one of his most intimate creations.

 

7 p.m.
Dinner at FRANCINE

For your final evening, dress up for dinner at FRANCINE, the bright and elegant restaurant in the luxury wing of Scottsdale Fashion Square that captures the easy glamour of the French Riviera. Chef Laurent Halasz, inspired by the simple, soulful dishes of his childhood in the South of France, brings warmth and sunshine to every plate.

Start with a glass of French wine and an order of moules frites simmered with shallots and white wine, or share the lobster pasta in a silky pastis bisque. For entrées, the rack of lamb with piquillo pepper and mauresque sauce is rich and fragrant, while the whole branzino baked in a salt crust and flambeed tableside delivers a major wow factor. Lighter options like the Salmon Riviera with broccolini and tzatziki or the mushroom rigatoni with seasonal truffle prove that even comfort can feel chic.

Whether you dine inside with a soft candlelight glow or on the patio surrounded by desert air, FRANCINE invites you to linger long into the evening over one more glass of rosé and the kind of conversation that makes vacation memories last.

 

9 p.m.
Cocktails in Old Town

Close out your weekend with a drink that matches your mood. For something immersive, duck into UnderTow, a tiki bar designed to feel like the cargo hold of a 19th-century ship. With creaking wood, flashes of lightning and rum-fueled cocktails inspired by far-off ports, it’s as much an experience as it is a bar. 

 

Why Scottsdale Shines This Season: Ho Holidays

Hotel Valley Ho is sprinkling a little mid-century modern magic on this holiday season with Ho Holidays. The iconic OH Pool at the center of the hotel will be covered with a festive roller rink complete with décor, bleachers, themed nights and one-of-a-kind food and drink offerings. Sip hot cocoa, lace up your skates and roll into the season for $25 per person. Or, book the Ho Holidays Sale by Oct. 25 to get 25% off your room, a complimentary event ticket for each registered guest, 20% off at ZuZu and 30% off poolside cabanas. Use code MERRY and stay between Nov. 24 and Jan. 4.

Beyond the hotel, the city’s icons round out the trip; Desert Botanical Garden shows off the desert’s living beauty, Taliesin West reveals Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert vision and Old Town favorites like FnB, The Eleanor and UnderTow deliver food and drinks worth traveling for. Whether you’re a local in need of a staycation or a traveler chasing sparkle without snow, Scottsdale proves itself the ultimate desert escape this season.