Scottsdale has no shortage of beautiful resorts, so choosing where to stay wasn’t particularly easy. We eventually booked the The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, largely because we wanted a hotel where the resort itself would be part of the trip rather than simply somewhere to sleep.
That turned out to be especially important because we were visiting Arizona in August. Scottsdale in the middle of summer is genuinely hot, and our days naturally shifted toward exploring earlier and spending the hottest hours somewhere more comfortable. Having a resort with a good pool, lazy river and enough to do made much more sense than paying for a beautiful hotel we’d barely use.
After staying at the Westin Kierland, I would absolutely stay here again. It wasn’t perfect, but the resort ended up being one of the highlights of our Arizona trip.
Planning note: The resort is currently undergoing renovations, and Marriott says renovations to the Adventure Pool and lazy river are scheduled to begin September 8, 2026. Check the resort directly before booking if the water park is an important part of your stay.
Why We Chose the Westin Kierland
The pool complex was a major reason we chose Kierland. In addition to the regular pools, the resort has a lazy river, waterslide and FlowRider, which made it somewhere we’d actually want to come back to after being out during the day.
The location was another factor. The resort is near Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter, so there are plenty of restaurants and shops nearby without having to drive into Old Town Scottsdale every time you leave the property.
More importantly, Kierland seemed particularly well suited to the way we planned to experience Scottsdale in August. We could go out earlier in the day, retreat from the worst of the afternoon heat and then head to the pool later when the temperature became more manageable.
In hindsight, choosing a resort we actually wanted to spend time at was one of the better decisions we made on this trip.
Our Room at the Westin Kierland
We stayed in a two queen room with a balcony overlooking the pool.
There was some confusion with our rooms when we arrived. We’d booked with connecting rooms in mind, but there had been a spill in one of the rooms and it had to be taken out of service for cleaning. It wasn’t the smoothest start to the stay, but I thought the hotel handled the situation well. They ultimately moved us to rooms on the top floor and provided a credit.
Things go wrong at hotels, and I’m generally more interested in what happens afterward. In this case, I was happy with how Kierland rectified the situation and the service we received.
The room itself was comfortable. One thing worth knowing, particularly if you like sleeping in a very cold hotel room, is that the air conditioning is capped at 18°C, or about 64°F, and can’t be lowered beyond that.
Considering we were in Arizona in August, I wondered whether that would be cool enough, but the room temperature ended up being perfectly comfortable for us.
Our balcony overlooked the pool, which was a nice view and also made one thing particularly funny. Despite being able to see the pool from our room, actually getting there wasn’t nearly as straightforward as you’d expect.
Getting to the Pool Was Strangely Confusing. This is a small thing, but it’s exactly the sort of detail you don’t find out until you’re actually staying somewhere.
Getting from our room to the pool involved a surprisingly confusing combination of hallways, elevators and stairs. For something we could literally see from our balcony, we regularly felt like we were taking a very roundabout route just to get there.
It certainly wouldn’t stop me from staying at Kierland again, but the resort layout took some getting used to.
Thankfully, once we got to the pool, it was worth it.
The Pool, the Lazy River and FlowRider!
The pool complex was one of the main reasons we booked Kierland, and we ended up using it almost every evening.
Visiting in August had an unexpected advantage. Scottsdale’s extreme summer heat makes this a quieter time of year, and the resort felt relatively peaceful during our stay. We didn’t have to fight for chairs, there were plenty available and the pool area never felt overwhelmingly crowded.
The water was warm, which wasn’t exactly surprising considering it was the middle of summer in Arizona.
The lazy river was one of the features we were most looking forward to and we really enjoyed using it. One thing worth knowing is that the lazy river closes at 7 p.m., while the regular pool stays open until 10 p.m.
It was a bit of a bummer because we liked going to the pool later in the day once the worst of the Arizona heat had passed. We would have happily stayed in the lazy river longer, but having the main pool open until 10 p.m. still gave us plenty of time outside in the evening.
Overall, this was one of the best parts of the resort for us. We didn’t book a hotel with an impressive pool complex only to use it once. We were back there almost every evening.
Kierland also has a FlowRider, which isn’t something you find at every Scottsdale resort.
Carl had already tried one on Icon of the Seas and decided to do it again here. It cost US$55, so this isn’t an activity that’s simply included with your stay, but he enjoyed it.
I wouldn’t choose Kierland solely because it has a FlowRider, but it’s a fun extra that distinguishes the resort from a standard pool and cabanas setup.
Between the FlowRider, lazy river, waterslide and pools, there’s enough going on that the pool complex feels like a genuine part of the resort experience.
What We Thought of the Food
Hotel room service is usually something I order for convenience rather than because I’m expecting particularly memorable food, but the in room dining at Kierland was surprisingly good.
That made it an easy option when we didn’t feel like leaving the resort.
We also tried the breakfast buffet, which I don’t think the hotel advertised particularly well. That’s unfortunate because it had a decent selection and, surprisingly, the buffet was actually cheaper than ordering breakfast through room service.
If you’re staying here, I’d check the breakfast buffet before automatically ordering breakfast to the room. We found it to be the better value option when we wanted a full breakfast.
What Is the Westin Kierland Like in August?
August probably isn’t the month most people imagine when planning a Scottsdale vacation. It’s extremely hot, but there are some advantages to travelling at this time of year.
Our experience at Kierland was considerably quieter than I would expect during Scottsdale’s more popular seasons. We had limited crowds around the pool and generally didn’t have any trouble finding chairs.
The heat also changed how we used the resort. Instead of treating the hotel as somewhere we’d leave after breakfast and return to at night, we planned around it. We’d do things earlier, come back when the temperature became less pleasant for sightseeing, and often end up at the pool in the evening.
That’s one of the reasons Kierland worked particularly well for this trip. If we had booked a basic hotel and then spent every afternoon trying to escape the heat, I don’t think I would have enjoyed Scottsdale in August nearly as much.
I’ve written more about the heat, what we could realistically do and how we divided our time between Sedona and Scottsdale in Arizona in August: Our Sedona and Scottsdale Trip.
Is the Westin Kierland Good With Young Kids?
We travelled with our kids, but I wouldn’t describe Kierland as a resort that only appeals to families. That’s actually something I liked about it.
There was plenty for Pierce to enjoy, particularly around the pool, without the entire property feeling like it was designed exclusively around children’s activities. The lazy river and water features gave us something easy to do together, while the rest of the resort still felt like somewhere I’d happily stay without kids.
For us, that balance worked.
If you’re travelling with younger children, I’d pay more attention to which amenities they’ll actually be able to use rather than simply looking at how many water attractions the resort advertises.
The Location
Kierland’s location is another reason I’d consider staying here again.
Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter are nearby, which gives you easy access to restaurants and shopping without needing to head all the way into Old Town Scottsdale.
We still explored beyond the resort, but having so much close by made the stay easier, especially when we didn’t feel like turning dinner into another major outing after spending the day in the Arizona heat.
If you’re planning a longer Arizona trip rather than staying exclusively in Scottsdale, you can see how we incorporated Kierland into our [Sedona and Scottsdale itinerary].
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Book
There weren’t any major issues that would prevent me from returning, but there are a few things I’d want to know before booking.
The lazy river closes at 7 p.m., even though the regular pool remains open until 10 p.m. Getting from our room to the pool was also strangely cumbersome despite our balcony overlooking it. The 18°C limit on the air conditioning is worth knowing if you prefer an especially cold room, although it ultimately wasn’t a problem for us.
We also had the room issue when we first arrived. I don’t consider that a reason not to stay here because the hotel addressed it appropriately and provided a reasonable resolution. If anything, I came away with a positive impression of how the staff handled a problem rather than simply judging the hotel because a problem occurred.
None of those things outweighed what we liked about the property.
Is the Westin Kierland Worth It?
I think this depends on how you’re going to use the hotel.
If you’re planning to leave first thing every morning, spend the entire day sightseeing and return just to sleep, I’m not convinced it makes sense to pay a premium for a resort like Kierland. You’re paying for amenities you won’t use.
Our trip was different.
Because we visited Scottsdale in August, we knew there would be periods of the day when we wouldn’t want to be outside sightseeing. Having a resort where we genuinely wanted to spend those hours made the hotel experience much more valuable.
We used the pool almost every evening. Carl tried the FlowRider. We ordered surprisingly good room service. We had plenty of pool chairs because the resort wasn’t particularly crowded, and the hotel became part of the vacation rather than simply our base.
Would We Stay at the Westin Kierland Again?
Yes.
The Westin Kierland ended up being one of the highlights of our Arizona trip. The service was excellent, including how the hotel dealt with the problem with our original room. The pool complex was something we actually used rather than just admired in photos, the location was convenient and the quieter August atmosphere worked in our favour.
I would especially consider staying here again if we returned to Scottsdale during another hot period. This trip convinced me that where you stay matters more when the weather limits what you can comfortably do during the middle of the day.
Kierland gave us somewhere we actually looked forward to coming back to.
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