Explore America: Marriot Resorts The Buttes Phoenix/Tempe

Driven

10/20/20266 min read

The Marriott Resorts * The Buttes

The hotel is arranged across distinct levels, so knowing the main gathering points can make arrival and movement between amenities easier. The upper portion of the hotel lobby serves as the primary welcome area. Guests will find the unique front desk and registration area here. A gift shop sits within this area, providing a convenient stop for essentials or souvenirs. The lobby lounge bar opens onto a patio, creating a scenic indoor-outdoor place to sit.

The lower lobby offers a different set of practical stops. It includes the market café & its patio, along with Rooted Grounds Café, giving guests options for refreshments & casual snacks. Elevators are also located on this level, making it useful to note when moving between the lobby and other parts of the property. The entrance to the tunnel walkway is here as well. This route links the hotel’s spaces, helping guests navigate between areas without needing to return to the upper lobby. For first-time visitors, recognizing the lower lobby as a separate hub can simplify orientation, especially when heading to a café or continuing along the walkway.

The conference center is another key destination within the property. Its presence alongside the hotel’s lobby areas and connected spaces supports a range of visits, from overnight stays and dining to meetings and events. Leisure travelers can use the cafés, lounge, patio, and shop as convenient points during their stay, while business visitors can locate the conference facilities and nearby hotel services within the same overall setting. The different levels give the property a clear structure: the upper lobby centers on arrival and gathering, the lower lobby brings together cafés and access to the tunnel, and the conference center serves event needs. Keeping these landmarks in mind makes it easier to plan routes and move comfortably around the hotel.

Arrival at a desert resort sets the tone for the stay. Upon check-in, the hotel registration provided a warm & welcoming greeting. Our experience was characterized by a swift & seamless check-in process, eliminating any waiting time. The hosts were courteous & informative, providing essential rules & instructions for accessing the room. The overall check-in experience was pleasant.

Once you’re checked in, if you’ve booked a room with a number between 1000 and 4000, you can access your guest room through the Skybridge. From the lobby elevator, there’s an upper path that leads to the skybridge, & it’s decorated with murals of some of the most beautiful natural scenes from southwestern landscapes. The skybridge is where you’ll find the main elevators, and it connects the lobby to them. Just below the skybridge, you’ll find the tunnel, or the lower level.

Guest Room

The 1 King bed guest room features a desert theme with contemporary southwestern influences. The room is warm, earthy, & open, with landscape inspired patterns. Tribal-inspired geometric abstract art is prominently displayed in the guest room. The room has a warm, contemporary southwestern feel, with earthy colors, burnt-orange accents, & a striking sandstone-inspired headboard. This made the place feel more like a polished desert retreat. The guest room is non-smoking & accommodates up to 3 guests. It measures 350 square ft & is equipped with air conditioning. USB-C outlets are provided throughout & a hairdryer is located in the bathroom. Freshly folded towels are available. The bathroom features a walk-in shower, a wide vanity with an illuminated mirror. A safe, iron, iron board, luggage rack, & hangars as well as a dry cleaning bag with receipt paper. The guest room includes a separate sofa with a small side table, a floor lamp, a long desk beneath the television with drawers, a desk chair, a desk lamp with multiple power ports, an alarm clock, a landline telephone, a bed with a duvet and pillows, bedside end tables, to include a fantastic coffee table book, bedside lighting, a mini refrigerator, a coffee bar area with a coffee maker, a television with internet services & premium movie channels, & warm layered lighting.The guest room was clean. Room service for dinner was fantastic, the food arrived quickly with excellent service. We ordered room service using the guest room phone.

Our reserved room was located on the 2100 block. The hallway & room angle offer amazing views of downtown Tempe & the surrounding area. Even though this room is right next to the interstate, the traffic & road noise didn’t bother us at all—the room itself is incredibly quiet, even from the hallway end.

Housekeeping is provided to help maintain guest rooms during a stay. For clothing care, however, guest laundry service are not currently available. The hotel does offer dry-cleaning service, including same-day delivery. Packing accordingly can also help guests avoid relying on laundry options that the property does not provide.

Food & Drink

There are several restaurant & dining options at the resort to include breakfast café, casual bar settings & an evening restaurant, with hours that vary by outlet. Rooted Grounds is the breakfast café, open daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Its daytime schedule makes it an option for guests seeking coffee or breakfast after the hotel’s general breakfast period has begun, as well as for a later morning visit. For drinks & casual refreshments, the lobby bar and Thirsty Cactus are both listed as open from 11 a.m. until dusk. Because “until dusk” depends on the season and conditions, guests may wish to confirm the day’s closing time with the property.Top of the Rock takes reservations in the evening, with listed hours from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The hotel also provides a package delivery via room service with dining periods of: breakfast at 6:30 to 11 a.m., all-day dining from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and dinner is 5 to 11 p.m. Since restaurant service, menu availability, and delivery arrangements can change, it is sensible to verify details directly with the hotel.

Hotel Amenities & Recreation Access

The resort’s recreational amenities offer several ways to spend time outdoors, whether guests prefer swimming, relaxing beside the water, or playing a court sport. The pool area includes swimming pools, a waterslide, & hot tubs complemented by waterfalls. These features provide options for both active recreation and a slower break between other activities. Families and other guests can enjoy the water facilities during the posted operating hours, while those looking to stay active on land can make use of the resort’s sports courts.

The pool area is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Guests are required to wear wristbands while using this area, so it is helpful to keep the band accessible before heading to the pools. For outdoor activity away from the water, the property has courts for pickleball, tennis, and volleyball. These amenities give guests a choice of casual play or a more energetic match, and can be included in a day’s plans alongside time at the pool. Checking any posted guidance at the amenity locations can help guests understand how to access and use each facility.

Indoor options include a fitness center that is open 24 hours, making it possible to exercise at a time that suits an individual schedule. Narande Spa is the property’s wellness option for guests seeking spa services and a restorative experience during their stay. Vending machines and microwaves are available in the vending rooms. Key guest amenity locations include the pool entrance, fitness center, & spa; referring to resort signage or asking staff for directions can make them easier to find. Together, these facilities balance recreation, exercise, wellness & everyday convenience, allowing guests to choose how they spend time on the property.

Practical services can make a desert resort stay more comfortable, particularly when guests need to balance relaxation with work, family plans, or longer travel itineraries. Internet access is available through wired and wireless connections, with enhanced high-speed access throughout the hotel. Because connection options and performance can vary by location or change over time, it is helpful to confirm any specific requirements with the hotel before arrival, especially if reliable access is essential for work.

Organized activities offer another way to enjoy the property beyond the guest room. Instructor-led programming may include relaxing Saturday-morning yoga on the pool deck. Activities can depend on the season, weather, staffing, and resort programming, so guests should not assume that a particular class will be offered on every visit. Before traveling, contact the hotel to verify current services, internet arrangements, dry-cleaning details, and activity schedules. Checking again at arrival can clarify any last-minute changes and help guests plan around available classes and service hours. This simple step supports realistic expectations and makes it easier to decide what to bring, when to request assistance, and how to fit resort activities into the stay.

For guests looking to spend time outdoors, the intermediate walking route west of the building offers a rewarding way to experience the surrounding desert. The trail leads toward a lookout butte, passing through open desert scenery along the way. Its moderate level of challenge makes it a more substantial outing than a short stroll, while remaining an accessible option for visitors who are comfortable with a steady walk. Guests should allow enough time to follow the route at a relaxed pace and enjoy the landscape as it changes along the trail.

The walk ends at a landing on the butte, where expansive views open across the surrounding terrain. The elevated vantage point gives the excursion a clear destination and a memorable payoff, with broad desert and city panoramas that invite visitors to pause and take in the setting. As with any desert walk, suitable footwear, water, sun protection, & attention to current conditions can help make the experience more comfortable.

The property also serves guests who need space to meet, gather, or host an event. Its conference center provides facilities for meetings & other organized functions, offering an indoor complement to the outdoor experience.

The resort’s outdoor & pool areas with the Skybridge, Top of the Rock restaurant, nearby desert trails all combine to offer a truly unique experience.

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