I love a good road-trip, but the pandemic has given me an amazing opportunity to love a staycation just as much . As restrictions stay in place and the idea of travel changes, it is becoming more common to explore the surrounding areas closer to you. People get to give that travel bug a small scratch, and we can all do it safely. I talked to my kids and we decided to highlight 3 of our favourite hotels based on the following categories. Family Friendly. Boutique. Game Day Hotel. Each are unique and awesome in their own way, and we are so excited to share our picks with you. Be sure to leave a comment at the end with your picks.

1. Family Friendly - The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa

   This family friendly resorts sits at the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains and just outside the Tucson city limits. My kids picked this one and I agreed, and one of the main reasons was the pool area. Sure there are better pools in Tucson, and some are even like waterparks. My kids are young, they can swim, but they are not even close to being old enough to go on their own. I also staycation with them solo often, so I can’t be in two places at once. That's why we love this resort. I love the size of the pool area and the kids love the one waterslide. Instead of running around with my head cut off, I don’t have to worry about my kids going in different directions. Its a really awesome slide and is actually really fast. Not being overwhelmed by options really has its perks, my kids really love this resort. Of all the places in Tucson we have stayed here the most often. We also really enjoy the onsite resturants. I can only speak about our latest visit, so make sure you check their covid precautions. In the summer when we visited they had poolside service (swimup bar closed) and in the fall/winter you had to call a number to have someone bring you food, similar to room service. Be sure to make a reservation for Contigo Latin Grill. This place is very popular and do expect a wait. You can make a reservation on their website here. As far as rooms go they are pretty standard for the Marriot brand, nothing to write home about but still great. You spend most of your time poolside or outside hiking anyway. For us it's the atmosphere, the location, and the scenary.

2. Boutique Hotel - Hotel McCoy

Looking for “not your average” stay while in Tucson, then look no further than this unique hotel. Hotel McCoy celebrates everything that makes Tucson unique. You will get that feeling the moment you drive through its archway. Murals decorate and line the exterior of all the buildings. Featuring and showcasing many of the local talent. The pool takes you back to a simpler times, and isn’t trying to be something its not. I loved how quiet and relaxing the pool area was. They had a foosball table near by and a grass area for more lawn games. The lobby bar is a short walk away, and you can enjoy a local beer while you watch your kids enjoy the concrete table in the center of the pool. Another great feature of this hotel are the rooms. We were lucky enough to get a family room. The room had two bunk beds and a queen bed. The bunk bed was the hugest hit! I could go on about this wonderful place, but I did a blog on this hotel previously, and you can find it here.

3. Game Day - The Graduate Hotel

Looking to take in the action at the University of Arizona? Then look no further than the Graduate Hotel. This hotel recently opened in 2020, of all years, and if you have stayed at one before you know what you are getting into. Starting with room keys that have athlete alumni on them, and an entire retro feel throughout. This also has different themed rooms to pick from, and is dog friendly. My dog got a welcome bandana for him to wear and a really cute pendant to add to the door saying that he was in the room. The location of this hotel is perfect if you are looking to take in the action. A short Uber or even longish walk can get you where to need to be to enjoy some football or basketball on the campus. There is also a rooftop pool and bar area and lounge called The Moonstone. They offer local flavours and a great cocktail menu. Check the website because I believe everyday but Sunday they don't open till 4pm. There was a lobby “coffee bar”, but I didn’t see any on site restaurants for a sit-down breakfast or lunch. Luckily there are many restaurants around, or you could use Gruhub and get sushi delivered like we did. Here is the link to the website.

Well that concludes my quick blog about our top 3 hotels in Tucson. Stay tuned for more travel blogs are our upcoming trips and adventures. Also follow me on Instagram here.

Have you ever been to Tucson? What resort would you like us to investigate for you.