IF you drive through the fashionable suburbs of Scottsdale after arriving at nearby Phoenix on a British Airways flight from London, you will see little evidence of Arizona’s famed Wild West image.
The temperate, year-round climate in this part of the West has drawn many more new US residents than visitors. Hence the number of real-estate outlets, antique and furnishing shops and designer-label boutiques far outweigh the western gear souvenir stores. And this affluent community is not short of a few luxury hotels either.
At the other end of town nestling, between some of the most spectacular golf courses in the US, are the likes of The Phoenician, Royal Palms and The Sunburst Resort, all offering New West resort sophistication while providing a gateway to Old West heritage.
But sip a poolside cocktail amid the Roman-style pavilions at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale and the real west comes into view from your resort oasis.
Across acres of waterways and the landscaped greens of the private Gainey Ranch 27-hole championship golf course is the spectacular outline of the McDowell mountain range and the Sonora Desert.
A stopover at Scottsdale is a great start or finish to a flydrive tour of Arizona. It might cost ú100 a night for two but it is worth the benefits of unwinding in one of the luxury recreational spa resorts.
Since British Airways began the first non-stop service from London to Phoenix three years ago, it has opened up a more direct route to the Grand Canyon state and avoids the need to journey from Los Angeles or Las Vegas. This has spurred more UK tour operators to offer Arizona. When BA began its service there were 16 featuring the state – there are more than 40 for 1999.
While Arizona’s Canyonlands are the top draw, greater brochure exposure has brought various new options. Apart from new golf programmes, these include ranch and resort stays, spa and health breaks, trekking and desert safaris, riding and rafting expeditions, skiing, boating, and excursions taking in Wild West culture.
Arizona is now in Premier Holidays’ top five best-selling US destinations, according to general manager for North America, Rob Haynes.
He said: “Part of the appeal is its cowboy culture with a lot of the landscape looking like it has come straight out of a Wild West movie. But the rough terrain is combined with excellent five-star hotels offering every comfort, so it’s a great combination.”
A popular place with Premier clients is the Scottsdale Princess Resort where facilities include a 36-hole golf course, seven tennis courts, three outdoor swimming pools and a country and western nightclub. Another is the Sheraton El Conquistador on the outskirts of Tucson, which has 31 tennis courts and a 45-hole course. Nightly room rates cost from ú89 and ú66 respectively.
Haynes said: “We find a lot of our clients have already been to Arizona for a short stay on the back of a visit to California and are returning to do it properly, sometimes with another state.”
Travel 4 product manager Louise Davis said: “Arizona has traditionally been twinned with California and Nevada by clients on self-drive holidays, but as consumer awareness of the state has developed we have seen clients exploring further afield.
“We are selling more day trip and short modular tours from Scottsdale and Phoenix and another real growth area is in ranch stays. These have an advantage over the better-known Rockies ranches because they are available year round. The summer months are low season in the US domestic market, but the British are not put off by the heat and get some great prices.
“Our four-day programme at the Wickenburg Inn and Dude Ranch is priced at ú389 from May to September, compared to the current-season price of ú559.”