5 reasons for a staycation at Hilton El Conquistador Resort

I am a big fan of staycations, focusing on local, Arizona fun. Ironically, we rarely take a true Tucson staycation. It was high time we explored a great Tucson resort so we jumped at the chance to check out the Hilton El Conquistador.  We spent a lovely weekend there recently and I wanted to share why I think you (and your kids) would love to stay there too!

1. Pools

Water fun is a necessity in Tucson during the summer, otherwise, you have to hide inside ALL DAY. The El Conquistador has water fun covered for all ages, from babies to adults.

Desert Springs Oasis features 3 pools, including a 143-foot water slide and little kid pool area with splash pad features. Although I didn’t get a chance to check it out this time, they do offer an adult only pool as well. We did spend a lot of time in the kid’s pool area though.

The splash also has a zero entry pool that only goes to 1.5 feet deep. It’s perfect for babies to preschoolers (and their big brothers). 😉 The boys loved wading and splashing in it all day.

2. Movies

During the summer staycation season, the Hilton El Conquistador offers extra fun activities to help you Conquer the Summer. Including in this special programming is a dive-in movie and s’mores on Friday and Saturday nights.

We enjoyed our yummy treats while watching Madagascar 2. Quinn insisted on wearing his swim suit and eventually worked up the nerve to watch the movie in the pool with the other big kids. Elliot was content to watch with me from a lounge chair.

3. Animal Visits

Another fun part of the Hilton El Conquistador Conquer the Summer programming is visits from the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. They bring a few animals to meet and greet on Sunday mornings. It’s a great way to get a sneak peek at the fun the museum offers even if you don’t have time to get out there. If you do plan on going out to the museum this summer, consider going Saturday evenings for their special Cool Summer Nights series through August 3oth.

4. Dining

We ate at Epazote Kitchen & Cocktail both nights and really enjoyed our meals. The first night I tried their special seafood dish, bacon wrapped sea bass. It was AHHHH-MAZING!! In fact, I had to order again the next night and convinced Peter to do the same! Peter did enjoy the steak he ordered the first night, he just enjoyed the bite of sea bass from my plate more. 🙂

There were quite a few kids meal options and I was very pleased to see a huge cup of fruit as a side option. Elliot is my grilled cheese and fruit eater. 🙂

We also ate at the Sundance Café twice for breakfast. They offer a great breakfast buffet with plenty of hot and cold options to please everyone. 

We had lunch at the pool on Saturday and while the service was slow (it was a very busy day at the pool), the food was quite good. I recommend the Chef’s Nachos with chicken.

5. Beautiful Location

The beauty of the Santa Catalina Mountains is hard to beat. The Hilton is nestled right at the base of the mountains, allowing for both gorgeous mountain and city views. I hope to stay there again once it cools down a bit so I can take a nature walk in the area.

The Hilton El Conquistador also offers horseback riding and a brand new kids club. The El Con Kids Club will offer full, half-day and hourly programs Friday through Sunday for children ages 4 to 12. The kids club is available to resort guest and local Tucson families who are members of the Elements Wellness Center at Hilton Tucson El Conquistador.

We were guests of the Arizona Hilton Resorts in order to facilitate this review. However, all opinions, experiences, and photos are entirely our own.

Have you ever stayed at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort?