With summertime approaching, students will be looking for a break from their same, old Tempe surroundings. Luckily, Arizona is filled with Old West charm, and there's no better place to experience it than on a getaway to one of the state's many historic hotels. "These historic hotels evoke a feeling of yesteryear or the spirit and romance of the Old West," says Deepak Chhabra, an assistant professor in the School of Community Resources and Development. So gather your friends, hop in the car and experience the way the West used to be.
Hotel Monte Vista
100 N. San Francisco St., Flagstaff (155 miles from ASU)
(928) 779-6971
$65-$180/night
Hotel Monte Vista once served as the premier stop in northern Arizona for travelers on historic Route 66 and has remained a staple of Flagstaff's downtown area since 1927.
"The last stretch of [Route] 66 was fully bypassed in 1985 by super-highways," says Ryan Richardson of the Monte Vista. Much of the historic route's history and character still remains, he says. Monte Vista is packed with character, with several haunted rooms and Rendezvous, a coffee and martini bar that is one of Flagstaff's hottest nightlife spots. The Monte Vista Cocktail Lounge, on the lower level, is a dusty watering hole that features live music from national and local acts. The list of famous guests that have stayed at Monte Vista (posted on the doors of the rooms) is staggering - Bob Hope, Jack Daniel (yes, that Jack Daniel), John Wayne and Clark Gable are just a few.
Hotel Congress
311 E. Congress St., Tucson (109 miles from ASU)
(520) 722-8848
$59-$109/night
Possibly the hippest place in Tucson is also one of the city's oldest. Hotel Congress, built in 1919, is the spot where police caught notorious bank robber John Dillinger and his posse in 1934. These days, Congress features classic Southwestern rooms still in their original condition - no TVs or mini bars in the rooms - and an old, delicate plumbing system. The hotel is renowned for its concert hall, Club Congress, which regularly brings national acts to Tucson. "We were just named as one of the top rock 'n' roll hotels in the country," says Hotel Congress manager Allison Baron. Most of the artists stay in the hotel the nights of their performances and eat at the hotel's Cup Cafe, regularly voted one of Tucson's best dining spots. "Cup Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday and definitely fits within the budget of a college student," Baron adds.
Cottonwood Hotel
930 N. Main St., Cottonwood (115 miles from ASU)
(928) 634-9455
$65-$265/night
Cottonwood is one of Arizona's lesser-known mountain towns, but the town's history spans generations. Cottonwood Hotel has been in the center of town since 1924 and offers apartment-style rooms and extended stays. "We are also the ideal place for college students on a trip," says owner Karen J. Leff. "Besides having lots of history, we are in the downtown area with great restaurants, coffee cafes, shops, antiques, galleries and nightlife at the local saloons, [which feature] live music and karaoke." The hotel was featured in the 1964 Elvis Presley film "Stay Away, Joe." For those seeking a stay near Red Rock Country and Sedona, Cottonwood offers quirky shops and nightlife and is just a few miles south on State Route 89A.
Hotel San Carlos
202 N. Central Ave., Phoenix (12 miles from ASU)
(602) 253-4121
$139-$209/night
For a fun getaway for a night, downtown Phoenix's Hotel San Carlos can take you back to the golden days of the West. All of Hollywood's biggest stars stayed at San Carlos when they came to Phoenix. "The San Carlos was conceived with a different purpose [than other historic hotels] - to help disabled veterans," Chhabra says. The city's high rollers made it a point to be seen at the hotel during its golden days in the 1930s and 1940s. Though it has been remodeled, San Carlos still has all of the charm that drew Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart through its doors.
Reach the reporter at: si.robins@asu.edu.
