A mother-daughter staycation in Scottsdale using Marriott points

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Note: At press time, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa still had rooms available for 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for this Labor Day weekend.

My mom and I love spending quality time together and during this past year, due to the pandemic, we were unable to do so. After more than a year and a half, I finally visited my mom at her home in Scottsdale, Arizona, and we went to The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa for a short staycation.

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(Photo by Mary Kate Heaney/The Points Guy)

Booking

We booked our one-night stay at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, a Category 6 property, for 50,000 Marriott points on a standard date. We could have also used a Marriott 50k free night certificate, such as the one awarded on the card anniversary of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card.

We requested a standard room with double beds and were able to check in early to allow for as much time as possible on the property.

Location

The Westin Resort & Spa is in Scottsdale next to the Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter, two of the best outdoor shopping centers in the area. Just a short walk from the hotel, you’ll find beautiful, palm tree-lined blocks of upscale designer shops, restaurants and bars. My mom and I have been going to the Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter for years to shop and eat but had never stayed at The Westin right next door.

Check-in

Like many hotels, it was clear that The Westin Kierland was a bit understaffed at check-in. There was only one employee at the front desk and about four to five parties waiting in line for several minutes. Once it was our turn, the check-in process was very quick and we were on our way to the room.

Dog-friendly

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(Photo courtesy of Mary Kate Heaney/The Points Guy)

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is pet friendly with no pet fees, so I was excited to bring my 3-year-old Cavachon, Kip, along with us. At check-in, they asked me to fill out a short form agreeing to their pet policy and from there, they let us know that all guests with pets must stay on the ground floor.

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Room

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(Photo courtesy of Mary Kate Heaney/The Points Guy)

Staying on the ground floor ended up being a huge win because our patio opened up to the beautiful hotel grounds facing the golf course and the McDowell Mountains. We ended up exiting our room through our patio to head to one of the hotel’s restaurants. It was super convenient for both walking my dog and for exploring the resort.

Beyond the location, our room was well appointed with two double beds, a large bathroom with a shower and tub, and a great desk set up where I worked in the morning. I particularly liked the furniture; it reminded me of the West Elm neutral furniture I have at home.

Amenities

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(Photo courtesy of Mary Kate Heaney/The Points Guy)

The resort is definitely known for its pools, the golf course and the spa. After seeing the entire resort, my biggest takeaway was that this is a fantastic resort for families. There is an adults-only pool, the main pool, a lazy river, a big slide and a FlowRider surf machine. The main pool and lazy river were packed with families celebrating the long weekend.

Since it was just my mom and me, we spent our time at the adults-only pool where we had great service for drinks and appetizers. Before heading back to our hotel room at the end of the day, we did squeeze in one trip through the lazy river for old time’s sake.

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(Photo by Mary Kate Heaney/The Points Guy)

Dining

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(Photo by Mary Kate Heaney/The Points Guy)

After our afternoon at the pool, we headed to the Dreamweavers Canyon Courtyard for an outdoor dinner. The menu was pretty limited, but we went to this restaurant for the beautiful view of the property, the golf course and the mountains. I had a bacon cheeseburger, sweet potato fries and an Arnold Palmer drink.

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(Photo by Mary Kate Heaney/The Points Guy)

The next morning before check out, we had breakfast at Nellie Cashman’s Monday Club Cafe. My mom and I shared a yogurt parfait, oatmeal, hash browns and a side of bacon. It was the perfect meal to fill up on before heading back home.

Both of our meals were outside, so we were able to bring my pup, Kip, along with us, which was a huge bonus!

Bottom line

Overall, we really enjoyed our stay at The Westin Kierland and thought the property was absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend it to families who want to have some fun in the sun and enjoy golfing. My mom and I didn’t have time to enjoy the spa this trip, but we plan to go back during the holiday season!

Featured image of The Westin Kierland pool cabanas by Mary Kate Heaney/The Points Guy.