El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort — Hotel in Oro Valley

We booked a two night staycation here but ended up checking out after about 8 hours.

When we checked in the front desk staff were borderline hostile, and the gentlemen made some unsettling remarks about the restaurant staff that insinuated they're incompetent. It wasn't a good start.

We booked a room near the Acacia pool, and paid quite an up charge for this. When we got there, the room was boiling hot. Yes yes I know, Tucson in June, but Hilton likes to remind you that this is a resort by calling it "El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort" everywhere, and I can't agree a several-hundred-dollar-per-night "resort" room can't keep me cool in the heat where it's built. My car and home had no issues with the heat.

Many other reviews noted that the rooms are "dated", but I can think of several other D words that better described the room: dingy, dirty, disgusting! The cleaning staff must be quite small in stature as every surface above 5'5" was covered in dust and fluff, and even better, frayed dirty carpet everywhere.

Hilton likes to remind you that this is a resort by calling it "El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort" everywhere, and I can't agree a several-hundred-dollar-per-night "resort" room has frayed carpet. Not even un-remodeled Hilton Sparks have frayed carpet.

Once the room got down to about 80 degrees per my phone, the A/C thermostat kicked off. Despite being set to 65. As desert dwellers 65 is freezing for us. The room was most definitely not 65 degrees by any measure.

We tried sleeping for a few hours but neither of us were able to sleep, as the bed smelled horribly of body odor (probably from other people sweating in the boiling hot room (yum!)) and with scratchy watery eyes and burning sinuses, we decided to cut our losses and go back home.

We checked out at around 11:50 PM. Night auditor Teejay didn't ask why were were checking out already, and seemed more concerned about running the night audit in a few minutes. I guess people checking out early probably a normal thing for him?

There are two plaques on the column at the front desk: one about "one of the finest properties in the world", and another about "four diamond". By no means is this one of the finest properties in the world or a four diamond on any scale.

Days later, my wife and I still have casual conversation about how shocked we were about how bad this resort room was. I don't know if I can trust Hilton calling something a resort.

Things we liked: Epazote restaurant was very lovely and we enjoyed everything we had there, despite the front desk's insistence that the restaurant staff were stupid. Get the bread and cheese appetizer: it seems like the least interesting thing on the menu, but the cheese dip and consomme it comes with was super excellent. My wife liked her short rib and I liked my steak.

Despite the room being worse than a Super 8 room, it was indeed near the Acacia pool, and there was parking right outside of our room. The Acacia pool itself was lovely; I don't think it was advertised as being a saltwater pool, but we were pleasantly surprised to discover it was, and it was quiet and peaceful. We also liked the hot tub nearby.

The front desk gave us a map of the grounds and wrote the number for bell service on it, and informed us to call it to be picked up by golf cart to go anywhere on the property. We did that to go to and from dinner at Epazote, and had the same lovely gentleman both trips. I didn't catch his name, but we enjoyed casual conversation while he snaked us through the paths back to our hotel room.

We had booked a couples massage at Spawell next day, which ended up being canceled because we left early, and did not get to experience this.

The reviews for this property are extremely divided between "this is an excellent property" and "this is a dump". I'm not sure if they have specific rooms they give out that are better or worse than others, but it certainly seemed like we were given the worst possible room if so.

I can only hope it...

Where do I begin....

A month prior to check in, I noticed the price increased $100.00 on 1 of the several rooms I reserved. This was due to the group I was with but, a month prior to check in, I called the hotel and talked to the front desk supervisor. I explained to her that I had an email saying one price but the app was saying anther price. After 10 minutes of discussion she RUDELY said "The price is xxx, I don't know what else to tell you." I asked to speak with the person that books group rates, Alecia, and she was extremely nice and understanding. She worked with me until I was checked in and got me the correct price.

Check in - I had several rooms reserved under my name. Some were ready prior to check in and 2 were not. Check in was at 4pm, we did not gain access until 430 and 5pm on the other room.

Stay - the room was decent. I was on the bottom floor but, everytime the person above me went out on the balcony, all I heard was the scraping of the sliding glass door opening and shutting. Wasn't so great being woken up around 5am everyday. It was a hot weekend so I had the AC set at 67 but it would never get lower than 70 so it ran constantly. The coffee maker stinks too.

Staff - The bellman were the coolest and nicest people, especially, Vincent. He was the best!! Housekeepers were very nice as well. Front Desk management staff is TERRIBLE! Rude as hell!! No customer service skills whatsoever!! They talk down to you as of you are stupid. I used to work the front desk at hotels previously and, if I talked to the customers the way they talked to me or the others that were with my group, I would have been instantly fired.

Restaurants - the restaurants on site have good food but expect to be waiting 45-60 minutes for your food. The price you pay is definitely not worth it.

Pool - the pool and staff was great.

Like previously mentioned, I had several rooms. At check in, I had friends with me that were occupying some of those rooms. They provided their debit cards at check in and it was pre-authorized for the room and incidentals. I took a look at my account later that night and saw they pre-authorized my card for all the rooms I reserved even after the occupants have then their credit card as well. I have over $2,500 being held on my card currently until it drops off.

Check out - they tried to sneak in some extra charges on my stay. I paid for 3 rooms. On 2 of the rooms I was charged correctly. On my 3rd room they tried adding $99.74 worth of additional fees and taxes and then blamed me for it not being correct. My friends were also charged these fees. When they asked for a refund the front desk manager said it will be refunded in a few days. He handed them receipts and just said to trust him that it will be refunded but the receipt shows otherwise. He was also very rude when my friend tried to explain that the receipt he gave her did not add up correctly. He just kept interrupting her and telling her to trust him because he was the general manager (even though his name tag said Front Desk manager).

Overall, I would not stay at this hotel again but, unfortunately, since we have conventions twice a year this is the hotel that holds it. Just happy that this is the final year of having to deal with that front desk. Hopefully, in the next few months, you'll have a new front desk supervisor and front desk manager.

Oh, by the way,  a friend of mine checked in on Thursday and had some random guy walk in on him on Friday when he was relaxing in his room. Turns out the front desk gave another guest his room and he tried arguing with my friend saying he was in the wrong room. The front desk called the room and asked my friend if he was a guest, my friend said yes, and the front desk person said "that's so weird" and just hung up on him. Did not...

EL CONQUISTADOR. HIT OR MISS?

WHO AM I? I was a solo traveler, attending a conference for 2.5 days. I had a double room w/balcony facing the casitas. Rm 1225 near the elevators, stairs, and parking lot.

WHAT IS MY OVERALL IMPRESSION? I have read mixed reviews on several travel platforms about this property. Which is a quandary. For starters, the resort is built on a mountain. If your room is outside of the main hotel, there will be walking involved... and possibly huffing and puffing. I'm pretty fit and it was 100° plus outdoors and I had to take an extra breath or so. But I learned well. Don't forget anything in the car.

Perhaps because I was here during a conference I lucked out. I experienced excellent guest relations, restaurant services, and enjoyed the property feverishly. I watched three movies in my room, slept well and was refreshed throughout my stay. The biggest bang for me was that the property is located within an established and well developed community. I had a car so all of the conveniences I have as a San Diego city girl were within 2 miles of this property (Walmart, Sprouts, restaurants, Dollar Tree, CVS, gas). There is even an aquatic center with water slides, pools and fun less than two miles away. Hold up! the Sabino Canyon and Santa Catalina hiking were 4-15 miles. I mean, this was perfect for me and my interests. If I had more days, I might have enjoyed the pool and fire pits. Since I've never been to Tucson and the MOUNTAINS were speaking directly to my soul, I pursued outdoor endeavors.

The resort activities matched the calendar. The piano musician was delightful. I ate here the first night, at the bar which was a chicken poblano quesadilla. The chicken white meat was tough, boiled and bland so I only ate one triangle. But it was big enough for two. Since I had my own transportation it wasn't worth eating at the hotel.

The hotel prides itself on cleanliness and sanitation with fixated stickers on bathroom mirrors. I assure you this may not be communicated to housekeeping. This needs to be improved. The room I stayed in was 3.8/5.

At check-out, I received a lovely! I hope you enjoyed your stay text. Last, you can literally watch the sunrise right from the property. Perhaps your own balcony. Winning!

WHAT WERE THE THUMBS DOWN? Lighting in the bathroom and the vanity area sucks for makeup application Hot water was warm Slow water sink flow Shower head needs to be replaced, I think a bird would appreciate the shower. Bath gel empty. I brought my own but I do still check.

HIGH FIVES Aesthetically inviting property. If your profession is landscape architect, kudos. Love the hotel lobby and entry doors. Plenty of small quaint and quiet areas to read, study, chat, convene, or enjoy the scenery. Linda Vista trail can be accessed from the property. Keep straight past the golf course AND the tennis courts. You'll see a dirt road on the left hand side. Follow that road to the beginning of the trail.

OTHER THING TO CONSIDER IMO, the outdoor parking lot area to transition from main hotel to casitas and golf course or spa is not physical disability friendly or stroller friendly. The terrain is smooth for sure and maintained but the "incline hillage factor"...Ummm. Heck, my suitcase started rolling down the hill. Not even joking.

WILL I RETURN? On my own dime? I'm not sure because I wonder if the conference was the key to excellence. The reviews across platforms are so varied that it seems the overall Hilton experience here is likely 3/5. Bummer.

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Matthew...