The only reason I'm even giving one star is for the excellent Bell desk staff and the solid bartenders who worked the wedding reception. The pool staff was very friendly as well. They understand taking care of people. It's unfortunate that the "management team", front desk and security staff need some remedial courses on how to treat guests.
A couple examples of how the wedding day started. The maid of honor went to the trouble the afternoon before to confirm if we could check in earlier than 4:00PM for the bride's suite and the two story tower suite we had reserved. The wedding was to start at 4:00 PM, so a number of us planned on arriving at the Valley Ho to enjoy some lunch at the property for a couple of hours and then get ready for the wedding. They didn't have the bridal suite ready, so they put the bride and bridal party in one of the smallest resort rooms I've ever been in. Mistake 1. We show up a little before 1:00PM and are told, sorry the tower suite isn't ready, and we'll expedite its cleanup. OK, so literally over two hours later, around 3:00 they finally have the room ready. Keep in mind we have a wedding that starts in less than an hour now. Ridiculous. Mistake 2.
I'm not going to beat a dead horse on what ensued the rest of the evening, up to and including security chomping at the bit to throw us out, and seemingly disappointed that I had cleared out the room per their earlier request, when they returned a second time. I'm *sure* the crack security team didn't confuse us with the raging bachelorette party going on three doors down from our room. You can read through other guest's feedback if you'd like more of the gory details.
I was pretty excited to stay at a place that has been a part of Scottsdale history. I was looking forward to a great weekend. Despite the management and security team's best efforts to be a wet blanket, the wedding still happened and we're all glad for that.
I suspect if you want a nice, quiet weekend experience alone or with one other person, in a mid-century motif property, that the Ho will be a nice fit. Just make sure you're tucked in by 9:00PM.
If you want to have any kind of an event or group function here, I would certainly look at the many other options the valley has to offer.
Jessie T., save your canned response. If you have something original and meaningful to say, by all means.