Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

In most of Phoenix, including much of Scottsdale, the desert landscape is a remote abstraction. Not so at the Four Seasons. The location, at the fringe of this sprawling urban area, backs right up against a national forest, which provides the resort with a wild mountain backdrop.

While much of Scottsdale’s open space is manicured to within an inch of its life, the Four Season’s setting remains rough and rocky, and even the exteriors of the casitas are perhaps less polished than you’d expect. The contrast simply heightens the sumptuousness of the interiors — which, though as elegant as any Four Seasons, are suitably Southwest-tinged, managing to feel both brand-consistent and tailor-made to the setting. The views from the private balconies and terraces are impressive, and beneath the genteel surface these rooms are as wired as any luxury hotel anywhere.

As usual the facilities include a high-end spa, three fine restaurants and an extremely well-equipped gym. The pool has separate areas for kids and adults, as well as poolside cabanas for a bit of privacy. And then there’s the golf. The hotel’s full name, of course, is Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Troon North being the golf club whose clubhouse and two championship courses are open to Four Seasons guests.