Planning a summer family trip in Arizona with little kids? The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a dream destination, especially if you’re looking for a beach-entry resort pool for kids. From sandy pools and toddler-friendly splash zones to cozy patio dining with cooling misters, this resort has everything a family needs to beat the heat and enjoy some quality time together.
Stay: A Room with a View in Building F
Building F at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess offers rooms with stunning views overlooking the lagoon and pool areas. It’s a peaceful spot ideal for families, with plenty of space to relax. The concierge service is incredibly helpful—arriving guests will find travel cribs already set up, eliminating the hassle of assembly after a long day of travel.
Our room included a mini-fridge, perfect for storing milk and snacks, and a Nespresso machine that Tim loved. The walk in closet was great to keep the room clutter free.
Right outside of our room was also the Fairmont’s scenic lagoon. Guests of all ages can enjoy peaceful catch-and-release fishing daily, or join weekend derbies for a bit of friendly competition.
Plus, the view from the room includes amazing nightly fireworks over the resort at 9pm. It was a magical bonus that we enjoyed from the comfort of the balcony. This would be a great hotel to book for a view of the fireworks for Fourth of July. Surprisingly our 6-month-old slept through then entire thing!
Play: Sandy Beach Pool + Beach-Entry Splash Zones
The pools at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess was the main reason for our visit, and they are especially sought after for families visiting Arizona in the summer. The resort features a couple beach-entry resort pools for kids that’s perfect for little ones.
The Sonoran Splash, a zero-entry pool with shaded areas and splash features designed to entertain young children without overwhelming them. It’s a calm and safe environment, ideal for babies and toddlers. If you have older kids, 42″ and taller, they can ride the two water slides as well!
Spending time hopping between shaded loungers and shallow spots provides a great way to beat the heat. Don’t forget to bring essentials like swim diapers (required), sun hats, and floating toys can help maximize the fun.
Another favorite of ours was the Sunset Beach pool, which offers soft white sand and a gentle slope into the water, making it feel almost like you are at the beach. The gradual entry makes it easy and safe for toddlers and babies to wade, splash, and dig without worrying about steps or sudden drop-offs. The sand can get a little dusty so expect to take a dip if the little ones are playing it in a lot.
We were having so much fun at the pools that we completely lost track of time and had to hurry back to the room for check out at 11am. The poke bowl we had ordered came with us and was still really good while packing up. Next time, booking the 1pm late checkout would definitely be worth it.
For those searching for a toddler-friendly pool in Arizona, this resort stands out as one of the best options. Not looking to stay at the hotel over night? Resort Pass offer day passes for the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.
Dine: Toddler-Friendly Patio at La Hacienda
Breakfast at Ironwood American Kitchen is a real treat, especially with our oldest. The donut wall was a fun surprise and made him smile (those are our Saturday staple at home), and the crème brûlée French toast was rich and delicious, a perfect way to start the day before heading out to the pool.
Dining with our toddler was made easier thanks to La Hacienda’s outdoor patio, where shaded seating and cooling misters created a calm and secluded environment. Our toddler has unlimited energy so dinners out at this age are tricky around groups of people.
The empty patio worked well and the server was extremely sweet. If you make reservations ahead of time through the concierge, it will ensure less wait times.
There is always room service, which is a total win when sitting down just isn’t in the cards with the kids.
Explore: Making It Work in the Arizona Heat
Arizona summers are brutal, especially at the end of June, but careful planning made this family staycation manageable. Early mornings were perfect for pool time(9am-12pm), while late afternoon heat meant breaks in the room, shopping at the on-site stores, and dining at the restaurants. Things we did to help beat the heat:
- Used a handheld mister
- Brought our rechargeable, portable fan
- Applied Sun Bum sunscreen 50 SPF often
- Always wear a long sleeve coverup (for the boys), one piece w/ coverup (for myself)
- Swim hats are the best (especially dunked in water)
- Sandals for the water/pool deck
- Insulated water bottles with ice
- Lunchbox with non perishable snacks
- Got to the pool early to snag the shaded spots
The resort has golf carts running all the time, reducing long walks in the heat. Just call the concierge and they’ll come get you and drop you off at any pool or activity area. We did self-parking and they loaded our luggage from there and drove us right to our building.
With the right preparation, a fun and low-stress family getaway in the Arizona sun is absolutely possible. We were all quite tired out from two days of fun here.
Would We Go Back? 100% Yes.
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a great spot for families with little ones. Arizona residents can sometimes snag an offer up to 25% their best daily rate. It’s about as relaxed as you can get with two kids under three. Can’t wait to go back and check out more of the property.
