Is Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia worth it? Honest pros and cons
Yes — Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia is a good choice if you want a full-service desert resort with multiple pools, a large on-site spa (Joya Spa), several dining options, and flexible event spaces. It’s family-friendly while also offering an adults-only pool and quieter spa rooftop access; expect nightly resort fees and separate parking/valet charges.
In this guide
Location & setting
The resort sits at the base of Camelback Mountain (address: 4949 E Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley/Scottsdale, AZ) and offers easy access to nearby outdoor activities and Scottsdale attractions. Echo Canyon trailheads are within a short drive, and Old Town Scottsdale, Scottsdale Fashion Square, and the Desert Botanical Garden are all roughly a 10–15 minute drive.
The property’s architecture follows a Spanish/Andalusian/Mission style and the grounds include multiple pools and courtyard areas with mountain views.
- Approximately 15–20 minutes drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Close to Echo Canyon/Praying Monk trailhead (popular Camelback Mountain hike)
- Nearby attractions: Old Town Scottsdale, Scottsdale Fashion Square, Desert Botanical Garden
| Nearby place | Typical drive time |
|---|---|
| Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) | 15–20 minutes |
| Old Town Scottsdale / Scottsdale Fashion Square | About 10 minutes |
| Desert Botanical Garden / Butterfly Wonderland | About 15 minutes |
Rooms and accommodations — what to expect
The hotel has a range of room types and suites (293 rooms total). Room names you’ll see when booking include Room, Resort View; Camelback View Room; Poolside Room; Room (Grand Mountain View Room); Room (Oasis Poolside Room); Suite; Suite, 1 Bedroom (Camelback View Suite); Suite (Kasbah Poolside); Suite, Poolside (Oasis); and Suite (Plaza View Suite).
Guest rooms were renovated in 2023; sizes and bedding vary by room type (examples: Room, Resort View offers 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds; Camelback View Room lists 1 King Bed).
- Many rooms offer balconies or patios with pool or mountain views depending on type
- Suites and Camelback View Suite options include separate living areas
- If you need a specific view (Camelback Mountain), book a Camelback View Room or a Camelback View Suite
| Example room | Typical bed |
|---|---|
| Room, Resort View | 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds |
| Camelback View Room | 1 King Bed |
| Room (Grand Mountain View Room) | 1 King Bed |
Pools, Joya Spa and fitness facilities
There are three pool areas: the Kasbah Pool (family/main pool with a poolside bar), the Oasis Pool (adults-only, quieter), and the rooftop Joya Terrace pool reserved for spa guests. Pool hours and access rules are set by the resort and pools are restricted to registered guests, cabana guests, and eligible day-pass guests.
Joya Spa is a 31,000-square-foot facility with Moroccan/Andalusian-inspired design, an authentic Hammam, sauna, steam and treatment rooms. The spa has specific hours and booking/reservation rules; guests are asked to arrive at least 30 minutes before treatments.
- Kasbah and Oasis Pool hours: 5:00 AM–10:00 PM
- Joya Spa hours: Sun–Thu 8:30 AM–5:30 PM; Fri–Sat 8:30 AM–6:30 PM
- Joya Terrace pool access limited to spa guests; bring a bathing suit if using spa rooftop pool
| Facility | Notes |
|---|---|
| Kasbah Pool | Family pool; children under 12 must be supervised |
| Oasis Pool | Adults-only |
| Joya Terrace pool | Rooftop pool for spa guests only |
Dining and bars on property
On-site dining includes Prado (Spanish wood-fired tapas and paellas), Mbar (cocktails and tapas), Taqueria Centro (tacos and casual Mexican fare), Crave Café (coffee, gelato, light bites), and Joya Terrace (rooftop dining reserved for spa guests). Prado requires dinner reservations and offers breakfast/brunch service as listed by the hotel.
There are seasonal and pop-up offerings (for example, Blitzen's at Centro Bar during the holidays). Hours vary by outlet — check with the resort for current times before you go.
- Prado — breakfast, weekend brunch, and dinner; reservations required for dinner
- Mbar — cocktails and wood-fired small plates; later hours on weekends
- Crave Café — early morning coffee, gelato, and grab-and-go items
| Venue | Typical service |
|---|---|
| Prado | Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner (reservations required for dinner) |
| Mbar | Cocktails and tapas (4:00 PM–10:00/11:00 PM depending on day) |
| Taqueria Centro | Lunch & Dinner (hours vary; Sun–Thu example listed 11 AM–8 PM) |
Events, weddings and meeting space
The resort offers extensive indoor and outdoor meeting and event space (approximately 102,000 sq ft combined). The Alhambra Ballroom is the largest single indoor venue at about 9,216 sq ft and can host large receptions; there are several other ballrooms, salons, and lawns for ceremonies and corporate events.
If you’re planning a wedding or large meeting, the property lists specific capacities for each venue and can combine indoor and outdoor spaces such as the Alhambra Ballroom plus terrace.
- Alhambra Ballroom: ~9,216 sq ft (capacity listed for receptions up to 450 guests in some materials)
- Valencia Ballroom and Valencia Lawn: smaller indoor and outdoor options with separate capacities
- Chef’s Kitchen & Herb Garden and Castillo Lucena offer intimate and chapel-style options
| Venue | Notable capacity / size |
|---|---|
| Alhambra Ballroom | 9,216 sq ft; large reception capacity listed |
| Valencia Ballroom | ~4,590 sq ft; more intimate options |
| Valencia Lawn | 6,500 sq ft outdoor lawn |
Practical costs, policies and who it’s best for
Expect a daily resort fee in addition to the room rate; Omni’s site lists a daily resort fee and describes included items (premier in-room WiFi, fitness center access, lawn games, golf bag storage, and an Omni Sleep Well Kit). Parking options include self-parking and valet with fees that vary by source — the resort lists different rates on different pages and third-party sites show slightly different numbers.
The resort is family-friendly (children welcome) but also provides adults-only pool space. Check-in begins at 4:00 PM and check-out is noon; the minimum age to check in is 21 and a valid credit card with chip is required at arrival for incidentals.
- Resort fee covers selected amenities (premier WiFi, 24-hour fitness access, etc.) — see the hotel for exact inclusions
- Parking and valet charges are additional and vary by source; electric vehicle charging is available on site
- Not all pools are open to non-registered guests; rooftop Joya Terrace pool is for spa guests only
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Resort fee | Daily fee applies; includes premier WiFi and selected amenities (amount varies by page) |
| Parking | Self-parking and valet available; fees vary by source |
| Pet policy | Dogs and cats up to 25 lbs allowed with a one-time non-refundable fee (service animals exempt) |
Pros — the main reasons to stay
Multiple pools (family, adults-only, spa rooftop), a large and well-equipped Joya Spa, and a selection of on-site dining outlets make the property convenient for relaxation and dining without leaving the grounds.
Wide event-space options, renovated rooms (2023), and proximity to Camelback Mountain and Scottsdale attractions suit both leisure travelers who want outdoor activity access and groups planning meetings or weddings.
- Three distinct pool experiences including an adults-only Oasis Pool
- Large 31,000 sq ft Joya Spa with Hammam and rooftop terrace
- Varied dining choices from Prado (Spanish) to casual Taqueria Centro and Crave Café
- Extensive meeting/wedding venues and updated guest rooms
| Strength | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Spa & wellness | Large facility with Hammam and multiple treatment options |
| Location | Close to Camelback Mountain trails and Scottsdale attractions |
| Versatile pools | Family-friendly main pool plus adults-only and spa pools |
Cons — potential dealbreakers
Daily resort fees and separate parking/valet charges add to the total cost of a stay; published fee amounts vary across Omni pages and third-party sites, so confirm the current amounts before booking.
Some desirable amenities (Joya Terrace pool) are restricted to spa guests, and pool access rules limit non-registered visitors. If you want guaranteed mountain views, you must book a Camelback View Room or Camelback View Suite rather than assuming a standard room will include that view.
- Resort fee and parking are extra and listed amounts differ between sources
- Rooftop pool access limited to spa guests — not available to all registered guests
- Check-in is 4:00 PM and minimum age to check in is 21 (guests 17 and younger are children)
| Issue | Impact |
|---|---|
| Extra fees | Adds to nightly cost (resort fee, parking, spa service charges) |
| Restricted amenities | Joya Terrace pool limited to spa guests |
| Age to check in | Must be 21 to check in (teens considered children) |
