Radisson Hotel Phoenix Airport North, Phoenix

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I chose the Radisson for its free airport shuttle service which made my travelling very hassle-free.

WHERE IS IT?
The Radisson Phoenix Airport North is located just a mile from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, which is around a five-minute drive.

HOW DO I GET THERE?
There is a shuttle running to and from the airport, although being extremely tired upon arriving at the airport, have been lazy and got ...
...continue to stay at the Radisson Airport North whenever I have an early flight out of Phoenix. I would recommend it for anyone who is staying in the area and hiring a car. There are several other Radissons in Phoenix which may be more convenient depending on the nature of your stay. Kids 18 and under stay free!
During the summer the prices make it a really great deal, and it is well worth the higher rates during the winter. Heck, I would even ... more

As a frequent traveller to Arizona I often fly to Phoenix as it works out cheaper than smaller regional airports. My flight home is generally early necessitating a stay by the airport.
I chose the Radisson for its free airport shuttle service which made my travelling very hassle-free.

WHERE IS IT?
The Radisson Phoenix Airport North is located just a mile from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, which is around a five-minute drive.

HOW DO I GET THERE?
There is a shuttle running to and from the airport, although being extremely tired upon arriving at the airport, have been lazy and got a cab. This isn't such a great idea as most cabs there have a minimum $15 fare. Drivers do warn you this and tell you there is a shuttle, although you have to go into the baggage claim area and call the shuttle to arrange for a pickup.

WHAT IS THERE TO DO IN THE LOCAL AREA?
There are plenty of restaurants nearby, although having a car is pretty much a must. There is a bus stop outside, but I for one wouldn't fancy travelling around Phoenix alone on the bus.
There is also a golf course 3 miles away, Phoenix Art Museum 5.5 miles away and several sports stadiums 6 miles away, so it's a good place to stay if you fancy catching a game while you're there. The hotel is generally geared at business people, as it's 5 miles from the Phoenix Convention Center.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
In Arizona, hotels are MUCH cheaper in the summer due to the extreme heat. I booked through Expedia each time, and at present dates for the summer come to around £55 for one adult, with rates for other times of year around £100-130. I would probably still stay at the hotel if I had to at this higher price due to my good experiences there.

WHAT ARE THE ROOMS LIKE?
Comfortable! The hotel was renovated in 2005 and installed SleepNumber beds in all of the rooms. If you are not familiar with these, basically they come with a remote control on both sides which makes the bed harder or softer. It really does give you a good night's sleep which you need when you're getting up at five for a flight! One pointer though - if you're sleeping with a partner, fine, but if like me you play with the controls of the bed then fall asleep on one side and roll over in the night, you will probably wake up with a shock when falling off the cliff made by one side of the bed being harder!
The room was very clean and the bathroom well stocked with smellies and plenty of towels. There was complimentary water, a nice big TV with pay movies and a big desk.
I did find it a little hard to get the air conditioning how I liked, the covers weren't very thick and I did get a little cold!
It was also very quiet in the room.

WHAT OTHER SERVICES/AMENITIES DOES THE HOTEL OFFER?
The main draw for me is the free airport shuttle, which runs 5am - midnight every day. Buses leave from the airport every half hour.
The hotel also boasts free (and fast!) wireless internet, an outdoor swimming pool (which you DEFINITELY will want if you visit Arizona in the summer), fitness equipment, a bar and restaurant amongst other amenities. Check out Expedia or hotels.com for a full listing of what it offers. I didn't use any of these other facilities so I cant comment on what they are like.

WHAT ARE THE STAFF LIKE?
I didn't come into contact with the staff too much to be honest but that was I suppose because I had no problems. Front desk staff are of average helpfulness and friendliness, while my room service was brought by a wonderfully friendly lady. Airport shuttle drivers are generally quite pleasant.

AND THE FOOD?
Delicious! I ordered a burger with pineapple chipotle BBQ sauce which was VERY tasty, a generous serving, delivered promptly and well-priced. The hotel does have a restaurant but I preferred to order room service, it is well-priced and a fairly extensive menu.

THE VERDICT?
I will definitely continue to stay at the Radisson Airport North whenever I have an early flight out of Phoenix. I would recommend it for anyone who is staying in the area and hiring a car. There are several other Radissons in Phoenix which may be more convenient depending on the nature of your stay. Kids 18 and under stay free!
During the summer the prices make it a really great deal, and it is well worth the higher rates during the winter. Heck, I would even stay there again to eat one of those burgers! 

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