This Sedona Resort Wows With Red-Rock Views and Prime Walkability

Activities and amenities are plentiful, but the resort’s greatest feature has to be its vantage point. While there’s really no bad location in Sedona — no matter where you’re standing, you have a beautiful view — the Hyatt Vacation Club occupies a particularly standout location showcasing 360-degree views of the landscape. Whether you’re sipping coffee by your villa window or relaxing in the outdoor hot tubs, no lens can capture Sedona as dreamily as you’ll experience it in person at the Hyatt Vacation Club at Piñon Pointe.

Photos: Lauren Modery

Hyatt Vacation Club at Piñon Pointe is part of a collection of 22 resorts across the US, Mexico, and Puerto Rico that have a flexible Ownership program. As a timeshare — but with greater variety and ease of use — the Hyatt Vacation Club Ownership program gives Owners an annual allotment of points that can be used to book stays not only at Hyatt Vacation Club resorts but also at traditional Hyatt hotels worldwide. Points can also be applied toward room upgrades and dining at more than 1,400 World of Hyatt hotels and resorts in 75-plus countries.

But you don’t need to be an Owner to enjoy Piñon Pointe. Studios and villas are also available for nightly rental, with costs ranging from $150 to $250 per night for the studios, $200 to $325 per night for the one-bedroom villas, and $275 to $400 per night for the two-bedroom villas. For budget-conscious travelers, the low seasons for renting a villa are June through August (when area temperatures can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit) and December through January (although those snow-speckled red rocks are stunning in the wintertime).

I arrived at my second-story, one-bedroom villa just as the sun was setting. The alpenglow moving across the red rocks reminded me that I’d landed in one of the most beautiful towns in the country. Because Sedona is a certified Dark Sky Community — and the resort honors those standards — the grounds are dark, with romantic low-lighting sprinkled along the paths. Accordingly, each villa is equipped with a flashlight. The resort can also transport you between the lobby and your room on request if you have mobility or vision needs.

Upon entering my room, I was taken aback at how large my villa was — more than 850 square feet. I later learned that the layout is part of a flexible design: my one-bedroom villa was connected to a studio-style lock-off unit with its own bathroom and kitchenette, meaning it can be reserved as either a one- or two-bedroom configuration. As a one-bedroom, it comfortably sleeps four (two in the king bed and two on the pull-out sofa). As a two-bedroom, which totals more than 1,200 square feet, it sleeps up to seven.

There’s ample space in the one-bedroom villa, with a full open kitchen, a dining table that easily seats a family, and a large living room anchored by an electric stone fireplace and TV. Sliding doors lead to an expansive patio — ideal for breakfast or late-night stargazing. The bathroom is just as expansive, featuring dual sinks, a walk-in shower, and a jetted soaking tub that sits between the bedroom and bath area, allowing you to soak while watching TV (much to my delight). The bedroom itself is roomy, with a spacious king bed, dresser storage, and its own patio access. Every room is outfitted with blackout and light-filtering blinds, which are perfect for privacy while allowing Sedona’s warm colors to sneak into your villa.

Photo: Lauren Modery

What makes the Hyatt Vacation Club at Piñon Pointe unique is that you don’t have to leave the property to enjoy your time in this sunny, dreamy town (though I definitely recommend that you do). To start, the resort hosts a full schedule of daily activities that connect you with Sedona’s spirit, from wellness workshops led by local guide Crystal Starrweaver to crystal-bracelet-making classes. Moreover, just steps from the resort are The Shops at Piñon Pointe, a collection of 18 boutiques, galleries, and restaurants, including the New York-inspired eatery Broome & Orchard and the delicious sandwich-and-salad spot Wildflower.

The on-site facilities are designed for both relaxation and activity. Guests can enjoy a tennis court, a spacious fitness center with sweeping red-rock views, a steam room, a heated resort-style pool, hot tubs, and a dedicated children’s pool. Strategically placed gas grills sit at scenic lookout points around the property, and they’re often in use come dinnertime. I found them to be common gathering spots — perfect places to chat with fellow travelers and Owners alike, many of whom had nothing but praise for the property.

Each morning, I began my day in the resort’s fitness center (workouts feel painless when you’re looking out at one of the nation’s natural wonders). Even in the cool yet sunny 50-degree mornings, I often spotted guests already enjoying the heated outdoor pool and hot tubs. Between time on the bike and elliptical, strolls around the property, and walks to nearby shops and restaurants, I averaged over 14,000 steps a day without even trying.

Left: Broom & Orchard. Right: Creekside American Bistro. Photos: Lauren Modery

Another perk of staying at the Hyatt Vacation Club at Piñon Pointe is its unbeatable proximity to dining and shopping — you can walk to many of Sedona’s most celebrated restaurants in 20 minutes or less. Nearby traveler favorites include The Vault (0.2 miles from the resort), Elote Cafe (0.5 miles away), Mariposa (0.8 miles away), and The Hudson (0.9 miles away).

The talk of the town is Elote Cafe, the acclaimed upscale interior Mexican restaurant led by owner and executive chef Jeff Smedstad. Featured in The New York Times and Travel + Leisure, it’s Sedona’s hottest reservation — tables book weeks, sometimes months, in advance. Sadly, I wasn’t able to secure a reservation on this trip (I didn’t even try), so chowing down on the restaurant’s lamb adobo, brisket enchiladas, and smoked pork cheeks will have to wait.

I did, however, enjoy several other standout meals within walking distance of the resort. At Creekside American Bistro (0.3 miles away), I enjoyed warm and comforting shrimp and grits with leeks ($32) and mouth-watering lamb chop lollipops ($32) while soaking in the surroundings from my perched viewpoint.

Adjacent to the resort is Broome & Orchard, a modern eatery that brings a New York sensibility to Sedona dining. The menu ranges from Chilean sea bass with peperonata and focaccia ($50) to Hokkaido scallops in corn bisque with Spanish chorizo ($52), plus a full raw bar. I sampled a selection of shareable plates, including the crispy cauliflower bites with roasted garlic yogurt and cilantro-jalapeño hummus ($15), the spinach artichoke dip ($19), the classic Caesar salad ($18), and the akami crunch roll featuring tuna, avocado, jalapeño, macadamia, jicama, and tobiko ($22). The flavors were clean and composed without excess—exactly what you want at the day’s end. To round out the experience, I enjoyed a delectable passionfruit mezcalita with mezcal, Cointreau, passionfruit, lime, and agave, and topped with passionfruit foam ($15).

While great dining is easy to find near the resort, tracking down quality coffee took a bit more effort. A few nearby spots were forgettable — one even served $6 egg bites that tasted suspiciously like the ones I buy at Costco. But within a short stroll, the options improve significantly. FreeForm (0.5 miles away) pours sustainably sourced, locally roasted coffee in a minimalist setting that takes its craft seriously. A little farther down the road, Black Potion (1 mile away) offers espresso with a mystical twist — you can browse crystals, explore metaphysical goods, or even have your aura photographed between sips.

Photos: Lauren Modery

Though Sedona caters to many different types of travelers, what I enjoyed most during my visit was its awe-inspiring nature. There’s no shortage of hiking paths in the area, with over 400 miles of hiking and biking trails winding through the Coconino National Forest.

The most popular trails in the Sedona area are the Cathedral Rock Trail (considered a moderate hike on AllTrails), Bell Rock Trail (moderate), Sedona Airport Loop Trail (moderate), Devil’s Bridge Trail via Dry Creek Road (moderate) or via Mescal Trailhead (moderate), and Boynton Canyon Trail (moderate). The good news is that many trailheads, such as the one at Cathedral Rock Trail, allow visitors who don’t want to hike the opportunity to still bask in its beauty. In 2022, the city of Sedona launched the Sedona Shuttle to help alleviate traffic at some of the most popular trailheads. Hikers can pick up this free shuttle Thursday through Sunday from 7 AM to 5:30 PM, year-round, at various points around town and get off at the Mescal, Dry Creek, Soldier Pass, Cathedral Rock, or Little Horse Trailheads.

One popular tourist service in Sedona is Pink Adventure Tours, a 65-year-old tour company that facilitates a variety of sightseeing adventures, including hiking to Sedona’s vortexes (where Earth’s energy is said to be highly concentrated), off-roading backcountry canyons and historic wagon trails, and excursions to the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon. I did the popular Broken Arrow tour, a two-hour ride up and over red rocks with panoramic views of the town and mountains. Our driver, Phil, made our journey fun, informative, and a little nail-biting.

For resort guests who like to shop, you’ll have your pick of places within a short distance. The Uptown area caters to visiting families who enjoy the kitschier side of tourist towns with ample ice cream, fudge, gem and crystal, and gift shops. The Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village has more upscale restaurants, shops, and galleries in a photo-worthy setting filled with bubbling fountains, sprawling ivy, and charming stone buildings inspired by the vibrant city of Tlaquepaque, Mexico. However, if you want to buy more unique goods, I recommend the Sedona Artist Market, which features art, jewelry, sculptures, and more made by local artists.

Photo: Lauren Modery

Sedona is tucked into the Verde Valley of central Arizona on what was Sinagua land. Due to its size and location, it has a small airport that services private aviation. The majority of visitors who fly into the region land at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), located 45 minutes away, or most often at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX), which has more direct flights at lower fares.

The most commonly used transportation for the roughly two-hour drive from Sky Harbor to Sedona is the Groome Transportation shuttle ($69 one way). Travelers to Sedona can also rent a car in Phoenix and make the 120-mile trek themselves. Having a car in Sedona is helpful but not necessary, and the town has done an excellent job of providing shuttle services to help tourists and locals get around the area.

In addition to the free Sedona Shuttle, there’s Sedona Shuttle Connect, a $2 on-demand shuttle service, and Verde Shuttle, an hourly hop-on/hop-off bus service that services longer distance to West Sedona and Cottonwood, where many locals who are unable to afford housing in Sedona live (the median home cost in Sedona is around $1 million, give or take). A one-way ticket on Verde Shuttle is $2, a day pass is $6, and a monthly pass is $60.

The Hyatt Vacation Club at Piñon Pointe doesn’t offer transportation services and instead recommends using a shuttle or taxi service since ride-sharing is less reliable in town. However, for eco-friendly travelers, the Hyatt Vacation Club at Piñon Pointe is a good choice for leaving a smaller carbon footprint on the ground, as the majority of attractions you’ll want to see are within walking distance or accessible via shuttle.

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