Arabella Hotel Sedona Review: A Local’s Honest Take

A Sedona hotel with red-rock views, two pools, breakfast, trail access, bikes, live music, a dog park, and an on-site restaurant—without wandering into the most eye-watering end of Sedona hotel pricing.

A quick note: Arabella Hotel Sedona hosted this stay. This story was not required, and every opinion here is my own.

I live in Sedona. I have also spent years photographing and filming weddings here, which means I have been inside a truly impressive percentage of the hotels in town—usually carrying cameras, looking for good light, and trying not to appear in the background of someone else’s vacation.

So when someone asks me where to stay in Sedona, I do not only think about thread count and lobby candles. I think about location. I think about views. I think about whether you can walk somewhere useful, get onto a trail without entering into a complicated emotional relationship with Sedona traffic, and come back to a pool when the red rocks have thoroughly humbled your legs.

Arabella Hotel Sedona is one of the places I recommend because it gets that combination unusually right.

It has many of the touches people associate with a much pricier resort—two pools, two hot tubs, an on-site restaurant, complimentary breakfast, scheduled activities, cruiser bikes, fire pits, gardens, and red-rock views—but it generally sits in a more approachable part of the Sedona hotel market. Rates change constantly here, so compare your actual travel dates. Sedona pricing has moods.

The quick answer

Best for: Couples, solo travelers, families, hikers, mountain bikers, dog people, and visitors who want plenty to do without paying top-tier luxury-resort prices.

Location: South Sedona on Highway 179, beside Hillside and near Tlaquepaque.

Standout features: Red-rock views, two pools and two hot tubs, complimentary breakfast, Molé restaurant, nearby trail access, cruiser bikes, bike facilities, a dog park, and on-property activities.

My verdict: One of Sedona’s strongest combinations of location, amenities, views, and value.

Primary danger: You may book a place to sleep and accidentally have entirely too much fun.

My Stay at Arabella

This trip was solo, which meant I could operate on the highly demanding schedule of swim, read, stare at mountain, eat, repeat.

My second-floor room overlooked the pool toward Wilson Mountain. The view was absurdly good in that very normal Sedona way where you open a curtain and the landscape behaves as though it has been waiting all morning for its close-up.

The room was spacious and comfortable, and the Southwestern details felt connected to the place rather than copied from a generic “desert” mood board. I spent a lot of time swimming, ate at Molé, hiked from the area, and generally leaned very hard into the concept of being unavailable.

I have also used Arabella’s complimentary cruiser bikes during a previous visit. They are genuinely useful here. You can ride toward Tlaquepaque and nearby shops instead of starting the car every time you want coffee, art, or a snack you did not technically need.

And the staff is lovely. That sounds like a small sentence, but hotel people know it is not a small thing. Amenities get you onto a booking page. Kind people make you want to return.

Why the Location Works

Arabella is at 725 Highway 179 in Sedona’s Gallery Row area. Hillside Sedona is next door, and Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village is nearby. That puts restaurants, galleries, shops, and walking paths within easy reach.

The location also works for people who came to Sedona to be outside rather than admire it exclusively through a windshield. Marg’s Draw is near the property and connects into a larger trail network toward Snoopy Rock, Broken Arrow, and Schnebly Hill.

This matters. Trailhead parking in Sedona can become its own competitive sport. Being able to start exploring near your hotel removes at least one logistical debate from the day.

The Amenities That Make Arabella Stand Out

Two pools and two hot tubs

Arabella has two outdoor pools and two hot tubs. Its larger courtyard pool has a nine-foot deep end, a genuine rarity among Sedona hotel pools. The hotel even shares a local story that the pool was built deep enough for Elvis to dive while he was in the area filming. I cannot personally verify Elvis’s pool demands, but I respect the commitment to a dramatic entrance.

I used the pool extensively. For research.

Complimentary hot breakfast

Breakfast is included and currently features the practical things people actually want before a day outside: eggs, breakfast meat, potatoes, toast, muffins, cereal, oatmeal, fruit, yogurt, coffee, and gluten-free options.

Included breakfast is especially useful in Sedona, where “we’ll just grab something quickly” can become a forty-five-minute brunch and an unplanned purchase from a crystal shop.

Molé Fine Mexican Cuisine

Molé is on site, and it is excellent. This is not a sad hotel restaurant you visit only because putting on real shoes feels unreasonable. It is somewhere I would choose to eat whether or not I had a room key.

Cruiser bikes and a bike spa

Guests can borrow cruiser bikes, locks, and helmets from dawn to dusk. For mountain bikers, Arabella also has a bike station with a wash area, repair setup, air pump, and water-bottle refill station.

Sedona is a major mountain-biking destination, so this is more than decorative gear leaning photogenically against a lobby wall. It solves actual problems.

Activities without leaving the property

Arabella hosts a rotating schedule of experiences that can include live music, guided stargazing, yoga, storytelling, lawn games, and family activities. Schedules vary, so check what is offered during your stay.

The property also has fire pits and a short walk to its panoramic Sunset Vista. In other words, you can fill an evening without getting back in the car, which becomes increasingly appealing after approximately 4 p.m.

A genuinely dog-friendly setup

Arabella welcomes dogs and has a fenced 3,300-square-foot dog park. Select rooms are designated pet-friendly, so confirm that category when booking rather than arriving with a dog and a strong belief in positive thinking.

Who Should Stay at Arabella Hotel Sedona?

• First-time Sedona visitors who want a convenient base with views, amenities, and easy access to popular areas.

• Couples and solo travelers who want the option to relax on property instead of building an itinerary for every waking minute.

• Families who will use the pools, included breakfast, outdoor areas, and scheduled activities.

• Hikers and mountain bikers who value nearby trails, bike support, and a hot tub afterward.

• Travelers with dogs who want more than a hotel that merely tolerates their pet.

• Value-conscious travelers who want resort-style extras without moving straight into Sedona’s highest luxury tier.

What to Know Before Booking

Room location matters. If the view is important to you, ask about the available red-rock, courtyard, pool, patio, or balcony options rather than assuming every room points toward the same mountain.

The guest buildings are two stories and the hotel states that it does not have elevators or lifts. Travelers who need step-free access should book an accessible ground-floor room and confirm the route directly with the property.

Activities, rates, pool conditions, and amenity schedules can change by season. Check the hotel’s current schedule and policies for your exact dates.

That is not a warning so much as practical travel advice. My personal warning remains that you may have too much fun and become irritatingly pleased with yourself for choosing well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arabella Hotel Sedona near hiking trails?

Yes. Marg’s Draw is near the property and connects toward Snoopy Rock and the larger Broken Arrow and Schnebly Hill trail network. The hotel also has its own Sunset Vista overlook.

Does Arabella Hotel Sedona have a pool?

Yes. It has two outdoor pools and two hot tubs. The larger courtyard pool has a nine-foot deep end.

Is breakfast included at Arabella Hotel Sedona?

Yes. Arabella currently offers a complimentary hot breakfast with hot and continental selections.

Is Arabella Hotel Sedona pet-friendly?

Yes. Select rooms are pet-friendly, and the property includes a fenced dog park. Confirm the correct room category and current pet fee when booking.

Can you walk from Arabella to Tlaquepaque?

Yes. Arabella is near Tlaquepaque and immediately beside the Hillside shops and restaurants. Guests can also use complimentary cruiser bikes during operating hours.

Is Arabella Hotel Sedona a luxury hotel?

Arabella is better described as an independent boutique resort with generous amenities. It offers many resort-style extras and excellent views while generally occupying a more approachable price category than Sedona’s top luxury properties.

My Honest Verdict

I recommend Arabella because it understands how people actually want to experience Sedona.

You can wake up to red rocks, eat breakfast, walk onto a trail, ride a bike toward Tlaquepaque, come back for a swim, have dinner at Molé, listen to music, and end the day at a fire pit or sunset overlook. You can do a lot without turning the entire trip into a transportation strategy.

As a local, a photographer, and someone who has spent time in most of Sedona’s hotels, I think Arabella offers one of the best balances of place, personality, amenities, and value in town.

It feels special without trying too hard to prove it.

And sometimes that is the real luxury.