For those seeking a bit of respite from the Phoenix heat and sprawl – not to mention all the concrete and asphalt – the beautiful city of Sedona is the perfect place to spend a day or two. Known as much for its stunning Red Rocks scenery as it is for its more recent reputation as a major new-agey vacation destination, Sedona is artsy and littered with great restaurants and shops. What is not as plentiful, however, are cheap hotels in Sedona.
Sedona may have been a quiet town once upon a time, but it is now such a popular vacation spot that despite its charming small-town appearances it can be really expensive to spend any time there. You may find that the cheap hotels in Sedona are not within walking distance of the main street attractions, so be sure you will have a car at your disposal to get to and from your hotel. There is a little free shuttle called the RoadRunner which can get you back and forth between a few popular areas in central Sedona, but not to the hiking trails and other outdoor activities.
Another reason to have a car in Sedona is to visit nearby Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon (easily done as day-trips), but if you can find cheap hotels in Sedona that are within walking distance of main street then you may be content to stay in town for your whole trip. The Red Rocks make for an amazingly beautiful backdrop to the town, and there are excellent hiking and mountain biking opportunities within a few minutes of downtown, so unless you are intent on going further afield (or you are staying for a longer period of time), Sedona could keep you occupied and entertained.
Some of the cheap hotels in Sedona you might look at are the Sedona Super 8 (right on Hwy 89A, free WiFi, outdoor pool, 2 on-site restaurants), Rose Tree Inn (near uptown Sedona, 5 rooms, B&B feel without meals, some rooms with kitchens, private garden), Matterhorn Inn (in uptown Sedona, 23 rooms, all rooms have either balcony or terrace with great views of Red Rocks, free internet access, outdoor pool), and Best Western Sedona (in uptown Sedona, offers a hotel as well as cottages and villas for rent, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, internet available, kids under 12 stay free).