Choosing the best Tucson vacation rental

If you are looking for the best Tucson Airbnb or best Tucson VRBO  listing, it might surprise you to read that Sundance Hacienda may not be the best fit for everyone. It depends what you are looking for in a Tucson vacation rental.  Here are is what we looked for as Tucson Airbnb guests, and what we strive for as Tucson Airbnb owners. 

Our family has been traveling to Tucson each winter for over 10 years, and until we bought Sundance Hacienda during the pandemic, we had been renting 3 bedroom or 4 bedroom family homes in Tucson. So even more than “Superhosts,” we are really professional guests. I’ll try to outline the criteria we used in finding a Tucson Airbnb for ourselves.  These five criteria are the same ones we used in finding and setting up Sundance Hacienda as our own personal Airbnb in Tucson.

#1 Location. We knew we wanted a desert setting with mountain views vs. being in the city. We are road cyclists and mountain bikers, and we love how close this area is to Mt. Lemmon, which has some of the best road and mountain biking around. Our Tucson Airbnb  is also close to Saguaro National Park East, which has a fun loop with little traffic. When we are not cycling, we love to hike, and although there are many great hikes all over Tucson, there are some special ones near us (Agua Caliente trailhead is one of our favorites).  

We hear from a lot of our guests that they chose Sundance Hacienda because it is one of the few Tucson Airbnb's close to the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch, one of Tucson's premier resorts and wedding venues. There are really no hotels near Tanque Verde Ranch, and while staying at the ranch can be a great resort experience, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. If you are attending a family occasion at Tanque Verde Ranch, we’d suggest looking for nearby Airbnb or VRBO listings that offer similar views, more privacy, and a more intimate Tucson experience. Sundance Hacienda is  close to Tanque Verde Ranch - a 10 minute drive. 

Even though our home is on the far east side, it still only takes 30 minutes or so to get to the University of Arizona, and a bit more to get to most of the Tucson gem show exhibits. Sundance Hacienda will never be the closest Airbnb to the Univerisity of Arizona or the Tucson Gem Show, if that's your main goal. 

#2 Type of Home.  We love traditional brick, stucco,  and slump block ranch style homes in Tucson. Not only do we feel like they are more authentically Tucson than the more recent subdivision-type or “mcmansion” homes, but they stay cooler since they are solid brick/cement and all on one level. Our house is 1970’s “slump block.” We also prefer vegetation that is native to Tucson - a home with saguaros, mesquite, and prickly pear is way more relaxing for us than a putting green, lawn, or paved patio. Also, it goes without saying that any home we rented would need to be updated, clean, and big enough for our family. Something with southwestern charm was always a plus, since it helped us feel like we were really “away” from the Pacific Northwest. 

#3 Heated Pool. To be clear, heated pools are not native to Tucson! In fact, although many homes have pools, very few homes in Tucson have heated pools. This is for a few reasons, but the main one is that the regular “unheated” pool season is long - from May through September. And, from October through April, the night air can dip to the 40’s. For many homeowners, a heated pool represents a short and expensive value proposition. Since we mainly travel during the winter, having a heated pool in Tucson was important to us. One of the reasons we created  Sundance Hacienda was that it was very hard for us to find an Airbnb in Tucson that had a heated pool.  One thing to look for or ask if you come across a Tucson vacation rental with a heated pool: how is the pool heated. A natural gas or propane system will heat a pool well, even in the coldest days of winter. Electric heat pumps and solar heaters work great during the “shoulder” weeks where the waning temperatures could use a little boost, but only natural gas or propane can heat a pool into the 80’s when the outside temperature is in the mid-50’s and below. If you want a heated pool in a Tucson vacation rental, book early. Also, be prepared to pay a bit extra for the gas or propane use. 

#4. Vibe. Everyone is going to want a different vibe, but we believe that are some common attributes that are important to anyone looking for a vacation rental in Tucson. One is “chill vibe”. When you are on vacation, you don’t want to feel like you have to clean before you enjoy a home. Cleanliness and having updated furniture/appliances was important to us. Another is “space and privacy.” This means not only enough space from neighbors, but enough space and privacy in the home. A third is “relaxation.” enough places inside and outside to chill with a cup of coffee, a margarita, or the kids and some board games. A last is “pets.” Not every Tucson vacation rental allows pets, and when we traveled with our dog Abby, we wanted to make sure she was welcome. 

#5. Size. We are a family of 5, so it was important for us to find a 3 or 4 bedroom rental home in Tucson. It’s not an uncommon size, so we found there were a lot to choose from.  When you search online, it’s easy to search for 3 or 4 bedroom AirBnb in Tucson or VRBO  in Tucson on their respective sites. 

Our quest was always for a “pet friendly 4 bedroom Tucson home with heated pool” and then we narrowed it from there. While your parameters may be different, we hope that our approach can be helpful to you, whether you are interested in staying in Sundance Hacienda or another Tucson AirBnb.