As soon as the flight attendant gave us permission to use portable electronics on my Southwest flight to Phoenix, I slid the switch of my Kindle to the on position. There was page one of Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James that I purchased from Amazon on my way to the airport. Could I really start reading this book on an airplane with people in such close proximity? I knew this book was hot, but was I going to need to drag my husband into the lavatory during the flight if I got too excited? What was I going to say to my 23 old son on the plane with us? None of these questions stopped me from reading page after page and enjoying the beginning of the book. This made the flight go by very quickly and fortunately there was no one in the middle seat next to me. All pleasure and no pain just the way I thought I liked it.
Of course I was hot when we arrived in Phoenix, the temperature was over 100 degrees. We picked up our rental car, drove to Scottsdale and checked into the Westin Kierland Villas. Check-in was quick and pleasant. Then we got back into the car to find our unit. We were given a smaller corner one bedroom unit on the second floor. When I opened the door I knew something was not right. There were no windows in the main living area.
Light filled rooms bring me joy, so walking into this room had my mind wondering to the room of pain from Fifty Shades of Gray. Why would the Westin approve a room design with no windows in the living area? Was this to provide both pleasure and pain for the ultimate vacation experience?
We turned on all the lights and slid open the door to the bedroom. 
It was a great layout with comfortable chair and full pullout sofa bed, 32′ flat screen TV, two end tables and two moveable small seats with the duo purpose to use as a table in front of the sofa. The room was in soothing light yellow and brown tones. A kitchenette with a subzero mini refig with an ice maker, microwave, small cooktop, dishwasher and small table with four chairs completed the living area. The stackable washer and dryer was located behind a door near the entrance to the unit. This room that we referred to as “the cave”, had all of the needed amenities except natural light and windows.
My son slept in the living area and he said the pullout sofa was very comfortable, but in this room pain is always associated with comfort. He prefers to sleep in a very dark and quiet room, so is this cave perfect for him? No! As the sun rises he is awaken to loud unfamiliar animal and bird sounds of the desert. Bright sunlight shines through the peep hole and the crack at the bottom of the entrance door to the unit. Certainly not the best way to start the first morning of a vacation.
The bedroom and balcony of our room were very soothing and relaxing. The room was filled with light, a king Heavenly bed, flatscreen TV, chest of drawers, double door closet with many hangars and a safe. There was a sliding glass door that opened onto a large patio with two wooden chairs with padded cushions and a matching love seat. We had a view of the golf course. It was a peaceful relaxing oasis.
The bathroom was spacious, but the light in the room was limited. There was a tub/shower combination with a major flaw unless you like pain. To take a shower or bath I had to spread my legs wide while I climbed up and over the unusually broad side of the tub. The wall of the shower had a large frosted glass window that allowed light to come in from the bedroom. The Heavenly Shower was wonderful until I had to climb over and down the wide edge of the tub to get out and put on the fluffy terry cloth robe. Pain and pleasure seems to be the theme in this one bedroom.
My next post about the Westin Kierland Villas will be about teasing. What is the best way to tease the Frugal Travel Lawyer while staying at a Westin you ask? With Starwood points of course!