When you’re visiting Moab, you’ll quickly learn there are two kinds of travelers: those who just need a clean bed after a day in the parks, and those who want a true home base with all the extras. I fall firmly in the second camp, and that’s why I booked the Hoodoo Moab, Curio Collection by Hilton—and this Hoodoo Moab review explains exactly why. Spoiler: it was perfection.
If you’re building your Moab itinerary, you’ll also love my guide to Where to Stay in Moab: From Luxury to Budget, which compares options before choosing Hoodoo.
You cannot beat Hoodoo’s location. The hotel sits right in the heart of downtown, which meant I could walk to shops, restaurants, and the Moab Food Truck Park across the street (yes, I went there multiple times for sushi and gelato).
The convenience made it easy to split my days—hiking in Arches or Canyonlands in the morning, then strolling through boutiques like The Sundry and Moab Made in the evening without ever getting back in the car.
Walking into the lobby, it immediately felt warm and welcoming. The chandeliers caught my eye, along with the desert-inspired décor that nodded to Moab’s hiking and red rock vibe without being over the top. It was stylish but still felt true to the place.
Here’s the deal: if you stay at Hoodoo, book a casita. Seriously. It felt less like a hotel room and more like a vacation rental wrapped in Hilton service.
Our casita had:
Two bedrooms and two bathrooms (perfect since I was traveling with a friend—no bathroom-sharing drama).
A full kitchen with a big dining table (handy for snacks, coffee, and spreading out all my hiking gear).
A spacious living room with a sectional couch and electric fireplace.
Large TVs in every room (not that I watched much with Moab outside, but still).
Private parking right at the door—no lugging gear across a huge lot.
One bedroom had a king bed, the other two queens, plus the couch had a pullout, so it could easily fit a family. The only downside? Our room was upstairs. If I’d known, I would’ve requested ground level because, well, me and luggage don’t mix.
The bathrooms were big and smartly designed with plenty of hooks (a lifesaver for hanging my favorite travel bathroom caddies), large countertops for all the “stuff,” and showers that didn’t feel cramped.
Hoodoo has two pools:
A private casita pool just for casita guests—quiet and easy to access.
A larger resort pool in the middle of the property, surrounded by desert landscaping and mountain views.
The main pool had padded lounge chairs with umbrellas, a hot tub, waterfall features, and fountain jets. It felt lush but still very “Moab.” After long, hot days in the parks, this was exactly where I wanted to be.
If you’re staying at Hoodoo because it’s close to the parks, check out my Top 5 Stops in Arches National Park to help plan your day.
The hotel has its own restaurant, which I didn’t try, but I did eat at their sister spot, Pasta Jay’s, and loved it (hello, tortellone Alfredo and garlic bread trio). Based on that, I’d bet the Hoodoo restaurant is just as solid.
That said, one of Hoodoo’s best perks is that it’s walkable to downtown dining. I went to Antica Forma for wood-fired pizza, Thai Bella for curry, and Desert Bistro for upscale dining—all within minutes on foot.
Perfect Location: Downtown, walkable, close to everything.
Casita Comfort: Spacious, private, with full amenities.
Luxury Touches: Gorgeous pools, stylish décor, and thoughtful details like fireplaces and hooks (yes, hooks matter).
Great for Groups: With multiple bedrooms, full kitchen, and parking, casitas are ideal for families or friends.
Sure, you’ll find cheaper motels in Moab, but this is luxury that feels worth every dollar—especially if you’re here for more than a quick weekend.
Moab is all about adventure—hiking, biking, rafting, off-roading—but when the day is done, you want a comfortable place to crash. For me, the Hoodoo Hilton casita was more than that. It was the perfect home base: spacious, stylish, and just steps from downtown.
If you’re deciding where to stay in Moab and want luxury with convenience, this is it. Splurge on the casita, spend your afternoons at the pool, and let Moab’s red rock magic unfold right outside your door. For even more ideas to round out your trip, read my Spend a Weekend in Moab: The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary before you go.
Yes, it’s only July. Start planning anyway. Fall books faster than people expect, and a few of these destinations are worth getting ahead of. Here are five places worth putting on your radar right now.
Ireland: Cooler temps, moody skies, dramatic coastline fall was made for it. Tourist crowds drop, the green stays, and the whole country feels a little more like itself.
Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC: Fall foliage in the Smokies is the real thing. The color peaks mid-October and the views from the ridgelines are hard to argue with. It’s also one of the most visited national parks in the country, so going on a weekday makes a real difference.
New York City: Fall is NYC at its best comfortable temps, the energy of the city shifting into a new season, and every neighborhood doing something worth showing up for. It’s also just a great walking city when it’s not brutally hot.
Japan: Fall foliage season is as good as spring cherry blossoms and somehow less talked about. The colors are dramatic, the temples and gardens are stunning, and it’s worth planning around peak dates by region.
Mystic, Connecticut: Small, walkable, genuinely charming Mystic in fall feels like exactly what a New England autumn is supposed to look like. Easy to pair with a broader New England road trip if you want to extend it.
Full guides linked in bio 🍂
There are two kinds of travelers: people who plan a trip and then figure out where to eat, and people who book a restaurant and then build the rest of the itinerary around it.I am the second kind. I will not apologize for this.
The reservation gets locked in first. The hotel search happens within the same 24 hours. The flights get compared around the restaurant’s hours of operation. The rest of the trip exists to fill the days before and after the table I actually came for.
If this sounds unhinged, I completely understand. It has also resulted in some of the best meals of my life, so I’m going to keep doing it.
Drop a 🍽️ if you plan your trips around food too.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
I do not like seafood. 🐟 So when I booked a tasting menu at a restaurant built around aquarium walls at Atlantis The Palm, I was nervous.
Ossiano sits underwater fish gliding past the whole meal, moody lighting, the kind of room that makes you lower your voice without meaning to. It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. You’re paying for the entire experience.
Here’s the honest part: they have a vegetarian tasting menu, and I assumed it would be an afterthought. It ended up in my top five meals of all time. Course after course, the same care and precision as the seafood-forward menu everyone comes for. They even swapped in a steak for the main and it still felt cohesive with everything around it.
By course four you’re full. They bring out three more breads anyway. I ate all of it. No regrets.
Small detail that stuck with me my dress was black, so they swapped my napkin from white to black without me asking. That’s the kind of thing that tells you everything about a place.
Full breakdown of the menu, the vegetarian option, and what to expect linked in bio.
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