Courtesy of Castle Hot Springs
(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, Castle Hot Springs.)
By Hannah Walhout | Travel + Leisure
It may come as little surprise that Arizona’s best resorts are clustered around two of the state’s tourism centers: Sedona, a favorite of nature-lovers and spiritual seekers, and Scottsdale, a golfer’s paradise that’s also a great jumping-off point for activities like hiking and rock climbing. With a mix of historic properties and new builds, larger family-friendly resorts and secluded retreats, this year’s list reminds us why this state is an evergreen destination for all kinds of travelers. One thing you’ll find at nearly all of them? An unbelievable spa. This is Arizona, after all.
What Readers Loved
Arizona’s best resorts for 2024 include an impressive six properties around Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. New and old collide at No. 2 Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, a Gurney’s Resort & Spa. While it reopened under Gurney’s management in 2021, it has a history that stretches back to the 1950s, when it was born as a Palm Springs-inspired Paradise Valley Racquet Club.
Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale (No. 8) brings more midcentury vibes: Founded in 1959, the site was rebuilt and reopened in 2017 under new ownership, with modernist design that nods to its glory days as a Rat Pack haunt. These days, though, the atmosphere is a little less louche: As one reader wrote, “Next time we will bring the kids, as it is a great place for families too!”
Three of the top resorts this year are in Sedona, the artsy town a mere two hours’ drive north of Phoenix that’s known for its new-age hotels and stunning scenery. The newest is Ambiente, A Landscape Hotel, making its debut on the list at No. 10. Opened in early 2023, Ambiente made the list for its unique accommodations: 40 cube-shaped elevated cottages, each with glass walls offering 180-degree views of the red-rock desert. “This place is phenomenal,” wrote one survey respondent of their stay. “As close as you can get to sleeping under the immense night sky with all its stars,” but with air conditioning and indoor plumbing, too.
The Winner
Castle Hot Springs: Morristown, Arizona
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The first-place Arizona resort was also the state’s original wellness retreat, founded in the late 19th century and later visited by the likes of the Rockefellers and Roosevelts. Castle Hot Springs, which moved up from No. 2 last year, offers 30 standalone cabins and cottages on 1,100 acres an hour north of Phoenix — a location chosen back in the 1890s for its natural hot springs high in magnesium and lithium, which now feed the resort’s three geothermal pools. Guests at the inclusive property can also enjoy a range of complimentary activities. “This is a magical oasis that we fell in love with the minute we arrived,” wrote one T+L reader. “The history, the staff, the unbelievable farm, the food, the wine pairings … and of course, those hot springs!”
