Enchantment Resort
Sedona, Arizona is about a two hour drive north of Phoenix and is known for its secluded and spectacular red rock canyon. Enchantment is the premier resort destination in this area and is unequaled, offering an astounding level of service and style, amenities and an awe-inspiring setting. It is set on 70 acres of landscaped grounds, hugging the National Forest on three sides, and travelers in search of luxury in a castaway locale will not be disappointed. Since revamping the spa a few years back, this place has earned a reputation for being one of the top spas in the nation, and justifiably so.
Nestled among pines and junipers, the road to Enchantment is not marked because of a ban on signage in national forests. The gated entrance puts an exclusive spin on this sprawling property, granting only registered guests and visiting diners entrance to its many facilities, including a clubhouse, croquet lawn, tennis courts and a destination spa.
The intimate lobby and reception area, dressed in local stone and regional art, gives way to a cocktail lounge and restaurant, both with terraces overlooking the rocks and a sea of tennis courts.
Dining is generally considered to be some of the best food in the Red Rock region, and the views of Boynton Canyon invite lingering. The signature Yavapai Room serves regionally spiced comfort foods, as well as aged beef, a smattering of fresh seafood dishes and unusual game, including elk and buffalo.
Some guests mistake this for a golf resort—a small pitch-and-putt course flanks the entrance drive. The emphasis, however, is on tennis, and guests can volley with pros for an hourly fee or take daily workshops. Unsupervised time is free on the seven Plexi-paved hard courts, and guests can also play on the bocce court and croquet lawns, swim in four small pools, soak in whirlpools and work out in the health center.
The aptly named Mii Amo spa, which means journey in the Navaho language, is truly a bon voyage for sybarites. (Enchantment guests pay an $18 fee, but those staying in spa rooms get all-inclusive packages.) It consistently ranks number 1 or 2 in the region, offering world-class facilities.
Designed by a firm known for its museum and gallery projects (such as Santa Fe's Georgia O'Keefe Museum), the spa is built to simple modern lines and is as much a feast for the eyes as it is a banquet for the soul. Built just below Boynton Canyon's crimson cliffs, the superlative contemporary architecture creates notable indoor-outdoor spaces that radiate sophistication and take advantage of the striking scenery. Among the more unusual features is the meditation chamber modeled after a Native American kiva, with crystals and water bubbling from a petrified tree stump. Here, shamans guide guests through a cleansing ritual each morning.
Also on-site are two swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), a whirlpool and treatment rooms with views of the famed cliffs. (Treatments range from the traditional to such things as chakra cleansing and past-life regressions.) Lectures are featured in the lovely library, and a juice bar and spa cafe offer refreshment. See our Spa tab for more information on special Spa suites.
The least expensive Casita guest rooms have king or two queen beds, roomy sitting areas, standard combination baths and glass doors opening to furnished decks. Casita studios are the better value. They are larger and feature beehive fireplaces, kitchenettes and gas grills on an outdoor dining deck. Hacienda studios are more than twice the size, and they have full kitchens and sleep six. Casita junior suites are an interesting choice for their open design, large baths with soaking tubs and fireplaces warming the living areas.
The more expensive Casa suites and bedrooms are one- and two-bedroom units with large soaking tubs in the baths (along with separate showers). They are linked to oversized living rooms with beehive fireplaces, kitchens and dining areas.
No matter where they stay, Enchantment guests awaken to find complimentary newspapers and orange juice left in a little wicker basket at their doorstep. Room service never stops. Pets are not permitted.
Enchantment Resort is a member of exclusive Virtuoso travel network. Book online or contact our Virtuoso Travel Advisor [email protected] for more details.
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