I recently took my first trip to Arizona for a spa weekend in the desert with some of my closest friends. We had a group of seven women, all in our 30’s, two with babies at home, and one pregnant with her first, all desperately in need of a weekend of relaxation, good food, and great company.
We opted to stay at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia. The hotel is located in Paradise Valley, about a 15 minute drive from the Phoenix airport. We decided to rent a sweet mini-van that fit all seven of us, but it is an easy $30-40 cab ride from the airport.
We arrived in Scottsdale in the early afternoon on a Friday in December. The weather was a comfortable high-60’s/low-70’s. We spent much of the day catching up over wine and bites by the fire pit at CENTRO, a swanky open-air restaurant and bar at the hotel. We were very impressed by the Green Kale Salad, which was light and flavorful with crispy roasted chickpeas and nutty Parmesan. Additional protein was optional (roast chicken or grilled salmon). This is also where we became obsessed with the Pretzel Breadsticks served with Pepper Jack Fondue and brown mustard. Let’s just say that multiple orders were consumed during our weekend stay.
On both Saturday and Sunday we ate brunch at Prado, which had a nice selection of a la carte items, as well as a continental breakfast buffet and a full breakfast buffet (which included hot items and an omelet bar). The consensus was that the full buffet ($26) wasn’t really worth the additional cost; however, the continental buffet ($20) was a nice value, as it included bagels with smoked salmon, charcuterie, oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, and pastries (including giant iced cinnamon rolls), as well as juice, tea, and coffee. If you eat here, be sure to check your receipt for a coupon to the Joya Spa (I believe we each got $20 off).
We spent the majority of Saturday at the Joya Spa. It is a huge Moroccan-inspired spa, which includes several “rituals” such as selecting a stone that “speaks to you” and touching a large crystal lit with a color-changing light. I opted for an 80-minute massage which was fabulous and just what the doctor ordered. If you purchase any service, you then have all-day access to the spa facility, which includes steam room, sauna, various pools of different temperatures (for the “bathing ritual”), a “whisper lounge” (with Tempurpedic beds) and a private outdoor pool with views of Camelback Mountain and access to the CENTRO menu (including the Pretzel Breadsticks!) I opted for wine, though I hear their watermelon basil martini is excellent.
I have to say that this spa was expensive. My 80-minute massage was $250, which came to nearly $300 with tax and tip. I definitely had sticker shock when I paid my bill, especially when I can get a 90 minute massage at The Mindful Body in San Francisco for $120 plus tax/tip. I suppose that the justification for this price is that you get to use the spa amenities all day; however, even Bernardus Lodge & Spa in Carmel Valley allows spa access for all of their guests, whether they buy a treatment or not.
Overall, my friends and I really enjoyed our relaxing weekend at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia. We opted to drive 15 minutes to downtown Scottsdale for dinner on both nights, so we did not do dinner at the hotel. But it was a relaxing space with decent service and plenty of amenities. Just be sure to budget accordingly!
Logistics
Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia: www.omnihotels.com 4949 East Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253. (480) 627-3200. Our room was listed as $279/night, but after fees/taxes, it was $345/night. The resort fee includes in-room coffee and tea, newspaper, wireless internet. 15 minute ($30-40) cab ride to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).
Joya Spa: (888) 627-3010. Open 8:30am-7:30pm (use it all day to get your money’s worth!)
CENTRO: “Enjoy gorgeous views and light bites” (or not-very-light Pretzel Breadsticks). All light spa fare is designated with a symbol if you’re watching your waistline. The breadsticks do not have this symbol.
Prado: “A premier destination for Scottsdale fine dining.” We only had brunch here. It was a decent brunch, nothing to rave about. Check your receipt for a coupon to Joya Spa.
Crave Café: “Our artisanal gourmet food market.” Perfect for a quick cup of coffee and a pastry. They serve Peet’s.
Nearby Restaurants
The concierge who checked me in told me his five favorite restaurants in Scottsdale:
Café Monarch
Virtù
FnB: we ate here (Dish and Room review)
Mastro’s City Hall
Chelsea’s Kitchen: great brunch, five minutes from hotel
Question
What are your favorite restaurants in the Scottsdale area? Any favorite hotels or activities?