This exquisite resort and spa is set on 39
beautifully landscaped acres nestled at the base of the
Squaw Peak Mountain range just 15 minutes from the Phoenix
Sky Harbor Airport.
Upon our arrival we shared an
air of excitement wondering about the history of this fabulous
Arizona landmark which has been in existence since in 1929.
This is the only existing hotel in the world with a Frank
Lloyd Wright influenced design; The Arizona Biltmore is
truly the crowned "jewel of the desert"!
The (Biltmore block)
which were molded onsite and used in the total construction
of the Resort was created after the geometric pattern of
the trunk of the palm tree.
We wondered "what famous people have
frolicked on these grounds." We later learned this
74 year old "grand dame" has wined and dined
some of the most famous celebrities from Clark Gable and
Marilyn Monroe to Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra as well
as many U.S. Presidents. But don't let the age and history
fool you into thinking she has seen her better days. O'
contraire! After her $50 Million Dollar restoration, she
looks wonderfully youthful and vibrant teaming with every
modern day feature imaginable. Today she continues to be
a haven for the rich, famous and those who love to lavish
in beautiful surroundings.
After being escorted to our spacious, beautifully
appointed rooms we explored the grounds and delighted in
an abundance of sprawling lawns and flowing beds of lush
flowers.
We ran across a couple laughing
over a game of lawn chess next to a family playing lawn croquet.
Interspersed throughout the grounds are 8 swimming pools including
a spectacular "paradise pool" that offers a 92 ft.
water slide. If you are a die-hard golfer you'll find not one,
but 2 world class championship golf courses! Are you a tennis
buff? Seven lighted courts run by two tennis pros should fit
the bill. Did we mention the great line up of retail shops,
such as: Desert Sun, Lilly Pulitzers, The Wright Stuff, The
Wright Home, The Wright Kids, as well as the specialty gift
shop in the Spa.
Retail
shops on the grounds
Next we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch
at the Biltmore Grille. With perfect weather we dined on the
scenic patio next to the open pit fireplace. Our server Toby
recommended a few exotic healthy dishes which we totally enjoyed
including the Thai Prawn salad over exotic greens, grilled
Tomatoes & Mozzarella just to name a couple, which we gave "2
thumbs up."
Next, off to the fitness center complete
with state of the art cardiovascular and weight training
equipment. We were especially pleased to find an aerobic/yoga
room where they offered many classes throughout the day.
Fine
Restaurants
That evening we were thoroughly impressed
with the Biltmore's signature restaurant, "Wright's." It
offered new American Cuisine with one of the most extensive
wine lists in the Southwest! This resort has spared no
expense in providing the very best service everywhere you
look. For instance, at dinner to assist with our wine selection,
we met Master Sommelier, Barbara Werley. We discovered
there are only 109 Master Sommeliers in the entire world
(only 4 are woman) with only 2 in Arizona! We were fascinated
to learn another dimension of the world of wines.
A skilled
culinary team of chefs, inventive cuisine and a variety of
dining venues have earned the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
a reputation for excellence in dining. Heading the team is
award-winning Executive Chef John Zaner.
Zaner has blended Southwestern, French and Asian flavors to create
New American and regional menus. Heavy creams have been eliminated
in favor of richly flavored oils and infusions.
Needless to say, the food and atmosphere were most memorable. Diverse
dinner selections include Maine Lobster with Baby Fennel and Black
Truffles or Prime Filet Mignon Roquefort with Caramelized Shallots & Potato
Rösti, Baby Carrots and Pomegranate Syrup. Wright's is also
known for its famous soufflés and decadent chocolate tower,
of which we highly recommend to our readers.
After a great
night's rest we awoke refreshed and were eager to experience
the spa.
We were not disappointed!
One outstanding feature of the spa is its
unparalleled 80 different treatments! Many of these exotic
treatments provide a chance to discover the ancient wisdom
of far away lands and cultures. The spa at the Arizona
Biltmore relies on the most natural elements and ingredients
for attending to your physical, mental and spiritual health
needs. The water Goddess, which is the symbol of the spa
throughout the facility, represents the restoration of
mind and body.
With 17 indoor
treatment rooms (and 2 outdoor rooms) this 22,000 square foot
facility offers one of the largest variety of treatments we
have seen anywhere. We definitely felt this was a step above
the average resort spa. After slipping into our robes and slippers
we relaxed in the spa lounge and reviewed the list of exotic
treatments we were about to lavish in. Unique to the Biltmore
Spa is its own creation of treatments using some of the elements
from the surrounding Arizona desert, such as the "Cactus
Flower Wrap" that our female reviewer experienced. The
ingredients in every treatment are as natural as the healing
process they promote. Our female reviewer was amazed at the
results. She commented many times how moist and smooth her
skin felt. Other treatments she had were the Thai Bamboo Lemongrass
Scrub, and Desert Elements Facial. She highly recommends the
Arizona Biltmore signature "Dream catcher Aroma Therapy
Message".
Our Male reviewer
had a morning of transformation starting with a "Therapeutic
Arnica Friction Massage" with Ray, who had special sports
therapy training and focused on any areas of particular need.
A tight hamstring got special attention this morning with very
impressive results. Then he moved onto an "Aromatic Salt
Glow" where he had to make another difficult choice, "should
it be lavender, mint, ginger, or citrus?" The winner.....Mint,
then onto the "Sedona Mud Wrap", another example
of finding special indigenous ingredients to promote the greatest
therapy possible. He finished with the "Gentleman's Facial",
which received a top rating of, "that was the best facial
I have ever had!" Needless to say, it took him quite a
few hours to come back to earth.
We were impressed by the professionalism, knowledge and friendliness
of the Spa staff.
After
a very busy day at the spa, we enjoyed a relaxing lunch at
the Cabana Club Restaurant and Bar by the pool. This swim-up
bar was fun. Some of the exceptional selections we enjoyed
were the Oriental Chicken Salad, The Biltmore Burger, and
one of their exceptional Non-Alcoholic” smoothies!
After a very relaxing
day, we opted to rest for a short time before going to the
fitness center for another workout.
As a guest at The Arizona Biltmore you may enjoy Afternoon Tea
a late afternoon tradition for more than 50 years. Tea is offered
throughout the season on a daily basis. Although we did not partake
of this traditional delight we heard some of the guest’s
commenting on the exceptional selections; such as the freshly
baked scones, miniature pastries, tea sandwiches and a large
varie after a very relaxing day, we opted to rest for a short
time before going to the fitness center for another workout.
Once again our team enjoyed the
exquisite dinning experience of their signature restaurant “Wrights” with
exceptional delight.
The next morning, we were able to experience “The
Café” Restaurant for a delicious cup of Starbucks
coffee with a pastry that was made on the premises. The view
from our café table was so delightful. As we admired
the gardens we learned that the Biltmore plants 250,000 bulbs
(flowers) every year!!!
Thank you
for joining us.
See you at the spa!
Review Team for Finest Health Spas [email protected]
Information
on upcoming events at certain
spas
