We have done quite a bit of traveling so far this year during my pregnancy, but most of it has been pretty go, go, go. Of course, I stayed at the Jekyll Ocean Club which was relaxing for Haley’s bachelorette trip, but it had been quite some time since Ian and I had a really relaxing trip together. That has now changed, thanks to our babymoon in Arizona at the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa!
When we first started talking about potentially going on a babymoon, we assumed that we would just go to Southern Florida – maybe Miami, or the Keys, because we wanted an experience as close to our honeymoon as possible (relaxation, poolside service, a spa, and romance). In my search, I typed in something along the lines of “romantic resort for couples” or “best resort for babymoon,” and the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort popped up. Needless to say, we fell in love and booked our flights within the next week, at most.
Earning many awards and recognitions over the years such as: “Top 20 Spa Resorts in the U.S.”, “#1 Hotel in Arizona,” “Top Luxury Hotels – United States,” “AAA Four-Diamond Restaurant,” and more, the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain is one of the most relaxing and romantic spa resorts that I have ever been to. It is one of the top destination spas in the Continental U.S. and most award-winning luxury resorts in Scottsdale and it truly deserves every award that comes its way due to the posh accommodations, jaw-dropping views, service that caters to your every need, and of course, the fantastic resort restaurant run by Food Network star, Chef Beau MacMillan.
Now that you know a bit about Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, let’s dive into our stay:
Ian and I arrived into Phoenix, Arizona relatively early on in the afternoon and it was already over 100 degrees. We picked up our rental car, stopped for a bite to eat on the way to the Sanctuary, and then checked in. The check in process was very straightforward and we learned so much about the resort and overall Scottsdale/Paradise Valley area. With cold water in hand, we were whisked away in a golf cart and we arrived to our room in less than a minute.
Our room, a Spa Suite, was absolutely amazing. The description on their website says, “Surrender yourself to ultimate relaxation in Sanctuary Resort’s Spa Suites. Each suite embraces vibrant décor, contemporary and sleek furnishings, and magnificent views presented beyond its airy panoramic patios. Revel in a spacious living area with wet bar or cozy up by the glass rock fireplace. For the pinnacle of luxury within this Arizona spa retreat – unwind under the stars in a private outdoor soaking tub.” The spa suite is 1,200 square feet, it features a bedroom, living room, entryway, large bathroom, walk-in closet, private outdoor soaking tub, and a panoramic patio.
I highly, highly recommend booking a spa suite – it was amazing and the location of the room was extremely convenient, as well. We were within a short walk from absolutely everything, while still being a few steps away from our car.
Before our valet golf cart driver left, he showed us the room and made sure that everything was perfect. He also told us that if we ever did not feel like walking, we could just pick up the phone and call for a golf cart, or the local shuttle service. This was just the first example of how truly amazing and over the top the service was during our stay. Absolutely everything was thought of and taken care of.
I could go on and on about the amazing service that we received, but I will just leave you with two additional small examples that shows how everyone went above and beyond:
- The time where we ordered a lava cake relatively late at night and instead of just walking it over, they sprinted it to us, to ensure that the ice cream didn’t melt and that the “lava” was still hot.
- Each day at the pool, the service was phenomenal – they truly went above and beyond making sure that our water pitchers had ice in them, that my salmon was cooked through, and that I had plenty of mocktail options. I could not rave about the service at the pool enough!
On our second day staying at the Sanctuary, we woke up and enjoyed an amazing breakfast at Elements and then I headed over to the spa for a maternity massage. For breakfast, I had the french toast, a vanilla latte, and a fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, while Ian had the breakfast burrito, an almond milk cappuccino, and a fresh squeezed orange juice. Hands down, best breakfast we had during our entire stay in Scottsdale! Well, this, or our second morning eating at Elements, haha! It was so good.
The spa was amazing, as well. The facilities were so well kept – the attendant was constantly making sure I had everything I needed and the common spaces were spotless. Plus, let me just tell you about their relaxation room – it was FANTASTIC. I grabbed a cup of water, laid back on one of the relaxing beds, and pulled up a plush blanket. I was in heaven! The massage was amazing, as well. They had a contraption specifically for maternity massages, which allowed me to lay on my stomach. SO relaxing! I could tell that the masseuse was highly trained and really knew her stuff when it came to not only massage, but pregnancy, as well. I walked into her room with the worst back pain and I came out feeling like a new woman. I highly recommend getting a massage while staying there!
Last but not least, I just want to talk about our dinner at Elements. Ian and I ordered a three course dinner while looking at the sun set behind Camelback Mountain and it was one of the most romantic dinners that we have had in a very, very long time…maybe since our first wedding anniversary, in fact. We tried the Asian Oyster Rockefeller, Fiery Calamari, Filet Mignon, Snake River Farms Kurobuta Pork Chop, the Salted Caramel Lava Cake, and a Butter Cake dish that was so beautiful and tasty, but I was so full at that point that I just cannot remember the full name of what Ian ordered. Everything was phenomenal. Serious props go out to the chef because it was just perfectly executed.
Overall, our stay was just immaculate. While we did hike Camelback Mountain and explored (a very small amount) around the area, I truly do not think that you need to go off-site to have a great trip, especially if your goal is for relaxation and romance! I cannot stress how much of an amazing time Ian and I had and I highly recommend the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa for your next trip to Scottsdale!
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