Property Review - Sanctuary Camelback Mountain
Date of Review: 03/08/07
The Spa:
I arrived unannounced and without introduction and asked if I could tour the Spa. I was graciously shown around by Sarah, the Ladies Lounge Attendant, who sweetly answered all of my questions. I've seen their Spa before (and enjoyed their services) but on this trip I knew I'd only have time for a tour - I mostly wanted to see if it was as nice as I'd remembered, and if it was crowded or not, and clean, etc. As I expected it was still lovely, very clean, and decidedly uncrowded - just the way I like it!
I didn't have time to try any Spa Treatments on this visit, but you can be sure I will next time! I plan to try the "Mandi Susu", an in-room ceremony that sounds heavenly!
Rooms & Suites:
Since I didn't stay at the Sanctuary on this visit, I didn't have an opportunity to see their rooms (they were full at the time and didn't want to inconvenience any of their guests). However, the Sanctuary is well-known for the luxury of their accommodations.
Dining:
I had a friend meet me for lunch at Elements, the restaurant at Sanctuary that is a favorite amongst Scottsdale and Phoenix locals. Elements gets a perfect score on all counts - food quality, presentation, service, and ambiance. I had a tomato bisque soup served with creme fraiche (wonderfully tasty) and an asparagus-walnut strudel that was to-die-for. The home-baked bread was so yummy (and warm from the oven) that it was hard to avoid filling up before our meal arrived. The food is fresh, creative, delicious, and very attractively presented, served by a friendly and professional staff. The incredible view is just a nice additional bonus point. This is a terrific restaurant to experience even if you're not staying at Sanctuary.
On-site facilities:
I poked around through the Fitness Center - the Yoga room was not in use at the time, but it was very clean with a fresh smell - I love their use of aromatherapy all over the place. There were a couple of people using the machines in the gym, but it too was clean and smelled nice and fresh. I LOVE the boutique store - they have so many cute things in there that I wished I had time to stay and shop! Next trip I'll be sure to leave more time for shopping.
What makes it unique:
The Satori program at Sanctuary is very unique (Satori means "enlightenment" in Japanese) and custom designed to meet the needs and goals of each individual. You can choose from 3 different "paths" - Spa (geared around healing Spa treatments), Fitness (a regimen to improve your overall fitness and health) and Adventure (expererience the beauty of the surrounding desert trails and hills).
The other unique feature of a stay at Sanctuary is their tennis program - more so than any other resort in the region, Sanctuary offers a truly intense tennis training experience to take your game to the next level - if tennis is your thing, then you simply must make plans for a stay at Sanctuary.
