Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa

People say the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa – a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architectural jewel opened in 1929 – is an amazing resort experience, unlike any other.

I recently stayed at the Arizona Biltmore – and discovered that it’s true! Down a long formal drive and across the 1,000-year-old Hohokum Native American water canal, the resorts sits on emerald lawns under the shadow of Phoenix’s majestic Squaw Peak. Inside, gold-leaf ceilings and mission style furnishings decorate the vault-like lobby and adjacent restaurants, lounges and terraces. Sipping a “classic martini” in the Squaw Peak Lounge, overlooking the stately North Patio lawn and fountain, I savored the elegance of a bygone era.

Gardens, fountains, pools, private cottages and guestroom buildings go on and on throughout the resort’s 39-acres. From my room, two garden pathways provided serene preludes to the Arizona Biltmore Spa & Fitness Center, tucked behind the spectacular Paradise Pool. Strolling along one path, I passed the croquet lawn, the life-size lawn chess and the Paradise Pool. This is the main pool, with three connected pools running 92 feet in length, a swim-up bar, burger-and-salad café and private cabanas complete with bathrooms, refrigerator, phone and TV. Taking the other path, I encountered the famous “Catalina Pool,” Marilyn Monroe’s favorite, built in 1930 with colorful tiles made on California’s Catalina Island.

“Pure and natural” is the mantra of the Arizona Biltmore Spa. So it seemed only natural to indulge in the signature “Cactus Flower Wrap,” an Arizona Biltmore original. “We created this indigenous treatment to allow your body to absorb the healing and enriching moistures found only in the plants of the surrounding Sonora Desert,” Spa Director Sherrie Huebner explained.

Entering the spa, I was immediately embraced in the soothing harmony of the desert. Simple, elegant décor in pale yellow and cream tones and natural light streaming into the locker room and lounge gave me a cheery and peaceful sense of being. Green apples, coffee, herbal teas and water, with and without lemon, were at the ready. I unwound in the sauna and lingered in the naturally-lit Jacuzzi before wrapping myself in an ultra-thick white robe to await my desert delight.

And what a delight it was.

Cindi, my massage therapist, began by slathering my body with an exfoliating concoction of prickly pear cactus syrup, local honey, oatmeal, cornmeal and other local grains. I laughed that she was making me into a “breakfast wrap.” “The gritty oatmeal and grains slough off the dead skin,” Cindi explained. “The honey is a super moisturizer that makes your skin ultra soft and, like the cactus, pulls moisture into the skin.” Next, she gently covered me in warmed linens topped with an insulated aluminum blanket. This helped to retain my body heat and keep my pores open to better absorb the honey and prickly pear. “Baking” peacefully in the darkened room, the heat warmed my soul as Cindi’s nimble fingers massaged my face, neck and shoulders -- soothing me into Nirvana.

All too soon, it was time to emerge. After washing away the dead skin in my treatment room shower, I returned to the fresh massage cot for the grand finale. Using the long, flowing strokes of Swedish massage, Cindi applied the Arizona Biltmore’s custom “Desert Nectar Glaze” moisturizer to my legs, arms and torso. Its sweet, earthy, citrus-like scent was heavenly. “It locks in all the nutrients from the honey and the prickly pear so the benefits last for days,” she said.

The creamy mixture was so thick, I was sure I’d need to shower before I left. “No, no. Don’t shower. It will sink in,” Cindi assured me. Sure enough. My skin was so prepped; the glaze disappeared in seconds -- much to my surprise.

My skin has never felt so soft. And it continued to feel baby soft for days. Later, I asked Sherrie for the ingredients of the glaze. “That’s a secret,” she said. “The glaze is made just for the Arizona Biltmore and the ingredients are all natural. It includes lots of aloe,” was all she would say.

I was intrigued by other treatments drawn from the ancient wisdom of the native tribes of the Sonoran Desert such as the “Lymphatic Juniper & Cypress Friction” and “Dream Catcher Aromatherapy.” I also found tempting possibilities on the globalized menu: the “Four Hands Massage,” “Fiji Island Sugar Glow” and the “Hungarian Pedicure.” I thought about joining one of the Fitness Center’s classes, Yoga, Qi Gong and aqua aerobics were prime candidates. But I ended up on my favorite – the cardiovascular treadmill.

Suggested Improvement:

A word to the wise. Because the resort was built when bellboys were a dime a dozen, there is no elevator in the four-story main building.

With 738 guest rooms, the Arizona Biltmore offers five categories of accommodations -- all with Arizona Biltmore’s exclusive line of spa amenities -- from deluxe rooms to villas. The free Arizona Biltmore History Tour (offered on Thursdays and Saturdays) is a great way to learn about the resort’s 75 years. I was surprised to learn that the private bungalows weren’t built for VIPs. “Originally, the children and nannies stayed in the cottages,” said our concierge guide, “While the parents luxuriated in the prestigious main building.” Golf on the two championship courses at the adjacent Arizona Biltmore Country Club, tennis on seven lighted courts, and guided hikes are among the activities that prove everything old is new again at the Arizona Biltmore.

Barbara Beckley

Destinations : Arizona : Phoenix : Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa