Recharge your aura in Arizona
January 14, 2008 – 8:06 am
Scottsdale AZ Day Spas / Phoenix AZ Day Spas / Arizona Spas
It’s the place where pop stars go to chill out. And Arizona is good enough for Robbie Williams.
When Robbie Williams needed some serious rehab earlier last year, he got out his map of Arizona and checked into Phoenix’s Cottonwood clinic. The singer may not have spent his stay scribbling postcards or seeing local sights – but after my week of luxury in Arizona, I’m quite prepared to believe Robbie went home a reformed, more relaxed character.
Newcomers to the Wild West imagine sandy deserts, towering cacti and cowboys, and first impressions won’t disappoint – but it does have a few surprises in store.
Arizona divides roughly into three zones: the deserts of the south and west, the mountainous central highlands with volcano-created plains in between, and the northern Colorado Plateau.
Holidays in Arizona, therefore, mostly attract those who relish the outdoor life.
Knowing that we would experience the scorching heat of summer, we planned a lazier routine. After landing in Phoenix, the journey through cactus-lined streets to the hotel in Scottsdale was soon taking us through Camelback Road, Stetson Drive and Dynamite Boulevard.
But morning and daylight soon brought a different perspective. From my colonial-style casita at The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, I was wowed by a vista of surprisingly lush landscape and mountains.
Yet in the midst of never-ending rolling desert, you’re only a short car journey away from Scottsdale’s bustling and modern Downtown art and shopping district.
Setting off next morning at 6am to beat midday temperatures in Scottsdale, which can top 40C in the summer months, we blew away the cobwebs with a hike up nearby Pinnacle Peak to absorb stunning views of the Sonoran Desert.
After breakfast, it was time for a signature Desert Nectar Facial in the spa of our Four Seasons Hotel, the perfect antidote to flying and dusty hikes, before a visit to the ultra-modern Scottsdale Fashion Square where shopping aficionados can browse popular US stores like Macys or high-end designer boutiques such as Burberry and Gucci.
With the pound so strong against a sagging dollar, I couldn’t resist a pair of Calvin Klein.
The heart of Scottsdale, a major centre still growing at breakneck speed, is more than a temple to retail therapy, however.
Culture vultures can dive into an array of vibrant art galleries, golfing fans have a choice of several superb courses and foodies can revel in award-winning restaurants.
Scottsdale’s Downtown is super-modern, immaculately turned out, and jam-packed with urban appeal. Our next stop, Sedona, could hardly have offered a more dramatic contrast.
Famous for its striking red rock formations, Sedona makes an ideal location for a desert retreat because of its reputation as a creative mecca with a New Age feel. Often called a museum without walls, Sedona draws visitors seeking to soak up the “mystical vortex energy” that apparently radiates from its rocks.
It’s an invigorating experience to view these famous rocks from a height during a “yoga hike”. Even the most cynical can’t fail to be moved by sun salutations at the summit of one of Sedona’s mountain-tops.
Although the strongly contrasting landscapes of Scottsdale and Sedona are barely two hours apart by car, they will appeal to different visitors. The common theme is the luxurious spas. The major hotel resorts have plunged millions to ensure their spa has the utmost in pampering and preening facilities.
Traditional treatments have become routine in each centre. Both Scottsdale and Sedona spas delight guests with treatments inspired by ancient Native American healing techniques and indigenous Sonoran Desert ingredients.
Take Turquoise Wrap treatment at the Golden Door Spa at The Boulders Resort – it’s based on the Native American belief that turquoise is the color of protection and positive energy.
Meanwhile, Sedona Rouge’s Desert Clay Body Mask uses Red Sedona clay and desert aloe juice. It’s a fabulous way of making the spa treatments unique to your destination and surroundings – putting you back in touch with where you are.
In Sedona especially, even skeptical sorts like me are swept away by the spiritual vibe.
Whatever you want from your spa break, you will find it in either Scottsdale or Sedona: for sprawling space and luxurious lounging, try the Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.
For something more intimate and less daunting for spa virgins, head to Scottsdale’s Four Seasons spa or Sedona’s Amara Creek. If you feel a bit lazy, try the new Alvadora spa suites in Scottsdale’s Royal Palms Resort and Spa, where therapists come to you. The new rooms there also feature a separate spa facility attached to your luxurious casita, with a European soaking tub and steam shower.
Wherever you stay, the views will be rarely less than stunning. Even if you don’t have the inclination to put on your hiking boots, you can’t fail to be moved by Arizona’s untouched desert beauty.
From chakras to auras, and luxury spas to boutique shops, my memories of Scottsdale and Sedona are of pure, pampered pleasure.
If he goes there again, I’ll wager that Robbie will ditch rehab to find revitalization of an altogether different kind.
Arizona Resorts/ Arizona Travel Deals / Arizona Golf / Spas in AZ
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