The Phoenician is not the kind of place I would usually stay. With acres of cream-colored marble, crystal chandeliers, and meticulous landscaping, it's the Versailles of Scottsdale, the most formal of the city's famous resorts. I see the society ladies, with their perfect coifs and big rocks, taking tea while a piano player tinkles in the background and I think, "I'm not good enough to be here."
Not that the staff makes me feel that way. They are warm and friendly, even as they address me as Ms. Brown. And the longer I stay, the more I think, "Hey, I DO belong here." It has one of the best locations in town, 250 acres tucked right against the base of Camelback Mountain, the well-loved landmark that straddles both Phoenix and Scottsdale -- perfect for hikers like me. Most of that acreage is taken up with 27 holes of golf, including a few holes on the mountain.
The Phoenician's Slice of Paradise
The spacious rooms -- 654 of them, at least 600 square-feet in size -- were recently refurbished in an elegantly modern style, with flat screen TVs. "I could get used to this," I think, looking out at paradise, with nine swimming pools, towering palm trees and the craggy Papago Buttes a few miles away.
No wonder President George Walker Bush (the senior) likes to stay in the Presidential Suite when he's in town. And The Rolling Stones stayed in the Desert Suites, an exclusive "resort within a resort" with 60 luxurious suites.
So the resort itself is old-money luxe but up-to-date. The spa, however, a state-of-the-art trendsetter when it was built in 1988, has lagged behind. It's particularly evident The Centre For Well-Being's public areas. There's a nice steam room, sauna and whirlpool, but the locker room is clearly decades-old. And the Meditation Atrium where you wait to be picked up for your appointment feels the most dated.
First-Rate Staff at The Phoenician's Spa
That said, The Centre For Well Being has a first-rate staff and spa menu, offering services that you won't find at most resort spas. I had an inspiring "Optimal Aging/Optimal Wellness" consultation with Dr. Amy Whittington, a naturopathic physician who graduated from a four-year medical program that emphasizes prevention rather than suppressing symptoms.
We talked about healthy habits for diet, exercise, and sleep and tweaked my supplement program. (I have a bigger pill organizer than most 90-year-olds.) During the 80-minute consultation ($220), she made some helpful suggestions about how to use food to control mood and energy swings.
Many resorts are known for the "fluff and buff" approach to massage, but I had a fabulous nueromuscular therapy session with veteran massage therapist Joan Laubach. After making sure I understood that the session might involve some discomfort and that I might be sore the next day, she proceeded to use a whole arsenal of techniqes to unloosen chronically tight areas.
Nueromuscular Therapy and Accusage At The Phoenician Spa
I was impressed by her knowledge and the fact the she went places most massage therapists don't go -- under the arm, for instance. The 80-minute session ($220) was so effective my neck even felt longer the next day. Laubach is also a licensed acupuncturist who created Acussage, a combination of acupuncture and massage (80 minutes, $250) that is helpful for people with chronic or acute muscular pain.
In the fitness center, you can get personal training sessions with Barbara Marchbanks, who has a four-year degree in exercise physiology (50 minutes, $100) or take ballroom dance lessons (60-minutes for $125). And there are plenty of complimentary classes in Pilates, spinning, yoga and meditation. Every morning at 7 AM there's a property walk where you learn the property's history. Back at the spa, people with a metaphysical bent can get Tarot card readings ($125 for 50 minutes) or hypnotherapy ($185 for 80 minutes).
I was so impressed with the personnel that I would give them five stars, but the facility itself is just three stars, so it averages out to four stars. Given the steep prices -- and all the heavy spa competition in Scottsdale and Phoenix -- it's time they build a new spa that is up to the level of the staff!
The Phoenician Spa (The Centre For Well-Being) At A Glance:
- Type of Spa: resort spa
- Address: 6000 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, Arizona
- Room Rates: $175-$3500. Book Now.
- Room Reservations: 800-955-7352
- Spa Appointments: 800-843-2392
- Websites: The Phoenician and The Centre For Well-Being
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations and treatments for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
