Sanctuary is a luxury resort located in the Camelback Mountains of Scottsdale, Arizona. Its primary goals are to help guests relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect. Sanctuary Resort includes tennis instruction, swimming lessons, private fitness classes, and personalized health services, most of which are offered at an extra fee. The resort also houses the restaurant Elements, as well as Jade Bar, which offers mixology classes and live music.
Sanctuary offers a variety of packages, spa treatments, and accommodations and is available as a venue for weddings and other events. Some of the packages include themed retreats and activity-oriented programs of varying intensity. Most packages include 1–3 nights’ accommodations as well as some meals and spa treatments. Guests of all ages are welcome—including pets that weigh up to 50 pounds.
Accommodations
Accommodations at Sanctuary Resort include casitas, suites, and private homes.
Casitas are the smallest type of accommodation available at Sanctuary Resort. All casitas feature a full bath and shower, a master bedroom, and living area of contemporary design.
The Spa casitas are close to the spa facilities and include private balconies. While all accommodations feature desert views, the Camelback casitas boast particularly exceptional ones. The Terrace casitas are the largest and most luxurious casitas at 875 square feet with an additional 330 square-foot patio. Each features a gas fireplace and outdoor shower as well as stunning views of the mountains through a 12-foot glass wall.
The suites at Sanctuary Resort are a step up in luxury from the casitas. The Mountain suites come with one or two-bedroom options, custom wood furnishings, sky-lit bathrooms, and wood-burning fireplaces. The Spa suites are more contemporary in design and have one bedroom. They each feature a wet bar, glass rock fireplace, and outdoor soaking tub.
The Camelback suites are the most sumptuous of the Sanctuary Resort suites. They come in one and two-bedroom options and offer the same amenities as the Camelback casitas plus more space.
Guests who want the most exclusive experience at Sanctuary will choose to stay in a private home, of which there are eight. Each one is unique, and all feature multiple bedrooms. Some include private pools and tennis courts.
Fitness
At Sanctuary Resort, guests can choose from a range of fitness and recreational classes and services—some of which are free with their stay—that are available every day of the week. These include the following options and more:
Tennis clinic ($55)
Flow yoga
Pilates ($20)
Water aerobics
Bike and hike ($30)
Paddleboard yoga ($55)
All courses are led by specialized fitness experts and trainers, who also lead private classes upon request ($130 per hour). In addition to classes, there are fitness services available such as personal training ($120 per hour), stretch therapy ($130 per hour).
There are also several fitness packages available at Sanctuary Resort. The Triathlon Training, Thrill Seekers, and Hike Tech programs offer the highest-intensity fitness regimens (in that order). In Triathlon Training, guests have three days of intensive swimming, biking, and running with a team of athletes including Olympic gold medalist swimmer Misty Hyman. Thrill Seekers enjoy a three-night stay and a guided hike and bike ride. Hike Tech includes a two-night stay, a guided hike, and a 60-minute spa session.
There are also two golf-themed packages, both of which include 18 holes. Casa Golfer’s Sanctuary includes a two-night stay, and Golfer’s Sanctuary is only one night.
Food
For guests looking for a more serious approach to nutrition, Sanctuary Resort offers nutrition classes ($35) with a registered dietician. For personalized nutrition sessions ($175 per hour during the week, $185 on weekends), guests get the personalized attention of the dietician to learn how to reach their own nutrition and healthy eating goals.
Guests of Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort can enjoy fine wining and dining at both Elements and Jade Bar. Elements serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. The culinary influences at Elements are global and include Asian fusion—to match the interior decor— as well as Tex-Mex flavors and American favorites. Elements focuses on local and organic meals, though not necessarily health-conscious or calorie-limited, so guests looking to lose weight at Sanctuary Resort will have to self-regulate their nutrition.
Extras
As a luxury wellness spa, Sanctuary Resort provides a wide array of spa services and wellness experiences. In addition to a full-service salon, guests can enjoy skin care treatments, massage therapy methods from all over the world, and the in-room “sweet dreams” treatment, which includes an exfoliating massage, a soothing bath, and tea service.
The Sanctuary spa particularly specializes in Asian-inspired treatments such as acupuncture ($175 per hour), sabai foot massage ($165 per hour on weekdays, $175 on weekends), and reiki ($165 per hour on weekdays, $175 on weekends).
In addition to physical wellness treatments, Sanctuary Resort offers several spiritual and mental wellness services including but not limited to the following:
Life coaching ($175 per hour on weekdays, $185 on weekends)
Hypnotherapy ($175–$185)
Guided meditations ($175–$185)
Astrological readings ($175–$185)
Location
Sanctuary Resort sprawls over the Camelback Mountains and overlooks Paradise Valley. It is only five minutes away from downtown Scottsdale, Arizona, and 20 minutes from Phoenix and the various restaurants, museums, and shopping opportunities it has to offer. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is only 10 miles to the south of the resort.
Guests can take advantage of the nearby hiking trails at McDowell Mountain Regional Park and Mountain Shadows golf course. There are also a number of potential day trips, all within two hours’ drive of Sanctuary Resort, such as Apache Trail, the Dolly Steamboat cruise, Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West.
Pricing
Sanctuary Resort, pricing at Sanctuary Resort depends on a range of factors such as availability, double occupancy, and high and low-season variations in prices. Staying in a private villa at Sanctuary Resort will start at an average price of $2,000 per night. A stay in one of the casitas or suites will start at an average of $1,100 per night.
Summary
For guests looking for a relaxing wellness experience, Sanctuary Resort offers a huge selection of high quality options—for top dollar. Guests looking for a healthy, luxurious FitStay may enjoy the fitness options at Sanctuary, provided they can self-regulate their meals during the stay. However, with many features coming at extra cost, visitors looking for an all-inclusive wellness resort should look elsewhere.
