Luxurious spas are de rigueur at any high end resort. However, the Well & Being Spa at the
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort takes the integrative spa and fitness experience to an
impressive level. Arizona’s stark beauty provides a stunning backdrop for this revered retreat—
a behemoth 65-acre sanctuary neighboring the Sonoran Desert with the McDowell Mountains in
view beyond.
The initial approach to this property, which is Arizona’s longest running AAA Five Diamond
hotel—24 years to date, is like happening upon a desert oasis replete with picturesque palm
trees, lush landscaping and cascading fountain beckoning guests into the resort’s front
entrance. Mere milliseconds after I drove into the covered valet I was greeted by the property’s
resident “cowboy,” offering me and my guests cold water and a warm welcome. No surprise
given the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort is well-known for its award-winning service.
On this aspect of the experience Pam Gilbert, the property’s Director of Sales and Marketing,
underscores an impressive point that most of Guest Services/Bell Stand team has been at the
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess for at least 10 years, if not 20 or more and prides themselves on
offering personalized service—often getting to know returning guests by name. She cites that
the resort’s Director of Guest Services, Thomas Williams, was named “Outstanding Manager of
the Year” by the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association and went on to win the national award
from the American Hotel & Lodging Association in Washington, D.C.
And so my vacation began. After regarding the resort’s gorgeous Spanish architecture from the
outside, now a neutral beige versus the princess pink exterior of yore, it was time to settle in to
my accommodations. There are ten different types of room options at this property that start
with the simple yet meticulously detailed 525-square foot Fairmont room appropriately
decorated in Southwestern décor. On the high end, the property boasts a 2,100-square foot
Presidential suite complete with a living/parlor area that seats six, two bathrooms, a 600-square
foot bedroom and a covered patio among other inducements. Also available are stand-alone
Casita Suites, 850-square foot versions of beautifully appointed Spanish Colonial estates. The
separate living and sleeping areas are a boon for families or those on a working vacation, and
the gas fireplace sets a more romantic mood for couples in the winter months. The wet bar with
Nespresso machine and the 42″ LG flat screen television are crowd pleasers for all. The Casita
area of the resort features its own private pool area with Jacuzzi, which makes staying in these
detached dwellings perfect for those who truly want to get away from it all.
But, no matter where on the property guests stay, beauty abounds. According to Gilbert, the
resort grounds are one of the hallmarks that set this property apart. Sonoran Desert cactus
blends with lily pad lagoons, a fragrance garden and a “living wall” of flowers. With the desert
flora comes local fauna, the most popular of which is Cecil—a desert tortoise with his own
habitat where guests can feed, touch and otherwise ogle this gentle creature. Bunnies, blue
heron, ducks, fish and water turtles are other on-site inhabitants that guests will likely see during
their visit. For youngsters, the resort offers a Trailblazers Kids Club where children will meet the
mascot, a bearded dragon named Skittles, plus see spiders and snakes kept in aquariums.
With bags unpacked and having soaked in my surroundings, it was time to focus on what I really
wanted to do at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess: hit the spa! Well & Being is an expansive on-
site destination spa that bills itself as one that “embraces a foundation of whole health, inspiring
guests to be healthy, balanced and a more energetic version of themselves,” which is achieved
by delivering a “personal and sustainable wellness program to guests who wish to incorporate
optimal health and lifestyle choices with guidance before, during and long after they leave the
resort setting.” I aimed to see for myself how these laudable yet lofty goals would be achieved.
It turns out that Well & Being fuses health, wellness, nutrition, integrative medicine, cutting edge
fitness classes, advanced skincare and personal care to offer an exceedingly broad range of
innovative spa experiences that suit any guest’s needs or wants.
For those seeking to get, or stay, in shape while in Scottsdale, one great option is the
individualized “Fitness Prescription” program. It starts with a consultation with the resort’s
resident exercise physiologist who performs a fitness assessment and risk analysis and
discusses fitness goals, lifestyle and exercise preferences. The assessment includes three
diagnostics: the BodPod, the Body Gem and the Fit Mate Pro. Quite notably, the BodPod
measures body composition of fat versus lean muscle tissue while the Body Gem measures
resting metabolic rate. The Fit Mate Pro is also extremely comprehensive, measuring maximum
oxygen uptake, anaerobic uptake, anaerobic threshold predictions, individual training zones,
strength and stamina. Wellness Coaching and Nutrition Consultation services are also available.
When you’re ready to sweat, there are any number of compelling options: Aerial Hammock
Yoga, Pilates, spinning, body sculpting, Zumba, TRX and CrossFit to name a few. There is also
themed programming by SICFIT and Krank Fusion. Of course, there is a fully stocked fitness
center with all of the free weights, Nautilus and cardio equipment one would need to achieve
health goals, whether that be to build strength and stamina or slim down. Staff fitness pros are
readily available for group or one-on-one instruction.
After the fitness and nutrition endeavors, it’s a must to indulge in some relaxing spa therapy.
The facilities and services offered at Well & Being are truly world class, comprehensive and rife
with creature comforts that include an open air rooftop adult pool with private cabanas, co-ed
grotto waterfall for the ultimate natural massage, Health Spa Cuisine and beverage services
available inside the garden atrium or poolside, a wet steam room, eucalyptus inhalation room,
Swedish dry sauna, hot therapeutic whirlpool, cold plunge pool and a Swiss shower. In addition
to the full range of traditional spa services you would expect, such as massage, salon services,
skin care, and body wraps, the resort also offers acupuncture and acupressure.
If outdoor activity is more your thing, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort also boasts a
famed TPC Scottsdale Stadium Golf Course, which is home to the Annual PGA Tour Waste
Management Phoenix Open (closed for renovations until November 2014), and the Champions
Course. Or, the concierge can arrange any kind of excursion to get your adrenaline flowing,
including bike riding, rock climbing, hiking and more.
Of course, no spa-driven sabbatical is complete without some nutritious and delicious eats.
Luckily, the resort features a Healthy Cuisine menu that serves up fitness-driven fare both day
and night. Offerings include made-to-order smoothies, breakfast items like house-made granola,
and lunch and dinner dishes like Grilled Shrimp & Edamame Succotash, Black Bean & Quinoa
Burger, and Poached Atlantic Salmon. Healthy eating options are offered at the spa café, at any
of the property’s pools, or for in-room dining so there’s no excuse not to stay the dietary course.
When you are ready to indulge a bit, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort does offer some
incredible dining options.
Gilbert notes, “Bourbon Steak, a AAA Four Diamond restaurant, has a cellar with over 3,000
bottles, a sommelier and a Bar Commander who teaches cocktail classes twice a month. La
Hacienda, named #1 Best Mexican Food by Arizona Business Magazine for three consecutive
years, has a ‘Tequila Goddess’ who is one of few in the country who traveled to Mexico to be
certified as a tequila expert by the Tequila Regulatory Council. La Hacienda also has more than
240 tequilas, including their own private barrels from Herradura.”
Also according to Gilbert, coming this fall the property is introducing and operating a new
restaurant concept in conjunction with celebrity chef Richard Sandoval. The restaurant, which
will be named Toro, will reside at the TPC Scottsdale, and its launch will coincide with the re-
opening.
Having sweat it out on the fitness front, gratified myself on a range of healthy grub, and basked
in more than my fair share of spa services, it was time to bid the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Resort adieu. Sad though that was, I left the property invigorated and ready to get back to the
grind of everyday life. With my proverbial batteries recharged, I waved goodbye to that ever-
present Guest Services cowboy and rode off into the Scottsdale sunset.
“The Luxe List” Executive Editor Merilee Kern scours the luxury marketplace
for exemplary travel experiences, extraordinary events, and notable products and services. Submissions
are accepted at www.LuxeListReviews.com. Follow her on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/LuxeListEditor
and Facebook here: www.Facebook.com/TheLuxeList.
***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above were
provided at no cost to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee
Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***
