“Listen to the voice of nature, For it holds treasure for you.” – Huron
I am extremely fortunate to visit and write about luxury resorts, but my recent visit to the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa in Chandler, Arizona was incredibly special because of the relationship the property shares with the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona.
The Native American influence is apparent throughout the property’s dining, spa, architecture, and overall tranquil and peaceful environment. I truly felt like an honored guest in a dear friend’s home, and soon realized why the Sheraton Wild Horse Resort & Spa is one of the best luxury resorts in Arizona.
Entry
The property’s entry is grand, stately, and elegant. You’ll notice the resplendent space and design, and the Native American influence in the coloring and detailed Native American murals.
Accommodations
We enjoyed a plush suite with sliding glass doors leading out to the property’s expansive landscape, replete with lush greenery, a calm river, and a lovely collection of birds, cranes, and owls.
Water
I love water, pools, jacuzzis, you name it, and the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa has an impressive array of pools, including an awesome water slide!!
I LOVED the Waterslide!! I woke up early Sunday morning so I could grab some images and I must have hit that waterslide at least 20 times!! I was like a 10 year old! So great! I even recorded one of my rides with a GoPro, just Click Here to view it.
Dining
The Sheraton Wild Horse Resort & Spa offers a number of varied and superlative dining options, including its signature restaurant – the famous Kai Restaurant, which we were extremely fortunate to enjoy, and I wrote a separate article about that experience, which you can read by clicking Here.
We also enjoyed the property’s other feature dining option, which is called Ko’Sin Restaurant. Ko’Sin means “kitchen” in the Pima language, and the restaurant offers a fusion of Native American and Arizona comfort food. We enjoyed a superlative meal, and as with the rest of the property, Ko’Sin offers a truly authentic Native American atmosphere.
Aji Spa
I have visited many spas, and I was absolutely blown away by the sheer luxury and resplendence of the Aji Spa. I had no inkling that the Aji Spa was on par with the best spas in Arizona, but it most certainly is. It’s quite something.
Aji means “Sanctuary” in the Pima language, and is Arizona’s only Native American-owned spa, and features indigenous treatments based on ancient legends of the Pima and Maricopa tribes.
One of the signs of a high level spa is the entry, and you know that you’re entering a superior spa when you enter the Aji Spa. It looks and feels grand. One of the other main characteristics of a luxury spa is the quality of the locker rooms, and the Aji Spa does not disappoint. The men’s locker room includes the standard features such as Sauna, Steam Room, Outdoor Jacuzzi, Luxury Showers, and plush lockers, but what really sets this locker room apart are its indoor Jacuzzi and Plunge Pool – the nicest indoor jacuzzi and plunge pool I’ve ever seen in all of my spa visits – most impressive and dazzling.
How great is that large stone, bringing the desert landscape into the locker room? I couldn’t wait to have a treatment!
Aji Spa has a vast array of spa services, which you can view the Spa Menu by Clicking Here. It was very difficult to choose from all of the services, but I settled on the HO’ISHP (Sacred Prickly Pear Body Treatment) and it was sublime. The treatment was all-time great – scents, texture, and finished with a hot shower, and a lovely and fragrant prickly pear tea.
Not everyone agrees with me, but my number one feature that I look for in a high-end luxury spa is a separate dedicated spa pool – and Aji Spa has a doozy of a spa pool. Pure luxury, peace and solitude; and there’s no better way to wind down after a treatment than lounging by a private luxury spa pool. This was my favorite part of the resort.
One of my favorite features of the spa pool area is an Olas Ki, which is the Pima word for ’round house.’ Today, these homes are built for ceremonial purposes and are rare. The Tribal Elders granted permission to Aji Spa to recreate an Olas Ki. It is a sublime and peaceful addition to the spa, reflecting respect for Tribal history and ceremony, and representing the strong bond and relationship between the property and the Tribes.
Closing Thoughts
It’s hard to overstate how much I enjoyed my visit to the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa. I never truly know what to expect when visiting a property for the first time, but even with my high expectations, this property is on par with all of the luxury properties I’ve visited in Arizona; and the Aji Spa is on par with the best spas I’ve ever visited – anywhere.
I highly recommend that you take the time to visit this jewel of a property, go to the Aji Spa, soak in the pool, close your eyes, and listen to the voice of nature. I think you’ll be amazed at what you’ll hear.
Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa – Contact and Social
Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa: 5594 West Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler, Arizona 85226 (Google Maps)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheratonWildHorsePassResort
Twitter: @WildHorsePassAZ
Instagram: @sheratonwildhorsepass
YouTube: www.youtube.com/WildHorsePassAZ
Click Here to read the reviews on Trip Advisor
More Pictures!
Thanks so very much to Stephanie, Nikki, Natasha, Jaclyn, Tito, and everyone at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa for a most special and memorable visit. I’m so honored to have had the chance to experience your wonderful desert oasis.
Please note that the hotel welcomed me as a special media guest, but that, as always, all of the opinions and views expressed here are my own.
Thank you, and happy traveling!
#agp
