“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I believe strongly in the power of gratitude, which includes being in awe of my surroundings. I suspect this characteristic is at the root of my love of luxury properties. I am quite grateful that I recently had the pleasure to visit The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Phoenician is also part of the Starwood Hotels Luxury Collection.
Click Here to view the location of The Phoenician on Google Maps.
The Property
The Phoenician is without question the most expansive and sprawling property I’ve visited, checking in at a staggering 250 acres at the base of the southeast side of the legendary Camelback Mountain.
In terms of rooms, The Phoenician features an unparalled 643 total accommodations, comprised of 577 guestrooms, 62 suites, and four presidential suites – yes, you read that right, four. Wow.
We enjoyed a sublime suite overlooking the garden and main pool area. Here are some pics of our suite:
Dining
The Phoenician does not disappoint with its culinary offerings, featuring full-service restaurants J&G Steakhouse, Il Terrazzo, and Relish Burger Bistro. The property also features an extensive in-room dining menu, as well as a separate poolside menu.
I unfortunately didn’t have the opportunity to photograph my experience at Il Terrazo, but here are some images, courtesy of The Phoenician of the dazzling space:
I enjoyed lunch at Relish Bistro Burger, which is located at The Phoenician Golf Club; and I of course had no choice but to order a burger – the scrumptious Cobb Burger to be precise. Here are some images from my visit:
We also enjoyed a spectacular dinner at J&G Steakhouse, which offers a grand and elevated view from the top floor of the property. Inspired by renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, J&G Steakhouse offers a varied and succulent menu of meat and seafood. Click Here to view the Dinner Menu. The Lobster was out-of-this-world great.
Here are a few images of the inimitable J&G Steakhouse, courtesy of The Phoenician:
Spa
The Centre for Well-Being Spa at The Phoenician is a 22,000 square-foot spa complex offering comprehensive programs and á la carte services ranging from signature body treatments, to energy therapies and fitness classes. Click Here to view the impressive Spa Menu.
Tanya and I each enjoyed the serene and quiescent Desert Serenity Scrub, a savory exfoliation scrub, followed by a relaxing wrap, and finished with a dreamy Swedish Massage. This treatment is a seriously profound experience, and the perfect way to decompress during your visit.
Golf
In a city dotted with high end golf courses, The Phoenician offers one of the most highly regarded and sought after collection of courses, its 27-hole championship golf masterpiece. Designed by Ted Robinson, Sr. and Homer Flint, the collection of three separate nine-hole courses may be played in a number of ways, allowing the players to explore different golf experiences. The three courses are the Canyon Nine, the Desert Nine, and the Oasis Nine.
I unfortunately didn’t have the opportunity to enjoy the golf, but if you are a golfer, I highly recommend that you visit. Click Here to learn more about the Phoenician Golf Experience. Here are a few images of Phoenician Golf, courtesy of The Phoenician:
The Canyon Suites
The Phoenician is full of surprises, though its crescent-shaped Canyon Suites is perhaps its most unexpected and luxurious surprise. The Canyon Suites is an entirely distinct 60-room boutique luxury hotel, adjacent to, and slightly to the west of, The Phoenician. The Canyon Suites has earned the decidedly difficult to earn tandem Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Award ratings.
The property offers a uniquely distinct experience, and I look forward to returning and spending a great deal more time enjoying and experiencing its Five Star amenities and accommodations. Here are some images from my visit:
Aqua Mermaid
The Phoenician has teamed up with the Aqua Mermaid Swimming School, offering a most unique aquatic experience. I must take a few words to praise, thank, grovel to, my wife for her willing spirit in enthusiastically accepting the Mermaid challenge! She had such a great time! Here are some images of her Mermaid experience:
Closing Thoughts
Like the mythological Phoenix for which the property is named, The Phoenician rises triumphantly from the Arizona desert, emoting vibrant energy and elegance.
Whether you reside in Arizona, or you are a visiting traveler to our enchanting state, The Phoenician is one of our greatest treasures. It is more than a place to lay your head. It’s a destination where you can feed your body, mind, and soul through a number of varied and numerous activities and experiences. Or in the alternative, a place where you can simply choose to be silent, and recharge.
Regardless of how you choose to spend your time at The Phoenician, I can promise that you will leave with a collection of special memories and photos that will keep your heart smiling for many years to come.
The Phoenician – Information and Social
There is much more to learn about The Phoenician, so please click on these links:
The Phoenician (Website) and The Canyon Suites (Website) – 6000 East Camelback Rd, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 (Google Maps)
Facebook for the Canyon Suites
Facebook for the Phoenician Golf Club
Twitter for the Phoenician Golf Club
Click Here to read the reviews on Trip Advisor for the Phoenician
Click Here to read the reviews on Trip Advisor for the Canyon Suites
More Pictures!
Thanks so very much to everyone at the resort, especially to Lauren and Denise for making this visit possible! My wife Tanya and I truly had a fabulous experience, and we will always cherish our time at the resort.
Please take note that the resort welcomed me as a special media guest, but that my opinions are, as always, entirely my own.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to read this article, and happy dining and traveling!
#agp
