Scottsdale Blog - Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona » Spas

Destination Guide Personality: Dzeneta Arslanovic

Josh Kenzer — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:08:18 +0000

Each year, Experience Scottsdale profiles a selection of local celebrities, from restaurateurs and sports figures to artists and adventurers for our Destination Guide. We invite you to meet this year’s luminaries and find out what they have to say about living, working and enjoying life in Scottsdale.

Dzeneta Arslanovic is the Spa Director, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch

Request your free destination guide for Scottsdale, Arizona today!

Spa Avania Partners with Lobo Fitness for New Metabolic Boot Camp

Josh Kenzer — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:54:30 +0000

Spa Avania at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch has rolled out its Metabolic Boot Camp program in partnership with Lobo Fitness. The program corresponds with the spa’s time-of-day concept to produce three 55-minute classes that change for morning, midday and evening. The morning format fires up your metabolism to prepare for the day ahead and combines athletic drills, sports-simulated moves, plyometrics and isolation of major muscle groups. You will detoxify your body while building muscle and burning significant calories. Body shaping is the focus of the midday class which revolves around awareness, core activation, strength and power. Exercises also increase flexibility and provide balance with the incorporation of bozu and medicine balls as well as mat workouts. Finally, the evening class emphasizes stretching and deep breathing to help achieve muscle relaxation and tension release while restoring your mind, body and spirit. Cost is $18 per person for group workouts and rates are available for private, one-on-one training.

UPDATED: The Power of Pink at the Fairmont Scottsdale

Josh Kenzer — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:11:49 +0000

It’s about “thinking pink” at Willow Stream – The Spa at Fairmont Scottsdale, where a treatment room has been painted pink to support breast cancer awareness. When guests book a Pink Massage or Pink Pedicure, 5 percent of the proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation during Willow Stream’s “Power of Pink” program running October 1, 2009 – October 1, 2010.

The Pink Pedicure uses a decadent pomegranate sugar scrub provided by the pink Whish body product line…and toes can even be topped off with OPI’s special “Pink of Hearts” polish. All Whish products are also 15 percent off in the Spa Boutique, such as sugar scrub, body butter and shower gel. On “Pink Mondays,” breast cancer survivors receive 15 percent off spa or salon services. While enjoying any of these treatments, spa-goers also enjoy use of Willow Stream’s 44,000 square-foot luxury facilities.

The “Power of Pink” program is in conjunction with Fairmont Scottsdale’s on-going effort to support breast cancer research with several employees participating in both the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk for the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure each year. The resort’s Princess Shop also offers special pink products the month of October.

UPDATE: Here are some additional details about the spa services being offered.

The “Pink Massage” is a 60-minute therapeutic massage provided in Willow Stream’s new “Power of Pink” room complete with pink walls painted in the official Komen for the Cure colors, along with pink blankets provided by Komen and a pink ribbon plaque with inspirational phrases. There is also a dedication poster for guests to sign their name or the name of a loved one. The Pink Massage is $169.*
The “Pink Pedicure” in the Willow Stream Salon offers a decadent pomegranate sugar scrub using the whimsical pink Whish product line … and the toes can even be topped off with OPI’s “Pink of Hearts” pink ribbon nail polish. All Whish products, such as the sugar scrub, body butter and shower gel, are also 15 percent off in the Spa Boutique. The Pink Pedicure is $109.*
“Pink Mondays” are for breast cancer survivors, who receive 15 percent off any spa or salon service.
The Shops at the Fairmont Scottsdale are also offering pink products the month of October, including the Signorelli “Hope” t-shirt, Ballmania Pink Ribbon Lip Balm, semi-precious pink stoned Native American jewelry by Colette Simonetta and the “Power of Pink” bracelet and badge holder by Brighton.
Soft pink robes and Willow Stream pink “blinged” logoed baseball caps with rhinestones will also be available for purchase year-round in the Spa Boutique.

A Treatment for All Seasons in the Sonoran Desert

Josh Kenzer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:05:23 +0000

With the monsoons officially in season and the rain storms ascending across the desert sky, Agave, The Arizona Spa at The Westin Kierland Resort is featuring the Rain Massage , paying tribute to this precious desert commodity. Utilizing special rain sticks that are hand-carved with good luck symbols and petroglyphs showing the signs of prosperity and strength, a special rowing technique provides warmth from the stick and the sound of falling rain.

As summer turns into fall, The Golden Door Spa at The Boulders Resort will offer a cornucopia of new spa services inspired by the transformative spirit of autumn. The PumpSkin Body Treatment is almost good enough to eat with a pear and green apple scrub followed by a Vichy shower, pumpkin cream body wrap, and pear and green apple massage soufflé.

Reminisce about the days of snuggling up next to a fire with a warm cup of hot cocoa during the holiday season by treating your worn-out toes to a Cocoa-Mint Foot Treatment at Hotel Valley Ho’s VH Spa for Vitality + Health . Cocoa sugar scrub of the calves and feet buffs away dry skin while peppermint oil revives aching muscles. A cocoa mint foot cream completes this treat as it quenches and softens overworked feet from holiday shopping.

Transport yourself to the Sonoran Desert this spring as its beauty is magnified with the flora in bloom. The desert-inspired Jojoba and Prickly Pear Body Polish at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North uncovers the skin’s natural glow using the Sonoran Desert jojoba shrub and plant antioxidants. A prickly pear sugar scrub and body wash along with a prickly pear and jojoba body butter will make you feel like you’re one with the desert.

Scottsdale Golf, Spa Packages Right on Par

Josh Kenzer — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:42:52 +0000

InterContinental Montelucia

The InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa may not have a golf course on property but that doesn’t mean you can’t have the Ultimate Golf & Spa Getaway. Test your skills with two rounds of golf per day at some of Scottsdale’s top courses including Troon North , Talking Stick , We-Ko-Pa and Grayhawk golf clubs or pamper yourself with two 60-minute spa treatments at Joya Spa each day. Also included is a guided hike up Camelback Mountain, daily breakfast for two and a fourth night of accommodations for free. The package starts at $310 per night and is available thru Dec. 31, 2009.

The Practice to Pamper package is the perfect combination of indulging and coaching to improve your game. Women golfers enjoy luxury accommodations at the Fairmont Scottsdale, a two-hour lesson at TPC Scottsdale’s TOUR Academy followed by a relaxing 60-minute golf performance massage at Willow Stream – The Spa at Fairmont Scottsdale. The package starts at $489 per person and is available year-round.

Fairmont Scottsdale

The Suite Golf & Spa Experience at Gainey Suites Hotel showcases some of Scottsdale’s finest in golf, spa and dining with a round of golf at Starfire Golf Club, McCormick Ranch Golf Club or TPC Scottsdale; a 60-minute spa treatment at the Spa at Gainey Village; and a $50 food voucher for the Village Tavern. At the hotel, enjoy studio suite accommodations, daily breakfast, and an evening beer and wine reception. The package starts at $259 and is available thru Dec. 31, 2009.

Experience Scottsdale, Arizona Video

Josh Kenzer — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:21:56 +0000

Scottsdale Travel News: May 2009

Josh Kenzer — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:59:35 +0000

Best Western Debuts As Newest Hotel in Scottsdale

On April 6, 2009, The Best Western Sundial Resort opened in downtown Scottsdale. This boutique hotel features 54 contemporary guestrooms, including 12 suites that are Zodiac-themed rooms with astrological artwork. All rooms feature flat-screen TVs, glass shower doors and high-speed Internet access plus many of the guest rooms have a whirlpool tub and bar with balcony views of the signature Camelback Mountain and McDowell Mountains. Guests also enjoy complimentary breakfast each day. The Best Western Sundial Resort is owned by Allan Henderson, a hotelier who owns two Best Western properties in Alberta, Canada, and whose grandparents owned and operated The Hacienda Inn, which was a well-known 22-room bungalow style resort at one time and located on the exact site as the new Best Western Sundial Resort.

Resort Programs Give Visitors an Up-Close Look at Sonoran Desert

The Boulders Resort, The Waldorf Astoria Collection, formerly The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, offers three learning programs to enrich guests knowledge of Scottsdale’s Sonoran Desert.

The Desert Photo Safari is a guided nature walk where participants capture the stunning flora and fauna with the help of expert photographer, Linda Covey. Held at sunrise and sunset, the two-hour exploration surveys the desert’s most pristine scenic areas with the morning tour kicking off 30 minutes before sunrise. The evening tour begins 30 minutes prior to sunset and ends with a complimentary glass of wine where attendees can discuss their best shots with the group. Cost is $85 per person.

The resort’s onsite art gallery, created by the Trail of The Painted Ponies, an organization dedicated to promoting artistic excellence through exhibitions of original fine arts, workshops, demonstrations and signings, is a living gallery featuring the works of the American West’s most established and emerging artists. The selections are displayed throughout the property and further enriching the program for visitors are art workshops, special exhibits, private artists consultations, and an Artist-in-Residence program.

Guests of The Boulders Resort also can turn their attention to the desert sky and experience the onsite stargazing program led by Astronomer Richard Allen. Depending on the time of year, attendees participating in the one- and two-hour sessions can locate Jupiter, Saturn, the Orion Nebula, Mars and other stellar sights using state-of-the-art telescopes and star charts as they listen to Allen’s awe-inspiring stories about the night sky. The experience is complimentary for resort guests.

Reach Your Full Wellness Potential With Resort Spa Programs

Travelers find their own path to nirvana with the Satori Wellness Retreat at the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa. Named after the Japanese word for enlightenment, the program helps attendees find their way to a healthier lifestyle. During the three- or four-day journey, each guest meets with a certified trainer who introduces them to a personalized health and fitness program. The wellness retreat runs $3,034 per person for three nights or $3,879 for four nights and includes accommodations in a mountain vista casita, three daily meals, two daily fitness courses, one 60-minute spa treatment and one salon service.

Give your body the care it deserves at The Phoenician’s Centre for Well-Being. The Well-Being Retreat costs $360 per person and gives you all the tools needed for making lasting lifestyle choices, as well as preventative care. The package includes a consultation with the spa’s naturopathic physician and fitness revival program that includes a body composition analysis, personalized cardio and muscle conditioning, and personalized stretching program.

Joya Spa at the InterContinental Montelucia Resort makes personal well-being a top priority with its free health seminars. The Wednesday night workshops, held from 6 to 7 p.m., focus on various areas of health such as heart, skeletal and arthritic care. The programs are led by local doctors who offer expert advice on prevention and treatment. Classes supplement Joya’s pro-wellness emphasis, and will eventually lead to a full menu of lifestyle offerings, including guest speakers, weekend- and week-long workshops slated to begin later this year.

Faint-Hearted Need Not Apply: High-Octane Outdoor Adventure Activities

Canyoneering might be a new word for your vocabulary but 360 Adventures guarantees that just one experience will have you hooked. The journey takes visitors to the Roosevelt lake area on hiking, wading, swimming, scrambling and rappelling excursions through one of geology’s most impressive feats, a canyon. Professional guides navigate guests through spectacular chasms as they encounter the stunning elements. The full-day trip is $400 for the first person and $200 for each additional participant and includes all safety gear, snacks, water and lunch.

Come to where the mountains meet the desert and adventure meets escape, and enjoy one of Arizona’s most natural beauties, the Upper Salt River Canyon. Guests on a guided river trip with AAM’s Mild to Wild Rafting brave the rapids of the state’s 2,000-foot deep “other Grand Canyon” as they make their way through the Sonoran Desert scenery. The day-long excursion runs $115 per person and includes a grilled lunch. Or, guests can opt for the multi-day trip that runs $375 to $750 per person and includes a catered, deluxe river camp setup.

Westwind Air Service offers scenic air tours to some of the most spectacular locations in the Western United States, including the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell and Sedona. Tours range from one-hour sunset flights above the Valley for $199 per person to the Grand Canyon South Rim Air Tour where guests pay $349 per person and enjoy the birds-eye view of the Tonto National Forest, Red Rock formations of Sedona and unforgettable San Francisco Peaks as they make their way through the Painted Desert and Navajo Indian Reservation before arriving at the Grand Canyon.

History Collides With Modernism at Scottsdale’s Two Historic Properites

Scottsdale is a contemporary town boasting the finest in accommodations, amenities and activities but the city also is home to a rich Western heritage that is still at the base of its character. In fact, the city is home to two historic properties that add a dose of culture and intrigue to its renowned travel offerings.

Revel in Scottsdale’s Southwestern history at The Hermosa Inn. This 35-room boutique hotel was once the home and studio of cowboy artist Alonzo “Lon” Megargee whose rugged abode was created using old beams and wood from an abandoned mine. To supplement his income as an artist, Megargee rented his home out as a guest ranch. Now known as The Hermosa Inn, the hotel has been modernized with a wine cellar, an organic garden and the award-winning LON’s restaurant but still prides itself in its Western heritage with prints and Megargee’s original artwork decorating the property grounds.

Since opening in 1956, the Hotel Valley Ho has been thrilling guests with regular sightings of Hollywood stars. Once a hideaway for past celebrities like Zsa Zsa Gabor and Marilyn Monroe, the property was built with Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired elements and now mixes modern and mid-century design with Western detailing. After an $80 million rehabilitation and expansion in 2004, Hotel Valley Ho continues to pamper guests and celebrities like Nick Lachey and Jamie Foxx with the VH Spa, Arizona’s only Trader Vic’s and the popular Café ZuZu, serving American comfort food and moonlighting as a bar and lounge in the evenings.

Discover Your Soul’s Path at Scottsdale Spas

JoAnne Zeterberg — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:42:11 +0000

Have you ever wondered about your true purpose here on Earth? Or, why certain patterns in your life keep repeating and you just can’t seem to break free? If so, look to the stars and let Tom McMullan help you navigate your personal celestial roadmap.

A professional astrologer for more than 20 years, McMullan brings humor, intuition and a profound understanding of astrology and human psychology to his Soul Readings at The Sanctuary Spa at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain and The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician. In a relaxing spa setting, McMullan uses the symbolic language of astrology to help you uncover the tools you need to improve relationships, increase your awareness, and discover your hidden talents and potential. However, be prepared: a reading with McMullan is not a spectator sport! But, if you’re willing to participate, open yourself to new ways of interpreting your life experiences, and maybe even do a little homework, you’ll come away with valuable insights that will serve you well on your life’s path!