Amara Resort & Spa

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what caught me off guard about Amara Resort & Spa? I was expecting another one of those generic Sedona hotels that just throws around words like “luxury” and “spiritual” – but this place actually delivers on the vibe without being pretentious about it. The moment you pull up that winding drive on Amara Lane, you get it. They’ve positioned the whole property so you’re looking straight out at the red rocks, and honestly, the view from the lobby alone is worth the stay.

I mean, Sedona’s got no shortage of hotels claiming they’re the best spot to see the famous rock formations, but Amara’s location in Uptown puts you right where you want to be. You can literally walk to Tlaquepaque Arts Village in about five minutes (though honestly, wear good shoes because that cobblestone is no joke), and if you’re into the whole vortex thing, Airport Mesa is basically right there. What I really appreciated was how they handled the spa situation – it’s not some massive, overwhelming complex. The treatment rooms actually face the creek, so you’re hearing water instead of traffic noise, which… well, that’s kind of genius when you think about it.

The rooms themselves feel more grown-up than a lot of places in town. I stayed during shoulder season in October, and the whole property was busy but not chaotic – you could actually get a decent spot by the pool without camping out at sunrise. Speaking of the pool, it’s one of those infinity edge situations that normally feels gimmicky, but here it works because you’re essentially swimming toward Cathedral Rock. The staff seemed to know their stuff too, like actually helpful recommendations instead of just pointing you toward the hotel restaurant. Oh, and parking is included, which sounds basic but trust me, in Uptown Sedona that’s not always a given. The only thing that bugged me was the check-in process took forever – apparently that’s normal when they’re running full, but still. Overall though, it’s the kind of place that gets Sedona right without trying too hard, if that makes sense.