From the moment I arrived, the staff at the Ritz-Carlton made this stay exceptional. Joni at check-in listened carefully when I mentioned I just wanted a basic mountain view, and she set me up perfectly - small touches like that make a huge difference.
Poolside, Johnny provided outstanding service throughout my time by the pool, always attentive without being intrusive. The bell desk team was incredibly friendly and helpful as well - I wish I'd caught all of their names to thank them individually. Beyond the individual staff, what really stood out was how well everyone knew the property - every question about the grounds, amenities, or local area was met with genuine, knowledgeable answers.
I was travelling solo, and the property is large enough that I felt completely comfortable setting up in the bar space to catch up on work - it never felt awkward or out of place. Breakfast is available in both the restaurant and the bar, and room service was excellent. The burger was exactly what I needed after driving in from Los Angeles.
The pools here are wonderful. The adult pool is over 20 metres long, making it perfect for early morning laps, while the family pool was a lovely spot to relax beside. Both pools have a bar and a gentle soundtrack, and there's no shortage of shade wherever you want to sit. Moments after settling in poolside, staff would bring around a tumbler of iced water - much appreciated in the desert heat. The hotel doesn't have filtered water taps to refill bottles (like the Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay does), but free bottled water was available everywhere.
The included yoga classes were a great touch - easy, vacation-friendly sessions with a good stretch. I also made great use of the spa's wet areas, which include wet and dry steam rooms, a sauna, aromatherapy steam showers, a cold plunge pool, and a hot tub. There's also free coffee in the foyer each morning, though I mostly used the in-room coffee maker for my early morning cup.
After dark, the property becomes quite magical. There are fire pits to sit around and plenty of shaded spots to watch the sunset from.
Overall, this property is enormous but laid out in a way that feels intimate and special. It's an incredibly welcoming and lovely place to stay, whether you're travelling solo or with family. Highly recommend.
