Dinogo Readers' Top 10 Resorts in Arizona for 2024

It’s no surprise that Arizona’s finest resorts are mainly found around two of the state’s key tourism hubs: Sedona, beloved by nature enthusiasts and those seeking spiritual renewal, and Scottsdale, a golfer’s haven that also serves as an excellent starting point for activities like hiking and rock climbing. Featuring a blend of historic sites and contemporary constructions, spacious family-oriented resorts, and tranquil hideaways, this year’s selection underscores why Arizona remains a timeless destination for diverse travelers. One common highlight at almost all these resorts? An incredible spa. This is Arizona, after all.

How Voting Works

Each year, for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L invites readers to share their insights on travel experiences worldwide — to express their views on the best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. In 2024, over 186,000 T+L readers participated in the survey, casting more than 700,000 votes across 8,700 properties, including hotels, cities, cruise lines, and others.

Hotels were categorized as resort hotels, city hotels, inns, or safari lodges according to their location and amenities, and they were specifically evaluated based on the criteria listed below:

Rooms/amenities
Location
Customer service
Cuisine
Overall value

Respondents could rate each aspect as excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are calculated as averages of these ratings.

Highlights from Readers

The top resorts in Arizona for 2024 feature an impressive six establishments located in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. At No. 2, Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, a Gurney’s Resort & Spa, showcases a blend of old and new. Though it reopened under Gurney’s management in 2021, its roots date back to the 1950s as the Paradise Valley Racquet Club, inspired by Palm Springs.

Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale (No. 8) exudes midcentury charm: Established in 1959, it underwent a complete renovation and reopened in 2017 under new management, featuring modernist designs that pay homage to its past as a Rat Pack favorite. Nowadays, the vibe is family-friendly, as one guest noted, “Next time we will bring the kids, as it is a great place for families too!”

This year, three of the top resorts are located in Sedona, a vibrant town just two hours north of Phoenix, renowned for its unique hotels and breathtaking landscapes. The latest addition is Ambiente, A Landscape Hotel, which enters the rankings at No. 10. Having opened in early 2023, Ambiente is celebrated for its distinct offerings: 40 cube-shaped elevated cottages with glass walls that provide stunning 180-degree views of the red-rock desert. One survey participant described their experience, saying, “This place is phenomenal. It’s as close as you can get to sleeping under the vast night sky filled with stars, but with air conditioning and indoor plumbing, too.”

The Champion

Castle Hot Springs: Morristown, Arizona

A daytime view showcasing the lush greenery on the grounds of Castle Hot Springs resort in Arizona

Image courtesy of Castle Hot Springs

The top resort in Arizona also holds the title of the state’s first wellness retreat, established in the late 19th century and once frequented by notable figures like the Rockefellers and Roosevelts. Castle Hot Springs, which climbed from No. 2 last year, features 30 standalone cabins and cottages spread across 1,100 acres, located an hour north of Phoenix. This site was chosen in the 1890s for its natural hot springs rich in magnesium and lithium, which now supply the resort’s three geothermal pools. Guests at this inclusive property can partake in a variety of complimentary activities. “This is a magical oasis that we fell in love with the moment we arrived,” shared one T+L reader. “The history, the staff, the incredible farm, the food, the wine pairings … and of course, those hot springs!”