The Boulders Resort Arizona

The Boulders hotel consistently ranks as one of the best Arizona resorts and has been named one of the top resorts in the United States for over 15 years.

This expansive, 1,300-acre property is tucked away in the small but affluent foothill town of Carefree, Arizona, just north of Scottsdale.

Carefree, a former ranching town, is now an area of expensive homes on large parcels of scenic Arizona desert.

The land here has an abundance of green palo verde trees, hundred-year-old saguaro cactus and 12-million-year-old giant granite hills that emerged from the earth when horses, camels, rhinos and mastodons still roamed throughout the region.

The Boulders Resort is tucked in among 12-million year old boulders

Several things make The Boulders Resort Arizona unique.

During the building of Boulders Resort, the architects tried not to disturb the existing desert vegetation as little as possible.

Their labors definitely paid off.

Native Sonoran Desert is all around and the buildings fit naturally into the landscape.

This is an excellent Arizona resort for those looking for lots of nature. The desert is right outside your room door, yet you’ll still have every amenity.

It is quiet and serene here and there is no city hustle and bustle.

Starting in 2006, The Boulders Resort Arizona has entered the "green tourism" market with its transition to becoming the first all-organic hotel in the Untied States.

The staff has been introducing organic products throughout the resort, from the minibar snacks to the linens.

The Boulders Resort’s much-lauded Latilla restaurant has also gone organic under the direction of Chef Wendy Little.

The restaurant now has an organic menu and wine lists. The hotel plans to grow its own produce in a large, organic garden near the spa.

The Boulders Resort and the surrounding community of Carefree, Arizona

Other "green changes" include using recycled paper, environmentally-friendly bath products and low-energy laundry practices.

Along with its change to an organic and green status, The Boulders Hotel is undergoing renovation.

The buildings will remain the same but the guest rooms are being redesigned.

A new management team will also retrain employees with an emphasis on service.

This is a good thing because while The Boulders Resort has a beautiful setting, it has had some lapses in service.

Despite this, we think the resort is a gorgeous desert property that makes for a relaxing and scenic vacation.

The Boulders Resort Arizona golf course blends into the resort

The Boulders Resort Arizona has the kind of scenery that makes people want to move to the desert.

From the entry gate, it is a one mile drive to The Boulders’ main lodge on a winding road that cuts through the golf course and surrounding desert.

Here and there are those incredible 12-million-year-old granite boulders - for which the resort is named - either single monoliths or jumbled in hills that resemble a giant toddler’s playground.

Instead of having one large building, The Boulders Resort is comprised of a main lodge and many clusters of casitas (Spanish for "small houses") spread throughout the property and the golf courses.

The buildings are an adobe Pueblo style and none are more than two stories high.

Each was constructed like a mini duplex or four-plex with every room having its own private patio or balcony.

For families or large groups, the resort has one-, two- and three-bedroom patio homes, known as Pueblo Villas.

These Villas are also available for rent as vacation homes.

One of The Boulders Resort Arizona’s two-story casitas

The main lodge is in the center of the property and houses The Boulders’ primary services including a small lobby/reception area and the concierge.

Two of the resort’s restaurants – Latilla and the Palo Verde – are here along with the Discovery Lounge, The Boulders Lodge Gift Shop and the main pool.

As there is no self-parking for guests staying in the casitas, you must park in the small circle in front of the lodge while you check in.

Once your car has been unloaded, the valets will park it for you.

Attendants ferry you and your luggage to your room via electric golf cart.

The Boulders Resort Arizona has an entire fleet of electric golf carts and attendants who drive guests and their luggage from the lodge to the casitas and back.

The paths to the casitas are paved and long, twisting and winding their way past other casitas.

You’ll have good views of the surrounding desert and some of Carefree’s hillside homes.

The sitting area and fireplace of our Boulders Resort Arizona's casita

Although these are the smallest of the rooms, we found them surprisingly spacious.

Our casita was in a one-story building, tucked away on the north end of the resort.

Like all of The Boulders Resort’s casitas, it was surrounded by the desert.

With its high ceilings and spacious layout, we felt more like we were renting a cottage rather than staying in a typical hotel room.

The Boulders Resort casitas and villas have an understated Southwestern style in tan, brown and black colors.

Mexican tile floors, natural wood beam viga ceilings and Native American art add to the Southwestern atmosphere.

The bedroom area of our casita at the Arizona Boulders Resort

A separate, comfortable sitting area had two large, overstuffed leather chairs in front of a beehive-style, wood burning fireplace.

A padded window seat, small writing table and chairs completed the furnishings. The bed is directly behind this area.

The bathroom area was one of the largest of any Arizona resort that we’ve stayed at.

Upon entering, there’s a small anteroom with a well-lit vanity table and a large walk-in closet with plenty of hanger space, drawers and shelves.

We liked the large counter with double sinks, a glass-enclosed shower stall, and a deep soaking tub.

The toilet was in its own room complete with door and magazines.

A view of our patio at The Boulders Resort Arizona

The casita’s large sliding glass door led out to a private patio with two lounges and a table and chairs.

We particularly liked the patio’s drying rack, which came in handy for drying wet swimsuits and towels.

Our patio overlooked a desert wash lush with palo verde trees, jojoba bushes and cactus.

Beyond the wash, we could see the golf course and those amazing stacks of boulders. In the evening, we lounged on the patio, watching bats and shooting stars fly overhead.

It was wonderfully quiet and relaxing.

The next morning we awoke to a chorus of bird song.

Peeking out the slider, we were surprised and delighted to see a gathering of cottontail rabbits, quail, doves, cactus wrens, pyrrhuloxias and others waiting to be fed.

Exterior view of our casita’s patio at The Boulders Resort Arizona

Many of the birds were perched on the patio furniture.

Apparently, the casita’s previous occupants must have been feeding them in the mornings.

We didn’t have any food and, eventually, they departed off into the wash.

Our only complaint with the room was the bed.

Unfortunately, the foot of the bed was higher than the head.

It was uncomfortable enough that we ended up moving the pillows and sleeping with our heads at the foot of the bed.

Ducks swimming on the lake at the Boulders AZ

At check-in, we were given a handy, pocket-sized booklet that had general resort information, including guest activities and dining options and a resort map.

It also had a short descriptive guide to the plants and animals seen on the grounds, so be sure to take it with you while you out walking.

Keep an eye out for common Arizona wildlife.

On our walks, we saw many desert animals including cottontail rabbits, lizards, quail and many other species of birds.

Other guests have reported getting fleeting glimpses of coyotes, javelinas and bobcats.

Just remember to keep a watch out for the electric carts while you’re on the paths.

Pools

There are four swimming pools scattered around The Boulders Resort Arizona property.

The main pool at The Boulders Resort Arizona

The main pool is cozy and sits directly behind the lodge, tucked up against a hillside of boulders.

Desert plants and colorful flowers surround the softly curved poolside and a trickling waterfall cascades down from the tallest boulder into a small stream.

There is also a pool in the Pueblo Villas area and a pool at the Tennis Center and Golf Clubhouse.

The fourth pool is on the Golden Door Spa grounds.

The pools have a scenic setting but they are small compared to many other Arizona resorts.

The Boulders Resort’s terraced Tennis Garden is ranked as one of the top 50 tennis resorts by TENNIS magazine.

There are 8 plexi-cushioned, partially sunken courts with five hard courts and three clay courts. You can sign up for:

• private lessons and clinics
• drills including the fitness hitting drill
• group and team coaching
• twice-monthly round robin tournaments.

The El Pedregal Marketplace, which is next door to the Boulders Resort Arizona

Nearby, the El Pedregal Marketplace provides an upscale shopping venue, just a short stroll from the Boulders Resort.

El Pedregal has a vaguely Moroccan atmosphere.

There are over 40 specialty shops, art galleries and restaurants, all situated around a central open-air courtyard.

Stores range from folk art and custom jewelry to Southwest furniture and gourmet foods, including:

• the Golden Door Home Store, the signature shop for the Golden Door Spa
• Blue Sage Gallery, featuring a distinctive, historic and contemporary collection of Native American, Hispanic and devotional art.
• the Mineral and Fossil Gallery, which specializes in natural and mineral products for the home, jewelry, fossils and gems and minerals from around the world.

A large outdoor stage is host to a variety of events including live music concerts, portrait artists and sculptors and a farmer’s market.

Many of the resort’s outdoor activities are offered through the Boulders’ spa, the Golden Door, such as:

• mountain biking
• scenic guided hikes
• horseback riding
• rock climbing
• night vision excursions.

Note: There is a per person fee for these activities.

This large spa has a truly impressive spa menuwith one of the most extensive Scottsdale spa offerings in the area.

Treatments include massage therapies, Eastern arts, Ayurvedic treatments, color therapies, wellness treatments, facials and a "For Men Only" menu.

The setting is scenic and peaceful with its waterfalls, gardens and native plants.

Amenities include a heated swimming pool and whirlpool, labyrinth, Native American tipi for meditation and The Golden Door Spa Café and tea room.

For more details on spa treatments, amenities and to see photos, visit our Golden Door Spa page.

The Jay Morrish-designed golf courses flow through The Boulders Resort Arizona

When playing here, you will probably be sharing the course with cottontail rabbits and Gambel’s quail.

There’s even a "coyote rule", which allows golfers to replay a shot without penalty when a coyote happens to pounce on the golf ball and sprint away with it.

The Boulders’ two, top-rated 18-hole championship courses, designed by Jay Morrish, take advantage of the gorgeous scenery and panoramic views.

The courses are continually alternated, with one for resort guests and the other kept private for members of The Boulders Golf Club.

The North Course is 6,811 yards and par 72. The back tees are considered to have the toughest stretch of holes.

The South Course is 6,726 yards, par 71 and is considered to be the most scenic. Some of the holes go right up into the boulder piles.

Golfers can book private and group lessons from PGA and LPGA instructors through The Boulders Golf Academy.

The Latilla is their fine dining venue. Open for dinner only, the food is Southwestern-inspired and definitely gourmet. While jackets aren’t required, they are the norm.

The Boulders Resort Arizona’s main restaurants are in the lodge

Under the leadership of Chef de Cuisine Wendy Little, the Latilla now offers organic food and wines. The menu is Southwestern-inspired and changes seasonally.

Palo Verde Restaurant is more casual and features an open demonstration kitchen.

The menu emphasizes fresh seafood and Southwestern specialties. They serve breakfast and lunch only.

Rusty’s at The Club serves steak and seafood in a casual atmosphere at The Boulder’s Golf Club. Lunch and dinner only.

Bogey’s is also at the golf club. This bar offers sandwiches and salads for lunch and dinner.

The Golden Door Spa Café offers healthy spa cuisine at the Golden Door Spa.

We ate breakfast at Palo Verde inside the main lodge.

The restaurant has a high ceiling that’s painted to look like a late afternoon sky with fluffy, white clouds.

Long swathes of tan fabric arch across the ceiling, creating a visual effect that evokes ceiling fan blades.

Golden-orange walls and green carpeting give an outdoorsy feel to the room.

Diners can sit inside at tables or half moon booths.

There is also an outdoor patio that overlooks the golf course and pond.

The open kitchen gives you plenty of opportunity to watch the chefs prepare your meal.

Palo Verde’s menu features dishes with a Southwestern twist.

We had a wonderful Southwestern frittata and a traditional American breakfast with eggs, potatoes, bacon and toast.

The food was delicious and the service very prompt and friendly.

At the end of a long day of sight seeing, we were too tired to dress up for dinner as it was still too warm to even think about putting on pants.

So, we passed on The Latilla.

The main pool and tables at the Pool Pavilion at The Boulders Resort Arizona

Because it was a lovely evening and the sun had started to set behind the boulders, we decided to dine poolside at the Pool Pavilion just before it closed for the day.

We enjoyed a very pleasant meal beneath a leafy mesquite tree, watching cactus wrens forage for fallen food scraps.

The turkey pesto sandwich and portobello mushroom sandwich were delicious and filled with fresh ingredients.

Fruit smoothies made a yummy and cooling dessert. Our waitress was very friendly and efficient.

There are also restaurants at the El Pedregal Marketplace next door to the resort.

For lunch one day, we ate tasty sandwiches at the Bakery Café.

This is a spacious and casual eatery with outdoor seating.

Saguaro cactus dot the land around The Boulders Resort Arizona

However, some lapses in service surprised us for such a highly-rated and expensive resort.

It all started with our arrival.

The lobby area in the lodge is small with only two front desks, but after waiting for a few minutes, we were able to check-in.

The process was efficient, but we were dismayed to learn that our room was not ready.

We left our cell phone number with the desk clerk, who then encouraged us to explore the lodge.

It didn’t take us very long to explore The Boulders Resort lodge area, which is small.

After exploring all we could, we settled in the lounge to wait.

Over an hour passed before we could go to our room.

In the meantime, all of our luggage, toiletries and gifts for friends and family sat out in the hot car, baking under a 108°F sun.

No one ever checked back with us to give us an update on when our room would be ready.

When the desk clerk finally did call us, we didn’t even get an apology or a "thanks for your patience."

Thankfully, the valets had rolled the windows down in our car to help mitigate the heat.

The bellhop loaded our luggage onto one of the Boulders Resort’s electric golf carts. We got in the back and took off at a good clip.

A waterfall trickles off the boulders behind The Boulders Resort Arizona’s main pool

Our driver seemed polite but not up to engaging in conversation.

Surprisingly, no one ever took the time to point out the resort amenities or activities to us, a common practice at many other Arizona resorts we’ve stayed at.

On the morning we checked out, The Boulders Resort reception area was busy.

In that small lobby space, it didn’t take long to get crowded. We weren’t in a rush but others were complaining about the wait.

One man was upset because he specifically asked whether or not there was any construction going on when he booked his room.

Apparently, he was told there wasn’t but, in fact, his room happened to be right next to an area where new homes were being built, therefore, he wasn’t able to sleep in.

Upon checkout, Boulders Resort Arizona guests are not automatically given a copy of the bill to review.

We were told that the bill would be mailed to us. We requested that a copy be printed out before we signed anything.

Thankfully, our bill was correct. However, we have had charges placed on our hotel bill that we never made at other establishments.

• The Boulders Resort Arizona is not near most of the Phoenix area attractions, so be prepared for some driving time when you plan a day of sightseeing, especially if you’re traveling during commute hours.

The Boulders Resort Arizona's casitas are tucked into the desert

• The resort is set in the desert. That means that you will see desert animals, possibly everything from cottontail rabbits and quail to tarantulas and snakes. In the summer, insects and bats are common. This is not a resort for those who dislike encountering bugs and other animals.
• The Boulders is gated, so unlike other resorts, you can’t just drive in and take a look around. An attendant, who has a list of expected arrivals for the day, greets visitors at the gatehouse. There is also a residential community of luxury homes within The Boulders Resort Arizona property.

Getting Around The Boulders Resort Arizona

• Be sure to pay attention to the route your bellhop is taking while you’re being whisked away to your room. After several twists and turns, we weren’t sure we’d find our way back to the lodge.
• The resort does provide you with a map of the property and there are small signs along the way but initially you may find the “route-finding” a challenge.
• Because it is out in the desert, the resort is very dark at night. Lighting is minimal. You are provided with a small flashlight in your room. Be sure to take it with you if you’re walking out at night.

Rooms and Activities

• In general, we wouldn’t recommend this resort for families with small children who want to just hang around the grounds, as The Boulders Resort doesn’t have enough activities for them. The pools are not that large and they don’t have the waterslides and water features of other Scottsdale resorts.
• There are no room charges for children 17 and younger occupying the same room as their parents.
• Some rooms are quite far from the main lodge. If this is a problem, be sure to request a room near the lodge. Attendants will come and pick you up in a golf cart at any time, however.
• The resort is still undergoing renovation. Room availability may be limited at certain times during the renovations.

Favorite Features: Natural desert setting; private patio overlooking desert wash; good spa; not having to worry about tipping.

What We Didn’t Like: Inconsistent service.

Nearby Amenities and Attractions: In addition to El Pedregal Marketplace next door to The Boulders Resort Arizona, there are restaurants and shops in the Spanish Village Shopping Center in Carefree, just north of the resort. For hiking, the Pinnacle Peak Trail is about a 10-minute drive from the property, offering scenic desert and mountains views.

Good for Kids: Not really. There are no activities for young children.

Pet Friendly: Yes, pets are allowed for a $100 fee.

Location: In the town of Carefree, about 16 miles north of downtown Scottsdale and 33 miles north of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Address: 34631 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Carefree, AZ 85377

Google Map Directions: Click on "+" and "-" signs on Map Controls in upper left hand corner to zoom in and out on the location.

Management: LXR Resorts

Style: Southwestern

Room Types: 160 casitas and 55 one-, two- and three-bedroom Pueblo Villas

Cost:
In season: $$$$ - $$$$$;
Summer Rates: $$ - $$$$.
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Extra Fees: There is no tipping at The Boulders Resort (excepting the restaurants and spa). Instead, the resort charges an automatic $32.46/ night per room service charge in lieu of cash gratuities for staff. This fee also covers internet access, valet parking, fitness center access and classes, in-room coffee and daily newspaper.

A 19% service charge is applied to all room service guest checks.
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Room Tax: Carefree, AZ occupancy tax is 11.92%

Check in/Check Out: 4:00 pm / 12 Noon.

Views/Setting: Desert and golf course

Pools: Four pools throughout the resort

Restaurants: Two in the main lodge:
casual Palo Verde open for breakfast and lunch.
Upscale, gourmet Latilla open for dinner only.
The Golden Door Spa Café on the spa grounds.
Bogey’s at the Boulders Club and Rusty’s Chophouse also at the Club.
Three at the nearby El Pedregal Marketplace.

Spa: Golden Door Spa with large selection of spa treatments, activities and amenities. Spa use is complimentary for guests staying at the resort.

Prices for spa treatments range from $65 for a lip care treatment to $325 for a 50-minute couples massage. Outdoor activities start at $75 per person.

Golf: Two 18-hole championship courses for resort guests and Boulders Club members only.

Activities: Variety of fee-based outdoor recreation including hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing and desert jeep tours.

Parking at The Boulders Resort Arizona: Valet parking (cost included in resort service fee) for those who are staying in the casitas. Tipping is not necessary as it is included in the nightly service charge fee in lieu of cash gratuities.

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The information in this review was accurate at the time of our visit. All contact information, availability, access, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the resort, golf course, restaurant or spa before making reservations and/or travel plans.

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