The Spa at Camelback InnScottsdale Day Spa Gives Spa Goers the Luxury Treatment Go to The Spa at Camelback Inn review sections: OverviewLuxurious yet accessible. That's the best way to describe the Camelback Inn Spa.
It’s the kind of spa where you'll say, "Do I have to leave now?" when it closes at the end of the day. This Scottsdale day spa feels rich but has a friendly and inviting atmosphere. It has all of the amenities and the full service of a destination spa. Tucked behind the historic Camelback Inn, the spa is peaceful and feels secluded even though it's on the grounds of one of the most popular Scottsdale spa resorts. Walk out to the spa pool and you'll be treated to fantastic views of Camelback Mountain. Inside, Sprouts, the spa's café, serves up delicious yet healthy fare with views of the pool and mountains. But even if the spa didn't have these amenities, I'd still want to spend the day here sampling its great amenities and enticing menu of spa treatments. ConceptThe Spa at Camelback Inn focuses on rest and relaxation as methods to bring tired bodies back into balance.
The spa menu emphasizes rejuvenating treatments that help heal and re-energize including:
If you’re a fan of Dr. Perricone, you’ll want to try the Dr. Perricone Anti-Aging Facial ($145/60 minutes). The Spa at Camelback Inn is one of the few that offers this rejuvenating facial that uses patented alpha lipoic acid formulations If you’re looking for uniquely Arizona therapies, many of the Spa at Camelback Inn’s treatments use ingredients native to the area such as Arizona desert honey, adobe clay and cactus fiber cloths for exfoliation. AtmosphereThe Camelback Inn's motto is "Where Time Stands Still."
In many ways, it's the motto for the spa too. Spending the day here, I felt as though time had at least slowed down if not completely stopped. The spa has really created an environment where I could just relax the day away and let go of all the daily stresses. The Spa at Camelback Inn is tucked near the base of Mummy Mountain at the back of the resort. It’s quiet and peaceful here and I felt miles away from the busy urban scenes of Scottsdale and Phoenix. When I entered the Camelback Inn Spa, the first thing I noticed was the floor-to-ceiling windows that look out to the pool and mountains. The spacious spa lobby leads down to Sprouts, the spa café, with its cozy wicker tables and chairs and a long "bar" that faces the windows.
The women's locker room was spacious and airy. It has a contemporary fusion design of Southwestern and Moroccan elements. Dark wood lockers, slate blue tile walls, Native American baskets and deep blue earthenware pottery gave an air of a desert oasis. There was plenty of everything to keep a spa goer happy including lots of shelves with towels, many mirrors and a seemingly endless supply of toiletries like disposable combs and shavers, lotion and sunscreen. I loved the showers which were spacious and had the added helpful detail of a small seating area just outside the stall for storing my robe and towel so they wouldn’t get wet. It’s surprising how many spas don't provide this helpful feature! At the end of the corridor, on the way to the showers and sauna, was a blue earthenware bowl on a metal stand filled with ice which held moistened washcloth rolls. These cool compresses for soothing a warm forehead gave the air of an ancient Roman bath. The centerpiece of the locker room is the large, mosaic-tiled whirlpool which is in a room all of its own.
It’s a soothing spot to relax post-treatment. A wonderful additional feature is the Solarium - a walled, outdoor patio with rattan lounge chairs, private cabanas and the soothing burble of a water fountain. The spa’s relaxation lounge, where spa goers wait for their therapist, is nicely appointed with rattan lounges and a subtle Southwestern look of tans, browns and deep blues. A table held hot and cold tea and pitchers of fruit-flavored water. My Treatment ExperienceMany spas advertise signature treatments that are said to be unique to their spa.I often opt to try these and many times they are similar to treatments elsewhere.
The Spa at Camelback Inn's Camelback Signature Massage Treatment ($135/60 minutes) was actually unique. Although it’s listed under massages in the spa menu, this treatment incorporates a variety of therapies including reflexology, aromatherapy and sound. My therapist started by reminding me that this massage did not include any deep tissue or back work. I would be lying on my back for the entire treatment. The session started with me sitting up on the massage table so the therapist could rub castor oil onto my back. Castor oil comes from the castor bean, an African legume, whose oil is said to have detoxifying properties. After I laid down, the therapist placed large, smooth heated basalt stones along the sides of my spine. These provided a slight stretch to my back muscles and a soothing warm sensation.
Next, the therapist placed a crystal on my forehead and a soft eye pillow - fragrant with the calming scent of lavender - over my eyes. After carefully, moving the sheets around my body to keep me properly covered, he rubbed my abdomen with castor oil and massaged the area with a warm stone. Massaging the stomach region with castor oil is said to help release toxins and soothe digestive ailments. Next, he placed a series of cool crystals - rose quartz, amethyst and lapis lazuli - on my throat and chest chakras. A large, warm basalt stone went on my stomach. Placing precious stones and crystals on chakras is considered to impart a restorative effect on the body and a peaceful effect on the mind. The next part of the treatment was reflexology. According to practitioners, there are specific points on the feet which correspond to specific regions of the body. Placing gentle pressure on these reflex points helps to relieve stress and tension in the body. When he finished, my therapist placed a small, flat and warm stone between each of my toes. I know this sounds strange but it actually felt good and gave a soothing stretch to the muscles in the ball of each foot. Next was a soothing massage of my legs and arms with oil and warm basalt stones.
When he finished the arms, he placed my palms on the warm stones. Then he used cold stones to massage my face with lavender oil. This was then followed with a scalp massage. Now that I was completely relaxed and at peace, he picked up a rainstick and walked around the massage table, gently rocking it back and forth. The fine beads inside sound like falling rain as the stick moves up and down. The treatment complete, he made one gentle chime from a pair of Tibetan symbols to gently let my mind and body know that the treatment was over. This is an unusual therapy but I recommend it for those looking for a peaceful yet unique spa experience. Favorite FeatureIt was hard to pick a favorite feature because the Spa at Camelback Inn has so many great amenities.
But I chose the spa’s heated outdoor lap pool for its beautiful mountain views. This pool is the perfect spot to relax the day away. Splurge on one of the private cabanas and you'll be treated to a refrigerator filled with bottled water and fresh fruit, cooling aromatherapy washcloths, a ceiling fan and even reading material. The spa café, Sprouts, with its yummy yet healthful cuisine and friendly staff comes in a very close second. Fast Facts: The Spa at Camelback InnWhat to Know Before You Go:
Location: west Scottsdale near the borders of Paradise Valley and Phoenix Address: Camelback Inn, 5402 East Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85253 Google Map Directions: Click on "+" and "-" signs on Map Controls in upper left hand corner to zoom in and out on the location.
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