For those of you who follow my blog, you know that my husband has a conference every year that I get to tag along with (for free!) and enjoy. You can go back and read about these conference trips to Orlando in 2015 and Cabo San Lucas in 2016.
This year, our annual conference trip was at the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain in Arizona. I have never stayed at a Ritz Carlton (honestly, I can’t justify spending the money, especially when, most of the time, we are hardly in our room on these trips). Well, I thoroughly enjoyed my 5-star hotel experience! Not only were the rooms PHENOMENAL, but the food, service and ambiance were top-notch. Honestly, Kevin left some loose change on the night stand, and room service put a doily underneath it when they were during turn-down service! Fancy stuff. A standard room at the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain would run you about $400 a night.
The hotel was about a 50 minute drive from the airport and really in the middle of nowhere. This is not a resort you would want to go to if you are looking for a lot to do. There are several restaurants on property, a Jack Nicklaus golf-course, spa, and a pool, but overall I got a major relaxation vibe. In other words, it isn’t somewhere I’d take a family with kids; it is more of a romantic anniversary weekend getaway. The mountains and cacti provided a unique and beautiful backdrop, and even though we were in the desert, it was pretty chilly! The week we were there in February, the temperature never got over 63 degrees, and when the sun went down it was downright cold! No one at the conference was expecting the cooler temperatures, so a lot of folks (including myself!) didn’t pack properly. I would definitely check the weather before-hand, even though it’s the desert! The hotel had many fireplaces and bonfires around property that certainly helped and made us feel cozy.
As I mentioned, there wasn’t much to do at this particular hotel, and it was too cold for the pool, so many folks took advantage of the hiking opportunities the hotel offered in the Sonoran Desert. Hiking isn’t really my cup of tea, so I took advantage of my relaxation and food time. Every restaurant at the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain was excellent. It wasn’t cheap, but I was not disappointed in any meal (I did have to pay for my own food at restaurants).
Each day, just before sundown, we went to the Ignite Lounge patio or our room balcony for the Spirit of Adventure Celebration. A ranger shared stories of the region’s Native American ancestors, and a flute player performed in the distance from the mountains. This experience was definitely a highlight and was so calming and peaceful.
The activities we participated in while in Tucson were organized by my husband’s company. These day trips were the only times we went off property. If I travel to this hotel again, I would definitely rent a car to be able to get downtown Tucson to do some shopping and activities, but without a car, I was at the mercy of the event staff. Hey, it was free, so I’m not complaining! I especially enjoyed the cooking demonstration at The Carriage House and our day at a ranch. I would absolutely recommend taking a cooking class at The Carriage House with Chef Janos!
At the ranch, we rode horses, watched a rodeo, and listened to live music. We were able to truly admire the beauty of the desert at the ranch. Even though it can be pricey, finding somewhere to horseback ride in Tuscon would be worth the money, in my opinion.
Overall, our experience at the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain in Tucson was so relaxing and enjoyable. I loved the hotel and would love to go back and visit again someday. I think this trip gave me the “American Southwest bug,” and I’d like to spend some time exploring the region in the future!
All Our Bags Are Packed 