If you can dream it, I can plan it.

The Boulders Resort & Spa (Scottsdale, AZ) – 2nd trip

The Boulders

The BOULDERS Resort & Spa

-The Waldorf Astoria Collection-
 
This was my second trip to The Boulders.  The first visit was for a wedding and this trip was with a Press Trip for work (Honda/Acura).  I knew it would be a different experience than my first visit when I was shown to my villa which turned out to be a private residence on the resort property. 

The Villa Retreat was complete with 2 long-term stay units (each accommodating between 6 to 10 people), a house golf cart to get around the grounds, a private gym, a hot tub, an elevator in the main unit,  an infinity pool, heated outdoor lamps, lounge chairs and to top it off; slightly tucked away from the golf course, I was surrounded by beautiful rock formations and stunning cacti!

View of both units on the property from the infinity pool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I was given the tour of the villas, I was told that Justin Timberlake had stayed in the very same unit 2 weeks prior to my stay while launching his (then) new tequila 901.  Turns out the property is used for many private events and I had it all to myself for 5 days (insert squeal & happy dance)!

It was GORGEOUS!  I tried to capture the style and uniqueness of the residence but unfortunately I had a bad camera at the time.  I have featured some photos from their website.

The cozy living room looks out to the pool and backyard area.

 

 

Check-out more pictures HERE.

My good friend Sarah had lived in Scottsdale for a few years at this point, so it was great for me to be have been able see her son ‘Nicolas’ (Nico) for the first time and to have had the space to accommodate them.

That night, instead of going off-property to a restaurant such as Sassi (Italian) or RA Sushi Bar (Japanese), like we normally would have, we opted to open a bottle of wine and order some room service from the (limited) menu – remember we were in a private residence so perks like access to the kitchen & wait staff was ah-may-zing!

My fascination with the Villa Retreat lasted the full 5 days of my stay.

Everyday was pretty much like this…

After a long day at work and dinner, we would all gather in the main villa where we (my team) entertained our media guests, had a few cocktails, discussed the plans for the next day.  When they all left for the night, I’d quickly change into my bathing suit and take a moment to chill out in the hot tub.  It was such a treat to look up in the sky, without any light pollution and to ACTUALLY see the stars.

Overall, I’d have to say my stay at The Boulders Resort Villa Retreat was marked by the gorgeous design and decoration of the property, the ever helpful and accommodating staff, the beautiful landscaping and the fun rides in the golf carts around the property.

Though this resort is known for golf, therefore not the first place that would come to mind for a fun time, I would totally recommend this Villa Retreat to anyone who wants to have a serious party in the desert!

The gorgeous rock boulders can be seen from all views of the resort.

Pros:
-Beautiful landscaping
-Great service
-Great if you or your traveling partner like to golf
-They are very well-organized and can accommodate weddings and conferences
 
Cons:
-Far from the airport
-Far away from shopping, nightlife and restaurants
-Need to call front desk to use a golf cart to get around the property
-Can be very hot during the OFF season (summer) but still pleasant for us Canadians that are used to humidity.  AZ offers dry heat which is great if you are like me and sweat at the littlest hint of humidity!
 
 
Website: TheBoulders.com
Twitter: @BouldersResort
Products: Fresh (my fav!)