Miraval Arizona

Whatever expectations are of Miraval, double them! It was amazing. It was the perfect place for a solo vacation to celebrate my 55th birthday.

For my wife and me, this was a milestone anniversary. Plus, our son had just sold his company. Both reasons to celebrate. And where better than Miraval Arizona! In hindsight, maybe we should have laid back and chilled for the weekend. That IS an option. Instead, we took full advantage of 2D/1N beginning with Mountain Biking at dawn, followed by Aroma Flow Yoga, Qigong, Breathwork, Shoulders Set Free, Yoga Nidra and Gratitude Meditations on just the first day. Whether your go-to is coffee or tea, the start of Day 2 required our full attention to climb a 35-foot pole, then traverse the Desert Tightrope. Next up were Cardio Drumming, spa treatments, and Gentle Aerial Yoga, complemented by classes around Fostering Creativity, Dream Alchemy, and a Circadian Rhythm Reset. Still, we made time so savor Miraval's delectable eats and drinks at Palm Court Café, Cactus Flower Restaurant, and Coyote Moon Bar & Lounge. Somehow, sometime, we relaxed and unwound totally in accommodations that were out-of-this-world (well, outside of Tucson at least). On our short drive back to civilization, thoughts that would have populated our "word cloud" included active, exhilarating, reflective, delicious, soothing, peaceful, fun, challenging, rewarding, fulfilling, and gratifying. Also, spent, tired, exhausted and full. As well as grateful. Additionally, the one thought an which my wife, son and his partner, and I all agreed: Let's do this again soon!

Hyatt has a wonderful bonus that comes with elite nights achieved. After 100 nights you can choose a free Miraval Resorts & Spas night. I have received 4 of those nights and have used 3. I have not been disappointed. My latest stay was Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa. Even though it was very hot (it is the desert after all), I loved it. The Catalina mountains are beautiful. The food is fantastic, especially the crème brulee! I have never had a bad meal at the Miraval. All of the staff is fantastic. I particularly enjoyed Nikki, Vance, Rick, Peter, Nancy, and Mina. I learned a lot from all of them. Miravals take a lot of points, but combining them with my free night certificate meant that I paid nothing for an all inclusive stay. They also include transportation to and from the airport. I took advantage of @Delta ecredits and my Delta Reserve card to get nonstop, first class flights from Atlanta. The Delta Air Lines haters that call their Skymiles program #skypesos are exaggerating. #pointsandmiles make travel more comfortable and less expensive. I love to travel.

Overall poor service and experience from check-in to last day. The quality of food was not something I would expect from a 5 star hotel.

I came here as a solo traveler. My wife and I used to come here, but she passed away earlier in the year. I came with the intention of spending some time with myself, and I am so glad I did. The staff and instructors were all beyond compassionate, empathetic, and kind. The class offerings were diverse, and I feel like they can meet most individuals' needs, whether you are there for R&R, grief, or just something to do. I do suggest staying overnight rather than a day pass, because spending time in that space yields so much more, in my opinion. Special shoutout to Adriana, Jessie, Alyson, Chris, and Marty at Miraval. Hope to see you all soon again.