Arizona Biltmore

I’m really at a loss at how this place charges so much and calls itself five star or luxury. This is a nice hotel but it is absolutely not a luxury hotel. It has a LONG way to go before being on par with a Four Seasons type place. It feels like a nice Westin. My room was in the original building and it had definite signs of aging. I felt most of the service was very average and sometimes mediocre. The food was not great. Most things were dry or had no taste. I had a bad spa experience. Someone was setting up a metal tub for soaking outside the massage room while I was getting a massage. It sounded like someone put shoes in a dryer. My massage therapist was great but the woman who checked me in and out was incredibly rude. I mentioned the tub issue and that it went on for at least half of my massage and she smirked at me and offered no apology. I didn’t get her name but she was really unpleasant. Again, another reason this is a glorified Westin.

We had a great time at the Biltmore. The service was amazing! I also did some pickleball. I had such a great experience with Brendon and Josh at the Biltmore! They were both incredibly patient, encouraging, and knowledgeable. They taught me so much during the lesson and gave me some great tips and tricks that I can actually use to improve my game. I really appreciated how they took the time to explain things and work with me at my level. I left the lesson feeling more confident and excited to keep practicing. Highly recommend Brendon and Josh to anyone looking to improve their pickleball game!

This was a very disappointing experience. The pools were very dirty, top of water was covered with bugs and the bottom had clumps of hair. It looked like the pool filtration system wasn’t even working. Our reservation included the Citrus Club. One morning I noticed the bottle of juice I had taken from the refrigerator was expired. I brought this to the attention of the server. He seemed concerned about it, but when we returned the next morning, the expired bottles were still in the refrigerator for guest consumption. We also had some spa services. One person from our party had a very inappropriate experience during her massage. The female masseuse kept rubbing up against her in a way that is not needed during a massage. The masseuse also asked her out two different times during the service. This was extremely unsettling for her, but she was too embarrassed to bring it to the spas attention at the time. During checkout, we were told of our charges. We were charged for food and drink at the pool on a day that we were off property for the entire time. That day we never even ordered anything from anywhere on the property.

I want to start by saying that with my schedule and the fast-paced work I do, taking time off needs to be worth it. My staycation at Arizona Biltmore was more than worth it. The staff and management were extraordinary: warm, funny, attentive, deeply human, and genuinely committed to making guests feel cared for without ever feeling scripted. Please do not let your team lose that quality, because my God, it cannot be taught in any college. A special thank you to Sana Ivanovich, who also happens to be my baby sister. Bias aside, Sana was splendid. She went through the wringer to help make the weekend happen, answered every question we had about that massive property, and did it all with the charm and humor I know her for. Treat her well; she is a hard worker who clearly enjoys growing somewhere she feels valued. As her brother, it meant a lot to see how well she was treated. The bell, transportation, housekeeping, engineering, lifeguard, front desk, and concierge teams were all fantastic. Joseph was our first AZB interaction and set the tone immediately by helping us from the garage with warmth and ease. Justin kindly drove us back when I forgot my diabetes medication and made the whole moment feel human instead of stressful. Logan delivered my birthday gifts, gave great dinner recommendations, and even stocked our fridge with water. Ari helped us load everything on our last day and was bright, kind, and fun. Boris, my fellow Balkan, was amazing and helped us load the car before leaving. The housekeeping team kept our room beautiful, including one person who organized our toiletries into the cutest little setup, which genuinely delighted me. Predrag came to help with the AC and shared a moving story about his life and the Yugoslavian war; he is a good man and a rockstar. Emma and the other lifeguards on duty at the family pool and water slides on 09/04 and 09/06 were bubbly, safe, fun, and professional. Leilani was incredibly helpful at the front desk, Matthew surprised me with delicious chocolates, and Devin at concierge was so kind while helping me with a bag and water bottles. Also, Jewel of the Desert? If that fragrance comes as a cologne, I am asking genuinely. And then there was the food and beverage team, who deserves a standing ovation. Please do not ever close McArthur’s, because we ate there five times and not one thing missed. The breakfast potatoes deserve a Pulitzer. Huge thanks to Yaritza, who was attentive, down to earth, and made our first lunch so enjoyable; Addison, Jennifer, and the hostess staff for being so friendly and thoughtful; Tim, my musical theater buddy and an actual gem of a human; Averie, the sweetest angel, and long live cinema; Rose, who gave great recommendations and made dinner so fun; Sha My, who kept our table and drinks tended to with the nicest smile; Madison, who made brunch a hoot and fully understood the magic of those breakfast taters; Alex and Ramona at Cup & Cone, who helped us pick gelato and treats with patience and joy; Hector, who was cool, knowledgeable, and fun to talk with about soccer, sports, and movies; Maya, the kitchen expo, who was simply phenomenal; Kelsey, the manager on duty, who was kind, funny, and lovely to chat with; and Josh at The Wright Bar, who handled the bar beautifully and made a dangerously good Tequila Sunrise. It is clear AZB knows how to hire people who elevate the brand while keeping it authentic and individual. My husband and I experienced something genuinely divine: a space where even a control freak like me could finally relax. I will absolutely be back, and I will absolutely tell everyone how gorgeous, historic, and legendary this place is.

Amazing service. Amazing rooms. The pools. The architecture. The property. The gym. The location. The food. Did I mention service? Everyone helps and says hi. My sole criticism would be the bars/lounge. The service menu and drink selections in the lobby and spire bars didn’t quite hit the mark. But that wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme