Carefree Resort & Conference Center

The organization and process management of Civana needs a major upgrade!! Sadly, Mollie the Spa Coordinator and later Rachel the Spa Manager still couldn't figure out how to schedule services and classes for a party of 7. We started the organization of the weekwnd in October for a spa day in mid-Januray.. with many, many, many back and forth emails to coordinate Mollie who haf major difficulty organizing, I thought everything was organized and settled. A couple days before we areived, members of the party got messages that their services were never booked, classes overlapped. After reaching out to Mollie with no response, I finally spoke with Rachel. Unfortunately, after her reassuance that the mess was fixed, it wasn't. Check in was a mess. Classes still overlapped, services never showed up in program schedules, computers were down, so they couldn't provide keys. I asked for them to contact me when everything was up... they never did. We booked at the very empty Terras restaurant, but the table wasn't ready. Restaurant 101... read and ready the reservations. The one saving grace was the rest of the staff that provided services and led classes, were awesome! Sadly, the spa was rather empty... We will be back at the Fairmont Princess next year (definitely not Civana), which provides amazing organization and services and amazing staff!!

If wellness is your thing, so is this place! Consider this the calmer and quieter side of relaxation vs an energetic treadmill with an echocardiogram and then tell me how to fix those numbers situation (because that's becoming a thing now too lol). So the good part... Location:...it's secluded so if that's what you need...this place delivers! IF you want to enjoy more than the resort rent a car 100%, why? Ubers took 20 minutes minimum to show up and were never less than 80 bucks one way because we were either headed to Scottsdale or Phoenix. $160 round trip and you have to wait for your ride? Yeah get a car...it just makes way more sense. Property:...you can hear a pin drop and I LOVED that! It's not that I stay at noisy hotels, but I appreciated the quietness...outside where people were reading books...near the pool SILENCE...and even in indoor areas where people work or relax. Everyone is in their own world and minding their own business...#LoveIt. Rooms: they are minimalistic and by that I mean non distracting and you actually want to open the blinds to allow natural light in so you can enjoy the scenery. I did appreciate the carpet in the room (most of the time I don't prefer that, but it was perfect and cozy). They were incredibly spacious and we were super comfortable. The biggest thing was how quiet it was. Food: There's room service, a restaurant, and a cafe...the room service mirrors the restaurant, so with that there isn't a lot of food diversification, but it was good and very fibrous. It's a good let me reset my gut type of place IF you haven't already been eating healthy, which we did this during the holidays, so we hadn't been and needed this. Activities: The calendars are posted with activities daily, and you register on the app. Gym, outdoor area, or inside for something more meditation oriented. This is the highlight of why many people come...it's the wellness activities, so have a look to see if you can find things you'd be interested in. We never committed to more than 2 a day, but people on the resort do participate so be sure to register as soon as you know you want to participate. *Be sure to do a bike ride, there are 2 out front and it's a great way to get a quick bit of exercise and see Carefree, AZ quickly. Spa: I loved the waiting area...outside and an inside option. The massages were great and I've been to so many spas to where I can't overly comment on it because it was just that...great massage, nice facility, and the staff were 5 stars. Cost: I'm only doing this section because people have complained about the cost so 100000% you're going to spend your $ & a lot of it if you intend on staying at the resort 100% of your time because you're paying for food here, so there's no way around it. First thing, at check in there's a pre-auth hold of $150 per day per person. The food is pricey. Some of the activities on the calendar you do pay for...such as hiking. The spa prices are standard luxury spa prices and they always have fees. *I encourage you to do these (2) things if it's a concern....1. Call before you book and confirm the nightly rate, what they charge at check in on your card , + any resort fees + taxes + any other mysterious fees + what they're charging at checkout 2. Look at spa prices and food prices in advance + when you do that call at #1 you can ask about gratuity and taxes on the spa and food too. Advice: The only thing I will say is, if you are a big snacker...bring them with you because even as there is a cafe they may not have the ones you like. I'd say give this place a shot, but be mindful of the location (it's a bit farther out) and take note of the cost/fees.

I stayed at CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa over Labor Day weekend 2025, and it was truly a relaxing oasis. The spa was exceptional—I had one of the best massages of my life. My room was clean, comfortable, and well-appointed, and the housekeeping staff was excellent. The food was generally very good, with most items being a hit, though a couple missed the mark. I also really enjoyed the wellness classes and only wished I had more time to take additional ones. I left feeling refreshed and already looking forward to returning. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a peaceful, high-quality wellness retreat.

Civana is an amazing experience. The activities are plentiful and diverse enough so that people with different desires have plenty to do

I enjoyed Civana so much during my two previous visits (both in 2024) that I eagerly booked a third for Thanksgiving week. This most recent stay surpassed the high bar set on my previous visits. The classes and activities kept me busy: a great, group hike in the Sonoran Desert on my first morning, a pickleball class with Jair—who was kind enough to spend quality time with me to give me pointers—and though I'm not a yoga guy, I managed to take a pair of myofascial release classes as well as a restorative flow session. And, yes, I even found time to treat myself to a spa session. (Thank you, Trish!) Of course, there's the great pool with what looked like new chaise lounges since my previous visits. And those sunsets! The size of the guest rooms are extremely generous and the king size bed is super comfortable. Everyone I encountered—the instructors, the front desk staff, bartenders, baristas at Seed, housekeeping, and those I spoke to on the phone—were incredibly friendly and accommodating. I rented a car from PHX so I went out to dinner each night, enjoying a great steak at Keeler's a few minutes away in the heart of Carefree's shopping area, and a return trip to Tonto Bar & Grill, another fine dining option in nearby Cave Creek. And, yes, I'll be back in 2026.