The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

Overall, the resort is a great place to spend a weekend. It includes three outdoor pools with a 235-foot waterslide (the spa pool is adults only); a 27-hole championship golf course; a full-service spa with therapy baths, steam room, fitness center, and cabana rentals; hiking and biking trails with stunning views; a bocce court; and four restaurants offering Southwestern specialties and organic cuisine. But, there are some things to note, namely on cost: 1. There are great “summer” rates and packages available - they usually run from mid-May until just before Labor Day. 2. Valet parking is $42 a day - there really isn’t another option. 3. The resort fee is $68.73 per day (that includes tax) 4. Food and drink are VERY pricey - especially breakfast and lunch (my small egg white omelet with greens on the side was $29). If you have the ability, use the To-Go coffee and bakery spot next to Core Kitchen & Bar. They are open until 11am everyday. 5. They do cater, fairly well, to gluten-free needs. Other things to note: We were in room 2805 - a beautiful, clean, and comfortable room. It was so nice to have a fire pit on our terrace to enjoy (as well as the wildlife that stopped by to say hi). Note that there is a sidewalk that runs the length of the hotel, right in front of the fire pits so during the day, it does not feel as private. The spa cabana was worth the price tag if you plan on wanting to be outside all day and want to keep cool in between soaking in the sun or swimming in the pool. It's also adults-only. The spa, itself is beautiful with every amenity you'd need for a relaxing day.

We visited Dove Mountain in May, and honestly, it exceeded every expectation. From the moment we arrived, everything felt 10/10 - cleanliness, hospitality, atmosphere, and overall experience. The property is absolutely beautiful, and our room overlooked the mountains with views we never got tired of. We visited in May, and while some may think it feels warm, we loved it. The pool was perfect, and between the breeze and attentive pool staff, it was incredibly comfortable and relaxing. Travel was also much easier than expected. Tucson airport was small, easy to navigate, and only about a 40-minute drive from the resort. We Ubered from the airport and later booked transportation through Driver Elite Transportation, which was seamless and excellent. One of the biggest highlights was the Cactus Discovery Tour with Ranger Ron. His passion and love for the area made us completely fall in love with the desert. You can tell when someone truly loves what they do, and it made the experience that much better! Thank you, Ron! Golf was incredible. The desert views are stunning, and we played Wild Burro on the front nine and Saguaro on the back - highly recommend! The stargazing experience was another favorite. Seeing the moon and several solar systems through the telescope was something we won’t forget. The entire spa experience was wonderful and exactly what we needed. A special thank you to Ruth for introducing us to the mango-passionfruit sorbet because we are officially obsessed. We have genuinely been trying to recreate it at home. For dining, Cayton’s was our favorite - great food, beautiful setting, and sunsets that made you want to stay at the table a little longer. If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway with beautiful scenery, attentive staff, and experiences that make you slow down and appreciate where you are, this is your place. We left feeling refreshed, recharged, and already talking about when we can come back. Would return without hesitation.

We had countless issues with dining and housekeeping. We concluded that the Ritz Carlton really isn't what it used to be and could tell that it's likely due to staffing issues and cost cutting. We ate at every restaurant for 3 meals a day for 6 days and there wasn't a meal that didn't have either a quality or service issue. The location is beautiful and the hiking trails from the property are amazing. The guided hikes were also amazing and worth it. Just be prepared for a sub-par experience with food and service.

PROS: Beautiful setting and views. Consistently warm and attentive service throughout. We appreciated the kind and hard-working staff, early check-in after a short wait, comfortable room, bedding and amenities, relaxing spa pool (you can purchase a day pass), driving range access with shuttle service, interesting wildlife, unique ranger program, and the extensive hiking trails into the hills. NEUTRAL: The food was fine, somewhat unmemorable, Cayton’s is worth a visit. CONS: Best for families, not couples. Overcrowded kids pools and hot tub, loud, no adult pool, no adult hot tub, packed lounge chair set up, swarming bugs, too unpleasant to stay. They made a room assignment mistake despite advance communication. Privacy partitions that blocked the side views on our balcony (most do not have these). No complimentary upgrade with Platinum status. They offered a discounted upgrade for purchase instead. That’s a first.

Enjoyed a lovely couple of days at this beautiful property. Wanted to urge folks to spend time at the spa. Facial with Alicia- great job and appreciated that she was responsive to my specific requests. 100 Minute Well-Being and Resilience Massage with KIm- EXCEPTIONAL! I have been privileged to enjoy massages around the world and this one stand out as possibly the best one ever. Request Kim by name. She had a broad variety of techniques and applied them with expertise and, clearly, vast experience. The hotel is lovely and worth visiting.