L'Auberge de Sedona

Not what I expected. We’ve been here twice once 4 years ago. We stayed in a cliff cottage, it was magical. You woke up to a view of red rocks, heated floors. Bathtub over looking the rocks. Amazing and cozy. The second time we thought we booked the same room but looks like they expanded and took over another hotel? The cliffs the call it, it’s too far from the lobby and you feel like you’re at an elevated best western. The view is nice but very different feel than the original hotel rooms. It’s about 100 ft climb to and from the lobby but also steps away from the main Sedona street. Just sad that the ambiance was less cozy this time while paying more money.

Lodge rooms are the worst. First floor patio faces right at foot traffic. People can peek from outside and even jump fence into patio. Extreme bad value with this kind of experience

Before anything else, it’s important to clarify that L’Auberge de Sedona is not affiliated with the Auberge Resorts Collection, despite the name strongly suggesting otherwise. We assumed—unfortunately—that it was part of that collection based on our postive experience with Auberge properties. It is not. This is an independent hotel, and future guests should adjust expectations accordingly. While the property itself is undeniably beautiful and the setting along Oak Creek is lovely, the operational experience fell well short of what the branding and price point imply. Check-in was listed as 4:00 PM, yet our room was not ready until approximately 5:30 PM. A manager told us the delay was due to a plumbing issue, which we later learned was not accurate—the hotel was simply backed up on room cleaning. The lack of transparency and proactive communication was disappointing and set the tone for the stay. The arrival experience deteriorated further when our luggage was delivered to the wrong room by staff and took an additional 30 minutes to locate. After a delayed check-in, this felt careless and avoidable. It was also clear the hotel was understaffed and underprepared for the number of guests arriving. At one point, only a single staff member was checking guests in, resulting in a line of more 8 people waiting—some outside the door. This was not a one-off moment but indicative of broader staffing, training and management issues. No one seemed to be in charge, and it showed. Some other issues: Be aware that room service in the evening is available only during a very limited window (5:00–7:30 PM), which is restrictive for a resort at this price level. The food at Cress on Oak Creek was stellar, but the service was not: The restaurant manager was apathetic and unprofessional. In short, despite a beautiful physical property, this hotel appears poorly managed and does not deliver an experience consistent with its pricing and implied brand expectations. I give it three stars solely because of the location and setting—not because of the staffing or operations, which were clearly subpar. This could be a consistently great resort, but it clearly needs stronger leadership, improved management & operations, and better staff training to reach that potential.

We stayed over new years and the staff seemed extremely overwhelmed by the number of guests. The price of our room was surged, but apparently this cost increase did not result in additional staffing. We waited 20 minutes for a drink on New Year’s Eve at the bar, but ending up leaving after the one bartender was unable to serve us in that time. None of the promised amenities were available to us due to the increased guest presence. The duck pond pool heater did not work. The person occupying our room prior to us also did not leave the room until at least 430 pm. We witnessed the guest saying they talked to the front desk and say he needed an additional 15 minutes. Our checkin in time was 4 pm. We were not able to get into our room until almost 2 hours after our check in time because of this guest. Views were great but would not recommend this hotel especially not during the holidays.

L’Auberge de Sedona is undeniably one of the most conveniently located properties in Sedona. It’s right in the heart of town, within easy walking distance to Uptown Sedona, shops, dining, and many major viewpoints. If your goal is to explore Sedona efficiently without a lot of extra driving, this location is hard to beat. The property itself is beautiful. There are two pools, one of which includes a hot tub. I especially recommend spending time by the cliff pool near the duck pond—the view at sunset is truly stunning and arguably one of the highlights of the stay. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing, and the natural scenery around the property adds a lot to the experience. However, despite the convenience and scenery, there are a few things future guests may want to know before booking: 1. Service Expectations vs. Reality I’m not sure if this is because I stayed in the lodge, the most basic room type, or because I booked through the Hilton portal rather than directly, but I definitely felt a noticeable gap in service compared to what is often shown on social media. During my three-night stay, there was no nightly turndown service, even though many guests online mentioned turndown, chocolates, and other luxury touches. Additionally, water was replenished only once throughout my entire four-day stay. Coming directly from the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain the day before—which actually cost less but delivered far more consistent luxury service—the contrast was pretty clear. 2. Billing Accuracy Before my stay, I had already seen comments online about billing issues at this property, so I was cautious and reviewed my charges carefully. Even then, the final credit card charge did not match the final folio. I contacted the hotel three times, and although they did send revised bills, they still didn’t match the initial breakdown. Eventually I decided to let it go, but guests should definitely double-check their charges. 3. Complimentary In-House Car Service Limitations The hotel advertises a complimentary car service operating from 5:00 am to 1:00 am within approximately 1.5 miles. However, when I attempted to use the service around 12:00 am, the drivers were already off duty, so the service was not actually available despite the published hours. Also, be aware that this car service will not take you to most major tourist spots, including the Chapel of the Holy Cross and other attractions, as they fall outside of the service radius. If you’re relying on this amenity, just set expectations accordingly. Overall, I truly enjoyed the views, location, and friendly staff. L’Auberge de Sedona is a beautiful place to stay, especially if your priorities are scenery and convenience. However, if you are looking for a truly seamless luxury experience—or want to avoid billing or service frustrations—be prepared to manage expectations a bit. With more consistency and attention to detail, this property could absolutely deliver the level of luxury it advertises.