Is Enchantment really worth the big $$$
 

Have a reservation for 3 nights at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona next month. I've read the reviews on this site and I know that people rave about it, especially the location. However, it will cost substantially more to stay there than at, for example, the Sky Ranch (which I know is not in the same league as Enchantment, but people seem to give it good reviews).

I will consider paying more if a place is really worth it. Would I be blown away by staying at Enchantment versus Sky Ranch? In other words, would I regret not paying the $$$ and staying at Enchantment if I change to Sky Ranch?

No.

I am sure that people will disagree with me, but I say save the money and go to The Enchantment for lunch one day. You will need reservations for dining or they will not let you in the complex.

Just so you know, I do stay in many 5* resorts and very nice places, but I do not feel this one warrants the costs.

Happy Trails,
Paul

Have to agree with Paul. I was disappointed in the service and the public areas, and my room (in the spa section) was tiny. The setting is absolutely spectacular, but you don't have to stay there to enjoy it. Go for lunch as he suggests.

We went there for part of our honeymoon - and I'll be the dissenter here. I thought it was spectacular. Our room was amazing - it had a gas fireplace - and a bathtub that you could fit a football team in..... I would definitely stay there again. I don't know anything about the Sky Ranch at all - so I can't compare.

1. Enchantment's location is second to none and is its biggest asset.
2. The standard rooms are NOT worth, say, $250 per night. They're old and in need of updating.
3. The junior casita suites are worth the price of admission if you're not paying high season rates. They're relatively new and are much better than the standard rooms.
4. If budget is a really big concern, at least go for lunch. You have to see the resort to understand its uniqueness and allure. Pictures can't convey the setting.

What is "really worth it" will mean different things to different people. We have always found it "worth it" to
pay more for Enchantment. We stay in their studio casitas. Service is generally excellent. The Boynton Canyon setting is spectacular. It's wonderful to be able to wake up to that scenery and to watch the sun setting there in the evenings. If you stay at Sky Ranch
(have never been there), I go along with the others who recommend at least going to Enchantment for lunch. Would it be possible to spend a couple of nights at Sky Ranch and one night at
Enchantment? Regardless of where you stay, you will find Sedona "enchanting."

we have stayed at the "sky ranch" many times over the years and are just in love with it. we have never stayed at "Enchantment", but have gone there for meals and its lovely. however, i would rather enjoy the views from my economical and comfortable room at the "sky ranch" ( with fire place) and just go visit "Enchantment" for brunch and the like.

"sky ranch" is just very homey and comfy. we loved the wood burning fire places in the "rim-rooms" which are the BEST. we would never consider paying more for the same view really. but i guess if you are really a luxury person then you might prefer it. Boyton canyon is exquisite, but you can hike up in there and enjoy it that way too.

:) the little resturaunt at the airport by "skyranch" used to have the best home made desserts, i wonder if they do still?

Another vote for the Sky Ranch. We stayed there last fall and loved it. If you are going to Sedona for the scenery, save your money and stay at the Sky Ranch. If you are into a beautiful hotel room and plan to spend a lot of time there, then go to Enchantment. We only hiked around Enchantment so I don't know anything about the inside, but the surroundings outside the fence were beautiful and free for the looking.

I loved Enchantment, but haven't stayed at Sky Ranch, but have a suggestion for you. Why not stay at Enchantment one night and Sky Ranch two nights so that next time you'll be able to decide for yourself if it's worth it or not. And it sounds as if you should request the suites (that's where we were)--they were lovely.

Also, while lunch is nice, I thought dinner was really special, especially at sunset and it there's a full (or semifull) moon.

Wow - thanks for the input - still deciding .... Our whole Arizona trip will be fore 10 nights at various accomodations, so I think we definitely want to stay in only one place in Sedona. If we do go for Enchantment, it sounds like we should get a newer Junior Casita Suite? Our reservation now is for a King Room, and they said that many of these have been renovated. If we do stay there, should we just "do it up" and go for the Junior Suite? Sky Ranch also sounds good, but we do want to experience the beauty of Sedona which seems like staying right in the Boynton Canyon will provide.

Everyone has different tastes when it comes to memorable travel experiences, but I must say (with regard to your last comment about staying in Boynton Canyon) that going to sleep and waking up inside Boynton Canyon is an entirely different (and much more powerful) experience than watching the red rocks from a distance.
I've stayed at L'Auberge, Los Abrigados and Enchantment (several times) and the latter should be experienced at least once. Preferably on your first visit for maximum effect.
It really is a very unique experience.

Well, I think we'll go with Enchantment ...I'll be sure to give a trip report about the experience. Now, just have to decide whether to bump our accomodation up from a King Room (which we requested a recently renovated one) to one of the Junior Suites with the fireplaces ... Any recommendations?

Cher,
We always stay in the studio casitas, which have a murphy bed they pull down at night, a living area, kitchen and dining area, fireplace and balcony with a bbq. These are less costly than the junior suites, if you're still concerned about $$$. Last casita we had was 137, I believe. Great views. Glad you have decided to go with
Enchantment.

My daughter and I returned from three nights in Sedona in July and agreed that the next time, we would not spend as much as we did for lodging because we were never in our room or the pool or anywhere else on the property. We were busy biking and hiking and horseback riding and only returned to our room for sleep.

I'm sure Enchantment Resort is wonderful if you're going to take advantage of its amenities. If you're going to be out seeing Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, why bother?

Postal: Where did you stay? Where would you recommend staying?

We visited Enchantment a few years ago with our kids. We were supposed to stay 2 nights but were so turned off we stayed just one. It was off season, our waiter in the restaurant was dealing drugs to the table of "20 somethings" next to us. This was pretty typical of the feeling of lack of concern for guests that we got! We were put in 2 unacceptable rooms before the one we ultimately stayed in. The setting is gorgeous but I certainly wouldn't go back!!

We stayed at the Sky Ranch Lodge in Sedona this past Valentine's Day and found it very romantic. The views are incredible because you're up above Sendona looking down on the town and the "red rocks". The room we had was a little rustic, certainly not luxurious but we enjoyed the cozy atmosphere and the fireplace. There is even a resident cat who eased our homesickness for our two kitties. We walked to the airport restaurant for a special Valentine's dinner and watched the airplanes coming and going--very romantic. My husband still talks about the great dinner and breakfast we had there. To start with, my husband was totally against staying at the Sky Ranch Lodge, but when we got there his whole attitude changed and he really enjoyed it. We're looking forward to a return trip in November. I'm sure that Enchantment is a great place, but when you look at the difference in cost, we feel we could spend the extra money on better things.

I just returned from Sedona 3 weeks ago. I stayed at Enchantment for 4 nights and was extremely disappointed. In fact, if I could have gotten my money back, I would have gone elsewhere. While the views of the red rocks overhead are stunning, the rooms and service do not rate more than 3 stars. My room, and it seemed like every room, overlooked the parking areas. There was no attempt with landscaping or design to separate the cars from the buildings. My lunch in the most formal dining room was mediocre. The lettuce on the cobb salad was wilted and drenched in dressing. My room was dark, the light bulbs were low wattage. The light outside my door blinked all night, and a cooling unit in a locked closet in the bathroom was so loud, it sounded like someone snoring next door. The best food at this place is found at the spa that is on the premises. I ended up eating most of my meals there. I had stayed the week before at the Boulders Resort in Carefree, Arizona, heads and shoulders above Enchantment in every way.

jeanjwl: Sorry to hear that your stay was disappointing. What type of room did you have? We are booked for a King Room and I asked for one of the newly renovated ones. (There are no junior suites available which I understand are newer and very nice.)

I try to always point out to people that the standard rooms at Enchantment are anything but luxurious IMO.
They're old, outdated and while rustic in an Old West sort of way, they aren't up to par with most resorts charging the same $$$.
There is a group of new suites which is more on par with current resorts standards in the western US. Can't remember the room #'s off hand.

But I've stayed at Enchantment several times and the scenery is spectacular, the newer rooms very nice, but the standard rooms aren't worth the price IMO.

Just returned from Arizona so I thought I'd give my thoughts. Thank you all for your input.

We decided to stay at Enchantment and we were really glad we did. The setting was absolutely spectacular and we enjoyed very much being in the canyon as well as driving to and from the area during our stay in Sedona. We stayed in a king bedroom which was newly renovated and close to the lobby. We had a nice view of the canyon from our balcony. The room was large, comfortable and nice but nothing really special (as I expected). The amenities provided by the hotel were nice, i.e., a bucket outside our door each morning with fresh orange juice on ice; bottles of water in the evening w/turn-down service, nice lotions/shampoos, etc. in the bathroom, nice linens and pillows. I really liked being close to the lobby ... We were in easy walking distance to main pool, restaurants, spa, gift shop. Also, service at the resort was excellent.

On Saturday night there was "stargazing" via a large telescope and someone explaining what we were looking at ... really cool. They also had mountain bikes on site for use (with a group excursion on Tues morning) and access to the Boynton Canyon hiking trail right on the site. You can also arrange for jeep tours leaving right from the Enchantment (although we did the Pink Jeep tour from town).

I would definitely stay there again; the setting alone was worth it.

Cher, I am so glad that you ended up at Enchantment. I only just found your post and wanted to rave about it too. We have stayed in a two bedroom, two full baths casita with a kitchen, dinning area and large family room. We are still dream about going back. I do remember being unimpressed with the food, but I can be too critical. We loved the breakfast at The Coffee Pot. Glad to hear the rooms in the main building are nice. Wondering what they go for. Casita mentioned above was about $600 per night.

All I can say is that must have been some honeymoon, Debi, with the whole football team in your bathtub!!!

I just returned from Enchantment and therefore paid the off-season rates, with a Casita Room for $195. It's possible that if I were paying $395 in the high season for the room, I'd feel differently, but I doubt it: the Enchantment was spectacular, a delightful resort in every way. The setting is spectacular; the hiking on-site and nearby is breathtaking; the meals were delicious (though not inexpensive); and the spa is a world all its own. I wouldn't say that the staff was extremely proactive, but they were professional in every way, and we had no problems at all during our stay. Many days we didn't want to do anything but luxuriate at the spa and hike, but if you have a car, you can pop into the rest of Sedona in 10-20 min. for meals or shopping. We are so anxious to return to Sedona and the Enchantment, and can't imagine staying elsewhere!

I am a huge fan of Enchanment Resort. You got a steal on your room! DId you have an amazing view of the red buttes?

Enchantment is too chic for me. They chrged almost $500 for a casita when I was there in November. The spa was way too into itself- bad attitude at the bar in the spa, the server was just obnoxious and in such an atmosphere where they are trying to get you in tune w/your inner self, it was disgusting. There are other great hotels w/wonderful views of the red rocks. You have to drive to hike a short way from them instead of having hiking right there on site, like you do at Enchantment. But I'd opt to save the money and stay somewhere else. I think Enchantment takes itself way too seriously. And they wouldn't let me in the restaurant in nice black jeans (w/a cashmere sweater). Screw that when you are paying $500 for a room.